The goal of the BASICS-II project is to provide farmers with access to affordable, quality-assured seeds of the cassava varieties in demand by local food and processor markets through the establishment of a commercially viable seed value chain operating across breeder, foundation, and commercial seed levels. It also aims to enable a more efficient dissemination and adoption of new cassava varieties to improve productivity, raise incomes of cassava growers and seed entrepreneurs, enhance gender equity and contribute to inclusive agricultural transformation in Nigeria and Tanzania.

BASICS-II works with Early Generation Seed companies to multiply breeder and foundation seeds that will be passed on to cassava seed entrepreneurs to produce commercial seeds for dissemination to farmers. The project also works with cassava processors with out-grower schemes to multiply commercial seeds for farmers.

While the project is being implemented in collaboration with other organizations, Sahel Consulting is leading the development of the processor-associated seed system model of the project, with a goal to demonstrate that processors can produce planting material that features profit-maximizing processing characteristics for their farms and outgrowers in an economically sustainable and replicable manner. Sahel Consulting currently provides business advisory support to two processors, Psaltry International and Eagleson, both in Oyo State, Nigeria, and is currently evaluating several other integrated cassava processors for potential partnership on the project.

Crest Agro was established in 2013 to harness opportunities in the cassava startch sub-sector. The Company’s vision is to become the leading producer of food grade cassava starch for industrial users in Nigeria and the broader West Africa sub‐region. The company is well-positioned to meet the raw material for its starch processing facility through a 13,000-hectare mechanised cassava farm and an already functional and growing out-grower network of smallholder farmers.

Dayntee commenced business operations in 2012 and produces a variety of poultry products including table eggs, day-old chicks and point-of-lay birds, which it supplies to customers across Nigeria. It has an integrated operation including its own breeder farm, hatchery, and layer operation. Over 90% of staff are employed from the neighbouring community and over 35% are women. FAFIN’s investment was geared towards increasing Dayntee’s hatchery capacity and developing its broiler business.

IITA GoSeed was established in 2016 by International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and is responsible for the commercial production of early generation seed of improved crop varieties generated by the institute. Its focus crops include banana, cassava, cowpea, maize, plantain, rice, soybean and yam, and the company produces and sells high-quality seeds of these crop varieties to seed producers in the seed system. The company works with seed experts, seed producers and other stakeholders across the various value chains to ensure the availability of seeds to farmers to increase their productivity and ultimately their income levels.

Sahel Consulting supported the development of a robust five-year business plan for the cassava division of the company, GoSeed Cassava, and is providing backstopping and human resources support for the implementation of the business plan.

L&Z is an integrated dairy processor that produces fresh milk and a range of branded yoghurt products, which it sells to supermarkets and convenience stores across Nigeria.  L&Z sources milk from its herd of hybrid Friesland dairy cows as well as from clusters of smallholder farmers around Kano. This off-take provides consistent market access for the smallholder dairy farmers and improves their livelihoods.

Established in 2019, Nourishingafrica.com is a home for 1 million entrepreneurs transforming the agriculture and food landscape! Sahel Consulting incubated the digital company until its incorporation as an independent company in 2020.

The mission of Nourishing Africa is to “attract, empower, equip, connect and celebrate over 1 Million dynamic and innovative young entrepreneurs who will drive the profitable and sustainable growth of the African agriculture and food landscapes”. As such, this hub serves as a platform for these stakeholders to accelerate their work, connect with each other, and celebrate their successes on the continent. The portal includes information about data, funding, African food and chefs, career opportunities, and other resources to develop one’s career in the agri/food industry.

Established in 2018 by the National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike Seeds is a seed company that produces and sells high-quality early generation seed of root and tuber crops, with the aim of institutionalizing a formal seed system of improved varieties for root and tuber crops in Nigeria. The company began its operations with the production of cassava stems for sale and engages in the provision of tailored advisory services on good agronomic practices and farm setup services to a wide variety of customers. The mission of Umudike Seeds is to accelerate the growth and profitability of Nigeria’s root and tuber crop industry by providing high-quality Breeder and Foundation seed of improved varieties and advisory services.

Sahel Consulting supported the development of a robust five-year business plan for the company, to enhance its cassava production and operations and is also supporting its implementation of the business plan.

Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa, Phase II (YIIFSWA II) project seeks to develop and prove a functional, commercial seed yam seed system in Nigeria and Ghana to benefit smallholder farmers through availability, accessibility and affordability of improved yam varieties through the establishment of high-quality seed system using improved technologies. Sahel Consulting works in partnership with other organizations to support the eight private seed companies in Nigeria and Ghana under this project.

Specifically, Sahel Consulting provides tailored business advisory and marketing support to private seed companies in Nigeria – Da-Allgreen Seeds, Strategic Seeds Nigeria Limited, Biocrops Biotechnology Nigeria Limited, Nwabudo Agro Seeds and Inputs Company Limited and PS Nutraceutical – and in Ghana, Iribov Ghana, Hikma Farms Ltd and Fosuah Food Chain.

