WACOT Gets ₦2 Billion Grant to Empower 3,500 Sesame Farmers in North

News in Brief: -WACOT secures ₦2.25 billion grant to support 3,500 smallholder sesame farmers in northern Nigeria.

-The project aims to boost organic sesame production, enhance climate resilience, and double farmer incomes.

WACOT Limited, a member of the Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, has secured a €1.26 million (₦2.25 billion) grant from DEG Impulse, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), to empower smallholder sesame farmers in northern Nigeria.

The three-year project will benefit 3,500 smallholder farmers in Jigawa and Kebbi States, helping them transition to organic and climate-resilient sesame cultivation. Also, WACOT pledged to provide a matching fund of €1.26 million, doubling the project’s total value.

Building on the success of its 2020 organic sesame pilot, which more than doubled Nigeria’s average yield and earned international ECOCERT certification, the new initiative will scale this proven model. Farmers will receive training, organic inputs, agroforestry support, weather alert systems, and financial inclusion opportunities.

A key feature of the project is WACOT’s 100% offtake agreement, guaranteeing farmers premium prices for their certified organic sesame harvests.

Empowering Rural Communities and Boosting Non-Oil Exports

WACOT’s Managing Director, Naveen Chaurasia, described the grant as a strong validation of the company’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and smallholder empowerment.

“By scaling our successful organic sesame model, we are securing a high-quality, traceable supply chain while directly improving the livelihoods of thousands of farming families,” he said. “This project will double farmer incomes, enhance climate resilience, and strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil export base.”

Driving Development Through Strategic Partnerships

Head of Strategic Partnerships at TGI Group, Habiba Suleiman, emphasised that partnerships like this are key to meaningful agricultural transformation. “Our collaboration with DEG Impulse and BMZ shows how aligning business goals with development priorities creates real impact,” she said.

Managing Director of DEG Impulse, Marco Christ, added that the initiative contributes to poverty reduction, supports Nigeria’s non-oil exports, and promotes environmental restoration.

Beyond farmer training and income growth, the project will create 46 direct jobs, strengthen cooperatives, and improve access to financial services, benefiting women and youth in rural communities. It also aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including No Poverty, Gender Equality, Climate Action, and Life on Land.