Solidaridad and IDH, a Netherlands-funded program, have launched phase two of the National Initiative for Sustainable and Climate Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS), aimed at improving oil palm production while promoting climate-friendly practices.
Speaking at the launch event in Abuja on Tuesday, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria, Wouter Plomp, emphasized his country’s commitment to supporting Nigeria through the second phase of NISCOPS. The goal is to create a more sustainable and equitable future for palm oil production in Nigeria.
“Palm oil is crucial for Nigeria’s economy, but the future of Nigeria’s forests and equitable distribution of the palm oil sector’s benefits are equally important. This project aims to foster sustainability and fairness in Nigeria’s palm oil production,” Plomp stated.
Nathaniel Boateng, Head of Programs for Solidaridad in West Africa, representing Regional Director Isaac Gyamfi, highlighted that the initiative aims to enhance oil palm production in the region sustainably and enable farmers to cultivate without harming the environment. He noted the perception that oil palm contributes to deforestation and stressed the project’s focus on encouraging farmers to intensify and diversify their production within existing landscapes rather than expanding into forests.
Boateng explained that the first phase served as a test case, demonstrating that best management practices could significantly increase productivity. Phase two aims to scale these practices to more farmers and explore opportunities for climate finance.
Daan Wensing, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of IDH, emphasized the importance of leveraging private sector innovation and investment to achieve sustainable development goals. He noted that IDH collaborates globally with governments, public-private partnerships, farmers, and civil society to promote sustainable development.
Kene Onukwube, Program Manager of Solidaridad, stated that phase two of NISCOPS builds on the achievements of the first phase, which saw significant reductions in carbon emissions and increased oil palm yields to 115 tons per hectare. The second phase will replicate these best management practices across more locations and strengthen connections between local and international markets.
Onukwube also noted that the second phase would enhance the capacity of stakeholders and smallholder farmers to meet international sustainability standards. Additionally, it will focus on payment for ecosystem services, encouraging farmers and communities to take responsibility for sustaining their forests alongside oil palm landscapes. The initiative aims to engage over 12,000 farmers in this phase.
