Sustainability at Spring Valley Ranch Ltd

Ibusa, Oshimili North LGA, Delta State, Nigeria  ·  Sustainability Fact Sheet

At Spring Valley Ranch Ltd, Ibusa, we farm with Delta State in mind. We produce sustainable palm oil, palm kernel oil, food crops, livestock, and freshwater fish in one integrated, zero-waste system that protects our land, our people, and our waterways.

Our operations comply with Federal Ministry of Environment, NOSDRA, and Delta State Ministry of Agriculture environmental guidelines.

Our Core Commitment: No Deforestation, No Burning, No Exploitation, Zero Waste.

1. Palm Plantation — Ibusa

• No Deforestation in Ibusa: We do not plant in forest reserves or community sacred groves. All our blocks are on previously farmed, degraded farmland within Ibusa / Oshimili North, with community consent and documented land agreements.
• Zero Burning — Fully Compliant: In line with Delta State anti-bush burning law, we practice 100% zero-burn for replanting and land prep.
• Soil Protection for Delta Soils: We use Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) mulching, frond stacking, and Mucuna cover crops to protect our sandy-loam soils from erosion during heavy rains.
• IPM: We use barn owls, weevils for pollination, and neem-based controls to reduce chemical pesticide use. No aerial spraying near homes or streams.
• High-Yield Tenera: We use NIFOR-sourced improved Tenera seedlings to produce more oil per hectare — more yield, less land pressure.

2. Palm Oil & Palm Kernel Oil Milling

• 24-Hour Processing: Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) from our Ibusa plantation are milled within 24 hours at our local mill for low FFA, high-quality crude palm oil.
• Zero-Waste Mill — Our Circular Model:
  
  • EFB & Fibre → Organic compost for Ibusa farm soils
  • Palm Kernel Shells → Biomass fuel, reducing diesel use
  • POME (Mill Effluent) → Sealed biogas digester → Electricity for mill & staff quarters (no open pond pollution)
  • Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) → High-protein feed for our livestock and fish
• No Pollution of Ani and Atakpo Streams: All effluent is treated. No discharge into community rivers or creeks. We maintain 50m buffer zones along all waterways.
• Food Safety & Traceability: 100% traceable to our Ibusa blocks. Produced under SON and NAFDAC food safety standards. No adulteration, no Sudan IV.

3. Other Crops — Intercropping System

We intercrop maize, cassava, yam, vegetables, and plantain in young palm areas to ensure food security for Ibusa community.

• Composted manure from livestock for fertilizer
• Rainwater harvesting + small earth dam for dry season irrigation
• No banned agrochemicals (we comply with the NAFDAC banned list)

4. Livestock — Cattle, Goats, Poultry

• Integrated Grazing: Our goats and Ndama cattle graze natural cover in palm alleys — natural weed control + natural fertilizer.
• Feed from the Farm: 40–50% feed from our own PKC, maize bran, and cassava peels — reducing feed cost and waste.
• Animal Welfare: Humane handling, no growth hormones, veterinary care by a licensed vet in Asaba/Ibusa.
• Zero Waste: All dung → Biogas + compost → back to plantation.

5. Freshwater Fish — Tilapia & Catfish

• Responsible Aquaculture in Ibusa: Earthen and concrete ponds using rain-fed water. No wild fingerling capture.
• Water Stewardship: We practice partial recirculation. Nutrient-rich fish pond water is used to irrigate crops. No wastewater discharged into community water sources.
• Natural Feeding: Formulated feed using PKC, moringa leaf, and local ingredients to reduce expensive imported fishmeal.
• No Antibiotics: No routine antibiotics. Healthy pond management only.

6. Environment & Energy for Delta State

• Energy: Biogas from POME powers our mill. Palm kernel shells power our boiler. We are adding solar pumps for the fish farm to reduce diesel and noise.
• Climate Action: By capturing methane and composting EFB, we cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly versus open dumping/burning common in Delta State.
• Biodiversity: We protect indigenous trees (Iroko, Mahogany), maintain wildlife corridors, and plant 10 native trees for every one removed during replanting.

7. Our People — Ibusa & Oshimili North

• Community First: 80% of our workforce is from Ibusa and surrounding Oshimili North communities. Fair wages above minimum wage, PPE, safety training.
• No Child Labour, No Forced Labour: Strict compliance with the Nigerian Labour Act.
• Smallholder Support: We buy FFB from Ibusa smallholders at transparent, fair-gate prices and train them in best practices with NIFOR.
• Community Development: Annual scholarship support for farm workers’ children and support for Ibusa health centre.

From Ibusa soil to global market — if the soil is healthy, the animals are healthy, the fish are healthy, then our community and customers are healthy.