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By Iheanyi Chukwudi
In continuation of its promotion of palm oil production across the globe, including Nigeria, in line with global best practices, Solidaridad West Africa, has inaugurated the Enugu State Palm Oil Traceability Inter-ministerial Committee.
The international Civil Society group which has shown special interest in Enugu State, said that the Inter-ministerial Committee, was to initiate a legal framework for palm oil traceability, just as the capacity of the farmers was brewing built for sustainable production for the local and foreign market dynamics.
At the inauguration in Enugu, Solidaridad expressed strong belief in the Committee playing a crucial role in promoting transparency and accountability in the oil palm industry in the state.
The Committee, in line with the National Initiatives for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS), is made up of Representatives of the ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Trade and Investment, as well as federal government agencies such as the Forestry Commission.
Others are, the UN REDD+, the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), the Nigeria Customs Service, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Solidaridad Programme Manager, Oil Palm, Mr. Kene Onukwube, who spoke during the inauguration explained that "establishing oil palm traceability in Nigeria is not just a matter of compliance or marketing; it is essential for fostering sustainable agricultural practices, enhancing economic opportunities, ensuring quality, and building consumer trust."
Onukwube stressed that by adopting effective traceability measures, Nigeria could significantly enhance its oil palm industry while also contributing to environmental sustainability and social equity.
He said, "The target is to galvanize the efforts of these government ministries and agencies for an effective oil palm traceability system for the country."
Onukwube, stated further that Solidaridad is seeking collaboration with relevant stakeholders to enable smallholder oil palm farmers to close the traceability gap in the oil palm sector in Nigeria.
For an effective palm oil traceability system in Nigeria, he averred that "new ways of collaboration that foster transparency and accountability within the supply chain, and which ensures that palm oil production is inclusive, and adheres to sustainable and ethical standards is crucial.
To achieve this, Solidaridad is mobilizing all stakeholders towards developing a traceability system that not only enhances market access for small holders by meeting international compliance requirements, but also attracts investment opportunities, thereby promoting an inclusive market-based model that benefits all stakeholders involved,”.
The recent traceability requirement of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires commodities to be provided with geographic coordinates showing the plots of land where they were produced or harvested.
"Products not meeting traceability requirements may not be placed on the EU market or exported. In the last six years, Solidaridad under the National Initiatives for Sustainable and Climate Smart Oil Palm Smallholder has supported more than 4500 farmers in Nigeria to practice climate-smart agriculture and sustainable land use."
Inaugurating the Committee, the state Commissioner for Agriculture Agro Allied Industrialization, Hon. Patrick Nwabueze Ugwu, represented by Dr. Edward Isiwu, the state programme Coordinator, international Fund for Agriculture Development IFAD and Value Chain Development programme VCDP, urged the members to take their assignment very seriously.
He however, lend his voice to that of the Permeant Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Victor Ngwu, in appreciating Solidaridad for the robust partnership with the Enugu state government over the years, saying the governor Peter Mbah led administration places high premium on issues concerning Agriculture.
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