The Nigerian government has unveiled plans to distribute improved seedlings to 30,000 oil Palm farmers under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme.
The plans will ensure that each Oil Palm farmer receives 50 improved tenera oil palm seedlings in the field, two litres of herbicide, 75kg of N:P:K-Mg (12:12:17:2) fertilizer and 50 pieces of wire collar.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the preparatory meeting for 2013 Special Oil Palm Growth Enhancement Support roll-out in Edo State.
Mrs Odusote said the improved seedlings and herbicide would be distributed free, while fertiliser and wire collar would be sold at 50 per cent subsidised price.
2012/2013 target
She explained that in 2012/2013, the Ministry set a target of raising nine million improved tenera oil palm seedlings and had already covered four million.
“The seedlings were raised by 49 public and private nursery operators in 24 Oil Palm growing states…The distribution of the seedlings to farmers will commence immediately under the Special Oil Palm GES to plant new areas and expand existing holdings,” she stated.
Active participation
“The success of the 2013 Special Oil Palm GES rests squarely on all the stakeholders… Regional Directors have the responsibility to coordinate the operations in states in liaison with the State Ministry officials to decide on the date for their roll-out and mobilize farmers for active participation in the redemption exercise,” Mrs Odusote emphasised.
Mrs. Ibukun Odusote was represented by Uche Nwafor, Regional Director South East of the ministry.
The Director of Cooperatives and Oil Palm Oil Palm Transformation team leader, Dr. Dickson Okolo says the Oil Palm Value Chain is among the agriculture commodity value chains being promoted by Ministry of Agriculture.
Its aim is to increase vegetable oil palm production to achieve import substitution by 2015 and create opportunity for youth employment.
NTA Lagos Channel 10 
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