The Ekiti State Government has commenced a training programme for smallholder palm oil farmers as part of efforts to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly production practices across the state.
The initiative was unveiled during a three-day training programme for farmers in Ado-Ekiti, where the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, said the government was committed to strengthening the palm oil value chain through structured support.
Boluwade reaffirmed the state government’s resolve to support palm oil production through policies and legal frameworks that encourage the planting of palm trees and the expansion of processing capacity across Ekiti. He described sustainable palm oil production as critical to boosting food security, creating jobs, and driving economic growth in the state.
According to him, “sustainable palm oil production remains a major pathway for improving livelihoods while protecting the environment for future generations.”
The training programme was sponsored by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and organised in collaboration with the Ekiti Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative and Propcom+ UK International Development. The programme had the theme “Enhancing Stakeholders’ Knowledge on RSPO Standards to Facilitate Responsible Production, Environmental Safeguards, Sustainable Land Use Planning, and Supply Chain Traceability in Ekiti State.”
Speaking at the event, the State Project Coordinator of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Dr. Akinyemi Akinyugha, stressed the importance of adopting farming practices that protect the environment while improving productivity.
The leader of the Propcom+ team, Mr. Abib Ibrahim, also urged farmers to embrace sustainable approaches, noting that the training would expose participants to partnership opportunities with national and international development agencies.
In his remarks, the State Chairman of the National Palm Production Association, Mr. Adebabo Oluwagbemigun, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and capable of increasing the state’s internally generated revenue.
Resource persons at the programme trained participants on improved techniques and partnership models aimed at strengthening palm oil production in Ekiti State and beyond. The programme attracted farmers statewide.
