The Federal Government has restated its commitment to providing oil palm farmers with necessary supports to improve their productivity and make Nigeria a leading oil palm exporting country.
The assurance was given by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Muhammed Nanono on Wednesday during the rounding off a two-day capacity building for members of the Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN), in Enugu.
In his opening remarks at the programme with theme ‘Oil palm Farmers Nursery Establishment and Field Development, Harvesting, Processing and Marketing’ the minister explained that government had initiated some measures for the purposes of geometrically improving oil palm farmers’ production on a sustainable basis.
Represented by a Director from the ministry, Mr, Benette Ukattah, the minister listed some of the strategy’s components as including, the production and distribution of improved Tenera Oil Palm sprouted nuts, a hybrid between dura and pisifera palms.
Nanono disclosed that the strategy also encompassed promoting the use of motorised harvesters, medium scale processing equipment (MSPE), tricycle and automated nutcracker operator, in addition to building the capacity of oil palm farmers along the entire value chain.
In his remarks, the OPGAN National President, Mr. Joe Onyiuke, said the two-day training was important to the farmers to improve their yields by learning new techniques through improve nursery, maintenance, to harvesting and marketing, among other benefits
Onyiuke said that the major challenges of oil palm farmers were funds and the modern knowledge in palm oil farming, adding that he believes the training will address the challenges.
Also, commenting during the programme, South-East Regional Coordinator, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Arnold Jackson, said there were great economic potential in oil production in the region.
He explained: “Every part of oil palm is useful; we need to let people know the benefits of moving out of the aspect of potential to actualization.”
