The state Elders Council has had its third quarter meeting of the year at Niger Delta Wetlands Centre Ekeki, Yenagoa on the need for govt to invest massively on Agricultural development and education to avoid food crisis in the state at large.
The Chairman of the Council, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd), said, the level of food prices rises in the state due to poor agricultural sector and high dependence on external supply of foodstuffs
He expressed worry why youths who constitute the most productive demography in society are shying away from agriculture which has the potential to meet their financial and feeding needs. Also stated, that the meeting was to consider the reports of four adhoc committees on Agro-allied Matters, Security, National Affairs as well as Science and Technology.
He urged the state government to appraise the reports when submitted, and emphasized the urgency for the government and well-to-do people of Bayelsa to go into full-scale mechanized farming to boost food production.
In response, the state Governor Douye Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo said, his second-term administration will give appropriate attention to agriculture in order to fight against the high prices of foodstuff so as to expand government revenue base.
He also promised to adopt a multi-dimensional approach in tackling the problems facing food and fish production in the state. And the establishment of the Ministry of Blue Economy in the state speaks volumes of this administration’s readiness to harness the state’s maritime resources for job and wealth creation, especially among the youths of the state.
“In order to achieve this great goal, government had already built some vocational schools across the state, having two pilot technical schools. For the state to measure up with its peers, such youths must change their negative disposition and embrace self reliance”, he said.
He thanked the Bayelsa Elders Council for playing its advisory role in the governance of the state, adding that the doors of the prosperity administration were always open to the Council for advice and collaboration towards developing the new Bayelsa, also those presented reports.
