Edo to add 1m metric tons to local production of crude palm oil 2030

From Chika Nnadozie, Benin city

EDO State Government has unveiled its plans to add over one million metric tons to local production of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) by 2030.

  The Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Stephen Idehenre, disclosed this recently to journalists in Benin City.

  He noted that the government’s investment in palm oil production through the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), among other initiatives, has continued to open up the space for large-scale commercial farming in the state, impacting the lives of thousands of farmers.

  Mr Idehenre stated that the initiative has recorded a remarkable influx of investors in the agriculture sector with the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), in furtherance of their aim of anchoring economic growth on commercial agriculture while sustaining food security.

  He also said that the programme, for the past nine months has attracted investments valued at 531.2 million dollars to the oil palm sector alone.

Idehenre also noted that the target of the programme is to bring opportunities to large, medium and small investors in the oil palm sub-sector with the goal of de-risking investments in agriculture.

  He further said that a total of over 62,500 hectares have been allocated to investors which are expected to create over 200,000 jobs across the value chain.

  The commissioner however made it known that over 1,000,000 metric tons will be added to the local production of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) by 2030.