Tobacco farmer’s sales hit N680 million in 2013

The over 850 tobacco farmers’ sales value rose from N600 million in 2012 to N680 million in 2013, representing an increase of N80 million.

The farmers operating under the aegis of Nigeria Independent Tobacco Association (NITA) also grew tobacco production from 1,260 tonnes to over 2,500 tonnes in 2013.



Francisco Toso, Area Operations Director, British American Tobacco BAT who disclosed this at the 2014 BAT Nigeria/British American Tobacco Iseyin Agronomy(BATIA) farmers’ productivity awards ceremony in Iseyin,Oyo State said the company will continue to work with farmers ,the Nigerian government and other agriculture development focused organisations to grow agricultural sector so as to occupy its position as a priority sector in Nigeria’s economy.

Toso said the combined efforts of the company’s technical support through extension workers and passion of the farmers for increased productivity has resulted in commendable volume growth over the last few years.

While saying tobacco farming is directly supporting more than 20,000 livelihoods, Toso noted that the award was set up not just to drive sustainability with regards to productivity but also to ensure that the environment is well managed in the process by including it as a key criteria for participation.

In his address, Freddy Massanvi, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director, BAT said responsible farming practices is usually a challenge faced in agriculture globally and in Nigeria saying “we are no different.”

According to Massanvi, with BAT and the contracted tobacco farmers, the collaboration has proved that this can be achieved with continuous engagement.

“This was clearly demonstrated again recently when BAT in partnership with a Non Governmental 0rganisation(NGO),the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development embarked on a series of elimination of child labour workshops with the farmers in which they requested that workshops be spread to other non-tobacco farmers”.

Chairman, Nigerian Independent Tobacco Association(NITA), Rasheed Bakare who lauded  the company for organising the awards, pledged continuous support of the farmers and thanked the tobacco for providing amenities like boreholes,support for farmers and scholarships for undergraduates.

The Farmers Productivity Award Ceremony organised yearly to improve the farmers’ productivity in terms of quality and volume of yield, as well as encourage their adherence to principles of environmental protection is also the sustainability of the company.

by  Remi Feyisipo.