Institute Donates Nuts, Seedlings to Boost Coconut Farming in Delta State

The Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Benin, has donated 20,000 seed nuts and 8,000 coconut seedlings to the Delta State government to boost coconut farming in the state.

The consignment was received on Saturday by Mr Aneke Ifemeni, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, at Onicha-Ukwuani in the Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the state.

Ifemeni explained that the seed nuts would be used to develop nurseries, while the seedlings were going to be used for immediate planting.

He noted that the delivery was intended to boost the state’s Coconut Development Programme (DESCODEP), adding that with the delivery and other efforts already put in place, DESCODEP was good-to-go with its mandate of popularizing coconut planting and development in the state.

He urged interested individuals and communities to embrace the programme as conceived by the state governor for guaranteed economic growth in the future.

Meanwhile, the SSA, who doubles as the Programme Coordinator, called on the youth to look beyond non-existing white-collar jobs and key into the coconut development programme.

He commended the state governor for creating the enabling environment for the programme to take off, saying it would create employment for youths in partnering communities.

Furthermore, Ifemeni said Onicha-Ukwuani would serve as DESCODEP’S take-off point, noting that the community has the facilities to nurture the programme.

Remarking, the Programme Manager of DESCODEP, Mr Eugene Nwaedozie, called on those still doubtful of the programme to put away their doubts and embrace the project.

On his part, the Onicha-Ukwuani Farm Manager, Mr Ashikordi Chinedu, said people were ignorant of the many benefits of coconut, but the story had changed as the usefulness of coconut was now known to all.

Agro Nigeria