By Andrew Ikehi in Asaba
To curtail the looming food crisis in the Country, the need for aggressive neighborhood farming and food production in the country, has been stressed.
This was the position of some critical stakeholders in agricultural sector during the flag-off of the second phase of “Delta State Agricultural Neighbourhood Farming Intervention, Initiative Support Scheme” (DANFIIS) in Asaba, the State Capital.
Those who spoke at the event organised by the Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Job creation, Hon. Frank Ebikefe were the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Julius Egbedi, a former Commissioner in the Ministry, Hon. Gerry Osai, an Agriculturist and Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Job creation, Prince Charles Abutoh as well as the Chairman, Oshimili South Local Government Council, Mr. Obi Kelvin Ezenyili who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Hon. Ify Ogbogu.
In their various remarks, the respondents lauded the agricultural ingenuity and vision of the convener of the program, Hon Frank Ebikefe saying that he has awaken the agricultural consciousness of Nigerians, particularly Deltans towards making valuable use of every space within their neighbourhood for agricultural purposes and food production.
Speaking specifically on the import of neighbourhood farming in the face of the looming food crisis and, particularly in relation to the current economic realities globally, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Julius Egbedi said that the program would go a long way in mitigating the looming hunger and famine in the society.
Egbedi, while commending the convener of the program, said that it is line with the State Government’s agricultural policies just as he explained that the DANFIIS project would help in complementing what is already on ground.
He called on every Deltan to take the issue of cultivating farm produce seriously, maintaining that “that way, we will make food available to all”
On his part, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the State, Hon. Gerry Osai advocate the need for government at all levels to begin to find agriculture as social investment.
Osai noted that for the Nigerian State to achieve its desired vision of attaining sustainable health and economic improvement, agriculture should be given its pride of place in terms of Budgetary allocation.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the convener of the program, Hon. Frank Ebikefe, while harping on the theme of the event ” Neighbourhood Farming For Food, Job and Wealth Creation” had said that the vision was to ensure that Deltans take the issue of Agriculture seriously in order to improve on their feeding status as well as impact positively on their economic well being.
High point of the event was the distribution of farm inputs to some of the beneficiaries cut across Delta North Area of the State.
It would be recalled that this is the second edition of the program as the first was held about two years ago. Participants call for yearly hosting of the event in the State.
