Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria; Gombe State chapter on Thursday commemorated World Food Day.
The women drawn from the 11 Local Government Areas of the state called on government to prioritise their activities in a bid to curb hunger and tackle poverty.
Our correspondent reports that the occasion was organised by Hope Foundation for the Lonely, with support from ActionAid Nigeria.
The theme for 2024 is ‘rights to food to a better life and better future.’
Speaking, Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives Dr Barnabas Malle, who was represented by Jonathan Bulus, said the World Food Day i is an eloquent testimony of the collective effort toward food security of our dear State and Nation.
He commended Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, for his unfailing efforts and strong determination to develop the Agricultural sector in the state. “It is in view of this, that his administration has been able to provide a budget line for small scale women farmers. This is an attestation of His Excellency’s commitment in ensuring women to participate in Agricultural development and to benefit from Agricultural transformations. The Gombe State Government, through programmes like the NG-Cares, has reached women through the issuance of sewing machines grinding machines, water pumps, and cash transfers.
“The recent distribution of fertiliser by His Excellency has also deepened the impact of his programmes to women farmers in cooperatives by accessing fertilizer at 50 per cent subsidised rate of N22,000.00 of 50kg per bag of NPK.”
Malle further called on SWOFON to take of advantage of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives’ initiatives, on extension, training and other packages saying “the ministry’s extension services are provided in all the 11 area offices of GSADP and farm service centres, equally the Industrial training unit provides training in back garden farming, flour making, value addition among others.
“Tractor hiring services: the Ministry through its tractor hiring unit provide services at subsidised rate of N50,000.00 per day against the over 100,000 per day by commercial owners. The Ministry also has power tillers rented out at N30,000.00 per week that can be accessed in our farm service centres in Dukku, Kalshingi and Ladongor.
“Livestock system services: The Ministry is carrying out its’ State wide annual vaccination that women can take advantage of; we also have Anti-rabies vaccines, provide Livestock and veterinary services in all the Local Government Areas. I want to call on the women to be more proactive in ensuring food security at family level, thereby extending to the community.”
On her part, Hajiya Asma’u Yahaya, wife of the governor who was represented by Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development; Asma’u Iganus, noted that the global event is related to hunger and food security with ultimate aim to combat world hunger and make food available for everyone.
Iganus who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Administration and Finance noted that World Food Day can promote a healthy diet and what the body requires. “Although the knowledge of good diets and whether foods are healthy or unhealthy has increased recently, we are still not there. World Food Day is a fantastic chance to increase knowledge and awareness in this field.
“Problems related to the consumption of unhealthy foods are faced by both the rich and the poor. Ladies and gentlemen, do you know that more than a quarter of the world’s population is overweight? Yes, this is true. Studies have shown that around over 1.9 billion people in the world are overweight, and approximately 672 million are obese, with death rates increasing to 3.4 million.
“The goal of World Food Day is also to increase awareness of issues affecting those without such privilege. There are so many hungry people everywhere. There are many nations where starvation is a severe issue, and we must do more to increase awareness to avoid such in our state and country at large,” the wife of the governor said.
She commended women farmers in the state for their immense efforts and contributions to boosting the agriculture sector and ensuring food security in the state and our great country.
Yahaya added, “Smallholder women farmers are said to produce over 60 per cent of the food consumed in our State and have made immense contributions to both the Federal and State government’s effort at boosting food security and ensuring availability of food in the country.
“Women are critical stakeholder in agricultural value chain and have been a part of all the processes of crop and animal production as well as processing the produce to provide nutritious and healthy foods for households as well as for commercial purposes in the State.
“As you are aware Gov. Inuwa Yahaya’s administration has prioritised the agriculture sector and women are major stakeholders in this administration because of their contributions to the sector. It is as a result that the present government deemed it fit to create a budget allocation in the state’s annual budget to support the activities of SWOFON in the State.”
Also, Chief Executive Officer of HFL Sarah Yapwa tasked government to do everything towards realising the Malabo and Maputo declaration, saying that it would end hunger and tackle youth restiveness in the state.
Highlight of 2024 celebration was exhibition of crops by representatives of the 11 LGAs of the state.
Airudia Mamman reelected by Gombe SWOFON
In a keenly contested election Airudia Mamman, the outgoing Chairperson of Gombe SWOFON was returned elected.
Mamman was announced winner by the electoral committee for securing highest votes cast.
Periscope Nigeria reports that Mamman scored 20 votes, and her rival had one vote.
Coordinator: Airudia Mammna
Secretary: Hannatu Ilya Yila
PRO: Maryam Mohammed
Financial Secretary: Mercy James
Treasurer: Talatu Usman
Social welfare: Rukaiyatu Mohammed.
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