By Edidiong Obot
UYO
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting sustainable oil palm production through capacity building and certification for smallholder farmers.
Dr. Offor, who was represented by the Director of Tree Crops in the ministry, Mr. Ettima Ituen, made this known during a training programme organized by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) for Smallholder Group Managers held in Uyo.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ituen welcomed the RSPO team and participants drawn from different countries to Akwa Ibom State, noting that the training aligns with the ARISE Agenda of Governor Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, which prioritizes agricultural development and economic diversification.
He stated that the state government has been supporting the activities of Solidaridad, an international non-governmental organization working with local farmers and community facilitators to strengthen oil palm production through training and cooperative formation.
According to him, the state is committed to encouraging farmers to obtain certification in sustainable oil palm production, adding that Governor Umo Eno’s Tree Crop Initiative is aimed at reviving and strengthening the oil palm sector in line with global sustainability standards.
Earlier, the Smallholder Africa Manager of RSPO, Mr. Edem Asimadu, said the training for Group Managers was organized to enhance the capacity of farmer clusters and cooperative societies to achieve sustainable oil palm certification.
He explained that about 70 percent of global oil palm production comes from smallholders, making it necessary to train group managers who will guide farmers in adopting sustainable practices and meeting certification requirements.
Also speaking, Mr. Egong Owai of Solidaridad highlighted the organization’s partnership with RSPO, noting that their support since 2014 brought Solidaridad to Nigeria to assist smallholder farmers through capacity building programmes.
Mr. Owai said farmers across different communities have benefited from trainings on Best Management Practices (BMP), group formation, and improved farm management, adding that the current programme on training of Smallholder Group Managers is another step toward strengthening sustainable oil palm development in the country.
A Master Trainer with RSPO and Smallholder Group Manager for the Oil Palm Plantation Owners Cooperative, Mr. Udeme Bassey, enumerated the benefits of group certification, including access to premium market prices, improved livelihoods, and better market linkages for farmers.
He noted that several oil palm mills have recently been commissioned across various wards in the state, stressing the need for increased production of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) to supply the mills.
Mr. Bassey urged farmers to adopt Best Management Practices, including the use of hybrid planting materials and recommended fertilizers, to increase yield and profitability.
He also encouraged participants to step down the knowledge gained to other farmers, describing the development as part of the ongoing oil palm revolution in the state.
According to him, the formation of farmer groups and cooperatives must align with RSPO principles and criteria, which promote environmentally friendly and socially responsible palm oil production.
Some of the trainees who spoke at the end of the training expressed appreciation to RSPO and its partners for the opportunity, noting that the programme had equipped them with the knowledge required to guide farmers toward sustainable practices and certification.
They pledged to cascade the training to farmers in their various clusters and communities, while expressing optimism that the initiative would improve productivity, increase farmers’ income, and strengthen Akwa Ibom State’s position in sustainable oil palm production.
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