The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Arc. Tonye Cole has expressed the need to focus on other productive sectors in the state apart from oil.
He noted that beyond oil, farming is one of the sectors that has fostered economic growth in the state, adding that it is important to encourage youths in the state to embrace “fishing and farming.”
Cole, in a statement on Thursday, on his verified Facebook page said, “When we talk about the economic growth of Rivers State, we cannot remove farming from that conversation.
“Beyond the oil, farming is an important lever of sustainability for any state.
“In fact, before the discovery of oil in Rivers State, farming was one of the primary sources of income for most Rivers indigenes. The over-dependence and glorification of oil have caused us to neglect our huge economic potential in farming.
“Rivers State has the potential to become one of the biggest exporters of farm produce that includes yam, cassava, cocoyam, rice, and seafoods such as oysters, shrimps, and sea snails. The question, therefore, is this – how do we get on the right track where farming is concerned? I’ll share a few thoughts with you:
“1. We need to empower our farmers with advanced tools that will make their work easier, faster, and their produce of better quality.
“2. We must encourage our youths to pick up an interest in the fishing & farming sector, and we must fund initiatives that empower these youths with skills that they can use to revive and develop the Agricultural sector in Rivers State.”
According to him, “We really need to be intentional about the New Rivers State and it starts with a determination to harness the potential within in all sectors.
“No more over-dependence on one source of income or on one city. Rivers State is full of potential, and we will maximise it.”
