Delta State Government’s efforts towards reducing the number of unemployed  Deltans through agriculture has received a boost with the Department For International Development (DFID) set to partner with the Delta State government in the areas of agricultural development.

 Speaking Monday at a meeting he held with the officials of the DFID in Asaba, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, stated that the agricultural sector was a sure way of boosting the state’s internally generated revenue as well as create job opportunities for the teeming youths in the state.

 According to him” The Delta state government believes strongly that agriculture is the right way to go to create wealth and jobs for our people as well as bring about development to the state because our first duty to our people is wealth creation and that can be achieved through agriculture”.

 Governor Okowa said that the development of agro based industries would go a long way in aiding in the processing of farm produce adding that mainly production of produce would not be enough to fully develop the agricultural sector.

 “We are also looking into how we can develop more agro based industries and we are looking into areas where we have co-operative advantage such as cassava and palm oil production with its value chain as well as  aqua culture” adding that “for us to go into agro processing we need market linkages which is a key factor to the success of the agricultural sector” he said.

 The governor expressed satisfaction with the partnership and gave assurance of the state government’s support to the agency.

 Earlier the Team Leader of the Department For International Development (DFID) Mr. Terry Lacey explained that the agency’s major goal was to act as a platform for investments to aid in the diversification of the agricultural sector in the state.

 He explained that “Our intention is to focus on the private sector, small farmers and above all to believe in the small farmers because they are the foundation to achieving a stable and sustainable economy for the state  because if some Deltans decide to become small scale farmers the internally generated revenue and the agriculture sector will see a tremendous boost and for this to happen the small scale farming has to be recognized by government and big scale farmers and companies”.

 Mr. Lacey gave assurance that they were ready to work with the state government to develop the agricultural sector.