N4.5 billion moribund Songhai farms may go commercial

The Rivers state owned N4.5 billion Songhai farm, which has become moribund as a result of government’s neglect, may get a new lease of life soon as the state is considering commercialization for its revival.

Tammy Jaja, the centre manager, reacting to the deplorable state of the farm established by former governor, Chibuike Amaechi, in Port-Harcourt on Tuesday said the government was already in discussion with some private investors with a view to commercialising the farm.

“We hope the process will be concluded quickly. Production at the farm is very low; we are hoping that the ongoing process will inject life into the farm by encouraging full operation. The moment the new administrators take over the centre, you can be sure that we will be back to work in full swing,” he said.

The Songhai Rivers Initiative Farm (SRIF), conceived to replicate better model in developing agriculture being practiced in Porto Novo, Benin Republic has progressively decayed over the last three years. The plan to carve a hub of agricultural development that facilitates commercial farming, agricultural tourism, entrepreneurship training and research was abandoned as the Amaechi administrated came to a halt.

The farm is an interconnected site at the heart of six regional farms, each with a minimum of 500 hectares. The regional farms are sited within a local government area where small holder farmers get support from them.