Ibadan, Oyo. October 23, 2024. As part of efforts to revolutionise the agricultural sector in Nigeria, Agbeyewa Farms, a subsidiary of Cavista Holdings, has expressed readiness to transform and harness the agricultural value chain to become a key driver of economic growth and job creation in the country.
The Managing Director/Executive Director, Agbeyewa Farms, Mr. Oskar Ayeleso, stated this during a media parley held at the ongoing Oodua International Trade Fair held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
While presenting the company’s vision for advancing agriculture in Nigeria, Aiyeleso stated that it remains committed to the goal of becoming the leading agro-allied company in Africa with significant investments and operations in Ekiti State.
Acknowledging the effort of the Chairman, Cavista Holdings, John Olajide towards this drive, he explained that Agbeyewa Farm aims to innovate within the agricultural sector by connecting farmers to markets and communities to prosperity.
“Currently, the company is engaged in the cultivation, aggregation, and processing of cassava, aspiring not only to produce quality food and cash crops but also to empower the communities surrounding its operations. The mission is clear: to thrive through sustainable agricultural investments while fostering healthy communities,” he said
He explained that the establishment of Agbeyewa has led to substantial growth for the company with its workforce moving from five to over 200 employees and cultivated land from 100 to 1,500 hectares of cassava.
“The company’s commitment to community engagement has turned potential conflicts into collaborative partnerships, leading to plans for further expansion to 10,000 hectares across nine communities.
“This strategy includes projected workforce growth to over 500 employees, significantly boosting local economies.With a robust investment in equipment, including over 25 tractors and an expanded fleet for moving resources, Agbeyewa is positioning itself for future growth,” he said.
He reiterated the company’s commitment to establishing a world-class agro-processing plant with extensive cassava plantations by 2026. He noted that the company has secured a 46-hectare land to build agro-processing plants, which is set to begin soon, producing high-quality cassava derivatives such as flour, starch, sorghum, ethanol.
“The focus on building human capacity and recruiting top talent demonstrates Agbeyewa Farms’ commitment to not just agricultural success but also to the prosperity of the communities it serves. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the government of Ekiti State, led by Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, for creating a supportive environment for our business to flourish. With such leadership, there is hope that our plans for achieving food security in our nation will be realized,” he said.
He disclosed that the company is already partnering with the Ekiti State Government to provide the much-needed infrastructure that would support agriculture’s contribution to economic growth.
“We are also collaborating with the Ekiti State Government to develop well-designed infrastructure that will support agricultural development in the state. Governor Oyebanji is ambitious in his goals, working towards activating the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones in partnership with the African Development Bank. This is undoubtedly great news for agricultural production and job creation,” he said.
On his part, Mr. Ejitola Azeez, a value chain manager at Agbeyewa, said the company is collaborating with cassava farmers to help them grow in line with its vision.
“We assist them in cultivation, provide quality cassava varieties, and buy back their produce to encourage sustained collaboration. We offer a ratio of 70 per cent to 30 per cent aggregate collaboration with our ingrower and outgrower farmers,” he said.
Also speaking, Babajide Akinsinde, the General Manager of Agbeyewa Farms and a cassava value chain expert, said the company is supporting smallholder farmers to ensure high yields in the face of rising costs.
“Any farmer cultivating less than 15 tonnes of cassava is unlikely to have a viable business due to rising costs. Cassava serves as an import-substitute agro product, and what Agbeyewa is doing with it is unprecedented given its essential nature and the varieties we focus on, which include Ayaya, Dickson, 419, and White Lion. The choice of these varieties is strategic as we aim for industrial starch production, and they provide the high yield necessary to meet our productivity goals,” Akinsinde said.
“We currently have about 10,000 hectares in Ekiti State and are planning to acquire more land. Since we cannot handle this alone, we are bringing in more farmers to meet the growing demand for processing,” he added.
