The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has flagged off WACOT Rice Limited’s 2024 dry season farming input distribution to out-grower farmers in Argungu, Kebbi State.
The out-grower program seeks to increase the quality of smallholder farmer livelihoods via access to required agro-input financing, capacity-building training on Yield Enhancement Techniques (YET), and Good Agronomic Practices (GAP).
The minister, who also inspected WACOT Rice’s state-of-the-art 250,000-ton mill ahead of its inauguration later in the year, expressed delight with the initiative, noting that it would boost farmers’ productivity and income.
Senator Kyari lauded WACOT Rice and its parent company, Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, for empowering farmers across various value chains nationwide.
Highlighting TGI’s substantial investments in agriculture and other sectors, the Minister affirmed the alignment of these investments with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope eight point agenda.
“I am impressed with what I have seen. This project is heading in the right direction, utilizing the farm produce from local farmers for raw materials. The government stands ready to support initiatives like WACOT Rice, recognizing their potential to create jobs and improve livelihoods. As part of our strategic focus, we are actively considering creating farm land for WACOT Rice, further enhancing our agricultural capabilities.” he said.
Chairman of WACOT Rice and Vice Chairman (Africa) of TGI Group, Farouk Gumel emphasized WACOT Rice’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s food security.
He highlighted the inclusivity of the out-grower program, supporting farmers of all demographics with certified seeds, agrochemicals, and training sessions to enhance productivity and income.
He stated, “Whenever we have special guests visit us here, we get very excited. The feedback we receive encourages us to intensify our efforts in production. The community here is peaceful, inclusive, and accepting, and what we’ve achieved is not just a result of hard work but also the love shown by the host community.
“This encouragement is what propelled us to undertake some of the initiatives we have implemented. If more investors in Nigeria extend their reach into the rural economy and replicate similar projects, our country could gain an unparalleled competitive advantage,” he said.
He reassured the nation, saying, “We are here to assure him and the rest of Nigeria that we will play our part in bringing peace and prosperity to the nation through our agricultural endeavours.”
Over 10,000 registered farmers including a large number of women and youth in the state will receive agro-inputs, water pumps, training sessions and extension support during the dry season farming period.
