The Federal Government has launched an agricultural initiative in Bayelsa, known as “ProjectEarnFromTheSoil,” aimed at empowering smallholder farmers, fisherfolk, agribusinesses, and coastal communities across the South-South region.
Speaking at the launch event in Bayelsa State, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South-South, Hon. Gift Johnbull, emphasized the state’s vast potential for large-scale rice production, drawing parallels with the Netherlands, a country with a comparable land area.
She highlighted that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to cultivate 500,000 hectares of land, promote year-round farming, and encourage the consumption of locally grown foods. “Bayelsa’s capacity for rice production is a gold mine waiting to be fully realized,” Johnbull stated, adding that empowering women will enable Bayelsa to become a leading rice production hub, ensuring food security and economic growth.
The initiative includes the domestication of the National Women Economic Empowerment Policy (WEE Policy) and the launch of “ProjectEarnFromTheSoil,” both aimed at integrating women into the agricultural sector and leveraging the state’s significant potential.
Johnbull stressed the need for empowering women through training, access to resources, and strategic support, noting that such efforts will not only create jobs but also foster lasting legacies, enhance food security, and boost the economy. The project aims to benefit 500,000 smallholder farmers, fisherfolk, agribusinesses, and coastal communities in the South-South region directly.
“By harnessing the power of Bayelsa’s land, resources, and people, we can create a thriving, equitable, and prosperous future for the state and the entire region,” Johnbull said, urging all stakeholders to support the initiative with passion and dedication.
She highlighted the registration of over 10 cooperatives across six agricultural value chains and called on all stakeholders to commit to this endeavor, emphasizing its role in fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s renewed focus on food security and economic diversification.
In his keynote address, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Labour, Employment, and Productivity, Odoko Omiloli, represented by Dagogo Edmundson, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to empowering women and strengthening their role in nation-building.
Omiloli expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the federal government and other relevant agencies to ensure the program’s successful implementation and monitoring.
Additionally, Alfred Watson, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Community Engagement and Development, represented by Inenyo Yousuo-Ogbulu, expressed the state’s willingness to partner with any agency involved in the initiative, recognizing the significant benefits it will bring to women and the state.
Representatives from Nexim, Zenith Bank, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Bank of Agriculture, and other organizations also expressed their commitment to advancing the economic prospects of women in Bayelsa.
