Nigeria’s Solidaridad Nigeria plans sustainable oil palm boost
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Solidaridad Nigeria unveiled a plan in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, to increase oil palm production while supporting smallholder farmers.
The organisation developed the sustainable management plan after assessing oil palm production across 24 Nigerian states, including evaluations of climate vulnerability and gender dynamics. The plan focuses on economic, social, and environmental sustainability, and aims to address issues like deforestation and limited access to land for women and young people.
Solidaridad Nigeria intends to help farmers increase yields on their current land instead of clearing new forests, promoting what they call “Best Management Practices.” Their assessments revealed that many farmers believe clearing forests is necessary for better yields, a practice the organisation hopes to change through training. The plan also addresses challenges like aging planting materials, land disputes, and weak government coordination.
The organisation hopes state and local governments will adopt the framework to align with international environmental standards, such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation, which could impact Nigeria’s oil palm exports. Solidaridad Nigeria reports having already worked with over 10,000 oil palm farmers and nearly 5,000 millers, providing tools, seedlings, and access to financial services through village savings and loan associations.
Farmers who adopted the Best Management Practices increased their yields from 2.7 to over six tonnes per hectare per year.
