A Ugandan government delegation led by Ambassador Philip Odida, the Ugandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, has visited Ondo State to study Nigeria's oil palm production system. The delegation, comprising Ugandan parliamentarians, toured oil palm plantations and observed modern cultivation techniques such as nursery establishment, field planting, spacing and maintenance of high-yielding varieties. They engaged with local stakeholders on key aspects including yield per hectare, gestation period, access to quality planting materials and support systems for smallholder farmers.
Leye Akinola, Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed the state's commitment to revitalising the oil palm sector through supportive policies, extension services and investment-friendly initiatives. He stated that Ondo remains one of Nigeria's leading oil palm producers and is open to partnerships that enhance productivity and value addition. The chairman of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) in Ondo State, Adetula Bolarinwa, noted oil palm's historic role as a major foreign exchange earner before crude oil dominance, and highlighted recent efforts to revive the sector through improved seedlings and modern farming practices.
The Programme Manager of the Ondo State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) emphasized the role of extension services in disseminating improved technologies, providing training, high-yielding planting materials and market linkages to farmers. The Ugandan delegation showed particular interest in Nigeria's smallholder-driven production model and sustainable farming practices shared during field interactions.
The irony lies in a foreign delegation studying Nigeria's oil palm revival while the sector remains underfunded and neglected in many producing states despite its past dominance. Ondo's showcase of modern practices and policy commitment contrasts sharply with the reality for most Nigerian smallholder farmers who lack access to the same support systems. If Nigeria can attract foreign interest in its agricultural potential, it should first ensure its own farmers benefit from the systems being displayed. The visit underscores how far behind domestic priorities lag even as others come to learn.
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