A Solution-Oriented Civil Society Organisation, Solidaridad, has called on the Kogi State Government to knock out poverty, land degradation with palm massive oil production.
Kogi State Multi Stakeholder Platform Coordinator, James Odiba, made the call on Tuesday during a 1-Day Briefing/Meeting in Lokoja.
Odiba said, today Palm oil is the most revenue generating Commodity than petroleum, and could turn around the fortune of a nation.
“Solidaridad is deliberately in Kogi State to see how it could help small holder farmers improve their standard of living through massive production of palm oil.
“We are today in three local Government Areas of Kogi State: Dekina, Ofu and Olamaboro working with over 30,000 small holder farmers in the production of palm oil, who will today give us feedback on their activities.
“With Palm oil selling at about S3546 per ton in the international market, Solidaridada is an experienced regional-based, solution-oriented organisation, promotes inclusive sustainable markets and development that work for the poor, to eradicate poverty, ” he said.
He noted that in West Africa, millions of smallholder farmers and workers earn their livelihoods in the oil palm sector, which in turn was an important contribution to the countries’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to him, in spite of an increasing demand for oil palm globally, the production has not resulted in beneficial returns to the small-holders in Kogi, Nigeria and West Africa as a whole.
“There is also the concern that despite international and domestic initiatives and standards, the expansion of oil palm sector comes with significant climate and sustainability challenges including peat, forest ecosystems, emissions from inputs and effluents that demands government’s intervention and collaboration.
“This is why the National Initiative for Sustainable Climate Smart Oil Palm for Small Holders (NISCOPS) Project in Kogi State were implemented in three (3) Local Governments in Kogi in 2020 namely’ Ofu, Dekina and Olamaboro to help matters.,” he said.
An Economist and Resource Person at the meeting, Mrs Egong, emphasized the importance of palm trees to the ecosystem and the need for farmers and Kogi State Government to join hands with Solidaridad
“Forests are the ‘lungs ‘ of the earth because they supply oxygen to the atmosphere and protect the land from erosion, protect homes, farms, and coastlines from strong winds and waves as well as give economic benefits, therefore must be conserved,” she said.
Also speaking, Messer Amos Echu (Ofu), Ibrahim Musa (Dekina) and Mohammed Sani (Alamoboro) gave vivid accounts of activities of their small holders farmers in their respective LGAs and their appreciation of what Solidaridad was doing for them to improve and expand.
Director of Agriculture, Kogi State ministry of Agriculture, Akin Jimoh, said the Government, through his Ministry, had put down a blue print through which it could boost oil palm Production in the state.
Jimoh commended Solidaridad for its intervention programme toward boosting Oil Palm production in Kogi State for the past three years.
“I want to assure you that Kogi State Government will give you all the necessary support and cooperation toward this project which is aimed at bettering the lives of our citizens especially the farmers and our economy for growth and development ” the Director said.
