Rivers state government has called on farmers in the state to take part in the ongoing empowerment enterprise of the state government to boost their businesses.
Governor Wike stated this during the 1st agricultural conference on agro-allied products exhibition, organised by the Port Harcourt Chamber of commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Keneth Kobani, Governor Wike said his administration is doing its best to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
“This government will continue to encourage farmers who have the passion for farming. We have so many empowerment programmes going on at the moment. Women in their numbers are being empowered. Some are farmers, petty traders. It’s a deliberate policy of this government to assist people who intend to engage in economic activities and I have no doubt that farmers in the state will also be beneficiaries”
Also speaking, the national president of the chamber of commerce, industry, mines and agriculture, Iyalode Alaba Lawson who was represented by the 1st deputy National president, Hajia Saratu Aliyu, urged the public, especially women to return to agriculture.
“Agriculture was our first economic focus which was sustaining us and generated money for us through exportation, we got oil and we abandoned it. Agriculture is a very good economic builder and if we have a lot of women into agriculture, our economy will improve. I appeal to the government to continue on the soft loans to farmers especially women, women are known to pay back their loans”
On his part, chairman agriculture and allied services trade group, Port Harcourt chamber of commerce, Emmanuel Ogbonda, said agriculture in the state has taken a new dimension.
“We are lacking in agriculture but agriculture can offer better business provisions and employment than oil. Oil cannot give us as many opportunities. Agriculture provides so many areas like information technology, production of small and medium scale industry such as; fish farming, palm business, poultry farming and many others where people can strive”
