The Ekiti State Government has called on farmers to intensify their efforts towards sustainable and environmentally friendly palm oil production.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, made the call during the inauguration of a three-day training program for smallholder farmers in Ado-Ekiti.
Boluwade reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting palm oil production through policies and legal frameworks that encourage palm plantation and improve processing capacity across the state.
He described sustainable palm oil production as key to boosting food security, job creation and economic growth.
The training, sponsored by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), was organized in collaboration with the Ekiti Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative and Propcom+ UK International Development.
With 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”, the workshop aims to deepen farmers’ understanding of global standards for sustainable palm oil production.
At the event, the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Yemi Akinyugha, and Propcom+ Team Leader, Mr. Abib Ibrahim, highlighted the need for farmers to adopt practices that protect the environment.
They noted that the training would equip participants with modern skills while exposing them to partnership opportunities with national and international development agencies.
The Chairman of the Ekiti State National Palm Production Association, Adebabo Oluwagbemigun, lauded the initiative, describing it as timely and capable of increasing internally generated revenue in the state.
Program specialists guided participants through improved techniques and partnership models aimed at strengthening palm oil production in Ekiti State and beyond.