By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
The Benue State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Benjamin Ashaver, has called for stronger collaboration among government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as key stakeholders to advance women empowerment through agriculture.
Ashaver said the call is in line with the vision of the Governor, Hyacinth Alia.
He made this known in Makurdi during a meeting in his office with the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Mrs. Theresa Ikwue, and the leaderships of line organisations under her Ministry, on Thursday.
The Commissioner noted that, agriculture, food security, child feeding programmes and support for vulnerable groups remain top priorities of the Alia-led administration.
“I urged all relevant MDAs, parastatals and stakeholders involved in policy formulation and implementation to close ranks in order to fast-track growth and improve fortunes in the agricultural sector”.
Ashaver assured the delegation of the Ministry’s readiness to provide the necessary technical support for farming schemes by individuals and groups across the state, adding that processes to reclaim all agricultural lands belonging to the state has commenced, and that government is willing to allocate suitable lands to genuine groups and investors to support their agricultural initiatives.
Responding, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Mrs. Ikwue disclosed that her Ministry plans to acquire 500 hectares of land to empower women through the cultivation of improved seedlings for crops such as ginger, Bambara nut, soybeans and others.
The delegation, which included representatives of the National Council of Women Societies, Bishop Collins Foundation, Sun Flower Initiative and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), sought collaboration and technical support from the Ministry of Agriculture to actualise their laudable initiatives.
