Bayelsa targets 300 tonnes of local rice by year-end

Bayelsa State Government is focusing on 300,000 kilogrammes of regionally produced rice by the tip of 2026.

This effort goals to cut back dependence on exterior meals provides and switch agriculture right into a supply of jobs and wealth.

The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Beke Sese, disclosed this on Friday through the 2026 World Food Day celebration in Yenagoa. He mentioned the federal government’s rice milling plant was operational and its merchandise had been present process laboratory evaluation for meals and dietary certification forward of their market launch.

Mr Sese mentioned the federal government was cultivating 106 hectares of rice and shopping for paddy from supplying communities to provide farmers a assured marketplace for their produce.

The goal comes as Governor Douye Diri’s administration urges younger individuals to take up agriculture towards strengthening meals safety in a state whose riverine terrain, flooding and depleted fish shares pose distinct challenges to meals manufacturing.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Peter Akpe, Mr Diri mentioned agriculture ought to be considered as a viable profession fairly than a punishment, charging younger individuals to grab alternatives in farming as a substitute of remaining idle whereas ready for white-collar jobs.

The governor spoke on the celebration, held on the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, below the theme, “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow.”

The occasion additionally highlighted government-backed agricultural programmes and help for farmers throughout the state’s eight local authorities areas.

Rice manufacturing, farmers’ help

Mr Sese mentioned greater than 17,300 farmers had acquired direct help by way of varied agricultural programmes since 2020, together with the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme, Diri BOOST and the Prosperity Farmers Grant Scheme.

He mentioned 2,106 farmers, fishers and processors acquired grants in 2026 alone, with beneficiaries increasing their manufacturing and processing actions.

According to the commissioner, the state’s rice milling plant has a processing capability of 410 tonnes day by day and is working at optimum capability.

“We are cultivating 106 hectares of rice and buying paddy from the communities we supply, so that while you plant, you know a buyer is waiting,” he mentioned.

Mr Sese mentioned the federal government was working towards the governor’s goal of producing 300,000 kilogrammes of regionally branded rice by the tip of the 12 months.

The said goal is equal to 300 tonnes of rice, though the federal government didn’t present particulars of how a lot rice had already been produced towards assembly the goal.

The administration’s fast problem is to translate its funding in farming, processing and grants into ample, inexpensive meals for residents.

Mr Diri mentioned the federal government had distributed seedlings and different farm inputs to hundreds of farmers throughout the state and partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria to put in rice mills at Niger Delta University and the Federal University, Otuoke.

He mentioned the federal government had additionally commenced its maiden dry-season farming programme at Otuasega Farm in Ogbia Local Government Area and partnered with CSS Integrated Farms to coach younger individuals in fashionable agricultural strategies.

Flooding, air pollution, meals safety

The governor charged younger individuals to undertake farming strategies suited to Bayelsa’s terrain, together with flood-tolerant crop varieties, soilless farming and fashionable aquaculture.

He additionally referred to as for funding in meals processing, storage and cold-chain infrastructure to cut back post-harvest losses.

The emphasis on aquaculture follows considerations concerning the state’s fisheries, which the governor attributed partly to air pollution that has depleted wild fish shares.

Mr Diri requested monetary establishments to make credit score extra accessible to smallholder farmers and inspired civil servants and households to practise yard farming.

He mentioned the federal government would proceed to supply an enabling setting for agriculture, together with entry roads, bridges to farms, help for farming settlements and improved safety for farmers and their crops.

“Let me be frank: government cannot do it alone, and it should not try to do so. Our role as a government is to create an enabling environment and provide access roads,” he mentioned.

“Our focus on roads cannot be derailed. We must construct bridges to farms and support farming settlements. We must also continue to improve security for farmers and their crops.”

He urged younger individuals to return to farming, noting that folks from outdoors Bayelsa had been already exploiting the state’s agricultural potential.

The governor additionally cautioned herders in opposition to attacking farmers, saying the state’s regulation criminalising open grazing remained in drive.

He recommended the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises within the Niger Delta programme for supporting younger individuals to ascertain agribusinesses.

He additionally cited the Peremabiri Farmers Cluster for example of what organised and progressive farmers might obtain.

At the occasion, the National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Farouk Mudi, introduced Mr Diri with an Award of Excellence, naming him the nation’s finest governor in agricultural connectivity and farmers’ help.

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Mr Mudi mentioned the award was based mostly on the affiliation’s analysis and evaluation of agricultural programmes throughout states. He mentioned the initiative, launched in August, would recognise 12 governors, with two chosen from every of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The state authorities has set a deadline of the tip of 2026 to provide 300 tonnes of regionally branded rice, with Mr Diri directing the agriculture ministry to make sure the product is obtainable to residents through the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Whether the goal might be met will depend upon the state’s capability to maintain manufacturing, safe dependable provides from farmers and transfer processed rice from its mills to shoppers.