The Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (FMARD) has trained about 50 farmers and processors on an agro-forestry system-based plantation model in Edo State to improve livelihoods.
The training was one of the Federal Government’s plans to achieve food security and self-sufficiency in Nigeria, according to Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Chukwuemeka Ukattah.
Coconut farming is one of the most profitable cash crop farming ventures in Nigeria. Coconut palm trees grow in both the northern and southern parts of the country, but are mostly grown by farmers in the southern part of the country.
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Ukattah pointed out that the government has decided to provide the necessary knowledge and skills needed to establish and maintain a successful plantation to improve the livelihood of coconut farmers and processors as well as to attain food security, self-sufficiency through the coconut value chain.
In addition, he stated that staff members would be trained in nursery establishment, field development, harvesting, and processing in order to meet the standards and demands of the local and international markets.
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The executive director of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Dr Celestine Ikuenobe, noted that the country’s coconut production in the country was far below the demand.
Ikuenobe stated that if the National Coconut Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NACOPPMAN) were working with an agro-forestry based plantation model, the coconut value chain would have been on a scale that would significantly contribute to our economy.
Furthermore he stated that they have got a huge demand for coconut seedlings in the last three to four years, but was caught napping because they did not know that there will be an upsurge in the demand for coconut seedlings.
