‘3.5m oil palm seedlings from Cross River govt not free’

 

Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria OPGAN  President, Mr. Joe Onyiuke has  hailed  Cross River State Governor,  Senator Bassey Otu  for  providing  3.5 million oil palm seedlings to ‘genuine’ oil palm farmers in the state. Onyiuke  explained that the  distribution will be handled by the association so it gets to the farmers. It  will not be free, he said, adding that   it’s handled in an investment model .

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The Association also noted  that  the Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) has a permanent branch office in Cross River State to help guide farmers to have good and quality yields.

OPGAN National President who met with  leaders and members in Cross River noted that it takes a governor who means well for the ordinary citizen to commit investment to the Oil Palm industry and economy.

He said OPGAN members are excited because genuine farmers have been given the needed lift to grow and expand for the general good of the economy of the State and  the country.

He said the Governor in a speech he delivered to mark his hundred days in office, specifically mentioned and affirmed that his administration is already in partnership with the Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (ORGAN), and has commenced the planting of 3.5million hybrid oil palm seedlings in 13 identified locations across the state. We are happy for the opportunity given us. We will not fail nor disappoint the governor. That is why we are calling ourselves together to prepare our members and get them to understand the opportunity and the operations.

The ORGAN President likened what Governor Otu is committing to do in Cross River State to what the late Michael Opara did with Oil palm in the Southeast.

He said ORGAN Is encouraging family cooperatives and group cooperatives so that when finances are accessed for expansion and growth, sustainability will be ensured.

He noted that Cross River State has the comparative advantage in the country to produce the best palm oil quality in Nigeria noting that the country spends 500 million dollars annually importing crude palm oil which gap Cross River State have the capacity to fill.

The State Chairman of OPGAN, Mr. Nyaim Bisong said oil palm growers are not only going to remain growing but will be participating in the whole value chain of oil palm produce as planned by the Governor.



We expect that in about three years, the oil palm refinery will have been up the food industries will follow and we will support the governor in ensuring that the value chain economy of oil palm produce will be attracted and made to subsist in the State.

An elder statesman and a retired federal permanent secretary, now an oil palm farmer, Chief Patrick Iwara said the governor’s initiative is commendable because it will create a new and robust system where farmers can get quality oil palm seedlings within the state without traveling out to get from NIFOR. And by getting genuine farmers to come together and participate, the success of the program will not be lost.

Another oil palm farmer, Mrs. Glory Odu-Oji assured that they will not let the governor down in his initiative to improve production.

The Governor had also disclosed that his administration has attracted $ 15 million in private sector investment into the Ayip Eku Oil Palm Estate, with multiple effects on employment and growth of State GDP.

The agriculture development plan of his administration includes a 6-year N30bn agricultural credit guarantee fund for rice, maize, fisheries, and livestock farmers.

Besides, “to ascertain with precision, the soil texture for specific crops in the different zones of the State, Government has commenced the State-wide Digital Soil Fertility Mapping. This will translate to greater yields of different crops.”