Edo programme trains 500 farmers in climate-smart practices
Okomu Oil Palm Company and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta say they have trained 500 farmers from 17 Edo communities in climate-smart agriculture. The programme provided demonstrations, selected farm inputs and links to technical advisers, finance providers, input dealers and buyers.
Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta have trained 500 farmers from 17 communities in Edo State in climate-smart agricultural practices. The organisations held two Green Field Days on September 28 and 29 in Udo, in Ovia South-West Local Government Area, and Odighi, in Ovia North-East Local Government Area. The programme was conducted under the theme “From Training to Adoption: Promoting Improved and Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices.” It formed part of the PIND/Okomu Corporate Social Responsibility Livelihood Project and built on demonstration farms established to show how improved methods could raise productivity, reduce production risks and improve farm profitability.
PIND technical service providers demonstrated the use of improved cassava stems, suitable planting methods, spacing and farm-establishment techniques. They also presented commodity-specific practices for oil palm, cocoa and rubber. Selected farmers received cassava stems, fertilisers and herbicides to support the use of the methods on their own farms.
The initiative also connected participants with local technical service providers for continued advice and mentoring. Farmers were introduced to accredited input dealers, major buyers, financial institutions and other market actors. The organisations said these connections were intended to improve access to inputs, finance and markets through existing commercial channels.
Okomu’s Smallholder Scheme Manager, Sam Aisien, said the goal was to strengthen livelihoods in neighbouring communities by combining practical demonstrations with inputs and technical and market support. PIND Economic Development Manager Misan Edema-Sillo said training created value when farmers could apply what they learned. She said field demonstrations, inputs, local advice and market connections were intended to close the gap between knowledge and adoption.
The Green Field Days are part of a N1.2bn, three-year partnership between Okomu Oil and PIND. The partners said the wider programme aims to help farmers improve productivity, manage climate and production risks and build more profitable livelihoods.
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