Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to significantly increase the production of locally grown rice by the end of 2026, in an effort to push the state towards food security and agricultural self-sufficiency.

The governor issued the directive on Tuesday during the flag-off of the 2025/2026 dry farming season at the state-owned rice farm in Otuasega community, Ogbia Local Government Area. 

He expressed dissatisfaction with the previous harvest, noting that Bayelsa still relied on rice supplies from outside the state during the last Yuletide period despite government support to farmers.

Diri stressed that agriculture remained central to his administration’s economic diversification strategy, adding that Bayelsa’s fertile soil gives it a natural advantage in producing organic crops without heavy fertiliser use. 

He challenged the Commissioner for Agriculture to ensure that government investments translate into tangible outcomes for farmers and residents.

To strengthen production, the governor approved a monthly grant of ₦200 million to support farmers across the state. 

He also authorised the provision of key farming inputs, including seedlings, herbicides and pesticides, and called for a direct engagement meeting with genuine farmers to better understand their needs.

Highlighting the link between infrastructure and agriculture, Diri said the state’s ongoing road and bridge projects were designed to ease the movement of farm produce from rural communities to urban markets. 

He urged civil servants and residents to embrace farming as a culture and a shared responsibility.

On security, the governor reaffirmed the enforcement of Bayelsa’s anti-grazing law and warned traditional rulers against allocating forest land to herders, stating that violators would be sanctioned. 

He advised farmers to report incidents of crop destruction to security agencies.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof Beke Sese, described the event as a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to food security. 

Representatives of farmer groups, women-led agribusiness organisations and financial institutions also commended the administration for policies that have improved agricultural productivity in the state.

Source: Bayelsa’s Govt New Media