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Innocent Osakwe
IN a bid to grow the oil palm sector of the state through the raising of 500 hectares of oil palm seedlings in the first phase, Delta State Government has distributed 220,000 elite palm seedlings to 250 farmers drawn from across the state.
Speaking at the occasion held at Ejeme-Uno, in Aniocha South Council Area of the state, the state Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Austin Chikezie said that the objective underlining the small holder oil palm scheme is to support each beneficiary farmer to develop five hectares of palm plantation, over time.
He said that participants in the scheme will be provided with all necessary inputs, including fertiliser and steel collars, while information on best practices and mentoring on oil palm production would also be provided by government through the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP).
While saying that the move will help to stimulate the production
of palm oil through the state Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Okowa noted that it also has the potentials of making Delta a leading palm oil producing state in the country
The governor, who revealed that a processing mill has been provided for the benefitting cooperative societies, further disclosed
that plans are afoot to increase participation by farmers n the 2017 budget through the provision of palm seedlings that will cover about 800 hectares of land.
“You will recall that oil palm played a leading role in the economic
lives of our people prior to the advent of crude oil. The significance of palm oil and groundnut was manifested in the prominent role they played as foreign exchange earners, both in the colonial days and the early part of our country.”
“Delta State Government established the Small Holder Oil Palm Scheme in 1992 in its resolve to revamp oil palm production.
I want to use this occasion to assure you that in subsequent budgeting years, the sector will witness higher allocations to stimulate the growth and development of oil palm enterprise in the state, create wealth and jobs for our farmers in line with our SMART Agenda.
“My dear farmers, I wish to remind you of the need to utilise the opportunity provided by this scheme to start planting today so that we will reap the benefits tomorrow. In this business, everybody is a winner. Increasing your production boosts your earning and raises your standard of living, while the state’s economy will be positively impacted on,” he said.
Speaking at the presentation of the palm seedlings to one of the beneficiaries, the Commissioner for Agriculture said that the state government has decided to invest massively in oil palm production as a way of growing the economy of Deltans.
While noting that some individuals sometimes embark on fertilising palm seedlings by themselves, maintained that such seedlings do not have the potential of giving out the best during yield: “But I can assure you that the current distributed palm seedlings are special high breed with great yielding potentials.
