BAT Nigeria Foundation 2021
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‘I am Abosede Adeniyi from Ago-Are Community, ATISBO LGA of Oyo State. I am a cassava processor and manager of Ago-Are Community I Cassava Processing Cottage Industry donated to us by BATN Foundation’.
Ago-Are population is about 100,000 and we are traditionally smallholder farmers cultivating cassava, maize, yam and vegetables. As smallholder farmers, we gain very little from our farming activities, and, we lose a lot during post-harvest due to lack of market and equipment to add value to our produce.
It was a great joy to us when we had our processing centre rehabilitated in 2016 with more machines, amenities and enough space to process our cassava after harvesting. We sell part of our cassava when we feel like and add value to the remaining to bring in more income. We process 1 ton of cassava tubers every day. In addition, we were trained on how to package our goods for sale.
In the same year, the Foundation introduced the FARMERS' MARKET to us. This was a timely intervention that reduced the burden of market access. At the first outing in British American Tobacco head office in Lagos, we felt timid being in the midst of educated people but the warm reception of the employees remove that timidness from us.
We have been part of the farmers’ market for 3 years and in this time we have sold over 4 tons of garri and other cassava derivatives worth over N600,000.00.