Yenagoa — THE Burma rice project in Bayelsa State is to be expanded to cover the three senatorial distracts of the state to enhance and achieve self sufficiency in rice production. Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha gave the indication while presenting samples of the Burma rice to the public in Yenagoa. According to him, the presentation of the rice was the result of an industrial partnership agreement between the Nigeria Agip Oil Company and the state government brokered last year. The governor reiterated the objective of the joint venture which is to provide food for the teeming populace in the state and earn foreign exchange through export.

Government is determined to turn the state agricultural sub-sector around and this has led to the resuscitation of six abandoned farms in the state and the capitalisation of the school-to-land project which is expected to train young farmers on new farming techniques," he pointed out. "There is also a renewed interest in large-scale fish farming since we believe that agriculture is the hope for the survival of the polity," he added.

He asked oil companies operating in the state to embark on projects such as the Burma rice project as a way of enhancing the cordial relationship between them and their host communities. The governor directed the state agric ministry to liaise with the Nigeria Agip Oil Company to establish pilot schemes in each senatorial district as a prelude to having the farms across the state.

He therefore called on the people of the state to patronise the Burma rice which is indigenous to the state as a way of encouraging the project.

Earlier, the state commissioner for agriculture and natural resources, Mr Nimi Damblo had stated that agriculture was the bedrock of every development noting that other indices of development are meaningless.