Agricultural Development Blue Print Committee

In April 2012, The Executive Governor of Bayelsa State inaugurated a 16-member committe to produce a blue print for agricultural development in the State. Below are the terms of reference of the Committee. 

Agriculture played a dominant role in the colonial era. After Independence, the oil boom contributed to a diminishing interest in agriculture and a civil war exacerbated the situation. The combined effect of these two factors  led to  the dwindling of agriculture in the national economy.

The current Government of Bayelsa State has found this situation unacceptable and decided to check this downward trend. Consequently, a 16-man Committee was inaugurated to address these issues with the following terms of reference:

·        To identify the agricultural and agri-business (including fisheries) potentials of Bayelsa State.

·        To highlight previous efforts at agricultural development in the state since independence.

·        To identify factors militating against sustainable agricultural growth and development in the state.

·        To identify major agricultural produce for which Bayelsa State has comparative advantage in their production.

·        To recommend realistic and time-bound policies and programmes aimed at harnessing the agricultural and agri-business potentials of the state.

·        Recommend ways and means of partnering with external stakeholders in developing the agricultural potentials of the state; and

·        Make any recommendations which could make the agricultural sector of the state a major source of employment and income generation, thus helping to alleviate poverty.

To place the current situation in proper perspective, the committee reviewed previous efforts of various national and state governments since independence.

In addressing factors militating against sustainable agricultural growth, the Committee identified among others, the lack of genuine team spirit in agriculture as major factors militating against agricultural growth. Others are over-dependence on human labour for agricultural production, policy reversals in agriculture, lack of adequate funding and particularly poor implementation of the Agriculture Budget.

In order that the work of the Committee may serve as a practical road map for agricultural development in Bayelsa State in the first four years of this administration, the Committee also took special note of the following areas of key concern:

1.     Capital budget estimates and releases

2.     State of agricultural infrastructure  in Bayelsa State

3.     Capacity building and strengthening of extension and other support services for Agriculture in Bayelsa State

4.     Government-owned companies already established in the State

5.     Youth Involvement in agriculture and fisheries at the grassroots levels and

6.     Involvement of Interest groups in farming and fishing

MEMBERS OF BAYELSA STATE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BLUE PRINT COMMITTEE

1	Mr.  Izonebi Rodger Obubo	Chairman
2	Dr. Edward Dandeson Spiff	Member (Absent)
3	Hon. Gilbert Adeh	Member
4	Prof. Kwaku Zuofa	Member
5	Prof. Ebi M. Ngodigha	Member
6	Dr. (Mrs) Ebinimi J. Ansa	Member
7	Mr. Nalaguo Chris Alagoa	Member
8	Dr. D. C. Douglas	Member
9	Mr. Eric Sampou	Member
10	Mrs. Juliet Emberru	Member
11	Mr. Dorrick T. Oginike	Member
12	Mr. Francis A. Alagoa	Member
13	Pastor Stephen Enamamu	Member
14	Mrs. Helen Ajuwa	Member
15	Dr. Patrick O. Ezekiel	Member
16	Mr. Tomo K. Ozu	Member/Secretary

Link to full report: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2ikvkixg8j9mnbl/COMPRESSED%20FINAL%20REPORT.pdf?dl=0