WACOT Rice Limited Presents Agricultural Inputs to 3,464 Rice Farmers in Kebbi
WACOT Rice Limited under the Argungu Outgrower Expansion Programme (AOEP) has given agricultural inputs to no fewer than 3,464 smallholder rice farmers in Kebbi State to facilitate their production.
The farmers who benefited from the gesture are mainly from Argungu, Suru, Augie, and Dandi local government areas.
They were given agricultural inputs which include improved seeds, fertilisers, crop protection chemicals, machinery, irrigation and knowledge.
The AOEP – a partnership between WACOT Rice Limited and the West African Trade and Investment Hub (TH) – which seeks to increase the quality of smallholder farmer livelihoods via access to required agri-input financing, capacity building trainings on Yield Enhancement Techniques (YET) and Good Agronomic Practices (GAP).
The input distribution exercise was carried out both at village and community levels.
The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera (CON), had flagged off the 2021/2022 dry season agri-input distribution at his palace on December 8, 2021.
The ongoing programme involves 3,464 registered farmers in four local government areas. These farmers, comprising 10 per cent women and 25 per cent youth, have received agri-inputs and as the season progresses, they will also be supported with both on and off-field training sessions.
In his reaction to the development, the Chairman of WACOT Rice Limited, Farouk Gumel, noted that the distribution of certified seeds, agrochemicals, and fertiliser to the project participants will enhance their productivity and thus, income.
In his words; “I am excited about the significant participation of youth and women this season who continue to play a critical role in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain. I will encourage more to sign up as this will support our ambitions to become a self-sufficient nation.”
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Hajia Kulu Augie, who has a three-hectare rice farm at Kasuwanamu Fadama area of Kebbi, expressed gratitude to WACOT and its partner, the Trade Hub, for their kind gesture, noting that it had made life easier for the farmers by empowering them.