The Federal Government has launched the
“Project Earn From The Soil” agricultural initiative to empower small-holder farmers, fisherfolk, agribusinesses, and coastal communities across the South-South region.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South-South, Hon. Gift Johnbull, who spoke at the launch in Yenagoa at the weekend, pointed out Bayelsa’s immense potential for large-scale rice production.
Johnbull stated that the project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate 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 realised. With the right support and empowerment of our women, we can see Bayelsa emerge as a rice production powerhouse, ensuring food security and boosting our economy, "Johnbull said.
The presidential aide stressed the importance of empowering women through training, access to resources, and strategic support, stating that it will not only create jobs but also build legacies, enhance food security, and boost the economy.
"Through this initiative, we aim to directly benefit 500,000 small-holder farmers, fisherfolk, agribusinesses, and coastal communities in the South-South region.
“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."
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Odoko Omiloli, who was represented by Dagogo Edmundson, assured of the ministry’s commitment to uplifting women and strengthening their role in nation-building.
He emphasised the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the federal government and other relevant agencies to ensure the successful implementation and monitoring of the program.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Community Engagement and Development, Alfred Belemote Watson, represented by Inenyo Yousuo-Ogbulu, informed of the state’s readiness to partner with any agency involved in the program, as a result of the immense benefits it will bring to the women and the state as a whole.
Our correspondent learnt that the initiative involves the domestication of the National Women Economic Empowerment Policy (WEE Policy) alongside the “Project Earn From The Soil”, both of which were designed to integrate women into the agricultural sector and unlock the state’s vast potential.
