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Olam Food partners with cashew farmers on better yield

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Ilorin, July 29, 2023: Olam Food Ingredients (Ofi), the biggest cashew company in Kwara, on Thursday pledged to continually improve the wellbeing of cashew farmers and partnering communities for better yields.

Mr Rajeesh Neelanjeri, the General Manager of Ofi, who spoke at the Annual Cashew Farmers Meeting organised by the company in Ilorin, said that farmers are backbone of any agriculture sector.

The meeting, which had in attendance 15 cashew farmers’ groups drawn from across communities in Kwara and Oyo States, also involved sensitisation on improved cashew production and harvesting practices.

Neelanjeri added that the organisation always put best of its efforts to provide support to farmers.

He stated that efforts of the company included training of farmers on Good Agriculture Practices (GAP), providing pre-season finance, distribution of farming equipment, as well as social and community programmes.

He also said that sustainability philosophy of the organisation revolves around five main pillars, including prosperous farmers, thriving communities, sustainable choices, climate positive and regenerating the living world.

“We want to partner our stakeholders with a sense of responsibility towards the society and the external environment and leave a sustainably positive impact through our activities,” he said.

Malam Kabiru Mohammed, the Director of Agriculture, Kwara Ministry of Agriculture, spoke on “Improvement in Cashew Farming System in Nigeria”.

Mohammed, who was represented by Mr Amole Nathaniel, the Director of the Nigeria Produce and Inspection Service, Kwara Ministry of Agriculture, said improved cashew production can only be achieved through implementation of modern cashew cultivation practices.

“Cashew is a commodity crop of international recognition and it is important in foreign exchange earnings. It has turned out to be a oil well given to us by divinity. But this can only be achieved through implementation of modern cashew cultivation.

“Thus, there’s need to move from subsistence to mechanised farming system most especially where there is vast land usage,” he said.

He commended the company for participatory efforts in Rural Agrarian Infrastructural Development programmes, noting that the efforts had encouraged betterments of the people and cashew industry at large.

“I also believe that the annual cashew farmers meeting has in all facet to enhance our cashew farmer production at all levels and their wellbeing,” he said.

Sidelines of the programme included presentation of awards to outstanding cashew farmers in the two benefitting states of Kwara and Oyo.

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Olam, Kano Cooperative move to boost milk production

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Outspan, a subsidiary of Olam Nigeria Limited, in collaboration with Kano Dairy Cooperative Union, have taken steps to boost the production of fresh milk in Kano State.

The Olam branch manager, Mr Vipin Patel, stated this at the official commissioning of Imawa Milk Collection Centre in Kura Local Government area of Kano State, on Friday.

Patel said that the collaboration was to harness the huge fresh milk in the state and deliver it to consumers who now mostly rely on imported powdered milk.

“So, what we are trying to do is to help cooperative farmers so that fresh milk can reach consumers.”

The manager said that some youths have been co-opted to use motorcycles to collect the milk from farmers in their clusters and deliver it to processors.

According to him, they now have six of such centres in the state, where they collect about 1,000 litres of dairy daily.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Kano Dairy Cooperative Union, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, commended Outspan for the initiative.

He said that it would assist greatly in boosting the earnings of their members and farmers involved in the scheme, as well as the economy.

Abdullahi added that it would prevent them from travelling far distance to sell milk, exposing themselves to different kinds of risks.

The chairman commended Outspan for conducting artificial insemination to hundred cows, distribution of animal feeds and solar refrigerators for milk storage, free of charge.

The Assistant Director, Veterinary Services in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Abubakar Sani, stressed the importance of environmental sanitation and personal hygiene in the processes of milk collection.

He cautioned that some diseases could be transmitted to humans from animals, like cows.

“If a person is sick, he or she should not be allowed to extract milk from animals because the disease can be transmitted to others.

“Likewise, milk should not be extracted from a sick animal,” he said.

Also, the Director, Poultry and Livestock Services, Kano State, Alhaji Ali Bala, spoke at length on the importance of meat and milk to human beings.

He revealed that the state government was partnering with Islamic Development Bank to boost pastoral development.

The director said that part of the programme would be the establishment of 200 milk collection centres, artificial insemination centres and animal feeds production.

He urged farmers to continue to support the project, which he said, was aimed at improving agriculture and livestock production.