The British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) Foundation, in partnership with Cato Foods & Agroallied Global Concepts and the Osun State government, has launched a transformative enterprise development initiative aimed at boosting cassava production and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
The Enterprise Development for Smallholder Cassava Farmers project by BATN Foundation is designed to empower farmers by providing access to essential resources, markets, and training.
At yesterday’s flag-off ceremony in Osun, BATNF’s general manager, Oludare Odusanya, announced that 100 participating farmers will each cultivate half a hectare using improved and biofortified cassava varieties.
He explained, “These farmers will be organised into Agri-Business Clusters (ABCs) and cooperatives to streamline access to quality inputs, mechanisation, and financial services.
He said, “This bloc farming model is also expected to enhance their collective marketing power. The core objectives of the initiative are to increase cassava yield and household income by at least 40% and to improve food security.
The project seeks to establish a more efficient and profitable cassava value chain by training farmers in good agronomic practices, climate-smart agriculture, and basic enterprise management,” he said.”
On his part, the managing partner and co-founder of CATO Foods & Agroallied Global Concepts, Pelumi Aribisala, said the initiative was designed to meet the burgeoning industrial demand for cassava while strengthening Nigeria’s food system.
BATNF’s strategic focus remains on elevating the productivity of smallholder farmers while fostering sustainable practices that secure their livelihoods for the long term.
Dignitaries, at the event includes Representative of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Osun State, Oluwakemi Fadare, Olupo of Oluponna, Oba Abdul-Rafiu Oyekanmi Mosobalaje Bamigboye II, CEO, Cato Foods, Atinuke Lebile, General Manager, BATNF, Odusanya Oludare, Project Manager, BATNF, Mr Adetola Oniyelu, and other industry stakeholders.
The ongoing tripartite collaboration exemplifies how collaborative efforts, targeted interventions, and strategic investments can drive agricultural transformation.
As the Foundation looks forward to expanding its programs, the focus remains on nurturing smallholder farmers into catalysts of Nigeria’s sustainable development, concluded. “
