By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
The first batch of training in livestock farming for women and youths, an empowerment program of the Benue State Agriculture Development Company, BSADC, in partnership with ORIYON International, Aorkwagh Farm House and the presidency, has commenced in two centers, ORIYON Farms JS Tarkaa University of Agriculture and Aorkwagh Farm House, all in Makurdi.
Speaking during the induction at the Aorkwagh Farm House, Akpehe Makurdi on Monday, the Managing Director Benue State Agriculture Development Company, BSADC, Mr Donald Aorkwagh Akule said, the program is a women and youths empowerment program put together to take women and youths out of poverty and create wealth to the individuals, the state and Nigeria at large in line with Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s determined efforts to economically empower that category of the citizens.
Introducing the private participation, Mr. Akule who said Aorkwagh Farm House and ORIYON Farms have been developing and empowering youths in agriculture over the years, pointed out that, Economic Empowerment of Women and Youths in Livestock Agriculture, EEWYLA, is a government initiative to which ORIYON International Limited and Aorkwagh Farm House in partnership with BSADC, with the support of the Benue State Government is leveraging to avails the Benue community of the potentials in livestock Agriculture.
According to Mr. Akule, the program which has as its focus, women from the ages of 18 to 45, and youths from the ages of 18 to 35 has assembled experts in the agriculture value chain to commence training the initial breeders who, by the training they will receive, will become farmers who would be meat producers of world repute.
The representative of the State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia at the occasion, Mrs. Scholastica T. Ben-Sor in identifying with the program said, “it is a collective efforts by the State to uplift the status of women in our communities”.
According to Mrs. Ben-Sor, “the focus of 75% women and 25% of youths participation is a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to gender equality and integrational development in driving agricultural growth and transforming our communities”.
She said the State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia is determined to support the venture through the Benue State Agricultural Development Company, BSADC, and the office of the Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities in revolutionizing the future of our people.
“EEWYLA offers transformative opportunities for economic empowerment which enhances income generating capabilities through livestock agriculture, skills development, access to markets, facilitating linkages for sustainable growth and community development, fostering cohesion and social engagement”, Mrs. Ben-Sor further explained.
The cofounder of the initiative and Chief Executive of ORIYON INTERNATIONAL, Princess Amina Momoh-Orimolye, in her remarks said the woman farmer has for long been left behind in the agriculture value chain. That the idea of ORIYON INTERNATIONAL was to make women partake in agriculture that empowers our people, produce sustainably, compete globally and get the reward for their labour.
She regretted that for too long, Nigeria was left behind in the benefits of global agriculture. But today, with the economic empowerment in livestock agriculture, we are taking our destiny into our own hands, adding that, we are here today because agriculture is the new gold-rush of the new era.
Resource persons for the program are experts in agronomy and Veterinary Medicine drown from the JS Tarkaa University of Agriculture Makurdi as well as livestock farmers with years of experience. The training program takes off proper in January, 2025.
