SUSTAINABLE POULTRY AND AQUACULTURE WILL REDUCE HUNGER AND POVERTY FOR MANY FAMILIES IN NIGER DELTA – GEN. BOROH

SUSTAINABLE POULTRY AND AQUACULTURE WILL REDUCE HUNGER AND POVERTY FOR MANY FAMILIES IN NIGER DELTA – GEN. BOROH

Special adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd) has again stressed the economic importance of aquaculture, adding that sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices would reduce hunger and poverty in many families in the Niger Delta region.

Gen. Boroh who was represented by the Head of Niger Delta office of the Programme, Engr. Jude Gbaboyor at the graduation of twenty four delegates at Shongai Farms, Amukpe in Delta state on fish farming and poultry on Monday, February 19, 2018, maintained that the agro-allied industry is such a lucrative and profitable venture, capable of creating employment opportunities for youths as well as provide balanced-diet for many families.

According to the Amnesty Coordinator, aquaculture also presents its self as tourism attraction and could reduce poverty, unemployment and malnutrition, while empowering youths to be self-reliant and entrepreneurs in their communities, reiterating that sustainable agricultural practice has the potential of also attracting investors to rural settings, which is the focus of the ongoing sustainable reintegration phase of the programme.

He hinted that the Amnesty office will empower the backlog of trained delegates across the Niger Delta region soon as part of the ongoing sustainable reintegration process of the ex-agitators back to their communities.

He however, stressed that rearing birds or fishery would require proper attention, time investment, patience and research, just as he enjoined the graduands to judiciously utilize the knowledge they have acquired during the one month empowerment training in fish/poultry farming.

Also speaking, the Deputy General Manager at Shongai Farms Amaukpe, Delta, Mr Ifowodo Ramos said the twenty four delegates from the Amnesty Programme were trained on poultry or fishery, adding that “being in the farm, we tried to broaden their horizon by introducing them to other areas of integrated farm system in agriculture so that the period they stayed here, they have been well trained”.

“So individually, on their own, they can set up their own farms, either poultry or fishery; any one they deemed fit, that they can perform very well with the training they have acquired from Shongai Delta, Amukpe.

“You see, our training is on the job, which does not even require much of your academic knowledge. Whether you are a degree holder or not you can fit into our training because our training here is very practical. We train you on the job, so irrespective of your academic background; you will be able to fit into the training.

Earlier, a representative of the managing director Jife Consulting Limited, Ms Runnyi Ekponta had thanked the Amnesty boss for giving her company the opportunity to train the delegates in fishery and poultry, informing that the delegates were well behaved throughout the training,

A representative of the delegates, Mr Moni Emeka, who commended the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for his foresight in training empowering youths in the region through agriculture, promised to do everything within their reach to apply the knowledge acquired during the training to set up their own farms.

He however appealed for extension of the duration of the training, instead of having just one month to six months if possible.Piriye Kiyaromo (Media Consultant)

Niger Delta Regional Office (Presidential Amnesty Programme) Boro Town Orubiri

Feb 20th, 2018.