DESOPADEC TO CONTINUE FUNDING OF AGRIC PROGRAMME

The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), has assured its consultant of continuous support and proper funding in order to sustain the successes recorded in its agriculture development programme.
Executive Chairman of the Commission, Chief Wellington Okirika gave the assurance during a visit to the commission by the consultants working in the programme..
Chief Okirika said, “Due attention must now be given to agricultural initiatives so that apart from creating food sufficiency other sources of income could be created through well organize agricultural intervention of DESOPADEC”
In a statement by Prince Monday, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Chief Okirika promised that the body would do everything within available resources to re-focus its agric intervention programme so that more communities within its mandate areas could benefit.
Earlier in his brief to the Chairman, Prof Bola Okuneye of the Federal University of Agriculture; Abeokuta , said DESOPADEC agric intervention is fast yielding positive results as communities youths and women groups are clamoring for centers in their communities.
This, Prof. Okuneye stressed, is a paradigm shift from the hitherto impression that young boys and women in oil/gas bearing communities are lazy and are not ready to work.
“Our visit to all the agric centers have shown that the people are very ready to work what I believe is needed is a culture of support and government commitment to grow agriculture”
Prof Okuneye said his team has capacity to expand the agric supports initiative of the Delta Oil Commission, adding that what is needed is greater commitment from constitutional authorities within the state and country.
He maintained that agriculture would provide food sufficient jobs opportunities to millions of unemployed youths,