A demonstrable evidence of the Institute’s service to the agricultural industry of the country is the quality of oil palm seeds the Institute has supplied and continues to supply to farmers. In the period 1993 to 2003, the Institute supplied about 21.5 million sprouted oil palm seeds to farmers in Nigeria

Seeds: During the period, 1993 - 2003, the Institute distributed 21.5 million sprouted oil palm seeds.

Oil Palm Seedlings: During the period 1993- 2003, the Institute complemented seedling production by private individuals, State and Federal Government programmes by producing about 3.5 million seedlings.

Coconut Seedlings: The Institute maintains seed gardens for production of improved coconut planting materials for distribution to farmers. The Institute, during 1998, assisted the Lagos State Coconut Development Agency by providing planting materials to establish about 40 hectares seed garden.

Date Palm Seedlings: The Institute now raises date palm seedlings from identified superior genetic lines for reproduction of planting materials.

Impact:

The Institute has ensured availability of improved planting materials to farmers in Nigeria. Through the supply of oil palm sprouted seeds and the various training sessions mounted for farmers and extension agents, NIFOR has transferred the technology of raising oil palm nursery seedlings to small and medium scale farmers. The sprouted oil palm seeds supplied to farmers during 1993 - 2003 would plant about 140,000 ha of oil palm assuming all were planted.

NIFOR assisted the Lagos State Coconut Development Agency to establish coconut seed garden through the supply of coconut planting materials. This will enhance the capacity of the state to meet requests from farmers for planting materials in the very near future.

Table 4 Annual Production and Distribution of Oil Palm Planting Materials, 1993-2003

(i)                     Sprouted Oil Palm seeds

ii.   Oil palm seedling production (no.) at the NIFOR Main Station, 1993 – 2003

plate 16. Some units of the NIFOR SSPE fabricated at NIFOR awaiting collection by farmers

Manufacture and Fabrication of Equipment

During the period 1993 — 2003, the Institute manufactured and sold a number of sets of the NIFOR Small Scale Palm Oil Processing Equipment (SSPE) comprising the following components:

Table 5. Small Scale Processing Equipment Fabricated for farmers/processors between 1993 and 2003