The goal of the BASICS-II project is to provide farmers with access to affordable, quality-assured seeds of the cassava varieties in demand by local food and processor markets through the establishment of a commercially viable seed value chain operating across breeder, foundation, and commercial seed levels. It also aims to enable a more efficient dissemination and adoption of new cassava varieties to improve productivity, raise incomes of cassava growers and seed entrepreneurs, enhance gender equity and contribute to inclusive agricultural transformation in Nigeria and Tanzania.

BASICS-II works with Early Generation Seed companies to multiply breeder and foundation seeds that will be passed on to cassava seed entrepreneurs to produce commercial seeds for dissemination to farmers. The project also works with cassava processors with out-grower schemes to multiply commercial seeds for farmers.

While the project is being implemented in collaboration with other organizations, Sahel Consulting is leading the development of the processor-associated seed system model of the project, with a goal to demonstrate that processors can produce planting material that features profit-maximizing processing characteristics for their farms and outgrowers in an economically sustainable and replicable manner. Sahel Consulting currently provides business advisory support to two processors, Psaltry International and Eagleson, both in Oyo State, Nigeria, and is currently evaluating several other integrated cassava processors for potential partnership on the project.

Crest Agro was established in 2013 to harness opportunities in the cassava startch sub-sector. The Company’s vision is to become the leading producer of food grade cassava starch for industrial users in Nigeria and the broader West Africa sub‐region. The company is well-positioned to meet the raw material for its starch processing facility through a 13,000-hectare mechanised cassava farm and an already functional and growing out-grower network of smallholder farmers.

Dayntee commenced business operations in 2012 and produces a variety of poultry products including table eggs, day-old chicks and point-of-lay birds, which it supplies to customers across Nigeria. It has an integrated operation including its own breeder farm, hatchery, and layer operation. Over 90% of staff are employed from the neighbouring community and over 35% are women. FAFIN’s investment was geared towards increasing Dayntee’s hatchery capacity and developing its broiler business.

IITA GoSeed was established in 2016 by International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and is responsible for the commercial production of early generation seed of improved crop varieties generated by the institute. Its focus crops include banana, cassava, cowpea, maize, plantain, rice, soybean and yam, and the company produces and sells high-quality seeds of these crop varieties to seed producers in the seed system. The company works with seed experts, seed producers and other stakeholders across the various value chains to ensure the availability of seeds to farmers to increase their productivity and ultimately their income levels.

Sahel Consulting supported the development of a robust five-year business plan for the cassava division of the company, GoSeed Cassava, and is providing backstopping and human resources support for the implementation of the business plan.

L&Z is an integrated dairy processor that produces fresh milk and a range of branded yoghurt products, which it sells to supermarkets and convenience stores across Nigeria.  L&Z sources milk from its herd of hybrid Friesland dairy cows as well as from clusters of smallholder farmers around Kano. This off-take provides consistent market access for the smallholder dairy farmers and improves their livelihoods.

Established in 2019, Nourishingafrica.com is a home for 1 million entrepreneurs transforming the agriculture and food landscape! Sahel Consulting incubated the digital company until its incorporation as an independent company in 2020.

The mission of Nourishing Africa is to “attract, empower, equip, connect and celebrate over 1 Million dynamic and innovative young entrepreneurs who will drive the profitable and sustainable growth of the African agriculture and food landscapes”. As such, this hub serves as a platform for these stakeholders to accelerate their work, connect with each other, and celebrate their successes on the continent. The portal includes information about data, funding, African food and chefs, career opportunities, and other resources to develop one’s career in the agri/food industry.

Established in 2018 by the National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike Seeds is a seed company that produces and sells high-quality early generation seed of root and tuber crops, with the aim of institutionalizing a formal seed system of improved varieties for root and tuber crops in Nigeria. The company began its operations with the production of cassava stems for sale and engages in the provision of tailored advisory services on good agronomic practices and farm setup services to a wide variety of customers. The mission of Umudike Seeds is to accelerate the growth and profitability of Nigeria’s root and tuber crop industry by providing high-quality Breeder and Foundation seed of improved varieties and advisory services.

Sahel Consulting supported the development of a robust five-year business plan for the company, to enhance its cassava production and operations and is also supporting its implementation of the business plan.

Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa, Phase II (YIIFSWA II) project seeks to develop and prove a functional, commercial seed yam seed system in Nigeria and Ghana to benefit smallholder farmers through availability, accessibility and affordability of improved yam varieties through the establishment of high-quality seed system using improved technologies. Sahel Consulting works in partnership with other organizations to support the eight private seed companies in Nigeria and Ghana under this project.

Specifically, Sahel Consulting provides tailored business advisory and marketing support to private seed companies in Nigeria – Da-Allgreen Seeds, Strategic Seeds Nigeria Limited, Biocrops Biotechnology Nigeria Limited, Nwabudo Agro Seeds and Inputs Company Limited and PS Nutraceutical – and in Ghana, Iribov Ghana, Hikma Farms Ltd and Fosuah Food Chain.