Economics and Extension

Training

In addition to the core research activities, the Institute has carried out numerous training programmes for small and medium scale farmers through various extension methods. During 1999-2004, the institute trained over 1000 farmers from oil palm growing states of Nigeria in various techniques relating to oil palm management. During 2005 100 certified nursery operators drawn from the private and public sectors were trained to enhance farmers accessibility to quality planting materials. Seventy small scale mill fabricators and operators were also trained in 2005, to meet the growing demand of our Small Scale Palm Oil Processing Equipment.

Outreach Programme

The Institute launched an Outreach Programme in 1999 as a novel extension method designed to directly catalyze and mobilize farmers who own land to be sufficiently motivated to grow oil palm, or introduce the NIFOR improved tenera hybrid into their holdings. So far about 655 farmers from 105 communities spread across three local government areas in Edo State of the catchment area of the main station have been enlisted in the programme.

Database of the industry

NIFOR has been engaged in and continues to closely monitor developments in the domestic and world markets for fats and oils through the collation of statistical information on all aspects of oil palm related economic activities as well as those of the other commodities. The institute continues to prepare and update production cost estimates for its products, undertakes local market price surveys, and prepares investment profiles and feasibility reports for clients. From a recent survey improved plantings and milling capacities in Nigeria, the area under improved oil palm is 350,000 ha of the total estimated 2.3 – 2.5 million ha under oil palm, while the national milling capacity outside the informal and traditional methods is about 471 tonnes fresh fruit bunches per hour.

Production and Supply of Improved Planting Materials to Farmers

A demonstrable evidence of the Institute’s service to the agricultural industry of the country is the quality of oil palm seeds the Institute has supplied and continues to supply to farmers. In the period 1993 to 2004, the Institute supplied about 24.2 million sprouted oil palm seeds to farmers in Nigeria

Seeds: During the period, 1993 – 2004, the Institute distributed 24.2 million sprouted oil palm seeds.

Oil Palm Seedlings: During the period 1993- 2004, the Institute complemented seedling production by private individuals, State and Federal Government programmes by producing about 4.04 million seedlings.

Economics and Extension

Impact

Area under improved planting: A recent survey carried out by the Institute in July 2005, indicate that area under improved oil palm plantings has expanded by about 90,000 ha between 1999 and 2004 bringing to a total estimated area in the country under improved planting to about 350,000 ha. Coconut Seedlings: The Institute maintains seed gardens for production of improved coconut planting materials for distribution to farmers. The Institute, during 1998, assisted the Lagos State Coconut Development Agency by providing planting materials to establish about 40 hectares seed garden. Date Palm Seedlings: The Institute now raises date palm seedlings from identified superior genetic lines for reproduction of planting materials.

Impact

The Institute has ensured availability of improved planting materials to farmers in Nigeria. Through the supply of oil palm sprouted seeds and the various training sessions mounted for farmers and extension agents, NIFOR has transferred the technology of raising oil palm nursery seedlings to small and medium scale farmers. The sprouted oil palm seeds supplied to farmers during 1993 - 2004 would plant about 120,000 ha of oil palm assuming all were planted. NIFOR assisted the Lagos State Coconut Development Agency to establish coconut seed garden through the supply of coconut planting materials. This will enhance the capacity of the state to meet requests from farmers for planting materials in the very near future. With developments in date palm improvement, the Institute has stimulated interest in date palm establishment on a larger scale than previously existed in Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Yobe and Katsina states.

Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) enjoys substantial international standing as a major world centre in oil palm research. The Institute’s achievements and reputation, derive from its highly trained scientific staff, a well established experimental station infrastructure with functional facilities, and a tradition of scholarship and relevant research.

Contact Us

Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research
P.M.B. 1030,
Benin City,
Nigeria
Email :info@nifor.org.ng
Working Hours : 8:00am – 4:00pm