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THE Delta State Government has stated its readiness to partner with Michigan State University for the development of agriculture in the state.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa stated this in Asaba when scholars of agriculture from the Michigan State University paid him a courtesy visit. The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Festus Ovie Agas, said the policy thrust of the present administration was anchored on the SMART Agenda, adding that one of the ways to actualise it was through agriculture to provide gainful employment for Deltans.
He expressed happiness with the group for the collaboration, especially in the training of students and professors from Delta State University.
While saying that the state government had embarked on series of programmes, including oil palm development, Aquaculture, rice production, as well as collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the agricultural sector, the governor expressed the hope that the partnership would be mutually beneficial.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Austin Chikezie had stated that the scholars were in the state to collaborate with the ministry on how to improve on the agricultural prowess of the state through policy analysis and planning in the area of agriculture.
The leader of the group, Assistant Professor of International Development, Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Economics, Dr. Oyinkan Tasie, said that they were in the state to partner with government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Delta State University towards developing strong agricultural policies in the state. He said that the partnership would involve the training of professors and students of agriculture in the state.
Mr. Oyinkan noted that their programme cut across seven states including Delta, Ebonyi, Niger, Benue and Kaduna among others.
He stated that Michigan State University was the fourth best university of agriculture in the world and said that they were ready to work with the government to develop a viable agricultural sector in line with the administration’s SMART Agenda.
Meanwhile, the group was organising a three-day workshop for staff and directors in the Ministry of Agriculture to build their capacity as they are key to the implementation, monitoring and study progress of policy that affect agriculture as laid down in the SMART Agenda of the state government.
