WACOT Limited, a leading food and agro-allied company in Nigeria, in partnership with the agro-led division of the TGI Group, has successfully disbursed more than N158 million in Sustainability Differential Payments (SDP) to over 2,000 cocoa farmers in Osun State, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to rewarding sustainable agricultural practices.
At the ‘Rewarding Commitment: Cocoa Premium and Farmer Appreciation’ event held recently in Osun State, 57 exceptional farmers were recognised, and an additional N5.8 million was disbursed for their outstanding contributions.
The event highlighted TGI Group’s integrated approach to transforming cocoa farming into a more sustainable, traceable, and profitable enterprise for rural communities.
The SDP is a monetary reward designed to incentivise and reward farmers who adhere to verifiable sustainability criteria, including good agricultural practices, traceability, and environmental safeguards.
Yosola Onanuga, head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at TGI Group, extended gratitude to the farmers, noting that, “You are very important to us, and we’re happy to be doing this farmer award ceremony.”
“Thank you for your commitment and consistency in making sure that your cocoa is of the quality that we want. We’re here to support you and to extend our gratitude to your commitment to this cocoa family,” Onanuga noted.
The initiative highlights the company’s core mission of empowering communities through financial inclusion and technology. By leveraging digital payment platforms, the program ensures transparency, security, and efficiency, bringing unbanked and underbanked farmers into the formal financial ecosystem.
Cocoa farmers who have benefited from the funding shared how it supported them in their businesses. According to Olaosun Rebecca, a cocoa farmer in Osun, WACOT has helped her tremendously, especially in the cocoa planting process.
“They provided us with medicine,” she said. “Our cocoa plantation has been yielding great harvests. May God continue to bless WACOT.”
Similarly, Chukwuma Agha, another beneficiary of the funding, excitedly said WACOT taught him how to implement climate-smart agricultural practices.
Adding that, “The results have been remarkable. We appreciate their support, and may God bless the company for their contributions.”
This approach not only ensures that farmers receive their premiums promptly and directly but also provides them with the tools to manage their finances securely.
The event, which featured active participation from cooperative leaders and WACOT field officers, served as a platform to strengthen trust and highlight the tangible benefits of sustainable farming.
The company remains dedicated to expanding these efforts, with plans to deepen farmer training, scale up digital payment adoption, and continue its recognition programs to foster long-term sustainability in the cocoa value chain, Onanuga said.
