Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has urged the Federal Government to pay special attention to the state in its quest to ensuring food security.
Uduaghan at the roll out of the Growth Enhancement Support Programme for Cassava at Oleh on Tuesday, noted thT Delta State is an agricultural belt with very clement weather for practically every agricultural produce and as such, “it is therefor, important that the nation’s quest for agriculture renaissance should focus more on Delta State.”
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) Â observed, Â “Any additional impetus to the cultivation of cassava in Delta State will yield tremendous results, because the state is already well known for its massive production of this vital agricultural item.”
While commending the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for presenting 15 bundles of high-yielding cassava varieties, fertilizer and agrolyzer to cassava farmers in the state, the Governor called for increase in inputs not only to cassava farmers but farmers generally in Delta State.
Uduaghan disclosed that his administration’s programmes in agriculture such as the Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture (YETA), Farmers Support Programme (FSP), Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) including the Private Public Partnership arrangement like the Obasanjo Farms Nigeria-Delta Farms Limited were yielding results.
“No doubt, any additional incentive from Federal Government will boost our efforts, increase food and agricultural production generally” the Governor stated.
The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina who was represented by the Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Delta State, Mr Felix Kehis observed that cassava value chain products include cassava chips, starch, ethanol, garri, fufu, abacha, tapioca, among others and emphasised that the event was to present the high yielding cassava directly to farmers.
The Minister decried the short-changing of farmers by middle men and called on all stake holders to support farmers.
In an address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Delta State, Mr. Misan Ukubeyinje said agriculture is a great employer of labour and called for revolutionization of agricultural development.
