The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATF), alongside other stakeholders, has continued to chart a pathway to sustainable agricultural practice with its biennial initiative, “Agribusiness Dialogue Session”.

The event represents a significant opportunity that is being used to engage stakeholder farmers in meaningful discussions about their future in the agricultural sector.

With the theme: “Turning Challenges into Opportunities: Creating Sustainable Strategies and Pathways for Smallholder Farmers in the Agrifood System” which is targeted at reviewing government and private sector strategies, was aimed at enhancing the prospects of smallholder farmers and their families and fostering a sustainable future.

The stakeholders believe the 2023 Agribusiness Dialogue Session is timely as it seeks to address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers, transforming them into opportunities for sustainable growth and prosperity within the agrifood system.

To drive the discussion and reach an actionable resolution, the event featured expert-driven plenary sessions, a keynote address, insightful breakout sessions, and a discussion session.

Speaking at the event, Ololade Johnson-Agiri, Executive Director, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), stated that since the inception of the foundation in 2002, it has remained committed to sustainable agriculture development and the improvement of livelihoods of smallholder farmers, their families, and communities.

“Since the establishment of the BATN Foundation in 2002, we have been working determinedly to empower smallholder farmers through a range of programmes and initiatives. We believe that smallholder farmers are the key to unlocking Nigeria’s agricultural potential and ensuring food security for future generations.”

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)Professor Olusola Kehinde, in a keynote address, commended BATN Foundation for focusing on helping smallholder farmers in Nigeria succeed while also acknowledging the challenges that must be addressed in order to achieve sustainable agriculture.

Professor Kehinde further said: “The expectation is that this dialogue will proffer a more robust and adaptable strategy that would be deployed to sufficiently address the challenges facing smallholder farmers in the nation and unlock their potential to contribute to economic growth within the agri-food system and beyond”.

The event featured a Fireside Chat on the topic: “Smallholder Farmers and the Path to Sustainable Agriculture”, moderated by Dr. Olawale Anifowose from EDC, Pan-Atlantic University.

The engaging session delved into the challenges and opportunities faced by smallholder farmers in their pursuit of sustainable agriculture. Additionally, two breakout sessions and a Plenary session gathered prominent experts in the agricultural sector.

The first breakout session, chaired and moderated this session by Founder of Heirs and Heralds International, Olaoluwa Bamigboye, centered on “The Power of Collaboration: Climate Change and Agrifood System Partnership”, providing participants with a platform for discussions about the role of collaboration in addressing climate change and enhancing agrifood systems.

The second breakout session, “Empowering Youths: Tech-Driven Agricultural Opportunities,” explored the myriad opportunities for youth in technology-driven agriculture.

Since its inception in 2015, the Foundation has successfully hosted similar events in 2017, 2019, and 2021. The 2023 edition was hosted in partnership with Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Lagos Business School and was meant to build on the success of the 2019 collaboration.