Agric Minister tasks stakeholders on palm oil repositioning.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar has enjoined stakeholders in the oil palm sub sector to ensure repositioning of the produce to its rightful position of exporting to another Nations.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the ministry after the official visit of palm oil stakeholders led by Mr. Fatai Afolabi to the Minister's office recently. 

 

Dr. Abubakar noted that "in the early 60s Nigeria’s agriculture sector was the major source of revenue, but today the country is struggling to be a big agricultural nation", adding that it is not too late for Nigeria to reposition.

 

He recalled that Malaysia came to Nigeria some years back, got oil palm seedlings and become number one producer of oil palm in the world, and today Nigeria is ranked the 5th position, which makes it worrisome.

 

The statement stated further that "rice, cassava and yam are top priorities in the agricultural sector, urging the stakeholders to plan ahead, and also develop a policy that would put Nigeria back on track".

 

The Minister advised that "not just proposing to have a summit but a lot of thinking and planning must be carried out to avoid past mistakes”, pledging to work with any organization to achieve the economic diversification policy of the Present Administration.

 

The Minister commended the stakeholders for their efforts towards repositioning Nigeria oil palm, assuring that the ministry would collaborate and give necessary assistance to ensure oil palm sub  sector strives. 

 

In his remarks, Mr. Fatai Afolabi said that oil palm was one of the most important tree crops in the country, pointing out that the importance of oil palm in Nigeria cannot be over emphasized, adding that it was a means of livelihood, fuel and raw materials for industries.  

 

 In a related development, the minister received the delegation of Friesland Campina Wamco led its Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Ore Famurewa who had come to partner with the ministry to milk improvement in Nigeria.

The Executive Director said the company would continue to partner with the Ministry to improve quality of locally produced milk, capacity training for smallholder dairy farmers in the modern technologies on how to boost production and increase their earnings.

She, therefore, solicited the Minister’s assistance towards securing about 200 - 300 hectares of land in Abuja for the organization’s future projects.