Oil Palm
Okomu Oil Palm wants central bank to review anchor borrowers programme
Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc. wants a review of CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) to accommodate more farmers and to shore up the nation’s foreign earnings from agriculture. The ABP is targeted at smallholder farmers engaged in the production of rice, maize, wheat and cash crops like oil palm, cocoa and rubber, among others. Speaking with newsmen on Monday in Benin, Okomu Oil’s Managing Director, Dr Graham Hefer, noted that cash crop farmers were yet to fully benefit from the programme. He said food crop farmers had an edge because they could cultivate, harvest, sell and repay their loans within the specified one year period. “It is easy for farmers engaged in annual crops to meet their targets. “This doesn’t happen with cash crops because in the first three years of oil palm production...
Governor Obaseki: I’m committed to economic diversification, food security
Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki, has reaffirmed his government remains committed to economic diversification. He assured the state would continue to initiate and implement policies targeted at boosting the agricultural sector and ensuring food security The Governor, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, said his administration has, in the last three years and eight months, embarked on programmes and reforms created an enabling environment for agricultural businesses to thrive such that more youths and investors could earn a living and create employment. Obaseki said: “We so much believe that with increased investment in agriculture, we will be able to grow sufficient food to sustain food security in Edo State. “Agriculture is a productive venture, not just to feed ourselves, but its products...
