The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Ernest Umakhihe has said that there has been a significant increase in palm oil production in the last four years.
Dr Umakhihe said palm oil production increased from 0.998 million metric tons in 2016 to the current 1.029 million metric tons in 2020.
The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Deputy Director, Tree and Crop Division in the Ministry, Mr Chukwuemeka Utattah disclosed this on the occasion of Farmers Field School for Oil Palm Farmers on Nursery Establishment and Field Development, Harvesting, Processing and Marketing held in Enugu.
He said the Ministry also procured automated oil palm mills, oil palm cargo tricycles, and oil palm motorized harvesters which will be distributed to oil palm farmers/Associations that applied formally to the Ministry at subsidized rates.
“Some modest achievements recorded by the Oil Palm Value Chain in 2020 include increase in crude palm oil production from 0.998 million mt in 2016 to the current 1.029 million mt.
“Procurement and distribution of 451,500 improved tenera sprouted nuts to accredited oil palm farmers/Association in the 24 oil palm producing States at no cost.
“The Ministry also procured automated oil palm mills, oil palm cargo tricycles, and oil palm motorized harvesters which will be distributed to oil palm farmers/Associations that applied formally to the Ministry at subsidized rates.
“The Ministry has also continued to partner with stakeholders such as local, private and foreign investors for development of the oil palm industry.
“The value chain will also continue to build the capacities of farmers in Goop Agricultural practices (GAP), Good Management practices, as well as support for research and development of oil palm”, the Permanent Secretary said.
Also at the Oil Palm Value Chain Stakeholders Forum, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Umakhihe said the forum will avail all the stakeholders the needed opportunity to rub minds in order to chart better ways towards moving the sub-sector forward for the benefit of not only the Oil palm farmers, Processors, Marketers and their families but also the nation at large.
The President Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN), Mr Joe Onyiuke expressed delight over the improvement recorded in the oil palm yields through the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR).
He said from all indications, Oil Palm value chain do not only contribute significantly to the economy but can also serve as an impetus for economic diversification.
“We at OPGAN want to use this medium to also express our gratitude to the CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefile for his massive investments under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme to boost local oil palm production which has reduced our annual oil palm import by about 22% from $500 million to $452.25 million in the last one year,” he added.
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