Sabi, a B2B startup specializing in digital tools for commerce, has announced a partnership with Nectar Fresh and Meadow Foods to enhance the supply chain for cash crops such as cashew nuts and shea nuts.
This project, which has received approval from the Federal Ministry of Environment, is named the Oyo State Aggregation Initiative and will manage 250,000 hectares of the Opara Forest reserve in Oyo State.
The collaboration between the three companies involves an investment of ₦52 million over the next year.
With the goal of creating jobs for at least 350 people by the end of the year, particularly in the communities of Saki, Otiki, and Agbugudu, the project will have a centralized warehouse constructed in Saki to ensure proper storage for export-ready commodities.
This partnership comes at a time when Nigeria faces its highest food inflation in nearly three decades, with rising food prices threatening millions with malnutrition.
The agricultural supply chain has been under strain due to climate change and security challenges, which have increased transportation costs. Experts reveal that technology and technical expertise can help address these structural issues.
The project is set to produce 30,000 metric tonnes of cashew nuts and 10,000 metric tonnes of shea nuts. Ademola Adesina, president and co-founder of Sabi, emphasized the project’s potential impact: “By empowering small farmers and providing them with the resources and market access they need, we are fostering economic growth and community development in Oyo State.”
Meadow Foods, a local subsidiary of Dutch company Acrosstrades, will oversee project development, management, quality assurance, and technology integration.
Nectar Fresh will work with community leaders in the Opara Forest to ensure the development and support of farmers and their crops.
