Delta: Agriculture robust alternative to oil – Group tells Gov Oborevwori

A group, No Justice, No Peace Initiative, has urged the Delta State Government to invest in agriculture, saying it is a robust alternative to crude oil.

It said this in a statement released on Thursday by today its National Coordinator, Comr. (Amb.) Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen.

He said agriculture provides opportunities for economic equity and helps people prosper.

The group noted that, “Delta State, since 1999, has poorly given attention to agriculture and natural resources but are focused on how one man could loot public funds through activities of crude oil, putting aside agriculture.

“Considering the roles agriculture plays, as an important role in national food industries, the agricultural sector is where we have comparative advantage in Delta State. The number one area we have comparative advantage is cassava because all the 25 LGAs are into cassava farming, cassava processing and cassava trading.

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“Cassava can be processed into many things, such as fufu, cassava chips, garri, cassava flour, cassava starch, etc.

“Delta State is seen to be blessed with very rich soil conducive for growing virtually every crop, with most of the cassava farmers producing Garri. Garri is a white or yellow granule that can be eaten directly.

“What has stopped the Delta State Government from producing, owning garri processing factories across different areas in the State, selling to residents at low cost? Garri is one of the staple foods in Nigeria that cuts across all tribes and almost all Deltans rely and feed on garri for survival, on a daily basis. Garri is one of many different kinds of food products that can be produced from fresh cassava roots.”

It urged the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led government to take advantage of the economic challenges to invest in agriculture, producing local food products to residents, selling at fixed prices as well as regulating the general prices for traders and sellers to sell to the populace in the market at specific prices.

While noting that food is of essence and basic human rights of the people, the group said the government at all levels has continually denied the people access to food.

It added that the past governments had also failed in the area of boosting the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, saying their plans only existed on paper and social media.