Bayelsa Targets Increased Rice Production by 2026

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has directed the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources to scale up the production of locally grown rice, insisting that the state must achieve self-sufficiency by the end of 2026.

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

Diri expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the last rice harvest, noting that despite the government’s support for farmers, the state still procured rice from outside Bayelsa during the Yuletide period.

He challenged the Ministry of Agriculture to prioritise food security, stressing that Bayelsa has a comparative advantage in crop production, with soil conditions suitable for organic farming without heavy reliance on fertiliser.

While commending the Commissioner for Agriculture and stakeholders for organising the event, the governor urged the ministry to ensure that the dry season farming initiative delivers measurable benefits to residents and is not treated as an annual ritual.

According to Diri, agriculture remains a key pillar of the state’s economic diversification drive, with the government investing significantly in the sector to strengthen food production and livelihoods.

He encouraged civil servants and residents to actively engage in agriculture, describing farming as a culture that must be revived across the state.

The governor also linked ongoing investments in road and bridge construction to agricultural development, saying improved infrastructure would ease the transportation of farm produce from rural communities to urban centres.

In further support of farmers, Diri announced the approval of a N200 million monthly grant to boost agricultural activities across the state. He also approved a meeting with farmers and the provision of essential inputs, including seedlings, herbicides, and pesticides, to enhance productivity.

On security, the governor warned traditional rulers against allocating forest land to herders, stressing that the state’s anti-grazing law remains in force.

He said anyone found protecting or harbouring herdsmen who destroy farmlands would be sanctioned, urging farmers to report such incidents to security agencies rather than resorting to social media.

“My directive to the Commissioner for Agriculture is that by the end of 2026, we should be producing at least 300,000 kilogrammes of rice. I do not want Bayelsa to continue buying rice from outside,” Diri said, adding that government would patronise local producers.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof. Beke Sese, said the event reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to food security, crediting the governor’s investments as the driving force behind improvements in the sector.

Representatives of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Bayelsa chapter, Nigerian Women in Agriculture Business, the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, among others, commended the governor for his consistent support, saying it had significantly boosted agricultural activities in the state.