The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the lead agency in the promotion of non-oil exports in the country, has advised farmers in the oil palm value chain in Abia State to form clusters to grow their businesses.
Nonye Ayeni, executive director/chief executive officer of the NEPC, gave the advice, Thursday in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, at a day capacity building programme on “Leveraging cluster principle to boost production of palm oil for export”.
She noted that Abia State is endowed with a rich agricultural landscape, tropical climate, fertile soil and a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, which makes it an ideal hub for the production of palm oil and other cash crops.
Represented by Okechukwu Amaechi, acting State Coordinator, Abia State Coordinating office of the Council, Ayeni, regretted that despite the immense potential that the State’s non-oil export sector has not reached its full potential.
She said that the Nigerian Government’s strategic focus on diversifying the economy and promoting non-oil exports presents a unique opportunity for Abia State to leverage its comparative advantage in agricultural production by adopting the cluster principle, which involves the concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers and institutions in a specific geographic region.
By fostering collaboration, innovation and competition among stakeholders, she said that the NEPC aims to create a vibrant cluster that drives economic growth, job creation and improved livelihoods for farmers, processors and exporters of palm oil in the State.
His Royal Majesty, Eze Rowland Alozie, president, Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN), Abia State chapter, appealed to the State Government to support OPGAN to access a loan of ₦4.7 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
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According to Eze Alozie, CBN promised to provide OPGAN with a loan facility of ₦4.7 trillion, but with State Government guarantee.
He, however, regretted that the immediate past administration in the State failed to approve the loan.
He said that if they access the loan that it will help them to establish a standardised processing plant for palm oil export.
