The Consul-General to the Kingdom of Netherlands in Nigeria, Michel Deelen has commended Okomu Oil Palm company PLC for her partnership with small holders.
The Diplomat spoke during a visit to Okomu Oil and after an interactive session with smallholders.
The visit gave the Diplomat an opportunity to assess the challenges confronting the small holders
Mr Michel Deleen reiterated his government’s resolve to support agricultural companies in Nigeria with the aim of achieving the sustainability of the agricultural value chain.
Mr. Deelen, who led top Dutch officials, had on his entourage Edo state government delegations, and members of IDH, a Netherland government initiative involved in supporting small scale farmers.
The Dutch Consul-General who met with smallholder farmers registered with Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC said his visit is to reach out to oil palm farmers to ensure that their farming is done devoid of deforestation.
He added that his tour of the company’s concession and from interactions with smallholder farmers has shown that the company’s activities have not contributed to deforestation as allegedly in Europe and Asia.
Mr. Michel Deelen explained that sustainable Agriculture will spur the Dutch government through IDH to start the implementation of phase two of its partnership with Okomu’s smallholders’ scheme by expanding the scope of its partnership as well as offering the farmers an opportunity to have a decent income and also ensuring that their activities do not lead to deforestation.
According to him, “This will entail the inclusion of more farmers, more enlightenment of these farmers to go about their activities in a sustainable manner as well as joining in the fight against deforestation”.
Also speaking the IDH country director, Dr. Eniola Fabusoro said the over three years partnership with Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC in working with smallholders has been very successful from the testimonies of the farmers and said this has necessitated them to go ahead with the phase two of the project.
Dr. Fabusoro said management of Okomu has shown transparency in their dealings with the farmers through the transmission of knowledge, technological transfer, and several opportunities given to the farmers.
He noted that the Okomu smallholder farm model is one that can be replicated by other agricultural companies towards achieving a sustainable agricultural sector.
The Managing Director, Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC, Dr. Graham Hefer while appreciating the Consul-General for the visit said the company is striving to ensure that all of its activities are done in a sustainable way hence obtaining the roundtable on sustainable palm oil (RSPO), ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications.
Dr. Hefer added that its partnership with the smallholder farmers within 100 kilometers of the company’s landscape is one that has positively affected the lives of farmers especially those of its neigbhouring communities.
The position of Dr. Graham Hefer was collaborated by the company’s Agric coordinator, Mr. Billy Ghansah who made a presentation showing that the company currently has over 550 smallholder farmers and 12 cooperative societies that the company is currently working with which cuts across Edo and Delta States.
Mr. Ghansah added that the projection is to achieve over 100,000 tons of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) by 2031 and added that with the current partnership with various stakeholders, this can be achieved.
President of the Smallholder Farmers Association Chief Johnson Oni paid glowing tribute to management of Okomu and IDH for the smallholder scheme said the farmers have greatly benefited from the scheme.
Chief Oni identified some of the benefits they are getting from the scheme to include having a ready market for their products, training for its members, access to subsidized seedlings as well as transparent prizing. He argued that there is the need for the continuation of the ongoing partnership with the farmers.
The Dutch Consul-General was later taken on a guarded tour of the company’s concession including the palm nursery and the high conservation value (HCV) areas.
