Bayelsa @ 30: Sese Highlights Diri Administration’s Agricultural Drive, Food Security Efforts
As Bayelsa State marks its 30th anniversary, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof. Beke Tuboukiye Sese, has highlighted initiatives by the administration of Governor Douye Diri aimed at strengthening agriculture, empowering farmers and youths, and improving food security across the state.
Under the administration’s agricultural development agenda, farmers have received support through improved seeds, irrigation facilities and other inputs, particularly for rice production. The state has also invested in rice-processing equipment, with technical training provided for ministry personnel on the operation of newly installed rice mills.
The ministry said more than 20,000 bundles of cassava stems were distributed across Bayelsa’s eight local government areas during the 2024 dry farming season, with an estimated yield of about 6,700 tonnes of cassava tubers. More than 5,000 bags of fertiliser were also distributed to farmers to boost crop production.
Youth empowerment has also formed part of the agricultural programme, with young Bayelsans trained in cassava and fish farming, vegetable production and other areas of agribusiness. Beneficiaries have received starter packs and been organised into clusters to support their transition into agricultural entrepreneurship.
In the oil-palm subsector, the state has partnered with the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), which distributed 3,000 oil-palm seedlings to farmers as part of efforts to revive the industry. The state government has also announced plans to rehabilitate the Bayelsa Palm through partnerships and investment.
The ministry has further provided funding support to agricultural entrepreneurs while pursuing partnerships with development and international organisations to attract investment into production, processing and marketing.
Governor Diri has also directed increased support for farmers, including a monthly N200 million provision announced in January 2026, while setting a target of 300,000 kilogrammes of rice production by the end of the year.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the broader objective is to move Bayelsa from predominantly subsistence farming towards commercial agriculture, with greater emphasis on local production, processing, value addition and market access.
The agricultural initiatives form part of the broader activities being highlighted as Bayelsa commemorates 30 years of statehood, with agriculture positioned as one of the sectors through which the state can diversify its economy and strengthen food security.
Prof. Sese, while congratulating Bayelsans on the anniversary, said the vision remained focused on building an agricultural sector capable of creating wealth, generating opportunities for young people and contributing significantly to the state’s food supply.
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