FG to distribute 73 motorised harvesters to oil palm farmers - Official

Sen. Heineken Lokpobori

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Sen. Heineken Lokpobori, said the Federal Government will provide 73 motorised harvesters for farmers to boost oil palm production in the country.


This is contained in a statement signed by the Director, Information and Protocol in the ministry, Mr Tony Ohaeri and was made available..

The statement stated that the minister made the pledge when he received a delegation of the Oil Palm Growers Association (OPGAN) in his office.

``The Federal Government has procured 73 motorised oil palm harvesters to ease the suffering and loss that the farmers experience while harvesting and also to help in providing quality and world standard palm oil.

``The motorised harvester will be given to the farmers at a subsidised price and that farmers will be trained on how the harvester will be operated,’’ he said.

The minister said government was committed to helping the farmers’ access single digit loan from the CBN; Bank of Agriculture and Bank of Industry to boost production and attain food security.

On land tenure and site clearing, Lokpobori said the Federal Government would partner with states and the communities to achieve the required result.

He said that state governments would be sensitised and encouraged to key in to the programme to support farmers as food security had become everybody’s concern.

Earlier, the National President of the Association, Mr Hilary Uche, commended the Federal Government for responding to the plight of oil palm producers.

He urged the government to further assist farmers with high yielding seeds, pointing out about nine million high yielding seeds were needed by the group to meet national demand.