Bayelsa Agriculture Ministry Records Major Gains In Food Security, Farmer Empowerment Under Sese
The Bayelsa State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has recorded significant achievements in agricultural development, food security and farmer empowerment under the leadership of the Commissioner, Prof. Beke Tuboukiye Sese, as part of the Prosperity Administration of Governor Senator Douye Diri.
The ministry's interventions, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and improving the livelihoods of farmers across the state, have continued to strengthen Bayelsa's drive toward sustainable food production and economic diversification.
Among the landmark initiatives is the launch of the ₦200 million monthly Prosperity Farmers Grant Scheme, which provides financial support to farmers across the state to increase agricultural production and enhance their incomes.
The ministry has also distributed improved FARO 71 and FARO 72 rice seeds alongside other farm inputs to encourage local rice production and improve food security. To further support rice farmers, the government introduced an off-take programme for locally produced rice paddies, guaranteeing farmers a ready market and encouraging increased cultivation.
In addition, hundreds of farmers and cooperative societies have benefited from the free distribution of agricultural equipment and inputs, including pumping machines, more than 500 knapsack sprayers, herbicides, nutrients, machetes, shovels and other essential farming tools.
The ministry has also strengthened rice farmer clusters in Peremabiri, Ekowe, Ikoromogbene and other rice-producing communities to enhance productivity and collaboration among farmers.
A major milestone was the remodeling of the state's rice processing mill at the School to Land Authority along Imiringi Road with the installation of modern facilities, including an automated boiler, automated dryer, paddy cleaners and a colour selector. The upgraded facility is expected to improve rice processing, create employment opportunities and add value to locally produced rice.
In another strategic move to attract investment into the agricultural sector, the Bayelsa State Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dangote Group to promote large-scale rice production and agricultural investment in the state.
The ministry has also established a four-hectare demonstration farm at Ogboloma in Yenagoa Local Government Area, where yam, pepper and tomatoes are cultivated to showcase modern farming techniques. Similarly, a coconut demonstration plantation has been developed at Otuokpoti in Ogbia Local Government Area to encourage coconut production and agricultural diversification.
To promote agricultural research and practical learning, the government established a 15-hectare rice demonstration farm at the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, while more than 20,000 improved TME 419 cassava stems have been distributed to farmers across the state to boost cassava production.
The ministry has also maintained sustained engagement with farmers, cooperative societies, traditional institutions and development partners while promoting peaceful communities as a foundation for attracting government interventions and private-sector investments in agriculture.
Observers say the various initiatives reflect the government's commitment to agricultural mechanisation, value addition, rural development, youth participation, job creation and the industrialisation of agriculture in Bayelsa State.
The achievements are widely seen as reinforcing Governor Douye Diri's vision of making agriculture a key driver of economic growth, food sufficiency and sustainable development under the Prosperity Administration.
