The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (FMWASD) in collaboration with the Kogi State government have trained some rural farmers in the state on best agronomic practices for maximum yield.
The training, which was held on the theme “Best Agronomic Practice for Optimal Yield, Food Security and Economic Sustainability for Rural Kogi Farmer in Casa value, Rice and Cashew Production”
While speaking on Thursday during the training in Lokoja, Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, said the training was part of various ways through which the ministry was taking women out of poverty.
Represented by Kamal Yusuf, procurement specialist in the ministry, the minister said the emphasis was on getting the right skills on the products, relevant to the production of rice, cassava and cashew and easy access to market.
She noted that the federal government, in collaboration with Kogi State Ministry of Women Affairs, had in June 2022, distributed agricultural inputs including improved seeds to farmers in the state.
“The inputs include: rice, beans, groundnut, maize, super grow (liquid fertilizer) and sprayer, wheelbarrows, among others.
“The training would be based on the best agronomic practices for optimal yield, food security and economic sustainability for Kogi rural farmers in cassava, rice and cashew production,” the minister said.
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She advised participants to get the best out of the training so as to impart others at the grassroots.
Earlier, Fatima Buba, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Kogi State, commended the federal government for the capacity building, saying it would add to the participants’ knowledge on crop farming and alleviate poverty among women.
Represented by Andi Modupe, permanent secretary of the ministry, the commissioner pointed out that the aim was to transform smallholder agriculture into successful and profitable rural agric business in which agricultural surpluses could be marketed.
”Globally, women farmers suffer poor access to various kinds of production resources and services, most importantly access to inputs, extension and market services, which is an important cause of their low productivity.
”It is in view of this that government at all levels are putting up strategies to encourage farmers, especially women farmers,” she said.
She stressed that the federal and state governments were encouraging the shift to farming in order to improve the Nigerian economy, as she commended Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi State, for developing numerous agricultural schemes for women farmers in the state.
Buba urged the participants to key into the best agronomic practices so as to enhance their crop production for maximum yield.
Sufiat Yahaya, one of the participants, and the state coordinator, Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SSWFON), thanked the government for the training.
