Young farmers desirous of economic transformation in Benue State can now heave a sigh of relief through the palm farming initiative expected to turn around their financial fortunes within a period of three years.
The initiative, recently conceived by the state government, appears promising due to the unique species of palm seedlings provided to young farmers as these trees produce three times a year, with each tree bearing over 20 bunches.
Eddy Okpe, one of the benefitting farmers, said a lot of opportunities abound in palm farming, while expressing concern over the waiting period.
Okpe is among many young people who turned up for the flag-off ceremony of the distribution of over 10,000 improved palm seedlings by the Benue State government through the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation and Empowerment/State Youth Leader, Mkeenem Moses, in Makurdi, the state capital.
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The event which held on Monday at the Sir Alex Addingi palm farm was designed to equip the youths of Benue State with the skills, resources and support needed to engage in palm cultivation, thereby fostering economic empowerment and sustainability.
Moses said the project was aimed at cultivating a new generation of industrious and self-sufficient individuals who will significantly contribute to the prosperity and development of Benue State.
“The desired economic transformation through this singular initiative is feasible given the uniqueness of this species of palm trees as it produces three times a year with each palm tree bearing over 20 bunches.
Speaking during the event, the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Terkimbi Ikyange, said the legacy project will outlive the administration and the beneficiaries.
“It’s a project you will benefit and leave for your children. The palm trees will make millionaires out of the beneficiaries especially the youths. Believe that the palms will make you comfortable economically,” he said.
Ikyange urged the beneficiaries to take the project seriously, plant the palms, nurture them and not allow them to get burnt, saying, that by the next three years, they would start reaping the benefits.
Also, the State Commissioner for Finance, Michael Oblegba, who owns a large palm plantation, told the young farmers that what was given to them freely was worth more than cash.
He said, “What they have given you is a gift. It’s more than giving you money.
“I have over 15,000 palm plantations and I can tell you that palm farming is more valuable than crude oil. Plant a palm tree and grow your future,” he added.
Oblegba counselled the young people to beware of fire incidents.
“The biggest enemy of palm tree is fire, especially during the dry season when people are hunting for animals. They could set fire that will consume your plantation so I make provision to replace such incidents with at least 1000 palm seedlings every year.
“You can also plant yam or maize in between the spaces in your palm farm and the advantage is that fire won’t come with the yams planted within the spaces. Palm oil is more expensive than crude oil and more valuable. Palm tree business is big business. Our people have land; let us use it well,” he said.
All the youth leaders drawn from the 23 local government areas of the state at the gathering went away with seedlings for the benefit of their associations.
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