… 2,000 hectares allocated to smallholder farms

The Edo State Government in collaboration with De United Food Limited (Dufil), Flour Mills Nigeria Plc and eight other companies is boosting oil palm development in the country with the establishment of farm estates across the State. 

In a chat with journalists, Acting Team Lead, Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), Churchill Oboh, said the state led the development of the estates with the allocation of land for large-scale commercial farming in the state.

According to him, “We have big-time investors and land has so far been allocated to them through the ESOPP. The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has allocated lands for large-scale commercial farming in multiples of 5,000 and 10,000 hectares (ha) to both indigenous and foreign agro-investors like Agro-allied Resources and Processing Nigeria Limited (operated by Dufil); AgriPalm Ltd, a subsidiary of Flour Mills Nigeria Plc; Saro Oil Palm; Bragav Nigeria Limited and Saturn Farms, among others. These investors are currently at different stages of development at their respective lands.”

He said there are a total of 10 small, medium and big investors in the state under the programme with land sizes ranging from 200 hectares to 12,000ha.

Noting that smallholder farmers are also part of the mix, he said, “Similarly, the governor has approved the allocation of 2,000 hectares being the first phase for the commencement of the ESOPP-schemed small-holder programme in the State. The beneficiaries of the programme will be drawn from around the state, and this is aimed at improving the livelihoods of the people of Edo State through agriculture, and production will be sustainably driven in line with RSPO standard.”