Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, on Wednesday, said the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration is investing in the agricultural sector because it is a great employer of labour.
According to the deputy governor, through the M.O.R.E. Agenda, the Oborevwori-led government of Delta State also, wants the state to be the food basket of the country.
Onyeme made the disclosure when members of the Coalition of Delta State Farmers led by Mr. Loveday Takim and the state chapter of the Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria led by Chief Eric Tomfawei, paid him a courtesy call at his office, Government House, Asaba.
“Our administration is paying serious attention to agriculture because the agricultural sector provides the largest source of employment for Deltans, it is the largest industry and the most sustainable business that can take Nigeria out of extreme poverty,” he said.
The deputy governor noted that Nigeria has a comparative advantage if it concentrates on developing its agricultural sector rather than competing with advanced countries in the area of technology.
He said, “We cannot compete with the advanced nations of the world technologically, we could improve on our agricultural industry and conveniently compete with them in that area because God has blessed us with good soil and abundant landmass.
“Let us begin to face reality, if we don’t develop our agriculture, we cannot go anywhere as a nation, and we cannot compete with the Western world on Information Communication Technology, because they will always be steps ahead of us in that area and we will be trying to catch up, but we can compete with them in agriculture, we can even exceed them because God has blessed us with good land for agriculture that even our seeds and water is good for production; all that we need is to concentrate our energy where we have the strength, so, as a nation, agriculture is the way to go.
“Our administration will do its best to ensure that we advance agriculture in Delta State and make the state a focal point of reference within the federation to copy.
“Earlier, the leaders of the two groups, said the visit was to felicitate with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Deputy Governor for their victory at the poll.
They called on the government to engage in programmes that will encourage the agricultural sector, disclosing that farmers in the state are facing a lot of challenges.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Julius Egbedi, the Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state, Engr. Dan Ossai and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Christopher Osakwe, were among the dignitaries present at the occasion.
