From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said that over N1.2 billion has so far been spent on aquaculture in Delta State through its Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).
Asaba branch comptroller of CBN, Mrs. Elizabeth Agu, dropped the hint at the official flag-off of harvest cum sales of fish of the Mega Fish Farmers Cooperative Union at the Okelle Farms, Ugbisi in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.
Mrs. Agu said Delta State Government has been very supportive of the CBN ABP, and urged the fish farmers at Ugbisi not to over burden the government with logistics demand.
Flagging off the ceremony, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa called on parents to encourage their children to be involved in agriculture.
Okowa expressed satisfaction that in such a short time, the CBN, through the programme, created 682 fish farmers with a staff strength of over 2,000, noting that due to wealth from oil, most Nigerians left agriculture in search of white collar jobs leading to many being jobless.
“We are very glad that the number of our people engaged by this anchor programme has helped to swell the number of entrepreneurs we have created in the last two years.
“When you add the 682 beneficiaries in the first batch of the anchor programme to the over 3,000 we have through Youth Agriculture Empowerment Programme (YAGEP), you will agree that our efforts at diversifying our economy through agriculture is on course,” the governor said.
He maintained that the civil service cannot engage most of the jobless youths in the society, since agriculture will not only provide jobs for the teeming youths but will ensure food sustainability in the country.
“As a state, we keyed into agriculture because we need to find jobs for our people. Government cannot continue to employ people into the civil service. That is not sustainable with the funds available. So, we were happy when the CBN introduced the anchor programme, which has supported aquaculture and rice production, among others.
“The oil economy appears to be going down and it is time for us as parents to talk to our children to embrace agriculture; youths should be encouraged to engage in agriculture. Our soil is fertile and from what I am seeing, in the next few years, we will be able to produce what we consume, process and be the destination for those seeking for agricultural produce,” he said.