News in brief: A team of experts from IAR&T, NIFOR, and OCP Africa has developed specialised fertilisers exclusively for oil palm farmers in different regions of Nigeria. These unique fertilisers aim to enhance yields and productivity, and the project also seeks to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports.
A group of experts comprising soil scientists, agronomists and other researchers have formulated a special fertiliser for oil palm farmers. The group is made up of representatives from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) and OCP Africa.
Soil scientist and project member Dr. Vincent Aduramigba-Modupe made the disclosure during the farmerâs field day on oil palm specialty fertiliser validation project event at Offitel Oil Palm farm in Mbak Atai, Itu, Akwa Ibom State.
Aduramigba-Modupe re-iterated the need for application of special fertilisers on certain crops to boost yields and productivity. He said that this fertiliser by OCP Africa, for example, is strictly for Oil Palm.
The researcher said that the team travelled extensively across states in the south region of Nigeria to ascertain the challenges of oil palm farmers. They made the fertiliser after collecting soil and tissue samples from palm produce.
The group managed to formulate three specialty fertilisers that are exclusive to regions; one for the South West, one for the South South and South East, and one for national recommendation.
According to Aduramigba-Modupe, their special micro and macronutrients composition made the fertilisers unique and exclusive for oil palm. He lauded the governmentâs plan to provide 5,000 hectares of arable land for farmers and appealed for them to dedicate sizable portions of the land to oil palm farmers for self-sustainability.
The OCP Project Agronomist for Africa, Odunayou Orowumi, said the company decided to go into the project to address farmers’ issues. He promised that, thanks to the project, Nigeria will cease importing fertiliser.
