Olam Agri, a leading agribusiness in food, feed, and fibre, has entered a strategic partnership with IDH and Arzikin Noma, a Nigerian agricultural development firm driving innovation and partnerships in rural farming communities, to strengthen soybean production in Kwara State. The agreement aims to unlock the potential of smallholder soybean farmers, particularly women and young people, through a comprehensive support programme.

The partnership will empower 5,000 smallholder farmers across soybean-growing communities in Kwara State. This empowerment will be delivered through the provision of credit facilities for farming inputs, mechanisation support, financial access, training in sustainable practices, and crucial market linkage. It will strengthen agricultural development in the region alongside Olam Agri’s new 350,000 MT soybean processing facility in Kwara State, which is sourcing soybeans majorly from local producers, to meet the rising demand for high-quality feed and oil. This initiative for smallholder farmers in the soybean supply chain builds on the company’s Seeds for the Future project which has supported farmers and farmer communities since 2021.

Olam Agri has been a long-standing supporter of the Kwara State Soybean Sustainability Programme, contributing equipment and training for agricultural extension workers. The company is now scaling up its efforts by integrating 5,000 smallholder farmers into its supply chain and implementing sustainable practices such as crop rotation and optimised fertilisation, among other regenerative agriculture practices. 

Market access is crucial for empowering smallholder farmers and driving sustainable agricultural growth. This partnership will strengthen local agricultural productivity and also lay the groundwork for long-term farmer resilience and prosperity.