Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has directed the Commissioner for Agriculture and Pure Assets to make sure elevated manufacturing of made-in-Bayelsa rice by the top of 2026.
Talking on the state-owned rice farm at Otuasega group in Ogbia Native Authorities Space on Tuesday in the course of the flag off of the 2025/2026 dry farming season, Governor Diri expressed dissatisfaction with the rice harvest within the final farming season.
This was disclosed in an announcement issued by Daniel Alabrah, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor on Tuesday.
The governor acknowledged that having offered all the mandatory help to the ministry and the farmers, he was not happy that the state nonetheless procured rice from outdoors in the course of the Yuletide.
He additionally challenged the Agric Commissioner to make sure meals safety, noting that the state had comparative benefit in lots of crop areas and its soil doesn’t require fertiliser to supply natural crops.
He, nevertheless, lauded the commissioner and stakeholders within the sector for organising the occasion and urged the ministry to make sure that it was not only a yearly ritual however one which impacted positively on the lives of Bayelsans.
In line with the governor, agriculture was a veritable supply of diversification, which the state authorities had taken critically by investing closely in it.
He urged civil servants and all Bayelsans to be concerned in agriculture.
Governor Diri additionally acknowledged that the linkage between street and bridges and agriculture was that the administration was not solely connecting rural communities by these infrastructure however equally offering invaluable help to the agric sector and making transportation of farm produce from rural areas to the state capital simpler.
The Bayelsa helmsman remarked that in furtherance of presidency’s need to develop the sector, he has accredited a month-to-month grant of N200 million to farmers within the state.
He additionally accredited a request for a gathering with farmers in addition to the supply of farming inputs comparable to seedlings, herbicide and pesticide to enhance manufacturing.
On the difficulty of herdsmen destroying farmlands, Diri cautioned conventional rulers in opposition to offering land for herders within the forest, saying anybody discovered responsible might be sanctioned.
His phrases: “Let it not be that we come right here for a yearly ritual. That is one thing that impacts us as a individuals and so we should all take it critically. Meals safety will proceed to be a high precedence of my administration.
“Agriculture is a veritable supply of diversification. Agric strengthens our financial system.
“Transportation of produce from rural communities to the state capital is essential and that’s the reason we’re investing in agriculture and connecting communities. The roads and bridges help agriculture.
“Now we have developed partnerships and collaboration and we’ll proceed to companion with different companies to make sure that Bayelsa attains the anticipated meals safety.
“All our employees too should take part in agriculture accurately a tradition. We have to reverse what was occurring. Now, let our neighbours come and purchase from us. It’s a name to motion.
“My directive to the Commissioner for Agriculture is that by the top of 2026, we must always anticipate 300,000 kilogrammes of rice. I don’t need to proceed to purchase rice from outdoors Bayelsa State for our individuals. Produce and authorities will purchase from you.
“On the difficulty of herdsmen, they don’t stay in our farms. What’s appropriate is that they transfer and destroy crops. Let me state once more that our anti-grazing regulation remains to be in drive. Contact any safety company in circumstances of herdsmen destruction reasonably than going to social media.
“Let me warn our conventional rulers who give herdsmen land in our forests that anybody caught might be sanctioned. Bayelsa have to be protected and we should all contribute to the security.
“For our farmers, we’ll all the time help you. Honourable Commissioner, determine the true farmers within the state and what I used to be doing for MSMEs can even be carried out for farmers. So, N200 million month-to-month will now be put aside to help our farmers.”
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Pure Assets, Prof. Beke Sese, stated the occasion was a reaffirmation of the unwavering dedication of the state authorities to meals safety.
He recommended the governor for his large funding within the agric sector, saying it has been the driving drive behind the success being celebrated.
Of their separate remarks, representatives of All Farmers Affiliation Of Nigeria, Bayelsa State chapter, Nigerian Girls in Agriculture Enterprise, Nigeria Agricultural Insurance coverage Company and the Central Financial institution of Nigeria amongst others hailed Governor Diri’s help to farmers, which they stated had drastically improved the agricultural sector within the state.
