By Chinwendu Obieny
Johnvents Trading, a leading agro commodity value chain player, and a subsidiary of Johnvents Group, has taken a significant step towards promoting sustainable agriculture with the launch of the outgrower Scheme in Kano and Katsina.
The scheme aims to empower thousands of farmers and foster long-term growth in the agricultural sector while prioritizing environmental sustainability.
Partnering with Alliance Agro, Johnvents Trading has begun the implementation of an efficient input disbursement, training, monitoring, and evaluation system to drive increased productivity and sustainable agriculture among smallholder farmers in Kano and Katsina states, Nigeria. By providing farmers with the necessary resources, training, and support, the initiative will empower 4,000 farmers’ in the first phase thereby improving their livelihoods and quality of produce in the region.
Speaking at the launch event to commemorate the Johnvents Trading project, Dr. Femi Sekoni, Chief Business Manager, Johnvents Group, stated that the initiative represents a firm commitment to agricultural excellence and the improvement of agricultural practices.
“The Johnvents Tradings Outgrower Scheme project in partnership with Alliance Agro will implement efficient input disbursement, monitoring, and evaluation practices that aim to provide farmers with excellent output, sustainable resources, and support to thrive.
“We are delighted to launch the Johnvents Tradings Outgrower Scheme at this time as we are consolidating our business. The first phase of the programme will cover five clusters across Kano and Katsina states, benefiting a total of 4,000 farmers. Through our partnership with OCP, we have been able to extend our support to an additional 2,000 farmers, surpassing our initial target.
Dr. Sekoni further stated that “With the help of Alliance Agro, we have procured 6,000 packages of inputs consisting of NPK and Urea fertilizers plus seeds and pesticides, ensuring that farmers have the essential resources needed for optimal crop production.
These inputs have been strategically delivered to warehouses across the five cluster areas, with a focus on Maize and Sorghum production in this phase. Beyond providing the inputs, training, and evaluation, we are increasing our networks of farmers, building traceability, and strengthening the value chain. Just last week, in furtherance of our 150,000 Cocoa Farmers Project in South-West Nigeria, 50,000 Cocoa Seedlings were distributed to over 10,000 cocoa farmers in Idanre for the continued rehabilitation, regeneration, and replanting of Cocoa trees.”
Speaking on the partnership, Rafaatu Garba Salisu the Business and Gender Manager of Alliance Agro said “Alliance Agro is formed to support trade and drive agribusiness investments in the agri-food systems and industries in Nigeria. Alliance Agro is focused on supporting investors to use inclusive agribusiness models in their business operations and dealings with local communities where they operate, especially starting with farmers.
Today, we are partnering with Johnvents Trading to flag-off the 2023 farming season. Farming starts with access to quality inputs and this partnership today is starting with disbursement of input to our farmers in Kano and Katsina states. We are proud of today’s event because this season, Johnvent, Alliance Agro, and OCP Agribooster program as a supporter, is providing access to quality inputs to 4,000 SHFs farmers mainly in sorghum value chain who also grow maize. The program will provide access to the market at harvest to more than 20,000 farmers who wish to sell their grains to get fair and competitive prices.
We believe that this is the start of a bigger intervention in the staples food sector as we plan to bring down and make more accessible and affordable the prices of quality inputs to farmers, build their capacity, promote climate action and provide a stable and transparent market”.
Recall that Johnvents Trading is a division of Johnvents Group, a leading indigenous agribusiness and manufacturing group. Johnvents Trading was also the leading supplier of quality paddy rice to the Imota Rice plant, early this year.