*Rivers StateMkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Stakeholders in Rivers State have condemned the recent protests by some beneficiaries of the Farm to Future project, describing the demonstrations as an attempt to sabotage a strategic youth empowerment initiative.
The project, spearheaded by the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, has faced allegations of unpaid benefits, diversion of funds, and perceived marginalization.
However, stakeholders insist the Ministry and its partners should be allowed to implement the program to its intended conclusion without undue interference.
“Rivers State is in dire need of development in every critical sector,” one stakeholder said. “The Ministry of Agriculture and its partners deserve the benefit of the doubt to execute the program without being hounded by accusations.”
They further decried the perception that incentives from skills-based programs should be treated as cash handouts, warning that such practices have historically created dependency and stifled long-term growth.
Former Commissioner for Agriculture, Victor Kii, who was at the forefront of implementing the program, addressed the controversy in a press statement, urging calm, patience, and understanding.
Engineer Kii assured beneficiaries that “the empowerment phase will be implemented as soon as administrative normalcy is restored,” commending participants for their commitment and discipline during the training.
He urged them to uphold the program’s principles rather than misrepresenting its intentions.
He warned that treating the Farm to Future project as a mere avenue for quick cash benefits is counterproductive.
“Opportunistic thinking like this has historically undermined government efforts to achieve sustainable development,” he said.
Explaining the project’s objectives, Engineer Kii noted, “The program is a strategic intervention to equip young people in Rivers with practical skills and to nurture a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs. Five hundred beneficiaries received intensive agribusiness training in the first phase.”
He emphasized that the initiative follows global best practices, focusing on practical engagement rather than indiscriminate cash disbursement.
“At the end of the training in February, participants were encouraged to identify viable agricultural value chains individually or in cooperative clusters. They were also required to produce structured business proposals for review by the Ministry and appointed consultants. Successful proposals would be forwarded to the Bank of Agriculture, with the Rivers State Government providing guarantees.”
According to Engineer Kii, field inspections and evaluations are already underway for participants who have commenced practical activities, ensuring that the program fosters long-term benefits and sustainable development.
He acknowledged that the program was temporarily interrupted by the dissolution of the Rivers State Executive Council and renovations at the State Secretariat, but reassured that “the optimism and positive expectations that define the project remain intact.”
The statement underscores the Rivers State Government’s commitment to youth empowerment, agricultural entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic development through structured and supervised interventions.
