Hope rises for food security as firms form partnership

Days after the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a COVID-19 Food Security Challenge that will provide $3 million grant and technical assistance to youth-led and mid-stage companies working in food value chains in the country, a food and agro-processing firm, WACOT Ltd, and a Logitech firm, Syngenta Crop Protection, have formed a partnership to boost Nigeria’s food security and sustainable development of the agriculture sector.

The deal will see the firms working closely over the next five years to help improve the sustainability, quality, and safety of Nigeria’s agriculture with world-class science and innovative crop solutions.

Although Nigeria’s agriculture sector is the country’s highest employer of labour, accounting for 70%, it has suffered low output, resulting in poor returns for farmers and massive food imports.

Ramesh Moochikal, CEO of the Agri division of TGI Group, WACOT’s parent firm, expressed delight at working to attain self-sufficiency in crop production and said he would encourage further strategic partnerships to achieve this goal.

Also speaking, Syngenta Crop Protection West Africa Head, Franck Tokore said the company was proud of its relationship with WACOT and would continue supporting Nigerian farmers.