An oil palm tree farmer,
Mr Philip Okolie, has called on state and local governments in Delta State to invest in the cultivation of the cash crop towards achieving its “Delta Beyond Oil’’ initiative.
Okolie, whose farm is at Ugbolu in Oshimili North local government area of the state, made the call in an interview newsmen in Asaba at the weekend.
He said, investing in oil palm tree cultivation, would go a long way in achieving the “Delta Beyond Oil’’ initiative of the state government and called on the state and local governments to invest in the cash crop through the provision of soft loans to farmers to encourage them increase production.
“The government can also invest in the production of oil palm trees by providing farmers with improved seedlings and fertilisers. The government can also boost palm production in the state through regular training and retraining of farmers on ways to improve the production of oil palm produce in the state,’’ he said.
Okolie also observed that investing in oil palm would help to boost production of palm oil and palm kernel and ensure job creation for the people.
