Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
Plateau State Government has partnered with Continental Oil Palm and Agric Services Consortium (COPASC) to lead the establishment of a 4000-hectare oil palm plantation in the state.
State Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. Bugama Samson Ishaku, represented by Hon. Ishaku Samalia Jilemsam, the Program Manager of the Plateau Agricultural Development Programme, who disclosed this, highlighted the long-term benefits of oil palm production, stating that these trees can thrive for more than 50 years, providing sustainable advantages for decades.
He said, “In oil palm production when you plant these trees, they can survive for more than 50 years. So, it’s an investment of 2-3 years of effort that yields benefits for over 40 years.”
Samalia emphasized the environmental advantages, noting that cultivating these crops contributes to carbon sequestration and aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at addressing climate change.
“We are contributing to carbon credits in the environment because these plants sequester carbon. Therefore, we are also meeting SDG targets with this initiative. The government’s approach involves thorough sensitization to generate interest from farmers before providing seedlings”, Samalia explained.
He stressed the importance of securing markets for the produced goods to ensure economic viability and eliminate concerns regarding market availability.
