British America Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has given out farm implements to over 180 tobacco farmers as a reward for their outstanding performances.

The prizes including motorcycles and overhead storage tanks were handed out at the company’s 2014 Farmers’ Productivity Award.

Speaking at the ceremony which held in Iseyin, Oyo State, the Area Operations Director of BATN, Mr. Francisco Toso, disclosed that the essence of the award was to recognise farmers’ efforts every planting season, because “we understand that recognising performance is essential to improving performance.”

Toso noted the growth in tobacco production and sales from N224 million to N680 million in the last few years and traced it to the technical and financial support including interest-free loans that BATN and British American Tobacco Iseyin Agronomy (BATIA) has been extending to the farmers.

The combined efforts of our technical supports through the extension workers and the passion of the farmers for increased productivity have resulted in a commendable growth over the last few years. 

The farmers’ sales value has increased from about N224 million to N680 million to date with tobacco farming supporting more than 20, 000 livelihoods.”He stated.

The farmers applauded the interest-free loans and other forms of support often rendered to them by the company. Many of them described the presence of BATN/BATIA in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State as invaluable and a huge boost to the economy of the region.

One of the farmers who received an outstanding award, Mr. Alani Adewunmi, said he made N5.7 million as profit in tobacco cultivation in 2013 alone adding that his total production in the same year amounted to about N13.7 million.

Also speaking at the occasion, Corporate and Regulations Affairs Director of the company Freddy Messanvi, said the partnership between BATN and BATIA had been working perfectly well because BATN always provided the farmers with ready markets, technical support and farm inputs noting that transparent and fair pricing system of BATN/BATIA as well as encouragement given to the farmers to plant food and cash crops had further smoothened the relationship between the company and farmers over the years.

British America Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has given out farm implements to over 180 tobacco farmers as a reward for their outstanding performances.
The prizes including motorcycles and overhead storage tanks were handed out at the company’s 2014 Farmers’ Productivity Award.
Speaking at the ceremony which held in Iseyin, Oyo State, the Area Operations Director of BATN, Mr. Francisco Toso, disclosed that the essence of the award was to recognise farmers’ efforts every planting season, because “we understand that recognising performance is essential to improving performance.”
Toso noted the growth in tobacco production and sales from N224 million to N680 million in the last few years and traced it to the technical and financial support including interest-free loans that BATN and British American Tobacco Iseyin Agronomy (BATIA) has been extending to the farmers.
“The combined efforts of our technical supports through the extension workers and the passion of the farmers for increased productivity have resulted in a commendable growth over the last few years. 
The farmers’ sales value has increased from about N224 million to N680 million to date with tobacco farming supporting more than 20, 000 livelihoods.” He stated.
The farmers applauded the interest-free loans and other forms of support often rendered to them by the company. Many of them described the presence of BATN/BATIA in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State as invaluable and a huge boost to the economy of the region.
One of the farmers who received an outstanding award, Mr. Alani Adewunmi, said he made N5.7 million as profit in tobacco cultivation in 2013 alone adding that his total production in the same year amounted to about N13.7 million.
Also speaking at the occasion, Corporate and Regulations Affairs Director of the company Freddy Messanvi, said the partnership between BATN and BATIA had been working perfectly well because BATN always provided the farmers with ready markets, technical support and farm inputs noting that transparent and fair pricing system of BATN/BATIA as well as encouragement given to the farmers to plant food and cash crops had further smoothened the relationship between the company and farmers over the years.