Okomu Oil, PIND train Edo farmers in climate-smart farming

Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta have equipped 500 farmers from 17 communities in Edo State with climate-smart farming practices and access to technical support, quality inputs, finance and markets.

The organisations held two Green Field Days on September 28 and 29 in Udo, Ovia South-West Local Government Area, and Odighi, Ovia North-East LGA, under the theme, “From Training to Adoption: Promoting Improved and Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices.”

According to a statement, the programme formed part of the PIND/Okomu Corporate Social Responsibility Livelihood Project and built on demonstration farms established to show farmers how improved agricultural practices could increase productivity, reduce production risks and improve farm profitability.

During the field sessions, PIND’s Technical Service Providers demonstrated the use of improved cassava stems, appropriate planting methods, spacing and farm-establishment techniques.

The experts also demonstrated commodity-specific practices for oil palm, cocoa and rubber, while selected farmers received cassava stems, fertilisers and herbicides to support the adoption of the practices on their farms.

Speaking on behalf of the Managing Director of Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, Dr Graham Hefer, the company’s Smallholder Scheme Manager, Sam Aisien, said the initiative aimed to strengthen livelihoods in neighbouring communities.

“Our goal is to ensure that investments in neighbouring communities strengthen livelihoods in practical and lasting ways. When farmers can see what works, access the right inputs and remain connected to technical and market support, they are better positioned to improve productivity, build resilient farm businesses and ultimately improve their living conditions,” Aisien said.

The Economic Development Manager of PIND, Misan Edema-Sillo, who spoke on behalf of the foundation’s Executive Director, Sam Ogbemi Daibo, said the programme was designed to move farmers from training to actual adoption of improved practices.

“Training creates value when farmers can apply what they learn. These field days help close the gap between knowledge and adoption by combining field-based demonstrations with appropriate inputs, local advisory services and market connections that can continue beyond the event,” Edema-Sillo said.

The initiative also connected participating farmers with Local Technical Service Providers for continued advisory and mentorship services.

The farmers engaged accredited input dealers, large buyers, financial institutions and other market actors to improve their access to inputs, finance and markets through existing commercial channels.

The organisations said the approach would help farmers sustain the practices introduced during the field days without depending indefinitely on project support.

The Green Field Days form part of a N1.2bn, three-year partnership between Okomu Oil and PIND to promote sustainable development in communities neighbouring the oil palm company.

In August, the partners commissioned a 61-kWp solar mini-grid in Gbelebu Community to provide electricity to an initial 100 households and businesses.

Through the livelihood programme, Okomu Oil and PIND said they were working to strengthen the local agricultural market system by linking practical training with technical support, quality inputs, finance and commercial relationships.

The partners said the initiative would help farmers improve productivity, manage climate and production risks and build more profitable livelihoods.