Fifteen thousand maize and
soy farmers in Katsina and Kaduna states will benefit from the collaboration
between the West African Soy Industries Limited (WASIL) and the Business Innovation
Facility (BIF) to enhance maize and soy farmers’ productivity.
This was disclosed on
Thursday, June 8, 2017 in Funtua, Katsina State during the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding between WASIL and BIF on improving the productivity
of Maize and Soy farmers in a replicable manner in Nigeria,
WASIL, a sister company to
WACOT Limited is a member of the TGI Group,
an international investment and holding company with diversified
interests and investments in Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Benin, Morocco, UAE,
South Africa, China and several other emerging markets with Mr. Rahul Savara as
Group Managing Director.
On the other hand, the
Business Innovation Facility (BIF) is a five-year (2014 - 2019) DFID-funded
market systems development programme that aims to improve the lives of the poor
in three countries: Malawi, Myanmar and Nigeria.
BIF works to identify and
address constraints in selected markets, providing technical assistance (and
some grant funding) to businesses and other market players.
According to the General
Manager, Corporate Affairs of TGI Group, Mr. Sadiq Kassim, “WASIL is currently
working with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development and
the Central Bank of Nigeria under the Food Security Programme of the Federal
Government to improve the productivity of maize and soy farmers in a replicable
manner. The company has commenced the setting up of a large oil milling
facility in Nigeria which will provide off-take of Soybeans from out-grower
farmers while its affiliate company, CHI Farms will procure maize for its feed
milling activities from the out-grower farmers as well”.
“WASIL is targeting to
reach 14,000 farmers in Katsina and 1,000 farmers in Kaduna State in both maize
and soy value chains making a total of 15,000 farmers during the current
cropping calendar”, Kassim added.
With the signing of the
MOU, BIF will provide WASIL with technical assistance in realizing its
objectives.
Identified areas of
collaboration include Data capturing and building data base of farmers and
cooperatives in Maize & Soy. While WASIL/WACOT is expected to provide its
current database of existing cooperatives which had been formed earlier, BIF
will support the Group in designing a pre-assessment survey form to assess the
farmers’ socio –economic conditions, determine the sample size and assist with
getting the same administered on ground.
BIF will also provide the
required Information Technology (IT) support and database software and trained
field staff to conduct registration of 15,000 new farmers while also conducting
farm mapping and re-validation of database of farmers collected by WASIL staff
and provide continuous supportive supervision
Also speaking on the agreement,
the Managing Director of WACOT Limited. Mr. Ujwalkanta Senapati disclosed that
WASIL and BIF through the collaboration will create new farmers’ associations
and cooperatives alongside expansion of existing cooperatives.Facilitate the
involvement and support of relevant public agencies and state governments in
formation and registration of cooperatives and Self Help Groups. Ensure
inclusion of registered farmers into the National Farmers Database and also
conduct a joint exercise to mobilize and strengthen farmer cooperatives in
areas such as conflict resolution, group functioning, record keeping, etc.”
Continuing,Mr. Senapati
further disclosed that the agreement includes training and capacity building
for maize and soy farmers. In this area, WASIL will assistant BIF in setting up
a project office in Funtua, Katsina State. While, BIF will provide Soy and
maize crops’ experts as resource persons to develop manuals and training
resources for the farmers
BIF is also expected to
support the process of farmer training needs assessment on field, review and
fine-tuning of Yield Enhancement Technique training resources and other
training and development tools. Support the production of promotional materials
required for provision of Field Extension Services to the member farmers and
the dissemination crop calendar related Information to farmer members on a
regular basis (through ICT if possible)
BIF will also support in
the establishment of Demo Plots to transfer Best Practices to member Farmers
and the execution of Farmer Field Days (at least 2 field days) during the
Growing Season for the member farmers
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