Food security: Kwara govt urges women farmers to embrace large scale farming

By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

Kwara state government has called on small scale women farmers in the state to key into different ggovernmen’s programmes to farm in large scale to tackle food security in the state.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas made the call at the 2024 World Food Day organised by the Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE).

The programme, which is in conjunction with the Smallscale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) and in collaboration with the agric ministry has its theme as ”Rights to Food for a better life and better future”.

Mrs Thomas, who was represented by a Director in the ministry, Mallam Aliyu Abubakar, said Nigeria and Kwara inclusive have not yet achieved food security, even as the government is doing its best to achieve this.

She said presently the government’s efforts was not enough, but the government keeps introducing programmes to enhance food security.

”There are lots of programmes that when keyed into, they can help turn small scale farming to large scale.

”This we believe when our women go into, we can gradually move towards attaining food security” the agriculture commissioner said.

Corroborating her admonition, the State Coordinator, Special Agro Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), Dr Toyin Busari said the state government has established Agriculture Transformation Centres in four locations to serve as raw material producing centres.

He said the materials produced in the centres will be moved to Agro Industrial Hub in Malete for final production

He urged the SWOFON members to register at the four designated centres to benefit from the programme as this would also go a long way in filling the gap.

The Managing Director, Kwara Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Dr. Khadijat Ahmed reiterated the ADP ‘s commitment to ensuring food security.

Dr Ahmed, who was represented by Alhaji Aliyu Aiyelabegan, said ADP has always helped women farmers on the needed information through training and with the latest technologies.

The Executive Director CCEPE, Mr Abdurrahman Ayuba, said the essence of the programme was to chat a new path to food security by ensuring accessible and affordable nutritious foods.

While commending the government for hosting the gathering, he said the right to food is fundamental human rights and its provision should not be compromised.

In her remarks, SWOFON Coordinator, Mrs Elizabeth Ndako urged the government to take into consideration all the gender in the formulation of agriculture policies, especially, women farmers.

She also called for good road network to get the farm produce to the market, erosion control in Patigi local government and encourage Irrigation for all year round farming.

Mrs Titi Ade Salami, a woman farmer called for timely intervention in terms of modern farm implements and training for women farmers.

Mrs Sikirat Olohunoje who plants cassava, sorghum, maize, called for a farm village to help overcome the challenge of farm land in each senatorial districts or local government.

The State coordinator, Nigeria Women for Agriculture Progressive and Development Initiative, Mrs Memunat Giwa urged the government to provide machines, like tractors, harvester, planters and ask for little money from for the services.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was an exhibition of farm produce by the farmers.

============