Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State on Tuesday directed the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Beke Sese, to ensure a significant increase in the production of locally made Bayelsa rice by the end of 2026.
The directive came during the flag-off of the 2025/2026 dry farming season at the state-owned rice farm in Otuasega community, Ogbia Local Government Area.
Daniel Alabrah, Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, stated in a release that the governor expressed dissatisfaction with the rice harvest from the previous season, despite providing full support to the ministry and farmers.
Diri stressed that it was unacceptable for the state to still procure rice from outside during the Yuletide period.
He challenged the commissioner to ensure food security, noting that Bayelsa enjoys a comparative advantage in several crop areas and fertile soil that does not require fertiliser for the production of organic crops.
Diri also commended the commissioner and stakeholders in the agricultural sector for organising the event but urged that it should not be a mere annual ritual.
“This is something that affects us as a people and so we must all take it seriously. Food security will continue to be a top priority of my administration,” he said.
Highlighting agriculture as a key driver of economic diversification, the governor said his administration had invested heavily in the sector.
He encouraged civil servants and all Bayelsans to actively participate in agriculture, emphasising the link between rural infrastructure and farming.
According to Diri, roads and bridges not only connect communities but also facilitate the transportation of farm produce from rural areas to the state capital, enhancing market access.
In a bid to further develop the sector, the governor announced a monthly grant of N200 million for farmers and approved requests for the provision of farming inputs, including seedlings, herbicides, and pesticides. He also called for structured engagement with farmers to ensure optimal production.
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Addressing the issue of herdsmen destroying farmlands, Diri cautioned traditional rulers against allocating forest land to herders, warning that anyone found culpable would face sanctions.
“Our anti-grazing law is still in force. Contact security agencies in cases of herdsmen destruction rather than using social media,” he said.
Diri set a target for the state to produce 300,000 kilogrammes of rice by the end of 2026, reiterating, “I do not want to continue buying rice from outside Bayelsa. The government and the people will buy from our farmers.”
He further pledged continued support to farmers, urging the identification of genuine farmers to ensure the N200 million monthly intervention reached the right beneficiaries.
Commissioner Sese described the event as a reaffirmation of the state government’s commitment to food security and praised the governor for his substantial investment in agriculture, which he said had driven the sector’s recent successes.
Representatives of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (Bayelsa State chapter), Nigerian Women in Agriculture Business, Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, among others, lauded Diri’s support, highlighting its transformative impact on the state’s agricultural sector.
