By Ogbebor Tony Ikponmwosa.
Oil palm investment, which is the offshoot of agricultural reforms by the Edo State Government, has emerged the largest oil palm investment project in Africa.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Stephen Ideheren, gave the information during a buffer allocation meeting with Ologbo N’ugu Community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area in Edo State.
Ideheren noted that the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has taken major steps through various reforms to ensure that the livelihoods of the people are protected and improved upon.
According to him “After successive meetings between the State Government and these investors, the Governor has directed that buffer zones be created for all project communities under the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP) to enable the people of the various host communities continue their farming as a way of sustaining their livelihood and economic values.”
While appreciating the Community for their cooperation, the Commissioner stated that the State Government has no interest in community lands or free areas, but only that degraded areas are given out to investors. He added that farmers whose farms are located inside the investor’s concession will be adequately compensated.
Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser, political, Edo South to the Edo State Governor, Lady Uwa Osunbor stated that Governor Obaseki is committed to utilizing oil palm investment as an impetus to drive community development in the state while ensuring that the economic livelihood of the people is protected.
In her words “we want to let you know that the buffer zones allocated to the community is not for community expansion and should not be sold out, these buffer zones are given to the community for farming purposes only.”
The Acting Team Lead of the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), Mr. Churchill Oboh assured the people that the Edo State Government has made sure that all investors under the ESOPP programme comply with global best practices and also respect community rights and interest while cultural values and socio-economic livelihoods are sustained.
Also present at the event was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Peter Aikhuomoubogbe, the Director of Agric Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Sunday Erhumwunosere, the Data Management Officer ESOPP, Mr. Emmanuel Omondeagbon.
