Value Chain

Achievements

Seedling Production/Distribution

Procured from NIFOR, 9 million improved tenera sprouted nuts which are being raised into mature seedlings by public and private nursery operators as well as some estate plantations and private mega Seed Companies towards the establishment of 60,000ha of oil palm.

First phase of 4 million nuts procured in 2012/2013 were raised into mature seedlings capable of planting 26,666.7ha. The seedlings distribution were allocated as follows:

i          2,455,000 to smallholder and commercial farmers in 24 oil palm producing States.

ii        1,395,000 to 18No. Estates in 11 States (Kogi, Edo, Ondo, Delta, Cross–River, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Abia, Osun and Enugu).

iii       150,000 improved tenera oil palm seedlings to communities in the oil palm producing States, to replant an equivalent of 1,000ha of their old unproductive wild palms, under the pilot Semi–Wild       Grove    (SWG) yield enhancement scheme.

The second phase of the seedling production for 2013/2014 ATA involves raising of 5 million improved seedlings by:

i          67No. Public/Private Nursery Operators in 24 Oil Palm Producing States totaling 2 million seedlings.

ii          25No. Estate Nursery Operators in 15 States (Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Kogi and Kaduna) totaling 2 million seedlings.

iii          6No. Mega Nursery Operators in 6 States (Delta, Edo, Ebonyi, Imo, Ogun and Kaduna) totaling 1 million seedlings.

Oil Palm GES

• The Oil Palm GES scheme for 2013 and 2014 were successful targeting 15,353 farmers in 2013 and 30,000 farmers in 2014.  The main inputs distributed to each farmer included; improved tenera oil palm seedlings, bags of 12: 12: 17–2 N:P:K – Mg fertilizer, pieces of wire collar (wire mesh; for prevention of rodents attack) and  Litres of Touchdown (Herbicide).

About 2,267,650 improved tenera oil palm seedlings from first phase of 4 million seedlings produced, 53,030 bags of N:P:K–Mg Fertilizer, 11,338 bundles of Wire Collar and 60,706 litres of Touchdown herbicide were distributed to registered oil palm farmers, while the balance of 1,732,350 seedlings were deployed to estates/commercial farmers and for replacement of semi–wild grove palms.

Support for Harvesting

• The Value Chain is promoting the use of motorized harvesters to enhance the harvest of oil palm bunches by 30 percent. A motorized harvester is capable of harvesting 500 – 900 ffb/day. The Value Chain has already procured 73No. Motorized Harvesters and identified farmers/co–operatives who are about to receive the motorized harvesters.

Support for Processing

• Use of improved processing methods is being encouraged. Processing equipment being promoted include;

1. 0.5mt fresh fruit bunch (ffb)/hr medium scale processing equipment (MSPE) to produce premium palm oil.
2. Automated nut cracker and separator to ensure effective palm kernel recovery.
3. Partnered with UNIDO palm project in two (2) sites (Akwa Ibom and Ondo State) in field plot demonstration, kernel oil extraction and support for smallholder clustering and management.

Capacity Building

• Various capacity building activities have been undertaken in the Value Chain. 90No. farmers/ processors/marketers have been trained in nursery operations, field planting, maintenance, harvesting and marketing, while 60No oil palm women farmers have been trained in South–South States on best practices in palm oil processing.

Yield Improvement

• Conducted workshop on Oil Palm Fertility Management Packages with NIFOR, for organized smallholders and unorganized Semi–Wild Grove (SWG) Homestead farmers, to increase yield and productivity per hectare.

Investment Support

• Local, private and foreign Companies have enlisted in various oil palm investment activities following the enabling environment created under ATA. Activities being undertaken include production, processing and marketing. Many local investors are planting new farms, expanding existing ones, as well as establishing and expanding processing outfits. The Value Chain has also provided major support to Industrial Development Group, South Africa through completion of the signing of MOU and linkage to collaborating State Governments for various assistance and partnership.

Partnership with RSPO–Nigeria

• The Ministry is actively partnering with Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil–Nigeria (RSPO–Nigeria) in the preparation of the Principles and Criteria for RSPO–Nigeria, in order to enhance sustainable development of the oil palm industry. Activities being undertaken include production, processing and marketing.

Collaboration with Stakeholders

• The Value Chain participated in the 1^st International Palm Produce Conference (1^st IPPC 2013) on “Investment in Oil Palm and its Derivatives: A Panacea for African Economic Growth and Sustenance,” held at the prestigious Le–Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, 2^nd – 4^th December, 2013.