Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has flagged off the planting of oil palm on 10,000 hectares of land in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the State. The farm is owned by a private investor, J.B. Farms Limited in line with the Red Gold Agenda of Governor Akeredolu’s administration.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Governor Akeredolu noted that the event marked a giant stride in his administration’s quest for a green and sustainable economy, job creation, industrial development and enhanced Internal Revenue Generation (IGR).
Recall that the governor in a bid to boost production and increase output in palm oil production in the Ondo State approved and supported oil palm farmers with N2 billion. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said the state government supported palm oil farmers with N2 billion for producers of palm oil to put the state on the world’s map as a major palm oil producer. He reiterated his commitment to the promotion of Oil-Palm, Cocoa, Cashew, Rubber and Coffee, adding that he would not relent in his desire to make the state the number one producer in Cocoa and Oil-Palm. The governor disclosed that the J.B. Farms will provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs for the teeming populace, adding that they are looking at about 40,000 direct and indirect jobs at an average of four persons per hectare.
“It is noteworthy that our Red Gold Agenda has become a reality and not just that, we are also promoting indigenous investors. I am happy to disclose that as of today, our administration has given 70,000ha of land out of a total of 100,000 ha earmarked for our tree crops programme. I have the conviction from the outset, that the tree crops value chain is one of the foremost areas where we have a comparative advantage as a State.
“The global economic indicators have continually shown the undeniable strength of the oil palm value-chain and its positive multiplier effects. This is further confirmation that we have taken a very good decision with our Red Gold Agenda. History and posterity will definitely vindicate us.”
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However, he rejoices with the people of the State, Odigbo Local Government in particular, for it to become a major economic hub, not only in Ondo State but in Nigeria as a whole.
“In this area, we have an array of investments, running into several billions of naira. We have the Ondo-Linyil Industry Hub, the Oil and Gas by Prof. Akinlagbe, SSAPZ in partnership with AfDB, SUDIT Oil and Agro Chemicals, ACME, Bola Oil, to mention but a few. I am also aware that a lot of business ventures like Quarries, Oil and Gas etc are continuously springing up.
“The issue of deforestation for oil-palm plantation, most especially in South-East Asia has been a subject of controversy. Climate Change and loss of biodiversity and increasing number of endangered species are some of the points being raised,” Governor Akeredolu said.
Governor Akeredolu congratulated the Chairman and CEO of J.B. Farms, Jibola Adebutu, on the monumental achievement; charged him not to rest on his laurels. He said: “I am aware of the increasing cost of sprouted nuts because of the depreciating value of the naira. The arrangement is in the pipeline to build a partnership between the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa and an accomplished organisation in Asia to set up a Centre of Excellence in Oil-Palm Research and Seedlings Production. We are totally committed to the development of the entire value chain.”
Reacting, Adebutu explained that the oil-palm seedlings would be planted on two hectares of land each year for the next five years to fully utilize the 10,000 hectares.
