States called to buy into FG agricultural policies

The Dean, Committee of Chairmen, River Basins Development Authorities in Nigeria, Eseme Eyibo, has called on states yet to key into the Federal government efforts at revamping the agricultural sector to do so as such is aimed at boosting value chain development in the sector.Eseme, who is chairman, governing board of Cross River Basins Authorities, stated this Tuesday while interacting with members of the Correspondents chapel in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

According to him, Cross River Basins Development Authorities is determined to revive the management of surface and underground water resources as part of deliberate efforts to grow the agricultural sector.

This, he said, would be done through resource mobilization and commodity strategy, adding that, it would trigger growth in the agricultural sector, as this would help in diversifying the economy.He said the rice farms in the state were being revived while similar projects in Cross River State would also be revitalized to make farmers enjoy the benefits of their investments, adding that the various policies of the federal government were aimed at turning around the sector.

The Federal government is determined to grow the sector and has come up with innovative policies not only to ensure food sufficiency but also to boast value chain addition.He however, expressed regret that states are not keying into the programmes and policies of the federal government to boost food production in the country.

“But what we have seen is that most governments at sub-national levels are not buying into it, if they should, there wouldn’t be anybody going around to look for white collar jobs,” he said.

According to him, the dearth of ideas and innovations had been largely responsible for the inability of Nigeria River Basins Development Authorities to deliver on their mandates leading to food insufficiency in the past, with farmers no longer having the benefit of their labour, and middlemen who buy from them being the ones having a field day.He said that such situation would be addressed by providing the necessary nursery that would propel agricultural revolution in the country and make agricultural practice a pride to all farmers.He advised farmers to form cooperatives to enable them benefit from the various programmes being made available by the present administration.