He was sitting in the sun amid the rich farmland of central Saskatchewan, but Peter Gorski’s mind was on the sizzling potential that could be seized by West African farmers.
“It’s amazingly rich,” said Gorski, a senior trader with Broadgrain Commodities, after returning from weeks in Nigeria where he visited his company’s collaborative project with one of the country’s research universities.
“There’s so much that farmers there could achieve.”
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Broadgrain is working with the University of Ilorin to develop the agronomic skills of Nigerian farmers, combining current western practices and approaches with African knowledge and land.
The company is helping university researchers examine farming methods on nearly 500 acres of land that contains mango and cashew trees, as well as soybeans, cassava, sorghum, sugar, rice and other regional crops.
The soil is similar to that of Prince Edward Island, with a rich, red tone and great fertility.
The goal is to maximize yields and short-term productivity but also embrace environmental sustainability so the land base is improved rather than degraded. Soil conservation practices such as no-till farming and farming in accordance with local topography are integral to the project, Gorski said.
Broadgrain, like many Canadian exporters working with Canada’s unique mix of small acreage crops, operates in many markets. This project arose from trading it was doing in the region and was built on good personal relationships between company officials and Nigerian traders, academics and farmers.
When the project was announced at the end of 2023, Broadgrain president Zaid Qadoumi was particularly enthused by the 12-acre demonstration farm that will give Ilorin agriculture students hands-on experience with contemporary best practices.
“This initiative is at the heart of our commitment to agriculture and education in the countries we operate in,” said Qadoumi.
“We are excited to start this journey with the University of Ilorin.”
