Kogi State Launches Climate-Resilient Oil Palm Training To Boost Agricultural Growth.
In a significant step towards sustainable agriculture, the Kogi State Government has launched a climate-resilient oil palm production training programme to equip farmers with modern techniques to tackle the challenges of climate change. The initiative, held at the Auditorium of the College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Kabba, aims to ensure farmers maintain productivity and high-quality output despite unpredictable weather patterns.
The workshop was declared open by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Timothy Ojoma, represented by Kunle Agbana, Director of Agricultural Services. Ojoma highlighted the urgent need for training due to erratic rainfall and shifting farming calendars, which threaten agricultural output. He reaffirmed Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo’s commitment to transforming the state’s agricultural sector, noting that over 8,000 hectares of farmland have been tractorised in the past year, with 88,000 farmers receiving free inputs. Plans are underway to expand this initiative to cover at least 16,000 hectares this year.
Ojoma urged farmers to adopt sustainable practices and traceability systems to meet international standards, positioning Kogi State’s oil palm industry for global competitiveness. “The future of oil palm production in Kogi is one that is standardised, traceable, and exportable, heralding a new era of agro-economic growth,” he said.
Olusegun Solomon, Director of Research and Head of Extension and Economics at the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), underscored the economic potential of oil palm to generate wealth, create jobs, and strengthen agro-industrial value chains. He noted that every part of the oil palm tree, including palm kernel shells, is in high global demand. As part of the initiative, 1,000 improved oil palm seedlings worth ₦2.5 million were distributed to farmers in Kogi West Senatorial District, with plans to extend the programme to Kogi East in the coming weeks.
Moses Olorunnipa, Chairman of the Kogi West Oil Palm Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, hailed the training as a “game-changer” for local farmers and Nigerian youth. He encouraged young people to invest in processing and harvesting equipment and collaborate to tap into the untapped potential of the oil palm industry for sustainable income and job creation.
The workshop brought together stakeholders, farmers, and agricultural experts to address the challenges posed by climate change. By fostering innovation and sustainable practices, Kogi State is paving the way for a resilient and prosperous agricultural future.
