The Bayelsa State Government is targeting 300 tonnes of locally produced rice by the end of 2026. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Beke Sese, disclosed this on Friday during the 2026 World Food Day celebration in Yenagoa. The state is cultivating 106 hectares of rice. It is buying paddy from supplying communities. The rice milling plant is operational. Its products are undergoing laboratory analysis for certification ahead of market launch.
Bayelsa has long depended on food imports and federal allocations. Its riverine terrain, flooding and depleted fish stocks make farming difficult. Previous agricultural programmes have struggled to scale. The state’s rice milling plant has a processing capacity of 410 tonnes daily. It is operating at optimal capacity. The current effort aims to reduce dependence on external food supplies.
Sese said more than 17,300 farmers have received direct support since 2020. The programmes include the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme, Diri BOOST and the Prosperity Farmers Grant Scheme. In 2026 alone, 2,106 farmers, fishers and processors received grants. The government is buying paddy from communities to guarantee a market. Governor Douye Diri urged young people to embrace farming. He said agriculture should be seen as a viable career, not a punishment. He spoke through Deputy Governor Peter Akpe. The theme was “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow.”
The target is modest. 300 tonnes is a fraction of national demand. But it is symbolic. The state is trying to build a local food system. The immediate challenge is translating investment into affordable food for residents. The government did not say how much rice had been produced so far.
Winners: Rice farmers in Bayelsa, who gain a guaranteed market. Youths who take up farming, who gain opportunities. The local economy, which gains activity. The state government, which shows initiative. Losers: Rice importers, who lose market share. Those waiting for white-collar jobs, who may miss the opportunity. The state, if the target is missed. Taxpayers, if the investment does not deliver.
Bottom Line: Three hundred tonnes is a start. Bayelsa cannot feed itself yet. The milling plant works. The farmers are planting. The market is guaranteed. The target is small. The ambition is not. Execution will decide whether this is a photo opportunity or a foundation.