BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU
Investment in Agriculture has been described as a catalyst to economic growth and poverty alleviation in Niger Delta region.
Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku who made the assertion during a panel discussion on resource control at NBA conference in Port Harcourt Rivers State, acknowledged that the region was blessed with fertile land.
According to the managing Director, it was necessary for the region to shift attention from oil and focus on agriculture to guarantee food security.
“Agriculture is the only sure way we can sustain our future.
So, I think we should start investing seriously in Agriculture, which is the only variable we control; because when you talk of crude oil production and exploration, we don’t have control of these variables.
But when you talk about agriculture which is the resource we can control, we don’t need much legislation for us to produce what we eat.”
Dr. Ogbuku also admonished the region to exploit the potentials of the blue economy, saying that diversification would create jobs and ensure a bright future for the oil rich region.
“We have everything around us, we have the land, we have the water we can tap into our blue economy to ensure that we maximize our agricultural potentials, and that is a sure way job opportunities would be created for our youths and women.”
The Managing Director of the interventionist Agency who noted that Federal Government has different agricultural initiatives aimed at fighting food insecurity, emphasized the need for the region to take advantage of such programmes.
Chairman NDDC Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie, who is a lawyer by profession was also present at the event
