WACOT consolidates in Katsina drive by quest for fresh investments

In this era when only the sad tale of the increasingly notorious escapade of terrorist sect-Boko-Haram, seems to be the only surging news emanating out of northern Nigeria, there appear now to be something more positive in the air coming out of the region.

The cheering news is that of the paradigm shift now taking place in the agricultural sphere of most states of the region. It is known fact that agriculture, remains one of the natural economic endearments where the region seems to enjoy huge comparative advantage, but which has suffered neglects, in the recent times.

However, the on-going emphasis being placed on the development of a more robust agricultural economy by the Federal Government, as an alternative to the current mono-economy structured on petrol –dollar has started forcing the people in the region to think outside the box.

One of the paradigm shifts in development strategy is the resolve by economic players both in the public and private sectors in the region to find a new way of promoting agriculture.

Thus, with the current decline in revenue flow from the Federation Accounts to most states in the region, this seems to be triggering the move to reduce their dependence on that source of funding, and key into agriculture as an alternative source of generating wealth and empowerment.

Prevailing reality in the region shows that Katsina state, one of the states that could be best described as a dominantly an agrarian society is leading the pack in the new emphasis on agriculture development.

The state government is doing this through West Africa Cotton Limited (WACOT), a very formidable business entity that has being very active in the renewed trend to promote agricultural development in the region.

From all indications, the strategy adopted in this regard is the resuscitation of the culture of co-operative societies, which has been identified world over as a veritable tool for agriculture.       

Accordingly, WACOT has being making heavy investments in stimulating the growth and development of most of the non-functional agricultural co-operative societies.                 The company has being doing this under it’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) window through organizing health awareness camps in different Local Governments of Katsina State.

Precisely, last week, the company, organized one of such health awareness camps for the “Unguwar Sakkai Cotton Farmers Cooperative Society” in the rustic local government area of Faskari.

Apart of the programme, the furnished office of the Co-operative in Sakkai village was also commissioned.

Speaking during the ceremony, Garba Sale, vice- chairman, Faskari local government commended the organizers for their support, describing the event geared at uplifting the living standard of farming community in the area.

Sale, who represented the council chairman, advised farmers to pay loan on time given out them to boost their farming operations.

Also speaking at the occasion, the UBA Funtua Agric facility Manager informed the gathering that N155 million loan was disbursed to farmers through WACOT intermediary and N138 million was remitted describing the transacting as success and said N200 million would be disbursed this year.

Earlier, while inaugurating the free health camp, Subirkumar Dey, WACOT, General Manager, acknowledged farmer’s support to the company which has result a peaceful and business friendly environment.

“The company started business with cotton ginning, and has since become one of the two Large Scale Seed Production companies in Nigeria, as well as being a major supplier of all Agric inputs like fertilizer, chemicals, sprayers, tractors, and seed.

“Because of the successes which the company has recorded, it believe it has the moral responsibility to reciprocate by giving back to the society” he said.

According to him, similar free Health camps were conducted at Malumfashi, Kafur and Funtua local government areas and no fewer than 800 persons have benefited with free drugs and medical check- up by qualified Doctors.

In the same vein, he disclosed that the company has started the construction of an irrigation project at Kwai farm settlement in Faskari local government and expressed the company’s desire to extend such projects into other parts of the state, as a way of helping farmers to get more yield in wet season and enable dry season farming.

Dey announced that the company concluded to start Training Institute for rice crop cultivation at Chiromawa, Kano State and will encourage all the participants with stipends in addition to impart Training on modern practices for rice crop cultivation for better output.

Anuuj Bhatia, the Head, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CRS) department said the initiative was to give back to the community by way of promoting a healthy and productive farming community.

Bhatia stated that the company `s CRS programmes is geared at the farmers and the local communities which is the life line of the company through such initiatives.

He commended the partnership between WACOT, state and local government, farmers, traditional leaders and other stake holders and said this will be the key to successful implementation of this project in the future.