The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in collaboration with the PANAG GLOBAL and BLUEPRINTS MPCS LTD., has organised a tree crop seedling fest in Ojoto community, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
NEPC’s Anambra State coordinating office and others, on Monday, impacted about 300 participants spanning across dignitaries capacity building and demonstration on sustainable tree crops production, particularly oil palm, avocado, cocoa and coconut.
The theme of the event was “Planting for profit as a strategic investment for export-oriented tree crop production” with 1000 seedlings distributed to the beneficiaries.
Peter Udom, State Coordinator NEPC, reiterated the strong commitment of the Nonye Ayeni led-NEPC to empower the Agro based Clusters in ensuring sustainability in supply of tree crops from the State to meet international standards and create jobs as a ripple effect in the State.
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He also commended PANAG GLOBAL GROUP for willingness to partner the NEPC in empowering his people, the Ojoto community and urged other stakeholders to emulate the CEO in terms of reaching out to empower communities, adding that farmers would be audited to ensure they produce to specification during the harvest.
The resource person, Emmanuel Ihimike, a well travelled Agropreneur and Farm management Expert trained participants on GAP in tree crop planting and production.
Papers presented centred around soil test, value addition, spacing, fertilisation, manure application and management, pruning and post harvest handling, varieties and other related matters associated with optimal yield per hectare.
Three major nurseries were borne out of this event and off takers were appointed to ensure sustainability in the supply of the seedlings.
Governments at all levels were called upon to improve on the intelligence and security infrastructure of the rural areas to ensure safety of farmers.
“Money doesn’t grow on trees ” the old saying was proven.
