Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged the chairmen of the state’s eight local government areas to actively support his administration’s agricultural initiatives aimed at achieving food sufficiency, job creation, and economic diversification.
Speaking during a meeting at Government House in Yenagoa, Diri emphasized that agriculture remains a key pillar of his development agenda and called on the council leaders to harness their communities’ agricultural potential.
The governor highlighted the importance of large-scale farming and a strengthened agricultural value chain in ensuring food security and creating wealth across the state.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor directed the chairmen to collaborate with relevant ministries, including Agriculture and Natural Resources, Marine and Blue Economy, Lands and Survey, and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
He also tasked them with setting up demonstration farms in their areas under the supervision of Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Diri encouraged the chairmen to identify crops best suited to their local environments and venture into vegetable and fruit cultivation, aquaculture, and poultry farming. He also urged them to personally own farms and support local farmers by purchasing their produce to drive up local food production.
He further stressed the need to revive abandoned farmlands and secure additional land for agricultural development as part of his administration’s long-term strategy.
His words: “Now we are working with the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and they are establishing Fish Terminals, beginning with Bayelsa State. We want to see how far that will go.
“So, we are looking at how from one fish terminal, all our local governments will also have fish terminals as we project into the future.
“I already directed all chairmen to own farms and maybe fish farms. Like I said, fishing is compulsory for all of you in all our local government areas.
“I want to see government officials involved in farming so that you are giving what you already have. The next time I will meet with you, I want to hear about the farms that you own.”
In their responses, several council chairmen including Tariye Leilei (Kolokuma/Opokuma), Jeremiah Golden (Ogbia), Alice Tangi (Sagbama), Bulodiseyi Ndiwari (Yenagoa), Target Segibo (Southern Ijaw), and Isaac Onniye (Ekeremor) pledged their commitment to the governor’s vision.
They shared their ongoing efforts and future plans to boost food production in their respective LGAs, while also acknowledging the challenges on ground.
The chairmen praised the governor’s proactive approach to agriculture, expressing confidence in the state’s ability to achieve food self-sufficiency.
