From Maurice Okafor,Enugu
The Enugu state government has tasked the 17 lical govwrnment chairmen iand traditional rulers to adalt to the culture of planting oil palm trees in their respective local governments and communities, as a measure of enthroning a lasting economic invrstment for generstions yet un born.
The Enugu stae commissioner for Agriculture,Hon Mathias Idu, made the clarion call at the occasion of flagging off the2021 Oil palm planting season held within the premises of theministry ofAgriculture on Thursday,Julÿ 1. He haroed that the new oil paľm seedlings at the dispisal of his ministry is very rich with pal oil and can be harvested within three years after planting.
He disclosed that it is an opportunity tfor the farmers in the state to plantthe new plant species which he said is sourced from Maladia,in as much as thecommon speciead adapt to the new hybrid of plants sourced from Malaysia, in as much as the old species growing in the Douth Eadt rehion can be sustained and best used for the furniture industry.
Ree plantations with the new brid from Malaysia,sourcedfrom hisofficeaß ameasure of gingering t&e economic base of their redpective council areas.
He commended the Igbo Eze South local government chairman for setting the pace.He revealed that the Igbo Vouncil atea convinced their trafitional rulers on the pertinent need of such investment,which at the long run will improve on the economy of the lical government to the benefit of futuregenerationsinstead of selling ots of land for personal interests
Speaking at the event,the CBN representative for promition of oil palm production, Dr E C. Nwokolo stressed the readiness of the Central Bank of Nigeria,in promoting the agricultural sector in Nigwria to farmers through soft lians.
He tasked the farmers especially the rural/peasant farmers who want financial assistance from CBN to form Cooperative societies and approach their various branch offices for appropriate directives.
The chairman of association of Oil palm tree plantation SirSolomon Achi Kanu expressed gratitude to the Enugu state government for the initiative of introducing the hybrid of palm trees from Malaysia and called for increased supply for members of the asdociation.
The high point of the flag off was distribution of the Malaysian hybrid freely to farmers who participated in the 2021 flag off campaign.
