Delta commits 508M naira to oil palm development

The Delta State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said it has spent the sum of 313 Million naira in the development of oil palm
production from 2016 to 2017.

Our Asaba Correspondent reports that the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Austin Chikezie, made this known today,  May 22 at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing when he presented the activities and achievements of his Ministry at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information,
Asaba.

Chief Chikezie who stated that the oil palm development scheme was meant to assist oil palm farmers to increase their plantations,
revealed that the sum of 195 Million naira had been budgeted for 2018.

The Commissioner stated that in year 2016, 220,000 improved oil palm seedlings were raised for distribution to farmers and to cultivate 500
hectares of oil palm plantation, saying 250 oil palm farmers were empowered as a result leading to the creation of 400 direct and indirect jobs.

According to him,  an Office and Input Store were constructed at the Ejeme Uno Oil Palm nursery site to support the programme, indicating that five mini oil mills were fabricated and distributed to
farmers.

He stated that in the year 2017 approval was made for the expansion of the oil palm
project in reaction to increase in public demand by farmers, saying two new nurseries were established at Oleh in Isoko South LGA and Arhagba Okpe,  Okpe Local Government Area.

Chief Austin Chikezie explained that the effort had not only brought inputs nearer to the farmers but resulted in the raising of 100,000 oil palm seedlings each at the Oleh and Arhagba Okpe nurseries respectively, while, 550,000
seedlings were raised at the nursery in Ejeme-Unor.

For year 2018, the Commissioner stated that his Ministry would further consolidate on the Small Holder Oil Palm Scheme in the State, adding
that 400,000 improved oil palm seedlings would be raised at the three nurseries in Ejeme-Unor, Oleh and Aragba-Okpe.

He said his Ministry would assist 350 farmers to cultivate 700 Hectares of oil palm farm land, expressing hope that the intervention was expected to create 2,080 cumulative jobs when completed.

Also, he disclosed that a block of offices and input stores were constructed at the Oleh and Arhagba-Okpe new nursery sites, projecting
that the project was expected to create 400 direct jobs and 1000 indirect jobs.

On rice production programme, Chief Chikezie revealed that in the 2016, the sum of 51 Million naira was approved and released to promote all
season rice farming in the State, saying that 60 beneficiaries were selected, trained and supported in kind and cash.

To address this constraint, he said that his Ministry had established a Rapid Goat Multiplication Unit at Delta State DARDA Premises, Ibusa, at the sum  of 2.5 naira Million.

The Commissioner described pig farming as a very lucrative venture with very high potential for job creation across its value chain, disclosing that in this year, the sum of 50.9 Million naira had been
approved for Pig Multiplication and Farmers Support programme in the State and that the programme was expected to generate 30 direct jobs and many more downstream during and after implementation.

He explained that in its determination to maintain the tempo of aquaculture development in the State, the State Government established
two fish farm clusters at Ewulu in Aniocha South and Mbiri in Ika North East Local Government Areas respectively.

A total of 80 ponds, according to him, were constructed at the clusters and that currently, 50 participants were engaged by the programme, saying in the first cycle of production, 60 metric tonnes of fish were harvested.

The Commissioner stated that the ponds were being prepared for stocking with fingerlings to commence the second cycle, adding that the project had generated 50 direct and 70 indirect jobs.

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