WACOT Limited, a subsidiary of Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, has received funding support worth about €1.26 million (approximately ₦2.25 billion) from DEG Impulse to empower 3,500 smallholder sesame farmers in Nigeria.
The company announced the development in a statement on Wednesday, explaining that the funding was obtained under the develoPPP programme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The develoPPP initiative is designed to support private sector projects that contribute to sustainable development in developing countries.
Under the arrangement, WACOT will match the €1.26 million grant with an equal counterpart contribution to finance a three-year project that will help farmers in Jigawa and Kebbi States adopt organic and climate-resilient sesame farming methods.
The new project is an expansion of WACOT’s 2020 organic sesame pilot scheme, which achieved remarkable success by more than doubling Nigeria’s average sesame yield and obtaining international ECOCERT certification for organic production. Building on that success, the new initiative will provide participating farmers with training, organic farm inputs, agroforestry support, access to weather alert systems, and financial inclusion services.
A major highlight of the programme is WACOT’s commitment to a 100 per cent offtake agreement with participating farmers, guaranteeing them premium prices for their certified organic produce. This, according to the company, will provide farmers with a stable income and greater economic security.
Speaking on the development, the Managing Director of WACOT Limited, Mr. Naveen Chaurasia, described the grant as a strong recognition of the company’s commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture and supporting Nigerian farmers.
“This grant is a powerful validation of our commitment to sustainable agriculture and the smallholder farmers who are the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural sector,” Chaurasia said. “By scaling our successful organic sesame model, we are not only securing a high-quality, traceable supply chain for our processing operations, but more importantly, we are directly improving the livelihoods of thousands of farming families.”
He said the project would double farmer incomes, boost resilience against climate change, and increase Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings, particularly in the global sesame market. “It is a true testament to TGI Group’s core philosophy of earning the goodwill of the people,” he added.
Also speaking, the Head of Strategic Partnerships at TGI Group, Mrs. Habiba Suleiman, said partnerships like this demonstrate how the private sector and development agencies can work together to achieve meaningful progress.
“Strategic partnerships are crucial for driving sustainable development,” Suleiman stated. “Our collaboration with DEG Impulse and BMZ shows how aligning business interests with development goals creates win-win outcomes. For TGI, this project reinforces our dedication to investing in rural communities and promoting organic and climate-smart agriculture, which contributes to a healthier environment and a stronger agricultural future for Nigeria.”
On his part, the Managing Director of DEG Impulse, Mr. Marco Christ, said the joint initiative under the develoPPP programme is aimed at reducing poverty and supporting inclusive economic growth in Nigeria’s rural areas.
“Through our partnership with WACOT, we are empowering smallholder farmers, reducing poverty, and supporting Nigeria’s non-oil export sector,” Christ said. “We are pleased to help scale this important project to promote sustainable agriculture and strengthen the sesame supply chain.”
The project will focus on women and youth inclusion, ensuring that more rural households benefit from the programme. It is also expected to significantly improve sesame yields, enhance climate resilience, and double the income of participating farmers.
In addition, the project will create 46 direct jobs, strengthen local cooperatives, and improve access to financial services for smallholder farmers. It also aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including No Poverty, Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Climate Action, and Life on Land.
WACOT Limited operates in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, with activities spanning commodity aggregation, processing, and export. Its parent company, Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, is a global conglomerate with investments across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
DEG Impulse, on the other hand, is a non-profit subsidiary of the German Development Finance Institution, DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, which supports private sector initiatives that promote sustainable development and responsible investment in emerging markets.
