Foundation gives Oyo farmers agric support materials

The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation says it has supplied agricultural support materials to farmers in Oyo State under the second cycle of BATNF-sponsored cassava enterprise value-chain development project.

It said this was undertaken in line with its commitment to alleviate poverty among smallholder farmers in the rural communities across the country.

A statement from the company quoted the BATNF Board Chairman, Chief Kola Jamodu, as saying that agriculture is vital to poverty eradication and wealth creation.

Jamodu was represented by the Executive Director, BATNF, Mrs. Oluwaseyi Ashade, at the opening ceremony held in the Otu Community area of Oyo State.

He said, “There is a need to provide necessary requirements for the development of the agricultural sector like training, improved agricultural inputs, production capital, storage facilities and access to markets.”

This need, he said, had posed a challenge to governments at all levels. “Several farming communities in Nigeria are affected by these challenges and this contributes in no small measure to the problem of poverty, hunger and other economic challenges,” he added.

“The enormity of these problems is such that governments alone cannot solve them. There is a need for the organised private sector and other charitable institutions to come to the aid of the government to address this important issue of agricultural development, especially as it affects smallholder farmers, who are key players in the sector and are responsible for the production of a great percentage of the food consumed in the country.”

Receiving the agricultural materials from the foundation, Alhaji Muda Balogun, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed his gratitude to the foundation for coming to the aid of the farmers.

He said, “We like to thank the management of BATN Foundation for coming to our aid, especially at a time when we need to move our farming business to a greater level. As we can see, all the farmers from Otu and Ighoho communities of Oke Ogun are excited because the foundation has brought succour to us all by making farming simpler, better and more profitable.

“I also want to urge my fellow farmers to take good advantage of this intervention, by ensuring that they are accountable, hard-working, and most importantly, continue to see farming as a profitable business. In so doing, this will serve as a motivation for BATN Foundation, and other sponsors to further elevate farming business in our communities.”

The statement also quoted the Head of Leaf, BATNF, Thomas Omosefe, as saying, “As our major partners, we will continue to ensure compliance with best practices that will ensure success for farmers in their operations.

“Most importantly, we will support your business through periodic training, input distribution, among others, to pave the way for the transformation of your business in a way that will impact bottom-line for farming operations.”

The event was the second of the BATN Foundation’s cassava enterprise development projects in Oyo State aimed at helping smallholder farmers to transform their operations from subsistence to commercial farming. Other states that have benefitted from this agricultural intervention are Ebonyi, Niger, Kaduna and Benue.