As part of initiative to ensure food sufficiency in the State, the Bayelsa State government has assured residents of producing 300,000 bags of rice in the year 2026.
According to the government, the target would also create jobs as well as generate wealth for the state.
This was made known to TPCN on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof. Beke Sese.
Sese gave this assurance while officially handing over Farrow 71 and 72 rice seeds to local farmers in the state.
Bayelsa local farmers also received cutlasses, hoes, wheelbarrows, sprayers, herbicides and other farm tools during the handover.
The commissioner also assured the farmers of government’s dedication to protecting farmlands from destruction by herdsmen.
Also, Sese revealed that Governor Douye Diri has fulfilled his promise to provide a 200 million Naira monthly grant to farmers.
“The farrow 71 and 72 varieties is known for their high yield and ability to withstand the iron-rich soil and flooding conditions prevalent in the state,
and the herbicides to farmers at no cost is a strategic scientific advantage designed to help the state meet its rice production goals.
“Let me assure you of government’s dedication to protecting farmlands from destruction by herdsmen. Governor Douye Diri has fulfilled his promise to provide a 200 million naira monthly grant to farmers, the fund are subject to strict verification to ensure only genuine farmers get them.”
Representatives of various agricultural bodies, including the state chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr. Ndiomu Aweikumoh; the state chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Endoni ThankGod; representatives of the Otuokpoti Rice Cluster, Comrade Igbani Mercy; and the Nigerian Women in Agriculture (NIWA), Ebimotimi Leghemo, all expressed their appreciation to government for the support.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ikoboho Anthony Howells, cautioned beneficiaries against selling the distributed items and emphasized that the ministry would collaborate with security agencies to monitor the proper utilization of the farm inputs.
