By Austin Maho
In 2006, CGCOC Group Co., Ltd. embarked on a transformative agricultural endeavor, giving birth to Green Agriculture West Africa Ltd. (GAWAL) in Nigeria. GAWAL’s story unfolds as a pivotal player in China-Africa agricultural development, fostering vital connections for agricultural cooperation between the two regions. Over the years, it has solidified its reputation in Nigeria, not merely as a prominent large-scale seed company but as a multifaceted agricultural enterprise, spanning agricultural machinery, industrial park construction and operation, agro-processing, agricultural training, product trading, and consultancy services, among others.
1. Thriving in Seeds
In 2010, GAWAL secured a seed license from the Nigerian National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), marking a significant milestone. In 2011, the company ventured into rice seed production, diversifying its seed portfolio in alignment with local planting patterns. Beyond its 2,025-hectare mechanized demonstration farm in Kebbi State, GAWAL established seven seed production cooperatives, partnering with over 5,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria. By imparting specialized techniques for rice and maize seed production, the company transformed these farmers into out-growers, helping them escape the clutches of poverty while boosting their income.
As of today, our company boasts an annual seed production capacity exceeding 10,000 metric tons. From 2011 onwards, GAWAL has delivered over 20,000 metric tons of high-quality seeds, including certified rice and maize seeds, along with foundation rice seeds, to farmers in more than 30 states. These distributions have been facilitated through government initiatives such as the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), NIRSAL-sponsored ABP, as well as direct seed procurement projects undertaken by state governments.
