In an effort to enhance the standard of living for farming communities inside the Okomu Forest Landscape Compact, the Edo State government and IDH have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).Ag. Chairman of the Edo State Forest Commission (EDSFC), Mr. Edward Obiaw, spoke during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Okomu Landscape Compact yesterday in Benin City, Edo State. He said that the Implementation Committee (IC), which is led by the Edo State Forestry Commission, is in charge of overseeing the signing of the compact.
He continued by saying that the implementation committee's goal is to offer the players in the Okomu landscape strategic direction and counsel in order to promote a green economy that ensures better livelihoods, social justice, and environmental advantages.
The Edo State Government, Okomu Oil Palm Company, Communities, and IDH signed the agreement, according to Obiaw, who also mentioned that IDH facilitates the initiative.
Prof. Eniola Fabusoro, Ag. Country Director, IDH, said that the Okomu Forest Landscape is a special ecosystem that is concentrated on enhancing productivity in a dominant commodity and safeguarding the landscape in order to improve the lives of communities, small-scale farmers, and oil palm farmers.
"In every landscape we work, we prioritize increasing productivity in a dominant commodity and use that as a springboard to bring together pertinent stakeholders for inclusive, sustainable agriculture and forest protection," he continued.
We are working in 22 landscapes in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, he claims, with the three main goals being participation, productivity, and preservation.
"To show our dedication to maintaining the vital ecosystem services that directly impact the livelihoods of thousands of people in the Okomu Forest Landscape, we have convened to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)."
It is admirable that this effort is building the groundwork for a sustainable future for future generations. Once again, the state has shown why it is in the forefront of efforts to protect important ecosystems in Nigeria's and all of Africa's tropical rainforests, according to Fabusoro.
Agricultural Coordinator Okomu Oil Palm, Mr. Billy Ghansah, expressed gratitude to IDH for the program and expressed hope that it would serve as a model for landscape production in the future in his remarks.
Ghansah guaranteed that the Okomu Oil Palm Company will be prepared to offer farmers in the Okomu Forest area markets.
A framework known as the IDH's Landscape approach guarantees integrated management of natural resources and agricultural systems in a particular area or district while enhancing the standard of living for farming communities.