MARKET DEVELOPMENT
NIFOR Advocates Improved Technology, Investment for Oil Palm Production
NIFOR Advocates Improved Technology, Investment for Oil Palm Production
31/08/2013 (Nigerian Tribune) - The Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) says improved technology and investment can increase oil palm production in the country.
The institute’s executive Director, Dr Omorefe Asemota, made this known on Friday, during a media tour of the institute in Benin, Edo State capital.
Asemota explained that improved investment would ensure intense research and guarantee that results of plant modification processes are duly translated to the end users, the farmers.
“Research is key, but investment is the cornerstone of development, and the truth of the matter is that we have had major research contributions to crops. “Not just oil palm. But oil palm more than all others. but on investment, as a country, we have not been too fortunate.
“It is investment that drives the economy.
You can have all the research results on the shelves, if they do not translate to production on the field, it does not reach the people.
“Our goal is to make our people realise that all these crops, and not just oil palm, but date palm, coconut, raffia, shea — are all very profitable commodities.
“They are commodities that Nigerians have been exploiting for centuries. They’re commercially viable and therefore, we want to appeal to our people to begin to invest.
“We talk about value chains these days. That means there are a number of entry points for profitable activities.
“For instance, people can be active in nursery establishment, production of planting materials, processing and marketing. These are direct activity points.”
He encouraged farmers to maximise the use of improved technologies and seedlings produced by the institute to enhance their plantation development for optimum return on investment.
The institute’s executive Director, Dr Omorefe Asemota, made this known on Friday, during a media tour of the institute in Benin, Edo State capital.
Asemota explained that improved investment would ensure intense research and guarantee that results of plant modification processes are duly translated to the end users, the farmers.
“Research is key, but investment is the cornerstone of development, and the truth of the matter is that we have had major research contributions to crops. “Not just oil palm. But oil palm more than all others. but on investment, as a country, we have not been too fortunate.
“It is investment that drives the economy.
You can have all the research results on the shelves, if they do not translate to production on the field, it does not reach the people.
“Our goal is to make our people realise that all these crops, and not just oil palm, but date palm, coconut, raffia, shea — are all very profitable commodities.
“They are commodities that Nigerians have been exploiting for centuries. They’re commercially viable and therefore, we want to appeal to our people to begin to invest.
“We talk about value chains these days. That means there are a number of entry points for profitable activities.
“For instance, people can be active in nursery establishment, production of planting materials, processing and marketing. These are direct activity points.”
He encouraged farmers to maximise the use of improved technologies and seedlings produced by the institute to enhance their plantation development for optimum return on investment.