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Nigeria has now joined the league of global sustainable palm oil producers as it launches its own version of the national interpretation of Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) recently in Benin City, Edo State.
To ensure that Nigeria starts producing its palm oil in a sustainable way, 51 stakeholders across the country’s palm oil supply chain have signed to participate in Nigeria’s RSPO.
The RSPO which requires palm oil producing countries to develop their respective national interpretation of the principles and criteria used in accessing and endorsing stakeholders for certification comprises of 132 indicators.
In his welcome address, Fatia Afolabi, Nigeria facilitator of RSPO said that the RSPO national interpretation would help build sustainability in the country’s palm oil industry and increase efforts to ensure that the country takes back its position in the comity of palm oil producing nations.
“We need to start producing palm oil in a sustainable way if we are to take back our position in global palm oil production. The standards of the RSPO addresses the legal, economic, environmental and social requirements of producing sustainably,” Afolabi said.
Under Nigeria’s version of RSPO, measures are being put in place to ensure that smallholder farmers, which account for 80 percent of the country’s production, can also obtain the certification.
“The RSPO set standard details for the sector. When the production of palm oil is protected, it becomes inclusive, sustainable and have positive impact on the environment,” said Abraham Baffor, director for Africa, Profest- an NGO that supports governments, organisations implement their commitment to responsible production and sourcing of agric inputs, said during the launch of the country’s version of RSPO in Benin, Edo state.
“RSPO understands that smallholder farmers have unique challenges obtaining the certification; as a result, we are currently working on waivers to grant smallholders and putting measures in place to ensure they come on board.
“The RSPO will help farmers maximise the use of their land by increasing their productivity without necessarily expanding their farmland areas,” Baffor said.
He stated that there are 64 major and 68 minor indicators which oil palm suppliers must meet before the certification processes commences.
Goodwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo, during the launch said that the state is committed to the RSPO goals and that adopting the principles is critical to achieving the Edo states goal of creating 200,000 hectares of palm oil plantation.
“We believe the principles of RSPO if properly enacted will achieve our goal of 200,000 hectares of palm oil plantation,” Obaseki said.
“To ensure we are RSPO compliant, we are working with Profest to set up a technical committee. Under my leadership, Edo state will pioneer the establishment of palm oil council in Nigeria through the collaboration of oil palm producing states,” he added.
In his keynote address, ‘The oil Palm a Sustainable Crop with a Zero Carbon Footprint’, Gert Vandersmissen, member, RSPO executive Board said that oil palm can take Nigeria out of poverty when the country starts producing it in a sustainable way.
Vandersmissen stated that sustainability means profitability and environmental friendliness, adding that it is important for Africa to start producing in a sustainable way.
Josephine Okojie
