In it’s bid to help farmers access information to procure quality inputs, and help them to improve production output, ,Awesome Fresh – an agriculture production company has initiated collaboration with stakeholders in the agricultural.value chain sector .
In this regard,the company has signed an agreement with the Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers and Exporters Association of Nigeria and the Tomatoes and Orchad Producer Association (TOPAN) to facilitate the production of high access to over 2000 farmers in Bauchi and Gombe states.
Adetiloye Ayeola, the Chief Executive Officer, of Awesome Fresh said the cooperation is informed by farmers “lack of access to quality information, inputs, and financing for their farming activities” adding that , “more than 38 million Nigerian farmers have one of the world’s lowest agricultural yields per hectare, while also facing the significant challenge of a lack of access to profitable markets for their products after harvest”
He said further that the cooperation between the two companies is aimed at ,”addressing quality seeds and inputs as well as marketing the actual problem of low yield and access to high quality inputs, price information, and financial services for smallholder farmers across the country.”
He explained further that the cooperation agreement is also aimed at ensuring continuous raw material availability for local food processors.
To achieve this goal, he said “Farmers will get trained on good agricultural practices, receive seeds and fertilizers at the beginning of the planting season, along with extension services and guaranteed offtake after harvest”
Said he, ‘Food prices will fall as we implement these solutions to address production , harvest, logistics, processing, and storage issues, because farmers will have more to sell to food processors and markets, resulting in increased output and export supply.’
Ayeola explained that ” as an agricultural aggregation, logistics, and cold chain company that is helping Africa in feeding itself in a healthy and sustainable manner for the long term,” the company is poised at supporting smallholder farmers across the continent in gaining access to stable and profitable markets for th eir produce, ensuring stable incomes for their families.”.
“We collaborate with local food processors and manufacturers to ensure that agricultural raw materials are consistently available from farmers for their operations.”he added.
- In his own contribution,Oyeleke Bola, the President of TOPAN noted that collaborations like this will allow room for innovation in local agriculture and food distribution in the country .
He said the aim of TOPAN is to reduce hunger and malnutrition, contribute to abatement efforts to reduce greenhouse gases contributing to global warming, promote sustainable livelihood, and enhance Tomatoes and Orchard farming (food security/ food production) through advocacy, research, training and capacity development, and partnership with farmers and stakeholders in Nigeria.
“AFGEAN seeks to develop and promote the Nigerian horticultural industry to an international level.
We want to promote local production and distribution while reducing post throughout the agricultural value chain.” He concluded.
