Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, has inaugurated the National Palm Oil Traceability Framework and Inter-Agency Committee in Abuja.
This initiative aims to enhance palm oil production, boost consumer confidence, and promote exports.
Represented by Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, the Permanent Secretary, Kyari noted the committee’s role in addressing issues like adulteration and poor processing.
The committee will coordinate efforts among federal and state agencies, private sector actors, and farmers’ cooperatives and serve as the backbone of a national traceability system.
Kyari stated that this system would modernise agricultural value chains and enhance global competitiveness.
He highlighted the importance of traceability in maintaining product integrity and compliance with quality standards, which is crucial for food processing and cosmetics industries.
The initiative will operate under the National Initiative for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS) and aims to increase production for both local consumption and export.
Mr. Iwara Edet Bassey, Director of the Federal Department of Agriculture, noted that the traceability system would monitor production and supply chain data.
Kennechukwu Onukwube from Solidaridad Nigeria expressed the need for all stakeholders to unite around a common policy to ensure a sustainable future for Nigeria’s oil palm sector.
The event concluded with the formal inauguration of the Inter-Agency Committee on Palm Oil Traceability.
