Delta State Government to engage youths in modern agriculture
Delta state government says it will create jobs for its teaming youths its multi-billion naira green house farm projects across the state.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Perez Omoun, disclosed this while inspecting the proposed project site for the green house at Degele, Sapele Local Government Area of the state.
Omoun said that the state government in line with Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori M.O.R.E Agenda, had mapped out three locations for a pilot Green House farm projects across the three senatorial districts of the state.
According to him, Delta Government in partnership with Afritropic has mapped out farm settlements in Degele, Sapele Local Government Area for Delta Central: Mbiri, Ika North East LGA in Delta North and Kpakiama, Bomadi LGA in Delta South Senatorial districts of the state.
He noted that the farms, equipped with modern facilities would be allotted to the youth to engage and empower them, adding that the success of the pilot programme would spur government to inject more funds into the projects.
Omoun said,”the M.O.R.E. Agenda stands for Meaningful development; Opportunity for all; Realistic Reforms and Enhanced Peace and Security. Degele is among other two other farm settlements to host one very important scheme that is intended by the M.O.R.E. Agenda to take the youths off the streets. Degele, Mbiri and Kpakiama communities are hosting multi-billion green house pilot scheme for the cultivation of vegetables and other crops.”
The commissioner said that the green house had become the best option to hedge against the impact of climate change, adding that the tent house protect plants and vegetables from the hostility of the weather.
“So, we are at Degele to ensure that the community receive the consignment for the installation of the green house materials. Mbiri is already installed, the challenge we had there was water but we have conquered that. So, Kpakiama and Degele, we want to install the facilities and by October, we shall start planting. So, the M.O.R.E Agenda is manifest because when you engage the teaming youths, they will become too busy to begin to think of violence and other vices in the society,” he said.
The commissioner, however, charged the youths and the people of the communities to embrace and support the projects to ensure jobs and wealth creation for themselves, the state and the nation at large.
Omoun and his team also visited on a routine check to the warehouse in Ibusa, Oshimili North LGA of Delta, where some of the palliatives items received from both state and federal government were kept.
According to him, the palliative committee will take a date to distribute the items, about two truck loads of consignment and more into the warehouse to cushion the effects of the petrol subsidies on the people.
On his part, Sapele Council Chairman, Chief Eugene Inogha, thanked the governor for selecting Sapele for the Green House project.
He expressed the readiness of the council to support the and ensure the success of the project.
The commissioner was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Ben Agamah and Director Agric Services, Mr Kenneth Awala.
NAN / Foluke Ibitomi