By Daniel Tyokua
A group, Shefarmers Initiative has inaugurated the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter to help prepare women in farming activities.
Inaugurating the advisory board and members of the executive in Abuja on Thursday, the President Mrs Kudirat Ande, said the initiative was planned to empower African women in agriculture.
Ande, who was represented by the Vice-President 1, Samera Abdullahi, urged the FCT chapter to work towards creating an enabling environment for women farmers and female agricultural entrepreneurs.
Those inaugurated are Dr Maimuna Habib FCT Coordinator, Dr Asmau Adamu Vice-Coordinator, and Hajiya Rakiya Mohammed as Secretary.
Others include Mrs Francisca Ihekandu Financial Secretary; Ms Lucy Cebawaza, Treasurer; Dr Regina Adulugba, Head of Projects; and Ms Rebecca Ukpevo as Public Relation Officer.
Those inaugurated as Advisory Board are Mrs Omolola Olanikpekun, acting Secretary, Area Councils Services Secretariat, FCT Administration; Ms Sarah Arieo, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics ACSS.
Others are Dr Jummai Ahmadu, Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement uu, FCTA, and Amb. Zainab Mohammed, President, Women in Commerce.
Earlier, Hajiya Ladi Sulaiman, Coordinator, North Central, said that a minimum of 20,000 women farmers in FCT would benefit from the initiative yearly.
She said that the initiative was made up of women from different professions working together with a passion to improve the agricultural productivity of women at the grassroots.
According to her, the main goal is to improve agricultural productivity to ensure food security in the country.
“The platform will train women farmers on home gardens to ensure that households eat purely organic food.
“It also sensitises women on new technology and innovations that improves agricultural yield and ensures bumper harvest.”
She called on the Federal Government to consider Shefarmers platform as a critical partner in driving agricultural innovations and a channel to support women farmers across the country.
The National Petron of the group, Alhaji Aminu Pai, said that the Shefarmers initiative was established on June 8, 2021, to provide support to women to improve their farming capabilities.
This, he said, was being achieved through access to reliable information on farm management, mechanised farming, grants, innovation and technology, empowerment, and financial literacy.
“All these services are aimed at increasing women’s production and income, which will hopefully improve their quality of life,” he said.
Pai pointed out that women made up about 70 per cent of the country’s agricultural labour force and contribute 70 per cent of the country’s food production.
He, however, said that despite their contribution, they face significant discrimination in land and livestock ownership, participation in the decision- making process and access to credit and financial services.
“The FCT chapter of Shefarmers initiative will raise awareness amongst the women folk in the territory.
“It is also to identify with relevant stakeholders in acquisition of land, technical know-how on farm preparation, equipment, seeds, and other farming inputs to improve agricultural entrepreneurship,” he said.
Mallam Abubakar Sadeeq, acting Secretary, Agricultural Secretariat, commended the initiative, which he said would add value to agricultural production.
Sadeeq, who was represented by Hajiya Umma Abubakar, an official of the secretariat, pledged to work with the group to improve agricultural production in the FCT.
Dr Ahmadu, one of the members of the advisory board, said that initiative would ensure that rural farmers, particularly women get value for their farm produce.
According to her, Shefarmers is expected to be the voice of rural women farmers in the FCT.
Similarly, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, Ona of Abaji and Chairman, FCT Council of Traditional Rulers, lauded the initiative and pledged the full support of the traditional council.
