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(By Our Reporter) Heritage Bank Plc, weekend, signed a N232million deal with Biase Plantations Limited (BPL) and its joint venture partner, PZ Wilmar Limited, for a pilot phase of an Oil Production Out-growers scheme.
The deal, aimed at restoring Nigeria’s lost glory in the agricultural sector and reposition the country as the highest oil palm producer in the world, was sealed at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos as the MD/CEO of Heritage Bank, Mr.Ifie Sekibo, represented by Mr. Jude Monye, Executive Director, Business Banking and Mrs. Adaeze Udensi, Executive Director, Retail & SME Bank signed the agreement on behalf of the bank while Mr. Ahmad Mustaffa Goh, General Manager, BPL, signed on behalf of his company.
Speaking at the occasion, Sekibo, MD/CEO, Heritage Bank, said the need for the partnership became imperative in view of the importance of agriculture to the sustainable development of Nigeria. Sekibo said that the initiative was taken to support the effort by the government towards diversifying the aggregate economy.
Assuring the management of Biase Plantations Limited that Heritage Bank would not relent in giving the necessary financial and investment advisory support the latter required for the success of the agricultural scheme in different parts of the country, Sekibo stressed that the policy thrust of the present Federal Government is about economic development and diversification.
In his remarks, GM, BPL, Goh, said, “Today marks a milestone in the actualization of a long dream by Biase Plantations Limited. It has always been our priority to improve the socio-economic status of our landlord communities by developing an out-growers scheme that will build the resilience of local farmers to changing agricultural trend. “
He added that the agreement between BPL and Heritage Bank Plc was first of its kind in Nigeria, remarking that they see this as readiness on the part of the bank to partner and grow with the vision of the Company.”
He noted that the out growers’ scheme is targeted at developing a sustainable small holder’s scheme which will eventually increase the product supply.
Also speaking at the event, Group Head, Agric Finance & Export of Heritage Bank, Olugbenga Awe, explained that the pilot scheme covers 45 farmers grouped into four co-operative societies with a land mass of 150 hectares, stressing that the funds to be administered is from BPL.
He stated that Heritage Bank will leverage its expertise in agribusiness to organise the out-growers and administer the fund bearing in mind the peculiarity of Oil Palm as a cash crop with long gestation period. He said that the programme will ensure financial inclusion and empower the farmers, create market access for the farmers and increase their yield through training on sustainability and good agricultural practices.
PZ Wilmar Ltd is a joint venture between PZ Cussons International, UK and Wilmar International Ltd, Singapore. In Nigeria, Wilmar is involved in oil palm cultivation with a total land hectare of 26,500 located in Akamkpa, Biase, Odukpani and Akpabuyo Local Government Areas of Cross River State.
Wilmar is also involved in other business activities globally, including Oilseed crushing, edible oil refining, sugar milling and refining, specialty fat, fertilizer manufacturing and grain processing.
