Kogi State Launches Climate-Smart Oil Palm Training Initiative** **…Distributes ₦2.5 Million Worth of Seedlings**

By Salawu Nneka Patience

The Kogi State Government has officially inaugurated a climate-resilient oil palm production training program designed to equip farmers with modern agricultural techniques to effectively address the challenges posed by climate change.

The workshop took place at the Auditorium of the College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Kabba, Kogi State. It was inaugurated by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Timothy Ojoma, who was represented by the Director of Agricultural Services, Kunle Agbana.

During the opening remarks, the Commissioner underscored the urgent need for training due to unpredictable rainfall patterns and shifting agricultural calendars, which threaten productivity and quality in oil palm production.

He reaffirmed Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo’s commitment to agricultural development, highlighting the successful tractorization of over 8,000 hectares of farmland and the provision of free inputs to 88,000 farmers in the past year. The government plans to expand its efforts to cover at least 16,000 hectares this year.

Ojoma encouraged farmers in the state to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and traceability systems to meet international standards. He emphasized that the future of oil palm production in Kogi State lies in establishing a standardized, traceable, and exportable industry, heralding a new era of agro-economic growth for the region.

In a similar vein, Olusegun Solomon, Director of Research and Head of Extension and Economics at the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), highlighted the immense potential of oil palm to generate wealth, create jobs, and enhance agro-industrial value chains. He pointed out that every part of the oil palm tree possesses economic value, including palm kernel shells, which are currently in high demand globally.

Solomon announced the distribution of 1,000 improved oil palm seedlings valued at ₦2.5 million to farmers in the Kogi West senatorial district with plans to replicate the initiative in Kogi East in the coming weeks.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Kogi West Oil Palm Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, Moses Olorunnipa, commended the initiative as a game-changer for local farmers and Nigerian youth.

He urged young people in the state to collaborate, invest in processing and harvesting equipment, and tap into the vast and untapped potential of the oil palm industry for sustainable income and job creation.

The workshop & training brought together stakeholders, farmers, and agricultural experts to address challenges posed by unpredictable weather conditions and shifting farming calendars.