By Abdul-Kadir Abdullah
The Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) Netherlands, a non government organisation in collaboration with the Edo State Oil Palm Prgramme (ESOPP) is targeting to support 10,500 small holders oil palm farmers under its National Initiatives for sustainable and Climate- Smart Oil palm NISCOPS 2 in Edo State.
IDH Country Director in Nigeria, Prof Eniola Fabusoru, disclosed this in Benin City recently during the sensitization of 46 farmers drawn from communities farming in Sakponba forest on National Initiatives for sustainable and Climate- Smart Oil palm (NISCOPS), for Small holders funded by the government of Neitherland and the United Kingdom.
He said the workshop is a sensitization programme for communities, private sector as well as government agencies that are working in Sakponba forest scheme in Orhionmwon Local Government of the state.
"IDH in his NISCOPS 2 programme is planning to work in Sakoponba forest which is one of the major land scape in Edo state. Our aim is to promote sustainability in oil palm production, linking small holders farmers, integrating them in the supply chain, of major oil palm processors such as Presco and others that are doing oil palm in large scale".
He explained that IDH's aim was also to improving the productivity of small holders farmers in oil palm and as well as protecting the forest landscape.
"We are targeting 10,500 small holders farmers, we are here to
discuss with the communities and know their issues and problems and to work with them and also known among the partners who has the capability or solve the issues that have been raised and how to leverage the opportunity everybody brings to achieve our goals".
"That is what we started today and most importantly we want the people to know about the two studies that will be conducted, one on the social economic and the other on the environmental"
According to him, they are seeking the support of the communities so that when the consultants go to the field, they can have maximum cooperation, adding that it is from this studies they would design the intervention that will be of immense benefit to the small holders farmers and the community at large.
"Primarily, we hope to achieve improved livelihood of the small holders in the Sakponba forest as well as improving oil palm production and other economic activities that are agric related.
"So, we want to achieve improved livelihood through income, improved forest management through practice such that productivity will improve without further degradation of the forest. We want to achieve a balance of the social economic and environment.
"IDH will conduct its due diligence process and ensure that any community or partners we are working with do not take undue advantage of the small holders farmers or engaged in all kinds of mischievous practices that will lead to the disadvantage of the people.
"To achieve this we will be working closely with Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP) who is the regulatory agency of the government in the project.We are working with them to see how they van establish a strong police that favours the community".
"We are also bringing our incentives to the private sector to partner with them and integrate the small holders farmers into their value chain, and help to improve their productivity. we will change any kind of malpractices or issues by the private sector that may affect the livelihood of the small holders farmers.
He however called on the communities to cooperate with IDH , see the partnership in terms of business by not looking at today but the future and protect the forest landscape for the benefit of the future
On his part, Churchill Oboh, Team lead, ESOPP, said the programme was to ensure that oil palm is produced sustainably by our partners.
" IDH which is our development partners is collaborating with ESOPP to ensure that the productivity of small holders farmers that exist within the Sakponba landscape is increased. It is also to ensure that their livelihood are sustained as reasonably practicable"
"For us it is a welcome development and we are looking at partners of this kind because government alone can't do it"
He said the state government need NGOs and development partners that can support farmers in ensuring that production is in line with best practices and the livelihood of the small holders farmers is improved and sustained.
"The plan of IDH under the NISCOPS 2 programme will be beneficial to the state and the small holder farmers" he said.
