The Federal Government on Monday reiterated its
commitment to create 3.5 million jobs through the
agricultural value chains of production, processing
and marketing by 2015.
President Goodluck Jonathan said this in Uyo at the
opening of a three-day international conference on
oil palm production.
The conference tagged; ”First International Palm
Produce Conference (IPPC)”, has “Investment in Oil
Palm and its Derivatives: A panacea for African
Economic Growth and Sustenance”, as its theme.
The President, who was represented by Dr Samuel
Ortom, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and
Investment, said that government was poised to
unlock the enormous potentials of agriculture.
He expressed government’s determination to add
20 million metric tonnes of food to the domestic
supply by 2015.
“We have identified oil palm as one of the important
commodities and key drivers to promote the value
chain initiative.
“We have also intensified efforts to provide enabling
environment.”
Jonathan said that between 1961 and 1965, Nigeria
was the world largest producer and marketer of
palm produce, contributing 39 per cent of the world
average production.
“It is an irony that we allowed this position to slip
out of our hands.
“Nevertheless, this administration is resolved to
return the nation to the former glorious level of
performance.”
The president said that a major breakthrough
towards the attainment of the objective objective
was the launching of Growth Enhancement Support
Scheme (GES).
Under the GESS, the president said that farmers
were receiving inputs directly.
In his goodwill message, Gov Idris Wada of Kogi
said that his state was the highest producer of oil
palm in Northern Nigeria.
Wada, who was represented by the Commissioner
for Agriculture, Dr Femi Folarin, said that oil palm
has high economic potentials.
He said that his administration was investing
heavily in oil palm production across the state.
Wada appealed to private investors to partner with
the state to boost production of the commodity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the
conference was organised by the Federal Ministry
of Industry, Trade and Investment in collaboration
with National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria.
The conference was also sponsored by the Akwa
Ibom Government and moderated by the Federal
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
commitment to create 3.5 million jobs through the
agricultural value chains of production, processing
and marketing by 2015.
President Goodluck Jonathan said this in Uyo at the
opening of a three-day international conference on
oil palm production.
The conference tagged; ”First International Palm
Produce Conference (IPPC)”, has “Investment in Oil
Palm and its Derivatives: A panacea for African
Economic Growth and Sustenance”, as its theme.
The President, who was represented by Dr Samuel
Ortom, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and
Investment, said that government was poised to
unlock the enormous potentials of agriculture.
He expressed government’s determination to add
20 million metric tonnes of food to the domestic
supply by 2015.
“We have identified oil palm as one of the important
commodities and key drivers to promote the value
chain initiative.
“We have also intensified efforts to provide enabling
environment.”
Jonathan said that between 1961 and 1965, Nigeria
was the world largest producer and marketer of
palm produce, contributing 39 per cent of the world
average production.
“It is an irony that we allowed this position to slip
out of our hands.
“Nevertheless, this administration is resolved to
return the nation to the former glorious level of
performance.”
The president said that a major breakthrough
towards the attainment of the objective objective
was the launching of Growth Enhancement Support
Scheme (GES).
Under the GESS, the president said that farmers
were receiving inputs directly.
In his goodwill message, Gov Idris Wada of Kogi
said that his state was the highest producer of oil
palm in Northern Nigeria.
Wada, who was represented by the Commissioner
for Agriculture, Dr Femi Folarin, said that oil palm
has high economic potentials.
He said that his administration was investing
heavily in oil palm production across the state.
Wada appealed to private investors to partner with
the state to boost production of the commodity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the
conference was organised by the Federal Ministry
of Industry, Trade and Investment in collaboration
with National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria.
The conference was also sponsored by the Akwa
Ibom Government and moderated by the Federal
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
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