Oil-Palm Farmers Appeal To State, Federal Govts For Provision Of Tractors To Small-scale Farmers To Wage War Against Hunger

By Ifeanyi Omenogor

Members of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) have appealed to the state and federal governments to provide more farm inputs and machinery, including tractors to small-scale farmers for the war against hunger and food scarcity in the nation.

The Delta State chairman of NPPAN, Major Dickson Okpor, Rtd, made the appeal shortly after collecting fertilizer palliative at Ogwashi-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha South Local Government Area.

He, however said that members of the association would continue to support the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the Federal Government for providing fertilizer palliative to small-scale farmers.

Hon. Jude Chukwunwike, the chairman of Aniocha South Local Government council who presented the fertilizer to the farmers, called on them to justify the effort of the government by taking their agricultural program seriously.

The chairman, who was represented at the occasion by the supervisory councillor for Agriculture, Hon. Frank Okocha, lauded the state and federal governments for the initiative of providing fertilizer to the farmers, noting that it would boost food production in the state and the nation at large.

The Delta State chairman of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), Major Dickson Okpor, Rtd, commended the state and federal governments for the palliative.

He assured the government that his members across the state would ensure judicious application of the fertilizers.

While describing Governor Oborevwori as a ‘farmers-friendly’ governor, he thanked him for reaching out to the farmers directly.

He urged the farmers to repay the good gesture of the government by flooding the state with palm oil come 2025, warning that he would blacklist any member caught abusing the opportunity or constituting himself as a clog in the wheel of the government’s effort in achieving desired results in the agricultural sector.

Present at the occasion were the traditional ruler of Ejeme kingdom, Obi Godwin Nzemeke and other prominent chiefs from the area.