As part of efforts aimed at achieving improved farmers’ productivity, food security, and women’s economic empowerment, A4S and Natari, two independent companies with separate ownership, management and investment platforms, have reaffirmed their strategic commitment to the nation’s agricultural sector.

The investment spans across agricultural technology, food production, agro-processing, farmer productivity, women’s economic empowerment, investment and sustainable wealth creation.

Addressing journalists in Lagos, Permanent Representative of the African Union Sixth Region Global (AU6RG) for Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Afolabi Oke, disclosed that the collaboration is strengthened by a strategic relationship with Providus Bank.

Oke, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of The Rock Foundation and Global InfoSwift Consulting, stated that over the last two years, a lot of farmers in the country have been using the product.

To him: “You just spray the solution on your plants and the yield is tripled. It also bridges food security gaps and Nigeria can also export agricultural produce in large quantities. One sachet of the solution can do over six hectares of land. It is also purely organic. It is also good for human consumption.”

He added that they have also had a conversation with the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI) under the Office of the Vice President concerning the product.

On his part, A4S Advisory Board member, Prof. Pradit Withisuphakorn, disclosed that the solution supports crop quality, root development, nutrient utilisation, plant development, flowering and fruiting.

The don added that there is a business model around the solution. That is, from technology to farm, finance, processing, markets and wealth creation.

To this end, he said the partnership therefore intends to increasingly examine: Production cost, yield, crop quality, market price, revenue and net farm income.

Concerning gender inclusion, he said women are active across the nation’s agricultural value chain as: farmers, processors, aggregators, traders, food entrepreneurs, distributors and small-business owners.

On her part, Project Director, GIC and Rock Foundation, Adenowo Oluwaseyi, said the solution can bridge unemployment gaps and assist the nation’s Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Technical adviser to the president on economic and financial inclusion and Executive Secretary, PreCEFI, Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, said the government is deliberate about moving from programmes that simply identify beneficiaries to programmes that create co-creators of prosperity.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of A4S, Nitti Sawangsab disclosed, “Our focus is the farmer. Technology has no value if it does not solve a real problem for the person producing the food. 4Tree is designed around plant productivity, but our objective in Nigeria is to demonstrate its value under Nigerian conditions and measure the results.”

The Managing Director at Natari Nigeria Limited, Ibiam Orji, noted: “our relationship with A4S allows us to explore how agricultural technology can be integrated into real investment projects, while Providus Bank adds a financial platform capable of supporting businesses as they grow.”