Banner Online News

The Delta State Government has spent the sum of N313 million in the development of oil palm production from 2016 to 2017, according to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Austin Chikezie.
The Commissioner made this known today at the on-going Ministerial Press Briefing when he presented the activities and achievements of his Ministry, at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information, Asaba.

While stating that the oil palm development scheme was meant to assist oil palm farmers to increase their plantations, he revealed that the sum of N195 million had been budget for 2018.
The Commissioner announced that in year 2016, 220,000 improved oil palm seedlings were raised for distribution to farmers and to cultivate 500 hectares of oil palm plantation, saying 250 oil palm farmers were empowered as a result leading to the creation of 400 direct and indirect jobs.
In addition, he said that an office and input store were constructed at the Ejeme Uno Oil Palm Nursery site to support the programme, indicating that five mini oil mills were fabricated and distributed to farmers.
Chikezie further explained that in the year 2017 approval was made for the expansion of the oil palm project in reaction to increase in public demand by farmers, adding that two new nurseries were established at Oleh in Isoko South LGA and Arhagba Okpe, in Okpe LGA.
He said that the effort had not only brought inputs nearer to the farmers but resulted in the raising of 100,000 oil palm seedlings each at the Oleh and Arhagba Okpe nurseries respectively, while, 550,000 seedlings were raised at the nursery in Ejeme-Unor.
For year 2018, the Commissioner stated that his Ministry would further consolidate on the Small Holder Oil Palm Scheme in the State, adding that 400,000 improved oil palm seedlings would be raised at the three nurseries in Ejeme-Unor, Oleh and Aragba-Okpe.
He said his Ministry would assist 350 farmers to cultivate 700 hectares of oil palm farm land, expressing the hope that the intervention was expected to create 2,080 cumulative jobs when completed.
Also, he disclosed that a block of offices and input stores were constructed at the Oleh and Arhagba-Okpe new nursery sites, pointing out that the project was expected to create 400 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs.
On rice production programme, Chikezie revealed that in the 2016, the sum of N51 million was approved and released to promote all season rice farming in the State, saying that 60 beneficiaries were selected, trained and supported in kind and cash.
Besides, he revealed that three rice processing mills were bought for rice farmers at Obior in Aniocha North, Ikweghwu-Agbarho in Ughelli North and Onicha-Ukwani in Ndokwa West Local Government Areas respectively, adding that the programme created 60 direct jobs and 180 indirect jobs.
The Commissioner said that in Year 2017, the sum of N50 million was approved for rice development project to further encourage its production, which he noted, benefited 198 rice farmers.
Listing the returns on rice cultivation in the State, he said that a total of 242 hectares of rice farms were cultivated to produce 1,500 metric tonnes of rice from farm inputs consisting of 15,000kg of rice seeds, 900 bags of NPK fertilizer, 600 bags of Urea, 900 litres of glyphosphate, adding that 600 litres of orizo plus were distributed to the rice programme beneficiaries.
In this year 2018, the Commissioner stated that the sum of N200 Million had been budgeted for the rice programme which is targeted at 219 farmers to cultivate 300 hectares of rice farms when operational.
Under the cassava cuttings multiplication and distribution programme, Chief Chikezie noted that sensitization, training, selection of farmers on the new improved TME 419, NR 8202 and NR 8082 cassava cuttings was carried out in 2017.
A further breakdown, according to the Commissioner, indicated that a total of 119 participants were trained statewide and empowered with the improved high yielding, disease resistance varieties of cassava cuttings.
He explained that the yield per hectare was between 25 – 35 tonnes instead of 12 – 15 tonnes, adding that so far, 176 farmers had been empowered with 10,237 cuttings across the three senatorial districts to plant about 186.95 hectares of cassava farms.
In the area of livestock development, Chikezie said that in a bid to check the extinction of grass cutter and ensure its availability, a Rapid Grass Cutter Multiplication Unit had been established at Delta State Agriculture and Rural Development Agency (DARDA) premises, Ibusa, at the total sum of N2.5 million, saying when operational, it would provide quality seeds, facilitate job creation, generate revenue for Government and meet the protein needs of Deltans.
He said that the current high demand for goat meat was constrained by the lack of access to fast growing, early maturing and adaptable breeds to be used as foundation stock.
To address this constraint, he said that his Ministry had established a Rapid Goat Multiplication Unit at Delta State DARDA Premises, Ibusa, at the sum of N2.5 million.
The Commissioner described pig farming as a very lucrative venture with very high potential for job creation across its value chain, disclosing that in this year, the sum of N50.9 million had been approved for Pig Multiplication and Farmers Support programme in the State and that the programme was expected to generate 30 direct jobs and many more downstream during and after implementation.
He explained that in its determination to maintain the tempo of aquaculture development in the State, the State Government established two fish farm clusters at Ewulu in Aniocha South and Mbiri in Ika North East Local Government Areas respectively.
A total of 80 ponds, according to him, were constructed at the clusters and that currently, 50 participants were engaged by the programme, saying in the first cycle of production, 60 metric tonnes of fish were harvested.
The Commissioner stated that the ponds were being prepared for stocking with fingerlings to commence the second cycle, adding that the project had generated 50 direct and 70 indirect jobs.