Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has announced the end of cash incentives to farmers in the state, instead opting to provide technical assistance to ensure a successful farming season and harvest. This decision was made during the unveiling of the 2024/2025 dry season farming, held at the state Rice Farm at Otuasega in the Ogbia Local Government Area.
The event, themed “Right To Foods For A Better Life And A Better Future,” aimed to boost agricultural productivity and ensure food security in the state. Governor Diri emphasized that his administration would support farmers through training programs, focusing on areas such as soil preparation, irrigation, soil-less farming, and post-harvest management.
Diri also directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to assist farmers in embarking on aggressive rice, cassava, and plantain farming, as well as other crops where the state has a comparative advantage. He encouraged all appointees to engage in farming, stating that farming is now a big business, and the government is constructing roads to the hinterlands to facilitate produce transportation.
The governor expressed disappointment that despite funds disbursed to trainees after their CSS training, the state has yet to see positive results. He announced that his administration would no longer give cash incentives to trainees, instead encouraging them to take advantage of agricultural loan schemes and repay the obtained loans.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof. Beke Sese, stated that the government would cultivate about 208 hectares of rice farms in various locations, with an estimated yield of up to 16,640 bags of rice paddies. The ministry is collaborating with international partners, including France, South Korea, and the United States Agency for International Development, to bring in global best practices and investments in the agricultural sector.
