In what could be described as a swift response to President Goodluck Jonathan move to diversify the Nigerian economy from dependence on oil, the Niger Delta Development Commission has trained eleven agric engineers in mechanized farming implement.

The beneficiaries that returned to Nigeria last night after two weeks of intensive training in India on tractor maintenance and operation are expected to drive the commission’s mechanized agro development plan across the region.

Receiving the agric engineers today in Port Harcourt, the Managing Director, Dr Christian Oboh described them as ambassadors of the commission built to shoulder the interventionist agency banner across the Niger Delta in the Federal Government quest for an agro economy.

While praising the beneficiaries for their orderly conduct throughout the training he noted that the knowledge acquired will strengthened the one billion Naira revolving loan scheme initiated recently for Niger Delta farmers in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture.

“We have deployed the N1bn agric loan, which means that you have more farmers now that you will attend to. I have also been informed that we have more farmers on ground apart from the ones we are expecting,, get down to business immediately” the M/D urged.

In her introductory remark, the Director, Agric and Fisheries, Dr Mrs Akwagaga Enyia explained that the training arose out of the need to train the staff who will further train others on tractor maintenance and operation.

Team leader, Mr Ene-Ita Ene Okpo thanked the commission for the opportunity, assuring that they will put their experience in practice.

“Our training was fruitful and rewarding, we were trained at the Research and Development Centre on how to dismantle and couple various kinds of tractors” he said.