Delta Government says it has distributed more than1.5 million oil palm seedlings to 1,500 small holder farmers in the past seven years across the state.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Godfrey Enita, disclosed this while flagging off the 2022 oil palm seedlings distribution to farmers on Tuesday in Asaba.
He said that Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa has assured of government’s resolve to support farmers, particularly at this auspicious period of flooding to alleviate their challenges and enable them to return to their business and to recover their losses.
He said that beneficiaries of the oil palm seedlings were expected to own at least five hectares of land to benefit from the government gesture.
According to the Commissioner, for year 2022, the state government had approved for distribution, 120,000 oil palm seedlings to small holder farmers across the state.
“For the year, we have commenced distributions of the seedlings in three different locations in the three senatorial districts across the state to the benefiting farmers.
“So, far, a total of 1.5 million oil palm seedlings have been distributed 1,500 small holder farmers to cultivate 2,700 hectares farm land across the state by the Gov Okowa led administration since inception.
“This shows the government’s commitment to encourage small holder farmers to grow oil palm in the state.”
He said that the government was interested in encouraging large scale farming to boost oil palm production, given its value chain and as an alternative to crude oil.
The commissioner noted that the flag off had become necessary to enable the farmers to plant their crops during the rains.
Responding on behalf of beneficiaries, Mr George Ajaboh, Secretary General, Oil Palm Association of Nigeria (OPAN), lauded the state government for the gesture.
He described Gov. Okowa as farmer- friendly governor, while promising that the farmers would nurture the crops to maturity and effectively utilise them to build wealth.
According to him, oil palm remains the main hope for economic recovery, given its value chain and potential to create wealth, jobs and to eradicate hunger and poverty in the country.
The highpoint on the occasion was the official beginning of the distribution of the seedlings with each famer reviving at least 300 seedlings.
