By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo .
The Managing Director of Genevito Farms in Ibekwe Akpan Nya, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Apostle John Okoriko said the facility has the capacity to produce 15,840 litres of palm oil monthly.
Speaking with newsmen in Uyo at the weekend, Okoriko said that the farm has 4,000 stands of palm trees, 75 hectares of land as well as the staff strength of 120 employed from the community
According to him, the palm seedlings were obtained many years ago from Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research Centre (NIFOR) in Abak and the seedlings are nursed yearly for expansion of his farm and for other farmers in rural communities in the state.
He said that the plantation has nursery section where palm tree seedlings are raised for other farmers and for the expansion, harvesting unit and planned milling department for full fledge production of a brand of palm oil known as special palm oil (SPO) for export.
“Last year, we had 7,000 seedlings from our nursery and it was not enough for farmers. We are nursing more seedlings to expand our farm and supply other farmers.
“The farm has a nursery unit with good species of sprout out nuts packaged in nursery bags as best management practice to prepare the seedlings for transplants which takes only two years before fruiting.
“By next week, we would harvest the farm for the month of July and our harvest is always very bountiful. This is the period we use both permanent and casual workers on the farm.
“Engaging this number of persons in the rural area, means a lot in terms of fighting unemployment and involving women to process palm oil.”
Apostle Okoiko, who is also the President of the Solid Rock Kingdom Church Worldwide, described palm oil production as a lucrative investment as nothing in palm fruits is wasted in the entire production chain.
“Nothing is wasted in palm trees. The production is simple, automatic markets to end products, direct impacts on development of rural dwellers while increment of income to rural communities can be achieved as well as engaging youths in the production chain”, he explained.
Okoriko listed the uses of palm fruits to include provision of raw materials for industries, fuel and biodiesel, food and bakery industries and cosmetics, adding that other end products can be used to produce poultry feed.
He stated that the farm enjoys technical assistance for manpower training from Niger Delta Initiatives (PIND) and SOLIDRIDAD and called for collaboration with state and federal governments to enable expansion as over 50 hectares of the land is uncultivated.
Okoriko mentioned challenges facing the farm as lack of capital, inadequate amenities, lack of farm implements, no vehicles to move around the farm during harvest, lack of power supply and storage facilities.
He said that the farm if expanded to optimum, can generate employment opportunities to change the fortunes of rural communities in the area.
Meanwhile, the farm manager, Mr Obot Nta has said that the objective behind the farm is to sensitize local communities that they can survive economically through palm fruit farming, if they can plant good hybrid.
“Our vision is to make sure that in the next 10 years, all the wild palm trees are replaced with new hybrids.
“We need government to assist us. Every month, many people come to buy palm fruits from our farm. More workers will be employed. If government gives us a production mill, we would help to reduce unemployment especially in the rural communities,” he said.
