Why The Agricultural Sector Is Functional By Governor Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike  has stated that the nation’s  agricultural  sector is functional because of the background  of  the  Ministers  of Agriculture  who were key members of the Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP) before defecting to the ruling party.

Declaring  open the 42nd Regular Meeting  of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development, Governor Wike  said that the foresight and national view being exhibited by Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh  and Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri  prove that they imbibed the culture  of  service  while they were PDP members. 

 

He said: "Agriculture is working because they have good Ministers from a sound background.  The Minister of Agriculture  was a former National Chairman of PDP, while the Minister of State for Agriculture was a senator under the PDP.  Their background  has helped them.

"You can see the kind of products  that PDP has. We have  sent them on Sabbatical to help other people.  When children are productive, you ask who are their  parents?

"We have products who received  good upbringing.  Their parents, the PDP, gave them quality  parenting ".

On the development of agriculture  in Rivers State, Governor Wike said  the Rivers State Government will take full advantage of the Federal Government agriculture initiatives including the commercial agricultural  credit scheme  and the Anchor Borrowers Programme. 

He said that his administration  will galvanise the state into becoming a major player in the agricultural sector. 

The governor  stressed that his administration  will  review its agricultural  policy  for the development of the sector. 

He said: "In Rivers State, Government has, over the years, channeled enormous public funds into the development of agriculture without measurable outcomes. 

"For this reason, we have decided to review our agricultural policies and programmes to ensure that efforts, funds and inputs are not wasted for the sake of political expediency, as it has been the case with the past.

"This having being said, it is important to emphasize that the agricultural potentials of Rivers State are clearly enormous. Furthermore, being the host to two of the largest fertilizer production plants in the African continent gives us additional horizontal advantages for the advancement of this sector in the State."

In his address, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh called for the expansion  of research in the agricultural sector  for the improvement  of  food production. 

He said the Federal Government  will ensure that farmers the required  credit for commercial  farming. 

Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri  stated that Federal Government  is treating  agriculture  as a business through public enabled but private initiatives. 

The Commissioners of Agriculture  from the 36 States of the Federation  attended the 42nd Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development.