Gombe State Deputy Governor, Manassah Jatau, has called on women to play an active role in agriculture as a means of complementing their husbands and reducing family burdens.
Jatau made the appeal when he received officials of the Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progress and Development Initiative, Gombe State Chapter, in his office on Tuesday.
He noted that the engagement of women in agriculture would not only ease household challenges but also contribute significantly to government efforts in ensuring food security and driving socio-economic development.
The Deputy Governor further urged women to involve youths in farming, stressing that agriculture remains a viable economic venture capable of ensuring food sufficiency for families.
“Government has made deliberate efforts in the health sector because health is the driver of every sector. When women are healthy, they will perform better in agriculture and other sectors of the economy,” he said.
Jatau also encouraged women farmers to engage in both wet and dry season farming, pointing out that unpredictable rainfall patterns call for diverse farming methods to guarantee food availability.
He assured them of the administration’s commitment to supporting women and youths, describing them as central to the government’s development agenda.
Earlier in her remarks, the Coordinator of NWAPDI Gombe State Chapter,Farmer Sadiya Suleiman Abdulhadi, who led the delegation, appreciated the state government’s commitment to inclusive growth, especially in agriculture and women empowerment.
She formally introduced NWAPDI as a national initiative with state chapters across the federation, dedicated to empowering rural and urban women through access to agricultural opportunities, training, and support.
The Coordinator highlighted the association’s plans to inaugurate its Gombe State Chapter with the presence of the National and North-East Zonal Coordinators, alongside women leaders, farmers, and stakeholders.
She requested the state government’s support for the inauguration, as well as assistance in areas such as dry and wet season farming inputs, land allocation for women cooperatives, training in modern techniques, access to credit, and market linkages.
The group also expressed readiness to partner with relevant state ministries and agencies to boost women’s participation in agriculture through empowerment projects, capacity building, and extension services.
Jack.A.Tasha
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity,
(Deputy Governor’s Office).
