A South Korean technical team successfully installed a state-of-the-art rice processing mill in Bayelsa State, marking a significant boost to the region’s agricultural capabilities.

The advanced mills, with a combined capacity of 40 metric tonnes of rice per day, were installed at the School-to-Land Farm in Yenagoa on Friday.

Mr. Byung Chul Son, the leader of the South Korean delegation and Managing Director of Delta Sung Machinery and Construction Company Limited, stated that the installation is part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing rice production.

He added that, alongside the new mills, the state will need additional farming machinery like dryers and color selectors to fully optimize production.

Bayelsa’s Agriculture Commissioner, Prof. Beke Sese, explained that the four rice mills donated by the South Korean government, each with a capacity of 10 tonnes per day, represent a major upgrade from the previous three-tonne mills.

This expansion is expected to help the state reach its goal of producing one million tonnes of rice annually.

Governor Douye Diri, in a meeting with the South Korean delegation, expressed his appreciation for the generous donation and the technical support provided.

He emphasized Bayelsa’s potential for large-scale rice production and called for further collaboration in manufacturing farming equipment locally. Governor Diri reiterated his administration’s commitment to transforming Bayelsa into a rice production hub for both domestic consumption and export.

The partnership between Bayelsa and South Korea is seen as a pivotal step toward ensuring the state’s agricultural self-sufficiency and contributing to its economic growth.