Economy
Mahindra Begins Farm-To-Folk Initiative in Nigeria
By Dipo Olowookere
An end-to-end farm mechanization solution called Farm-To-Folk initiative has been launched in Nigeria by Springfield Agro Limited, a Kewalram Chanrai Group company, in partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., a part of the $19 billion Mahindra Group with a growing global presence.
The initiative aims to develop agriculture and farming ecosystem in Nigeria and provide customized farming solutions for every need of the farming community.
It was launched in Nigeria in collaboration with the Katsina State government.
Under the aegis of this initiative the company will not only provide tractors and farm equipment solutions, but also be a key enabler in knowledge dissemination. Springfield Agro and Mahindra will setup agric centres across the state – Chibiyar Chi Gaban Manoma – Gromost Centre. The Gromost Centre will be a one-stop-shop to empower farmers with the knowledge of soil, seeds, micro-irrigation and harvesting as well as the relevant method for caring of crops.
Farmers from every region and capacity will benefit from these Gromost Centres. This in turn will drive Farm Tech Prosperity and contribute immensely to the growth of Agriculture and Farming in Nigeria.
The launch agenda will also include the commissioning of 225 tractors by the Katsina State Governor, Mr Aminu Masari, in line with the government’s effort to encourage farming and increase support for the growth of farmers’ unions and other agro-based associations.
Mr Masari, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Mannir Yakubu, at the launch said, “Our intention is to deploy adequate farm machineries and mechanization to a level that will boost agricultural productivity to at least 50 percent of international standards.”
Speaking on the Farm to Fork initiative, Mr Ashok Thakur, Vice President & Head of Operations-Africa Business, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said, “At Mahindra, our core belief is that an informed farmer is an empowered farmer and we are delighted to provide them with resources to reap the most from what they sow.
“In fact, we have moved beyond just selling tractors and the idea is to enrich the farmers’ knowledge and ultimately drive Farm Tech Prosperity and help them Rise. The launch of the Gromost Centre in Katsina state is in line with this philosophy.”
Mr Thakur further added that, “For decades now, Mahindra has been partnering in the growth story of Africa. The idea behind launching Gromost Centres is to further boost local employment, aid local sourcing, disseminate knowledge, enhance skill sets and offer custom made solutions.”
Tarun Kumar Das, Managing Director, Springfield Agro said, “Private sector investment in agriculture is the panacea to diversifying Nigeria’s economy.
“We need to deepen alliances and invest in new solutions. More importantly we want to be part of the smallholder farmer’s story by helping them rise. Given the proper support, the smallholder farmers can feed the future of the country and the continent.”
Speaking at the media briefing announcing this initiative, representative of the Katsina state government, Dr Abba Abdullah, Special Advisor to the Governor on Agriculture said, “The small window available for sowing & harvesting enhances the need for mechanization in agriculture.
“There is stagnation in productivity because of the low mechanization level & low permeation of technology and this is the gap we hope to bridge.”
Speaking further on this collaboration, Mr Das added that “the Katsina State Government, along with institutional partners like TOOAN, NIRSAL and Access Bank, deserve commendation and we appeal to other states to emulate their actions.”
Mahindra and Mahindra is the largest tractor manufacturer in the world with a tractor assembly plant commissioned by Springfield Agro in Nigeria, which has a manufacturing capacity of 5,000 tractors and associated agricultural.
It produces various ranges of tractors from 25Hp to 80Hp to cater to a wide spectrum of customers’ needs. Over the years, it has created thousands of satisfied customers in Nigeria and millions across the world.
The Katsina State Government with its current leadership is keen to increase food production and food security for its teeming population.
The administration is making all efforts to ensure sustainable development while improving income and quality of life for its resource-poor population in villages, with special emphasis on Farm Tech Prosperity.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Nigeria’s integrated agro-industrial company, Ellah Lakes Plc, significantly improved its revenue in the first quarter of 2026 to N359.49 million from N19.61 million in the same period of 2025.
The revenue growth was driven by initial harvests and sales of Crude Palm Oil (CPO), reflecting stronger commercial activity and improved pace of revenue generation as operations continue to scale.
The improved sales activity was supported by growing commercial output from its operating platform and continued focus on disciplined execution.
