News in Brief:
– The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) partnered with Ogun state government to empower over 1,000 maize farmers through training and resources.
– The project is part of the foundation’s nationwide effort to improve food security and livelihoods for smallholder farmers.
Farmers in Ogun State’s maize farming community are the latest beneficiaries of an agro-boosting collaborative effort between the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) and the Ogun state ministry of agriculture.
The project, known as the Maize Empowerment Project, will directly impact the lives of over 1,000 maize farmers, a news report said.
Specifically, it targets key challenges faced by maize farmers in Nigeria like low crop yields, limited access to quality seeds and fertilisers, inefficient pest and disease management, inadequate post-harvest handling practices, and difficulty accessing profitable markets for their produce.
Effectively, the project equips farmers with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve their productivity, profitability, and overall sustainability within the maize value chain.
Elaborating, Ogun State’s Agriculture Commissioner, Bolu Owotomo, stated that the Maize Empowerment Project directly contributes to food security and strengthens the livelihoods of participating farmers. He added that the project provided training in best agricultural practices to 1,000 participants, with half also receiving essential farm inputs and pesticides for the planting season.
Meanwhile, BATNF General Manager, Oludare Odusanya, emphasised the collaborative nature of the project and its goals. He said the program aims to empower women and young people, encourage innovation, promote sustainable practices, and connect farmers with profitable markets within the maize value chain.
The foundation, established in 2002, has a long-standing history of supporting smallholder farmers across Nigeria. Their focus areas include crop production, entrepreneurship development, and promoting environmentally friendly practices. Essentially, BATNF tailors its programs to address the specific needs of local farmers and communities.
It has invested over approximately £7.8 million ($10.14 million) in supporting rural smallholder farmers across the country, positively impacting over 1.7 million beneficiaries.
