From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Government has restated its commitment to partner investors towards making the state a hub for agricultural development as part of efforts to guarantee food security and sustainable development.

The State Governor, Senator Douye Diri stated this on Thursday when he received Dr Sonia Darracq of the France Embassey, who is the Regional Agricultural Counsellor for Togo, Benin Republic, Ghana, and Nigeria, in Government House, Yenagoa.

Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor noted that the government had already developed the A.S.S.U.R.E.D Agenda which is a comprehensive framework built on seven pillars.

According to him, the first pillar of the agenda is hinged on the Agricultural Revolution and Blue Economy which will focus on revolutionising the agricultural sector as part of the state’s development strategy.

Senator Diri highlighted the four major crops where the state has comparative advantage to include, rice, plantain, cassava and aquaculture, stressing the need to collaborate with investors to enhance agricultural practices through advanced techniques and technologies.

He expressed optimism that such effort will help to promote food security, agro-business as well as boost the agricultural value chain in the state.

His words: “Bayelsa is a virgin land and l believes we can do a lot together.  Our intention is to make Bayelsa a hub for production of four crops namely rice, plantain, cassava and aquaculture where the state has comparative advantage. We are blessed with a very fertile soil. Rice can be grown in Bayelsa three times in a year.

“We are ready to partner you. Like you said, there are areas that will focus on private-sector driven agriculture. What we need is equipment but that may not be in your template.

“While we are desirous of your help, let the help be in tandem with the template you have because that is the only way we can make progress.”

He urged the Dr Darracq-led team to explore areas of collaboration with the state particularly where immediate success indicators could be achieved, noting that Bayelsa was ready to go into partnership to develop the agricultural sector with its competent team of government officials.

Senator Diri, who described Bayelsa as a peaceful and hospitable state, said agriculture has the potential to facilitate industrialisation and called for investors that would help harness the state’s vast agricultural resources under its blue economy.

In her remarks, Dr Sonia Darracq of the France Embassey, Regional Agricultural Counsellor for Togo, Benin Republic, Ghana, and Nigeria, said the team was in Bayelsa State to seek areas of partnership with the government in the development of the agricultural sector and technical education.

Darracq, who noted that they were also into developing agricultural business to make farming more attractive and lucrative, requested for the state government’s plans on agriculture, to enable the French Embassey key into areas where necessary.

“We are ready to learn from you. We will come to an agreement in principle on what we could do, which we will report to the ambassador and let you know many financial technical tools that we have put up to date.

“But before we do that, we need to know what your plans are and then we can build something together. We are happy to know that you already have a 5- year development plan for the agricultural sector,” she added.

Shortly after the courtesy visit, Dr Darracq and her delegation inspected facilities at the Bayelsa Palm in Yenagoa, the state capital.