May 15, (THEWILL) – Cross River State, alongside Akwa Ibom, Kogi and Enugu states, are to each receive 36,000 improved oil palm seedlings.
This is aimed at improving oil palm cultivation in the affected states.
Kenechukwu Onukwube, program manager and country management lead, Solidaridad in Nigeria, disclosed this in Calabar during a flag off of the seeds distribution exercise in Calabar.
He said the objective of the exercise is to contribute to greening the environment, reducing greenhouse gases and enhancing farmers income.
In his words, “What we are doing here today is what we will do in four other states namely; Akwa Ibom, Kogi and Enugu.
“The objective of the seedling distribution is to mark the rollout of the seedling season for transplanting oil palm from nursery to the field.
“We hope to achieve three things: contribute to greening the country’s landscape using oil palm.
“This will help to capture some hectares where forests have been depleted.
“Secondly, with more green places, there will be a reduction in greenhouse gases because of carbon cover.
“In addition, we hope to significantly enhance the income of oil palm farmers across the state”, he said.
He added that Solidaridad is also promoting inclusive oil palm landscapes and women and youths are being brought on board.
He added that this far, with the Best Management Practices introduced by Solidaridad, yields in the state have moved from 2 tonnes to 10 tonnes per hectare.
On his part, Rev. Ojipong Nyiam Bisong, Chairman of Oil Palm Growers Association Of Nigeria (OGPAN), Cross River State Chapter, said Nigeria has been dependent on crude oil for so long and it’s time to look into oil palm.
He welcomed Solidaridad intervention in the sector, particularly with Best Management Practices introduced, saying this has brought major relief to oil palm farmers.
