In a significant boost for sustainable agriculture in Nigeria, agro-allied company WACOT Limited has disbursed more than N158 million in rewards to cocoa farmers in Osun State. The payments, made under its Sustainability Differential Payments (SDP) scheme, directly benefited 2,062 farmers, marking a major milestone in the company's efforts to incentivize responsible farming.
A Celebration of Commitment and Quality
The disbursement was formally announced at a special event tagged "Rewarding Commitment: Cocoa Premium and Farmer Appreciation Event". The gathering, held at St. Mary Primary School in Ile-Ife on 8 December 2025, served as more than just a payment ceremony. It was a platform to honour the farmers' dedication. During the event, 57 exceptional farmers received an additional N5.8 million in recognition of their outstanding contributions to quality and sustainable practices.
In her address, Yosola Onanuga, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at TGI Group—the parent company of WACOT—expressed deep gratitude to the farming community. "You are very important to us, and we’re happy to be doing this farmer reward ceremony," she stated. "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."
Driving Sustainability and Financial Inclusion
The SDP initiative is a core part of TGI Group's integrated strategy to transform cocoa farming. The programme is designed to:
- Reward farmers who meet verifiable sustainability standards.
- Promote good agricultural practices and environmental safeguards.
- Ensure full traceability of the cocoa supply chain.
A key feature of the programme is its use of digital payment platforms. This approach ensures transparency, security, and efficiency in transactions. More importantly, it brings previously unbanked or underbanked rural farmers into the formal financial system. This empowers them by guaranteeing direct and prompt receipt of premiums while providing secure tools for managing their finances.
Transformative Impact on Farming Communities
The event featured powerful testimonials from farmers who have experienced the positive impact of WACOT's support programmes firsthand. Their stories highlighted the tangible benefits of the company's intervention.
Olaosun Rebecca, a beneficiary cocoa farmer, shared her experience: "Since the arrival of WACOT Limited and their involvement in our cocoa planting process, they have helped us tremendously. They provided us with medicine and the cocoa plantation has been yielding great harvests. May God continue to bless WACOT."
Another farmer, Mr. Chukwuma Agha, emphasized the knowledge transfer: "We have benefited greatly from WACOT Limited. They taught us how to implement climate-smart agricultural practices for our plants. The results have been remarkable. We appreciate their support and may God bless the company for their contributions."
The event, attended by cooperative leaders and WACOT field officers, successfully strengthened trust between the company and the farming communities. WACOT has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding these efforts. Future plans include deepening farmer training programmes, scaling up the adoption of digital payments, and continuing recognition initiatives to ensure long-term sustainability in Nigeria's cocoa value chain.