It was observed that while the gross profit rose to N285.35 million from N19.61 million, the operating loss moderated to N273.42 million from the N514.12 million recorded in the first quarter of last year.
“The first quarter represents another important step in Ellah Lakes’ transition into commercial execution. The stronger revenue momentum recorded during the period was supported by improved production stability, better operational uptime and more disciplined sales execution.
“Importantly, we also narrowed our operating loss year-on-year, reflecting the benefit of higher gross profit and continued cost discipline. These results provide an encouraging early indication that the business is gaining operating momentum,” the chief executive of Ellah Lakes, Mr Chuka Mordi, said.
Ellah Lakes continued to focus on scaling output, improving efficiency, and converting its agricultural asset base into stronger commercial performance.
The quarter’s results show early evidence of this transition, with revenue increasing significantly year-on-year and operating loss narrowing compared with the prior-year quarter.
“Our CPO mill is now operational, piggery operations continue to scale, and we are advancing the next stage of our processing roadmap through the planned installation of a 40 tonnes-per-day Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) mill in Q2 2026.
“In parallel, we are strengthening our operating systems and exploring technical partnerships to improve asset utilisation and execution as the business scales.
“Our focus remains on disciplined execution, prudent capital stewardship and long-term value creation for shareholders,” Mr Mordi stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Businesses operating in Nigeria can now register easily as the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) introduces a direct payment option on its portal.
A statement posted on the commission’s handle on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday noted that the move is aimed at streamlining registration services as well as optimising the portal for efficiency.
“The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) wishes to notify its esteemed customers that payments for the following filings can now be conveniently made directly on our portal via ReVOps on the Intelligent Company Registration Portal (iCRP),” it announced.
The Revenue Optimisation and Assurance Project (REV-OP) was launched last year to strengthen public financial management.
The initiative focuses on blocking revenue leakages and improving transparency across government agencies.
It is built on three pillars: transparency, efficiency, and digital transformation.
The new payment systems allow users to pay for services through ReVOps on its Intelligent Company Registration Portal (iCRP).
Before now, the previous payment structure relied on the Remita gateway, which supported debit cards, bank transfers, and branch payments.
According to the Commission, the initiative is part of efforts to improve service delivery and streamline its processes for users.
The CAC listed services now eligible for direct payment include Annual Returns Filing, Change of Business Address, Cessation of Business, Change of Name, and Change of Objects.
It added that other services, such as Change of Proprietor or Partner details, are Certified True.
The move aligns with the federal government’s broader push to digitise public finance and improve revenue collection through technology.
REV-OP enables real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making, marking a shift toward a more technology-driven approach to government revenue systems.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerians paid more to buy staple foods, including eggs, beans, and garri, in March 2026 compared with what they paid in the preceding month, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The agency, in its Selected Food Prices Watch report for March 2026, released on Wednesday, said that the average price of eggs (a crate of 30 pieces) on a month-on-month basis went up by 2.00 per cent from N6,007.35 in February 2026.
However, the price of the proteinous meal decreased by 20.12 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N7,670.56 recorded in March 2025 to N6,127.63 in March 2026.
Similarly, the report said that the average price of 1kg of brown beans decreased by 49.39 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N2,616.26 in March 2025 to N1,325.85 in March 2026, but on a month-on-month basis, the price increased by 1.41 per cent from the N1,307.44 recorded in February 2026. It also showed the average price of 1kg of white garri decreased by 41.19 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N1,362.96 in March 2025 to N801.4 in March 2026, and on a month-on-month basis, it rose by 1.38 per cent from the N790.62 recorded in February 2026.
The report said that the average price of 1kg of onion decreased by 19.63 per cent from N1,434.85 recorded in March 2025 to N1,153.14 in March 2026. On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of onions increased by 1,59 per cent in March from the N1,135.12 recorded in February 2026.
The report said the average price of 1kg of fresh ginger increased by 20.46 per cent from the N4,600.23 recorded in March 2025 to N5,541.25 in March 2026. On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of ginger increased by 0.61 per cent in March from the N5,507.43 recorded in February 2026.
However, it said the average price of one litre of palm oil decreased by 4.71 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N2,511.77 recorded in March 2025 to N2,393.38 in March 2026.
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