WE HAVE EMPOWERED OVER 30,000 FAMERS IN NIGERIA – NESTLE

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Nestle Nigeria Plc says it has empowered over 30,000 farmers in the last two years through a capacity building programme./blockquote>

Manager, Corporate Communication, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Victoria Ndidiamaka Nwadoka who made the revelation during the monthly congress of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Ikeja, Lagos said that as corprate strategy , Nestle does not engage in corprate social responsibility but Shared Value Service which has empowered farmers so much that it has reached over 40,000 farmers by enhancing the quality of their farm products. She said Nestle buys grains directly from farmers even when it could get it cheaper from Mexico and by so doing creating values for the farmers. So far, about 41,600 farmers supply grain and legumes to the three factories operated by Nestle.

She described Nestle as the most capitalised company in Nigeria, with 2, 200 direct employees, providing high quality nutritious products fortified with ion that you can depend on from the factory to finish products. She explained that Nestle as a matter of delibrate policy sets up factory in rural areas to attract other investors adding that setting up Nestle Foods in Agbara has attracted other companies to the area.

Advertisement

Nestle, she said believes in continuos innovation hence a number of products lunched, Milo ready to drink, nutritious drink, Maggi Naija Pot, Golden Morn extended with Goldern Morn puff. Netles has operated for 57 years now in Nigeria. Nwadoka said 80 percent of raw materials are sourced locally, while some are 100 percent sourced locally in products like golden morn. This, he said is because the company believe in the farmers to grow value chain and helping them to negotiate better.

It currently has about100 distributors and resellers, with at 90 percent staff made up of nigerians. She said Nestle is addressing issues of adulteration through NAFDAC and consumer protection council but advised Nigerians to buy at standard supermarket and local store since the compnaysupplies straight to neigbourhood store, this she said eases the process of tracking products where there are issues of adulteration.