FG Targets Improved Palm Oil Production

The second phase of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) will increase palm tree plantation by 35,000 hectares, the President, National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), Mr Henry Olatujoye has said.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja recently, Olatujoye said that 1.4 million sprouted nuts were distributed to 18 palm oil plantations in 2012 to increase the country’s palm tree plantation by 35,000 hectares by 2013.

According to him, Nigeria has 25 existing palm tree plantations in 24 states.

The states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu state, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Ogun, and Osun.

Others are Oyo, Ekiti, Benue, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna.

The NPPAN president said that the sprouted nuts were given to farmers to renew their aging plantations and boost their yields.

He said that the sprouted nuts would be in the nursery for about 14 months after which they would be transplanted to the farmers’ plantations.

He expressed optimism that the programme would restore the country’s lost glory in palm oil production as it had boosted palm oil production, adding: “very soon, the country will stop importing palm oil.”

The president underscored the need for investment, saying that it would drive the industry further and encourage farmers to produce more palm oil.

He said that the association would collaborate with the Ministry of Trade and Investment to organise a conference where investors would be sensitised on the importance of investing in palm produce.

‘’No tree is as flourishing as palm tree; even palm wine, a tasty sap from the palm tree is crying for investment.’’

Olatujoye said that the palm tree is the largest world supplier of fat and oil, adding that other derivatives could be produced from the palm tree than other oil plants.