- Expert Makes Case for Palm Oil Production
The Managing Director of JEKON Integrated Farms Nigeria Ltd Mr Godswealth Henry has urged the Federal Government to include palm oil on its lists of agricultural produce for development.
Henry gave this advice in an interview in Lagos. He said considering the many uses of palm oil and its by-products, it was necessary for governments to support palm oil farmers.
According to him, the palm oil farming is championed by individuals and private sector’s initiatives.
He said: “The palm oil farmers are still struggling to meet the nation’s demand, especially during the flat seasons. It is a well-known fact that the various applications to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to help the farmers to realise the increasing rate of demand for palm oil have not been successful. Palm oil, in addition to cooking, is also in high demand in households and cosmetics industries.”
Henry said though his company has two palm oil estates in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, the output are not enough to meet demands of the produce.
He said between January and May, which were palm oil pick season, the company’s milling factory produced 50 tonnes of palm oil weekly.
He said during the flat season, which was between June and December, the milling plant hardly produced five tonnes per weekly.
