By Princewill Ekwujuru
TWO hundred and eighteen  farmers have been rewarded forexc ellent performance and adherence to environmental best practices under the British American Tobacco Nigeria/Iseyin Agronomy Farmers’ Productivity Awards Scheme in Iseyin, Oyo State.

The  Farmers  Productivity Awards Scheme is an initiative of the BAT Iseyin Agronomy,  a  subsidiary  of  BAT Nigeria, to train, advise and support the farmers  by  providing  farm  inputs  and extension services on proven best practice annually.

Speaking  at  the awards ceremony, the commissioner of Agriculture, Natural Resources  and  Rural Development, Hon. Bimbo Kolade who was represented by Mr.  Adewole Ayanlowo urged the recipients of the awards to reciprocate the kind  gesture  of  the BATN/ Iseyin Agronomy by making use of the equipment given to them, to boost efficiency in production.

Kolade  urged other Private sector operators and non-governmental operators to  take a cue from the efforts of BAT Iseyin Agronomy in the areas of food security and poverty reduction through the development of agriculture.

Explaining  the  award  scheme,  the Head of Leaf, BAT Iseyin Agronomy, Mr. Thomas  Omofoye  said  the initiative is aimed at rewarding tobacco farmers for  attaining  the  criteria  set  by the company towards volume drive, to facilitate  a  sustainable  and productive mutually beneficial relationship between the company and registered commercial tobacco farmers.

The  winners  rated  in  2  performance categories being Exceed and Succeed groups.  74  farmers  emerged  as winners in the Exceed group all went home with  Motor  cycles and Water pumps while 144 farmers in succeed group went home with Water tanks and Knapsack sprayers.

One  of  the  winners, Alani Adewunmi praised BAT Iseyin Agronomy for their continuous  support  to farmers through the rewards scheme. My business has indeed  been  given  a  lift  through their support, he said. Other farmers rewarded  are  Isiaka  Olalekan, Alhaji Hassan Afonja, Ogunmodede Olomitutu Oyediran Abel amongst others.