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WACOT Limited, a leading Nigerian food and agro-allied company, in collaboration with the agro-focused arm of the TGI Group, has disbursed over ₦158 million in Sustainability Differential Payments to more than 2,000 cocoa farmers in Osun State. The initiative underscores a shared commitment to advancing sustainable cocoa farming while enhancing farmer livelihoods.
The announcement was made during the Rewarding Commitment: Cocoa Premium and Farmer Appreciation event held in Osun State. At the ceremony, 57 exceptional cocoa farmers were honoured for outstanding performance, receiving an additional ₦5.8 million in recognition of their consistency, product quality, and compliance with sustainability benchmarks.
The Sustainability Differential Payment serves as a performance-based incentive for farmers who meet verified sustainability requirements, including adherence to good agricultural practices, environmental stewardship, and full traceability throughout the cocoa value chain. The programme aligns with TGI Group’s broader vision of repositioning cocoa farming as a sustainable, transparent, and profitable enterprise for rural communities.
Addressing participants at the event, the Head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at TGI Group commended the farmers for their dedication and reliability. She reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting farmers’ long-term growth and rewarding the production of high-quality cocoa.
In addition to financial incentives, the initiative promotes financial inclusion and accountability through technology. Digital payment platforms ensure that premiums are paid directly to farmers, eliminating delays and leakages while integrating previously unbanked and underbanked farmers into the formal financial system. This enables smallholder farmers—operating as micro and small-scale agribusinesses—to manage earnings more securely and plan for growth.
Beneficiaries highlighted the programme’s positive impact on their operations. One Osun-based farmer noted that support from WACOT, particularly in cocoa planting and access to essential inputs such as agro-medicines, has significantly boosted yields. Another farmer credited climate-smart agriculture training for remarkable improvements in productivity.
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The event convened cooperative leaders, WACOT field officers, and farmers, strengthening collaboration and demonstrating the real benefits of sustainable farming practices. For many participants, the premiums represented not only financial support but also recognition of their efforts to build resilient and environmentally responsible farms.
WACOT stated that it will continue to expand the programme through enhanced farmer training, wider adoption of digital payments, and sustained recognition initiatives. The company reaffirmed its commitment to empowering smallholder farmers as vital contributors to Nigeria’s agricultural economy and export growth.
