Bayelsa Govt reaffirms commitment to diversify economy through agric revolution

By: Odieh Ramon, Yenagoa.

The Bayelsa State Government has reaffirmed its determination to diversify its economy, promote food security, job and wealth creation by revolutionising the agricultural sector.

To achieve this, the government says it is poised to, among other approaches, aggressively pursue conservation agriculture and regenerative farming to boost food production in the state.

Meanwhile, the state delegation led by the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, comprising top government functionaries, including chairmen of the eight local government areas, had rounded off a week-long agricultural study tour to the East Central African country of Rwanda.

Speaking during a panel discussion session in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, explained that the study tour was aimed at strengthening knowledge in modern agricultural practices such as mechanization and climate-smart food production technologies.

Other officials who participated in the discussions included the Chief Executive of Rwanda Cooperation, Ms. Patricie Uwase, and the Vice Chancellor of the Rwandan Institute for Conservative Agriculture (RICA), Dr. Olusegun Yerokun.

Sharing his experience from the study tour, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof. Bekes Sese, described the choice of Rwanda as very appropriate and rewarding as the East African country shares a lot of similarities with Nigeria in terms of climate and other environmental conditions.

Prof. Sese, who gave thumbs up to Rwanda for its clean environment and current level of agricultural production, said the same could be replicated in Nigeria, and especially in Bayelsa with proper organization and attitudinal behaviour.

According to him, the tour exposed the delegation to field observation of soil erosion control trials, technical demonstration on artificial insemination in pigs, water-use efficiency, and mechanization in crop production.

While encouraging Bayelsans to embrace farming and self-reliance, the Agric commissioner informed that the Governor Douye Diri-led administration is making conscious efforts to change the state’s agricultural trajectory for good.

He said: “We visited the Rwandan Institute for Conservation Agriculture, and associated facilities located at the Bugesera District, Eastern Province of Rwanda.

“The delegation also had the privilege to have field observation of erosion control trials, biosecurity on livestock production, and climate-smart irrigation technologies, with a visit to the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) facility that converts organic waste into high-protein livestock feed and fertilizer.

“I believe the beautiful things, including the clean environment in Rwanda, can be replicated here in Nigeria, even in Bayelsa, with proper organization and the right attitude.

The Bayelsa delegation to Rwanda included the Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Governor’s Office, Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule, and his Marine and Blue Economy counterpart, Dr. Faith Azibenua Zibbs-Godwin.

Others were the eight local government chairmen and their respective heads of the agriculture department, and a director from the Bayelsa State Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, as well as Mr. Ebiuwou Abeki.

Recall that the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, had charged chairmen of the eight local government areas to key into his administration’s effort to boost agriculture by investing in crops where their areas have a comparative advantage to ensure food security and job creation.