The Bayelsa government on Wednesday said it did not establish a cattle colony in the state but integrated a grazing site in the Bayelsa Palm Estate in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Mr. Dode Wigg, Commissioner for Agriculture in Bayelsa, gave the explanation during the Inter-Ministerial interactive session with stakeholders as part of the 6th Anniversary of Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration in the state.

The Commissioner noted that the state adopted the ranch option and made available 250 acres of land cultivated with fodder grass for grazing to discourage open grazing and avoid clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

He said that the ranch concept within the Bayelsa Palm Estate will ensure that the droppings from the cattle would provide natural fertilizer for the palm trees adding that the state government retained whole ownership of the estate.

His words: “We did not sell the Bayelsa Palm Estate to herdsmen or to anyone, what we did was to concession the Palm Estate to a private concern and we are reaping from that commercialisation policy.

“On a monthly basis rather than inject money into the running of the estate, the state generates revenue and that has been consistent as the concessionaire has kept to the terms of the concession agreement.

“Also the Bayelsa Palm is not a cattle colony, it is a ranch concept with provision for a diary farm, cattle breeding, abattoir as well as cattle market, it is meant to check open grazing and allowing cattle to roam around.

“The ranch remains wholly owned by Bayelsa government, it was not given to herdsmen and it is not a holden area, it is a grazing area and that is what we did with Bayelsa Palm.”

Earlier, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Bayelsa Commissioner for Information, reiterated the state government’s commitment to self sufficiency in food production.

He said that the food security policy of the government was anchored on empowering the state ministry of agriculture to support farmers with improved seedlings and appropriate farming techniques.

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