Bayelsa @ 30: Sese’s Agricultural Drive Positions Food Production As New Engine Of Growth

As Bayelsa State celebrates 30 years of its creation, the administration of Governor Douye Diri is placing renewed emphasis on agriculture as a pathway to food security, youth employment, economic diversification and the development of local value chains.

The agricultural transformation drive, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources under Commissioner Prof. Beke Tuboukiye Sese, has combined direct support to farmers with investments in processing, skills development, partnerships and agricultural infrastructure.

One of the notable interventions has been the expansion of rice production. During the 2025/2026 dry farming season, Governor Diri approved a ₦200 million monthly grant for farmers and directed the ministry to increase the production of made-in-Bayelsa rice. The governor also set a target of 300,000 kilogrammes of rice production by the end of 2026, stressing that Bayelsa should reduce its dependence on rice brought in from other states. 

The state has also strengthened the rice value chain beyond cultivation. Modern milling equipment, including automated dryers, boilers and colour-separation machines, has been procured to complement existing facilities supplied through a partnership with the Korean government. The equipment is designed to support processing capacity of up to 40 tonnes of rice daily. 

From Cassava Farms To Household Food Security

Cassava has equally become an important component of the state's food-security strategy. More than 20,000 bundles of cassava stems were distributed across Bayelsa's eight local government areas during the 2024 dry farming season, with a projected yield of about 6,700 tonnes of cassava tubers. More than 5,000 bags of fertiliser were also distributed to farmers.

Beyond the numbers, the impact is being linked to the availability and affordability of staple foods. Governor Diri, while speaking during the state's World Food Day activities, noted reports of declining prices of garri and other essential commodities and encouraged greater investment in cassava production. 

The administration is also looking at the processing side of the cassava economy. The Ebedebiri Starch Company remains part of the state's agricultural assets, while officials have acknowledged the need to improve its capacity and ensure adequate cassava supply for industrial processing. 

Investing In Young Farmers

A major feature of the agricultural programme is its focus on young people.

Government records show that hundreds of Bayelsan youths have received training through agricultural programmes, including training at CSS Integrated Farms in Nasarawa State and programmes in soilless and greenhouse farming in Ogun State. In 2025, another batch of 200 youths was approved for training in cassava, fish farming and vegetable production, with beneficiaries receiving starter packs and being organised into clusters. 

The strategy represents a shift from simply distributing agricultural inputs to developing a new generation of agripreneurs who can produce, process and market agricultural commodities.

Reviving Oil Palm And Other Agricultural Assets

Oil palm is another area receiving attention. The Ministry of Agriculture has partnered with the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) to improve farmers' access to quality seedlings.

The state is also examining the rehabilitation of the Bayelsa Oil Palm Estate through partnerships with private investors. During discussions with a French agricultural delegation, officials identified the estate and other agricultural assets as areas requiring renewed investment and modernisation. A private-sector participant estimated that a fully operational oil-palm estate could create more than 2,000 jobs. 

The state's broader PPP framework also identifies agriculture and agribusiness—including mechanised farming, aquaculture, storage, processing and export ventures—as priority areas for private-sector participation. 

Agriculture Meets Infrastructure

For Bayelsa, agricultural development is closely connected to infrastructure.

Governor Diri has repeatedly linked roads and bridges to the movement of farm produce from rural communities to markets. In the fisheries sector, government announced the rehabilitation of fish farms at Yenigue and Angalabiri and approved a road linking Glory Drive to the Yenigue fish farm to facilitate the evacuation of produce. 

This approach recognises that increased production alone does not guarantee food security or higher farmer incomes. Farmers also need access to processing facilities, storage, transportation and reliable markets.

Opening Agriculture To Science And Technology

Another emerging dimension is the use of science and technology to address Bayelsa's unique agricultural environment.

In June 2026, the state expressed its readiness to partner with the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) on biotechnology, agricultural research, improved crop varieties, fish production and other technology-driven opportunities. NBRDA also identified Bayelsa's aquatic resources, biodiversity and agricultural potential as opportunities for biotechnology-driven economic development. 

The Ministry's stated agricultural vision is similarly centred on innovative solutions, modern farming techniques, financial support, stronger partnerships and a market-driven approach capable of positioning commodities such as cassava, palm oil and fisheries for wider markets. 

The Bigger Picture At 30

At 30, Bayelsa's agricultural story is therefore moving beyond the traditional question of how to support farmers to a broader conversation about food production, processing, value addition, employment, investment and economic diversification.

The challenge ahead will be sustaining these interventions, ensuring that support reaches genuine farmers, expanding processing capacity and creating dependable markets for locally produced commodities.

For Prof. Sese and the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the stated objective is clear: to help move Bayelsa from predominantly subsistence agriculture towards a commercially viable sector capable of feeding the state, creating jobs and generating wealth.

As Bayelsa marks three decades of statehood, agriculture is increasingly being presented as one of the sectors capable of shaping the state's next chapter.

Bayelsa @ 30 — 30 Years of Resilience, Growth and Progress.