Obaseki, IDH sign MoU to improve livelihoods of farming communities in Edo

The Edo State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IDH to improve the livelihoods of farming communities in the Okomu Forest Landscape Compact.

Speaking during the Okomu Landscape Compact MoU signing ceremony yesterday in Benin city, Edo State, Ag. Chairman, Edo State Forest Commission (EDSFC), Mr. Edward Obiaw said the signing ceremony of the compact developed for the management of the Okomu landscape is driven by an Implementation Committee (IC) chaired by the Edo State Forestry Commission.

He added that the purpose of the implementation committee is to provide strategic guidance and advice to the actors towards promoting a green economy that guarantees improved livelihoods, social equity and environmental benefits in the Okomu landscape.

Obiaw who noted that the program is facilitated by IDH said the signing is among Edo State Government, Okomu Oil Palm Company, Communities and IDH.

On his part, Ag. Country Director, IDH, Prof Eniola Fabusoro said the Okomu Forest Landscape is a unique ecosystem, focused on improving productivity in a dominant commodity as well as protecting the landscape with a view to improving livelihoods of communities, small holders farmers and oil palm farmers.

He added that, “In all the landscape we work, we focus on improving productivity in a dominant commodity within the landscape and use that as an entry point to convening relevant stakeholders within the landscape for inclusive and sustainable agriculture and forest protection. ”

According to him, we are working in 22 landscape across the globe in Africa, Asia and Latin America with three key objectives of productivity, protection and inclusion.

“We are all gathered to conduct the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to demonstrate our commitment to the sustenance of the critical ecosystem services that have a direct effect on the livelihoods of thousands of people in the Okomu Forest Landscape.

“This commitment is laying a sustainable future for the generation unborn and it is commendable. The state has one more time demonstrated its leading position in driving the conservation of vital ecosystems in the tropic rainforests of Nigeria and Africa at large,” Fabusoro said.

In his remark, Agricultural Co-ordinator Okomu Oil Palm, Mr. Billy Ghansah who appreciated IDH for the program expressed optimism that it would be a model for future landscape production.

Ghansah assured of Okomu Oil palm Company readiness to provide markets for farmers within the Okomu Forest landscape.

The IDH’s Landscape approach is a framework that ensures integrated management of production systems and natural resources in a given area or district while improving the livelihoods of farming communities.