By Wole Balogun
S.A Media to VC
Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has collaborated with the Ekiti State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security on Oil Palm Development, to ensure that oil palm farmers in the state get seedlings for massive planting at highly subsidized rates.
The partnership, which is a fruition of the cordial relationship that exists between the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Abayomi Fasina, and the state Governor, Mr. Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji, will ensure that not less than 10,000 oil palm seedlings are supplied to farmers in the state annually.
The improved seedlings are been produced by FUOYE’s Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, through intensive and fruitful research efforts.
FUOYE’ s Dr. Opeyemi Osundare, a Lecturer in the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, and the newly appointed University Farm Manager,
who disclosed this in an interview with the University media team, said: “Great news to all oil palm farmers in Ekiti state as Federal University of Oye – Ekiti (FUOYE) has made available improved oil palm seedlings at a reduced price.
“We recognise the importance of partnership with stakeholders as we begin our journey in the implementation of Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standards. It also compliments the effort of the state government in developing her potential in cocoa, cashew, and oil palm.
“FUOYE has agreed to sell the seedling below the market value – N300/seedling. However, His Excellency, Governor Abiodun Oyebanji has graciously approved to subsidize the oil palm seedling to N200 so as to ease the process for the farmers.
“The collaborative effort is to concretize the zeal of Ekiti State Governor, His Excellency, Governor Abiodun Oyebamiji Abayomi and the Vice Chancellor, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, towards ensuring that the dream of making Ekiti State a leading oil palm producing state in Nigeria, is not only actualized but made much easier to realize so that the state could serve as a model to other States and the country at large, “ he said.
Speaking further on other benefits of the development, Dr. Osundare disclosed that:” This partnership will supply 10,000 oil palm seedlings to the State, through the Ministry of Agriculture, annually to boost agricultural production, eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, increase internally generated revenue, and also make Ekiti State the highest producer of oil palm in Nigeria.
“Interested farmers should call 08036115407 to get the payment and pick up details. Offer available while stock lasts. The improved seedlings were produced by the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, through intensive and fruitful research efforts of the Lecturers in the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture.
“FUOYE is supplying farmers at the production cost of #300 per seedling but the Governor in his interest and passion for agriculture has subsidized it to #200 per seedling,” he concluded.
