The Anambra State government has distributed 2 million palm seedlings to over 180,000 households in the past two years to boost agriculture and food security. This initiative supports the 'One Family, 20 Palms' project launched by Alpha Palm City Estate Development Limited. Officials aim to revive palm production in the southeast, drawing lessons from Malaysia's success.
Anambra State's commitment to agriculture was highlighted during the unveiling of the 'One Family, 20 Palms' project and the inauguration of the state's chapter of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN). Professor Forster Ihejiofor, the Commissioner for Agriculture, announced that the government has distributed 2 million palm seedlings to more than 180,000 households over the last two years, aligning with Governor Prof Chukwuma Soludo's vision for the sector.
Ihejiofor expressed the government's intent to collaborate with NPPAN and Alpha Palm City Estate Development Limited to implement the program, which encourages each family to cultivate 20 palm trees. He lamented Nigeria's shift from exporting palm nuts to Malaysia decades ago to now importing $500 million worth of palm oil annually from the same country. During a 2022 visit to Malaysia, Ihejiofor observed that palm trees are a national economic asset there, with strict regulations against unauthorized handling and full utilization of by-products. He advocated replicating such policies in Anambra and Nigeria, noting that over 80 percent of products in typical Nigerian supermarkets derive from palm oil and kernel.
Mrs Gloria Aniemeka, Vice Chairman of Alpha Palm City Estate Development Limited, stated that the company initiated the project to plant at least 20 million palm trees in the state. She invited investors to participate, highlighting available land and nursery palms ready for tending, with flexible payment options in phases and installments.
Dr Lynda Onubogu, NPPAN's National Vice President for the South East, inaugurated the Anambra executive led by Mrs Ifeyinwa Onweluzo, calling it a step toward restoring palm produce as the backbone of the eastern Nigerian economy, which had been neglected. National Secretary Kayode Olatola noted that NPPAN has existed since 1995 and that palm trees grow commercially in 29 states, positioning Anambra well for the initiative despite land constraints.