Having acknowledged that Delta state has tremendous potentials in agriculture, Governor Okowa within three months set up six new schemes to grow the agro -industrial sector of the economy, namely Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurial Programme (YEGEP), Skill Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP), Tractorisation, Extension of Microcredit and Agricultural Loans and Development of Agro-industries.
The policy objectives of these programmes are aimed at creating jobs and wealth, to diversify the economy, engage the youths in productive enterprise, nurture entrepreneurs and leaders, promote communal peace and security and develop database of employment and unemployed youths for planning purposes.
Another milestone of the Job and Wealth Creation Scheme (OkowaPlus) was achieved with the distribution of production inputs to farmers and transfer of government purchased tractors with implements to farmers' cooperative societies.
Designed for existing farmers, the Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP) is aimed at boosting agricultural production through the provision of more efficient inputs, technologies and technical support.
With the successful take-off of the PPSP, the Senator Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration's vision to create wealth and diversify the Delta State Economy is indeed a reality.