By Joe C. Anatune (Guest Columnist and Blogger)
Currently, 84% of the global palm oil supply is shared between Indonesia and Malaysia. Nigeria, Columbia, and others make up the remaining percentage. United States, China, India, EU, and Pakistan are the biggest off-takers. The global market value is 61.1 billion USA dollars. Apart from getting back to once again be a global player in this industry, Cee Cee Soludo wants to use the free distribution of high yielding Palm Seedlings to lift many households/farmers from the stranglehold of poverty.
Soludo is guided in this by his belief that our greatness lies in our rich past. He is therefore picking up the pieces from where Dr. Michael Okpara’s administration stopped and his eyes are firmly focused on the entire value chain. So every year, his government will procure one million high-yielding farm seedlings and distribute same free of charge to 100,000 farmers/households. Each farmer gets 10 free seedlings that start producing from 2- 4 years. It is estimated that in 4 years, the farmer would have gotten about 40 seedlings. This will adequately enable such households/farmers to escape from poverty. This will be an empowerment programme not just for the farmers but for thousands that will be involved in the value chain business.
Fortunately, palm oil demand continues to grow because it is the most versatile of all vegetable oils. Palm oil can be processed to a wide range of products with melting points, consistencies and characteristics. Global conglomerates such as Lever Brothers are notable off-takers of the products at the corporate level.
However, Quality consultant Mrs. Ngozi Ekwueme counsels, “as the seedlings are being distributed, the farmers should be trained on global gap requirements for safe crop. The ministry of Agriculture workers should also be trained to know what they should be doing in supervision. This will be able to make them keep track of all the fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals used in the plantation till harvest time. This will ensure acceptance in the global market”
The good news is that Soludo is rapidly demonstrating by his actions thus far that sound economics is excellent politics. So like the Anambra footwear industry, like the palm oil industry. More are coming our way as we journey to our Liveable and prosperous Anambra smart Megacity.
- Joe C. Anatune, is a public affairs analyst and writes from Awa, Anambra State
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