Mkpoikana Udoma
06 June 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – Not less than 50 farmers from OML58 host communities in Rivers State have benefited from a special training on modernised oil palm production, sponsored by Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited.
The beneficiaries are locals of OML 58 oil field which cut across communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ahoada East and Emohua Local Governement Areas in Rivers State.
The two-day ‘OML 58 Oil Palm Value Chain Sustainable Development Training Workshop’ was conducted by an agro specialist firm, Maclyns Global Resources Limited at Obite Community Civic Centre in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking, the Business Development Manager of Total, Mr. Philippe Desriac, explained that the training was part of the company’s social responsibilities to assist local farmers to grow from the level of local farming to macro agric business.
Desriac said the new method of palm production would not only boost the economy of the state but will generate employment opportunities for the teeming youths, while urging the trainees to seize the opportunity to transform their lives.
He further disclosed that the oil multinational is determined to monitor the seriousness of the beneficiaries to make them role models to others to be contacted on the modern oil palm farming in the state.
“We are committed to supporting genuine farmers on palm oil production farming to achieve the set goals in the project.
“The oil palm project is primarily an economic employment programme designed to assist farmers and young people to operate and own farms and palm estates for export.”
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Maclyns Global Resources Limited, Mr. Ugochukwu Mackintosh, said the training was designed to make local farmers palm oil producing moguls as obtainable in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Mackintosh, explained that the training has exposed the farmers to modern system that would boost the production of oil palm from local method of processing.
While describing Indonesia and Malaysia as the world’s leading palm oil producing countries, he disclosed that the local farmers have been trained on Indonesia and Malaysia systems of oil palm production farming for the first time in the country.
“The oil palm production project is a paradigm shift and diversification process from a mono-economy of crude oil to the oil palm agro-sector of the economy,” he said.