Oil Palm Production: FG Assures On Subsidised Oil Palm Harvesters

The Federal Government
says it is set to supply 73 motorised harvesters at subsidised rate to farmers, to boost oil palm production in Nigeria.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said this in Uyo while delivering his keynote address at the 1st International Palm Produce Conference (IPPC).
The conference has the theme, “Investment in Oil Palm and its Derivatives: A Panacea for African Economic Growth and Sustenance”.
Adesina, who was represented by Dr Dickson Okolo, the Director of Cooperatives in the ministry, said that this would address the challenges faced by farmers in harvesting fresh fruit bunches.
He explained that the motorised harvesters would harvest between 500 and 900 fresh fruit bunches per day.
He observed that before now, 70 per cent of mature fresh fruits were under-harvested.
The minister said the ministry was currently fabricating better mills for small and medium-scale plantations as well as processors to be made available to farmers across the country.
The minister said that under the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) had intensified efforts to produce improved oil palm seedlings.
Adesina said that under the project, nine million improved seedlings would be raised and distributed to farmers.
In his goodwill message, Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, said that the theme of the conference was apt as the hope of the country was no more in crude oil but agriculture.
Akpabio, who was represented by the Secretary to State Government, Mr Udom Emmanuel, said that Nigeria must return to agriculture as the country was well endowed in this sector.
He said that investing in agriculture would boost employment opportunities in the country and reduce youth restiveness.
Akpabio said that his administration had created the enabling environment for private investors to invest in agriculture, adding that there were enormous opportunities in the area.
The three-day conference was organised by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, in collaboration with National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN).

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba (3rd right), Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (right) and other dignitaries, at the Ground Breaking of the Nigerian Naval Secondary School at Ibusa-Ogwasi-Uku Expressway in Delta, last Tuesday.