The Rivers State Government has urged farmers to intensify their efforts in increasing food production, aiming to prevent potential food shortages. This call was made by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Victor Kii, through his Press Officer, Rebecca Anumaka, during a recent meeting of Agriculture Commissioners from the BRACED States (South-South region) held in Port Harcourt.
Kii emphasized the need to address critical agricultural challenges, particularly in land preparation and access to quality seedlings, to accelerate growth in the sector. Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Maurice Ogolo, Kii outlined several initiatives introduced by Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration to boost agriculture. These include the formation of the Rivers State Economic Summit, visits to the state’s 45,000-metric-ton cassava processing plant, the revitalization of the Rivers State Songhai Initiative, and the development of the Rumuodumaya Feed Mill.
In his address, the Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture also identified a lack of raw materials and limited market access as key obstacles hindering agricultural development. He advocated for enhanced collaboration among the BRACED States to overcome these challenges.
Professor Chukwu Igwe, a retired agricultural economist from Rivers State University, delivered the keynote address, stressing the importance of modernizing agricultural machinery, strengthening relationships with farmers, supporting institutions like the FADAMA Projects, and encouraging research to drive the sector forward.
Meanwhile, the Director of Livestock-Veterinary Services at the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Godswill Ukoikpoko, underscored the need for qualified agricultural professionals in key roles and urged commissioners to form a union that could effectively implement government policies at the grassroots level.
