Get Guardian on GoogleChidimma Uzoma, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zayith Food Company, has highlighted the importance of women’s participation in agricultural production, as the Lagos-based dairy manufacturer reports that more than 80% of its partner farmers are women.
The company, which produces yoghurt drinks using real, farm-grown fruits, has adopted a sourcing model that connects smallholder farmers directly with its manufacturing operations. According to Zayith, the approach is designed to improve market access for agricultural producers, encourage fair pricing and reduce the number of intermediaries involved in purchasing farm produce.
The company’s sourcing strategy comes amid wider discussions about the role of smallholder farmers in strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and improving opportunities for women engaged in food production.
Women participate in different aspects of agricultural production across Nigeria, including cultivation, harvesting, processing and trading. However, access to reliable buyers, financing and distribution networks remains an important factor in determining their ability to benefit commercially from farming.
Zayith’s approach focuses on establishing direct purchasing relationships with fruit farmers whose produce is used in manufacturing its yoghurt drinks.
According to the company, these relationships form part of its commitment to supporting local agricultural production while maintaining access to ingredients required for its dairy products.
The manufacturer uses fruits such as strawberries, mangoes, mulberries and blackcurrants in its flavoured yoghurt drinks. Its product range also includes coconut and vanilla varieties made with coconut flakes and vanilla pods.
By sourcing agricultural ingredients through relationships with local producers, the company connects farming activities with food processing and consumer retail markets.
Zayith stated that reducing intermediary involvement is an important part of its sourcing philosophy, allowing the business to work more directly with farmers and support fairer purchasing arrangements.
For smallholder farmers, relationships with food manufacturers can provide access to commercial markets and create opportunities for more consistent demand for agricultural produce.
Such arrangements also connect farmers with businesses that require agricultural inputs for regular manufacturing activities.
The company’s reported participation of more than 80% women among its partner farmers places female agricultural producers at the centre of this sourcing approach.
Beyond purchasing agricultural produce, direct sourcing relationships require coordination between farmers and manufacturers to maintain ingredient quality, manage supply schedules and address seasonal changes in production.
These considerations are important for food-processing businesses that depend on agricultural ingredients to maintain product consistency.
Zayith’s operations involve product development, quality control, manufacturing and distribution, with its sourcing relationships contributing to the supply of fruit ingredients used in production.
The company identifies women’s economic participation as an important part of its broader business philosophy, alongside its commitment to local manufacturing and agricultural value creation.
Its approach also demonstrates the relationship between consumer food businesses and the agricultural communities supplying their raw materials.
For Nigeria’s food manufacturing industry, stronger connections between agricultural producers and processors can support local supply chains and create additional commercial opportunities within the country.
These relationships are relevant as businesses seek dependable sources of agricultural inputs while farmers look for access to established buyers.
Under Uzoma’s leadership, Zayith has continued to develop its dairy operations around product innovation, ingredient sourcing and relationships with agricultural producers.
The company maintains that its direct sourcing approach is intended to support the livelihoods of smallholder farmers while contributing to the development of locally manufactured food products.
With women accounting for more than four-fifths of its reported partner farmers, Zayith’s sourcing model places women’s participation in agriculture within the wider conversation about local food production, market access and economic opportunities in Nigeria.
