The Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) flagged off its harvests at the Integrated Farm Service Centres with a call on the Agency to employ more  youths in its areas of operation. The call was made by the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Dumnamene Deekor, during the flag off ceremony at Kpaa Town in Khana Local Government Area of the State.

The  Deputy Speaker,, lauded the idea behind the establishment of the RSSDA, and thanked the Agency for its projects in the rural areas. In his speech, the Council boss of Khana Local Government Area, Hon. Greg Nwidam, represented by the Supervisor of Agric., Hon. Dorka Dedam, thanked the RSSDA team for siting the Zonal Integrated Service Centre at Khana LGA. He further charged the Agency to do more, and also pledged the support of the Council to the Agency.

Speaking on behalf of the host Kpaa communities, the spokesperson for the four clans said RSSDA has done well by putting into use the  large hectares of land that had been lying fallow over the years, even after they were donated to past organisations. The landlord communities also lauded the large harvest witnessed on that day.

Meanwhile, the Manager, Strategy and Planning of RSSDA, Mr Sylvester Okoh, while addressing the press, said  the Integrated Farm Centres in the four major zones would service all  farmers and related businesses around the area . He added that the project will also provide employment opportunities for about 350 youths per Centre. Mr Okoh stated that the State Songhai Centre still serves as the main agricultural hub in the State.

The Strategy and Planning Manager expressed optimism that, by the end of the year 2010, a total of 12,000hectares would have been cultivated on this special intervention programme.