Speaking at the stakeholders meeting preparatory to the hosting of the 1st International Palm Produce Conference (IPPC) Thursday in Abuja, Mr. Ortom said that the inability of meeting local demand in palm oil production was a clear indication that there is an urgent need to arrest the declining fortunes of the Palm Oil Sub-Sector.
According to Mr. Ortom, “It is in this regard, that the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) in collaboration with my Ministry proposed to organise a conference to serve as a Platform for Interaction with Stakeholders in the oil Palm Industry globally to review and widen contacts as well as foster development al strategies to address the entire Oil Palm value- chain with stakeholders in order to resuscitates the lost glory of the oil palm industry in Nigeria.
“It is also timely, as the forum intends to send strong signals to investors/Stakeholders of existing opportunities in the palm oil industry in Africa with participation of more than 40 countries worldwide."
Earlier, the President, National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria, Mr. Henry Olatujoye noted that Nigeria despite producing 1.2million metric tonnes for local consumption annually, still has a shortfall of 700,000 metric tones.
According to him, “Palm Produce is a business in 24 States of the Federation. We cannot say we have had a synergy of relationship in the area of cooperation within ourselves to promote and drive the value chain in the sector and we in the private sector were apart. This conference is majorly to bring us together to contribute to the process of policy development by government”.
Source: Frontiers News*
No comments:
Post a Comment