The Delta State government has assured partners of its commitment to boost agricultural production and food security in the State.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Val Arenyeka gave the assurance when Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, Delta State Chapter; as well as, USAID-funded Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services visited him separately in Asaba.
The Commissioner said the state government was willing to deepen cooperation with partners and genuine farmers to bring the best agricultural practices to Deltans through training and re-training of farmers, and provision of farm inputs and implements saying, “Knowledge in modern agricultural methods is the best way to go if agriculture must develop and flourish”.
While addressing members of the Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, Arenyeka stated that cassava production was very famous due to garri consumption being “a staple in the nutrition of not only Delta State but Nigeria in general, noting that “Delta State is the biggest producer of cassava in the country “. The Commissioner pointed out that “insecurity in Nigeria has impacted negatively on cassava production, as farmers find it difficult to go to farms, while climate change has also reduced yields “. He stated that the State Government was “taking steps to address insecurity, and called on the Association to assist Government to flush out bandits terrorising farmers and farmlands, adding that the Ministry was working with NiMET forecasts to advise farmers accurately”. Arenyeka enjoined the association to pool resources together and adopt modern technology to improve cassava production as the government alone cannot provide them all the farm implements and inputs for modern-day farming.
While appreciating the role of USAID-Funded Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Activity in the State, the Commissioner said that the Ministry was ready to cooperate with them, even as he appealed to them to go beyond providing Extension services but support the Government in facilitating the training of farmers in the use of modern agricultural technology to increase and sustain food production in the State.
In their separate addresses, the Chairman of the Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, Delta State Chapter, Christopher Aghuno and the State Coordinator of USAID-Funded Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Activity, Festus Okpako, said the visits were to congratulate the Commissioner on his appointment, as well as brief him of their activities and requests for cooperation in Agricultural production and services. In another development, the Commissioner has expressed dissatisfaction over the low remittal into government coffers by the Revenue Consultants for the Ministry, stressing that despite the low target given to them, their remittals were far below the agreed target.
He further said the state government would review the target, even as he charged them to live up to their responsibilities as the government would no longer tolerate excuses
The Revenue Consultants on their part listed some of their challenges and promised to do their best towards fulfilling their obligations.
