FG gives out agricultural inputs to women smallholders

The Federal Government, on Thursday, doled out agricultural inputs to women small-scale farmers in North-Central states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, who gave out the agricultural inputs in Abuja, disclosed that the move was to boost production and decrease waste in the industry.

Nanono disclosed that the distribution of inputs to 7,500 women small-scale farmers and processors was part of government’s pledge to gender equality and empowerment of women in the agricultural industry.

He said, “I have deliberately undertaken initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality and empowerment of women.

“This is in line with the targets set in our Economic Sustainability Plan, Agric Gender Policy, National Gender Action Plan for Agriculture, Agricultural Sector Food Security and Nutrition Strategy Documents aimed at ensuring increased opportunities for women.”

The minister added that the ministry and its research institutions were working to make Nigeria independent in good quality seed and its accessibility to farmers as a foundation for achieving food and nutrition security and also industry development.

He said, “We are making concerted efforts to improve rural infrastructure such as rural roads, boreholes, irrigation facilities, solar lights, markets, etc., that are enablers for improved agricultural performance for our farmers and processors active in the rural space.”

Nanono declared that the other value-chain supports were also improved which would regularly add to the achievement of government’s desire to guarantee availability of quality food and nutrition by the citizens of Nigeria.

He stated, “Today, the ministry is supporting about 7,500 women with value kits such as planting materials, growth enhancers and agro-chemicals in yam, cassava, potatoes, soybean, rice, maize, sesame, ginger, sorghum/millet, cowpea and horticultural crops.”

The minister further said that extra dietary value packs would be given to the women, stating that the decision of the harvests depended on proportional benefit to its production.