Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku says the commission will establish food hubs across the Niger Delta region.
Dr. Ogbuku who made this known during A Two -Day Strategic Key Stakeholders Agric Meeting in Port Harcourt Rivers State, told participants that the Federal Government would support agriculture initiatives that would guarantee food security in the country.
With the sudden rise in prices of food items and scarcity in recent years, the Agriculture Stakeholders Meeting aimed at setting agenda on unlocking Agricultural potentials of Niger Delta Region was timely.
Addressing the gathering in Port Harcourt Rivers State, Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku while revealing plans to build food hubs across Niger Delta region, called on NDDC mandate states to join forces to develop agricultural potentials of Niger Delta and ensure food security in the region and nation at Large.
DR. Ogbuku who was emphatic about determination to shift focus away from mono oil economy and diversify into Agriculture, stressed on the need to research into different food species in which every mandate states has a comparative advantage.
According to the MD, with Agriculture, more exports would be guaranteed leading to foreign currency earnings.
While insisting that Agriculture has the potential to create jobs, Dr. Ogbuku noted that the commission has keyed into the renewed Hope Agenda of the president especially, in food security.
He challenged the region to take advantage of the Blue economy in fishery, saying that the region could have fishing trawlers for fishing and export.
The NDDC BOSS stated that the region also boasts of Cocoa in Ondo State.
The MD maintained that the food species that grow in the region have medicinal components that facilitate sound health for the people of the region.
The Managing Director who emphasized science and technology in agriculture for improved yields, insisted that Agriculture was the future of sustainable economic growth.
He told stakeholders that development banks and donor agencies were willing to sponsor Agricultural initiatives that would guarantee food security.
Similarly, Executive Director Projects NDDC, Dr. Victor Antai who identified Agriculture as the surest means to guarantee food security in the region, stated that the commission was ready to collaborate with other stakeholder for the development of Agriculture in the region.
In his contribution, Commissioner for Agriculture Abia State, DR. CLIFF Agbaeze who explained that the state has enough arable land for agriculture, added that the youths were being equipped to venture into Agriculture and food processing.
While Commissioner for Agriculture Rivers State, Mr. Victor Kii described Agriculture as the backbone of the quest to achieving food security.
Applauding NDDC for the move, Mr. Kii stated that Rivers state Government was ready to boost Agriculture through collaboration with public sector.
The Director Agric and Fisheries, NDDC, Dr. Winifred Madume said that Agriculture was the major hope of food security in Niger Delta region .
She asked the participants to ensure implementation of the outcome of deliberations.
The outcome of the meeting would form the major focus during an Agric summit to chart a new course in the advancement of agriculture in the oil rich region.
