The Assistant Director of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Uyo
Smart Office, Mrs. Pauline Ndulaka, has regretted that Nigeria has not
been able to unlock the potentials of its oil palm produce despite starting before
Malaysia in oil palm production.
She added that improper packaging and storage of the extracted oil
has led to the sale of palm oil with foul odour , resulting in lower
sales in the markets.
Ndulaka said this on Friday during a capacity building workshop for
palm produce sector in Akwa Ibom State with the theme “ best farming
and processing practice for enhance produce yield of market
competitiveness” held in Uyo, the state capital.
According to her, “There should be proper packaging and storage of the extracted oil to
slow down the chemical deterioration (rancidity). This need becomes
relevant because improper storage has led to sales of palm oil with
foul odour in the market and thus lower income”.
She called for the application of best management and best
agricultural practices in palm oil sector to meet international
standards to enhance exportation adding that palm oil is a goldmine
which when fully tapped would boost the Nigeria economy.
She therefore called for collaboration and synergy between government,
organised private sector and other palm produce stakeholders to
facilitate the production and export of the produce.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo urged
farmers in the state to form themselves into clusters and cooperatives
to easily access amenities from government.
He also harped on the need of purchasing quality and healthy seedlings
from approved vendors saying that such would boost the quality and
standard of the products both food and cash crops.
Also the professor of Agriculture in the University of Uyo, Nyaudo
Ndaeyo said if the call for overhauling of oil palm sector would be
feasible, Community based oil palm plantations should be encouraged
similar to what was obtained during Governor Victor Attah’s
Administration in the State.
He said that there should be an irrigation scheme for oil palm
plantation since palm is a low land tree crop which requires certain
amount of rainfall, 1600mm minimum per year
