…equips women, others with Agricultural starter packs
The administration of Sen. Monday Okpebholo as Governor of Edo State has reaffirmed its commitment to agricultural development and food security through the initiative of empowering women, youths, and children across the State.
The commitment of the Edo State Government was reiterated by the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, during the Renewed Hope Initiative Agricultural Programme, which held at the New Festival Hall in Government House, Benin City. She clarified that the Programme is an initiative of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu and that it is designed to promote food security and improve livelihoods in communities across the Country as part of a broader national agenda to strengthen the Agricultural Sector.
Mrs. Anani emphasizing the importance of agricultural empowerment for the demographics, supported its crucial role in achieving sustainable agricultural productivity and ensuring food security. She stated, “Today we would be empowering women, youth and young farmers club in agriculture. Through these segments, we aim to enhance food security and reduce poverty, promote sustainable agricultural practices, increase agricultural productivity and efficiency and support entrepreneurship and job creation in agriculture.”
Encouraging the “Every Home a Garden Initiative” Mrs. Anani announced plans to empower women, youths, and school children with seedlings for home gardens, with a monitoring exercise to track progress. She disclosed that the top three performers of the Initiative will receive grants, comprising ₦1 million for the first position; ₦500,000 for the second position; and ₦300,000 for the third position respectively.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomole added that the Campaign aims to promote health, sustainability, and dignity by using land to nourish families and protect the environment. Emphasizing the economic, financial and health implications of the Garden in Every Home Initiative, he stated, “Food is not just sustenance; it is medicine. A functional garden in every home, school and health facility, means improved access to fresh nutritious food, better child growth and development, enhanced management of non-communicable diseases, reduced food costs for families and above all, a healthier, more self-reliant population. The federal government, through its Food and Nutrition Policy Framework, has set a clear benchmark.”
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Golden Ogbodu, revealed that the Government is boosting food security and economic growth through sustainable agriculture initiatives through the provision of tractors and the distribution of fertilizer to local farmers. He disclosed that the Government has plans to provide hectares of land to farmers’ cooperatives; deploy bulldozers and tractors to prepare the land and provide seeds, stems and fertilizers to grow crops.
Mr. Ogbodu added that tractors will be deployed for harvesting and off-takers will be provided to buy directly from local farmers, asserting that through the initiative, local farmers, particularly women would be economically empowered and food security will be guaranteed in the State.
The empowerment Programme included poultry and crop farming. Beneficiaries were drawn from the three senatorial districts of the State and equipped with essential resources, including day-old chicks, feed, feeding troughs, seedlings, knapsack sprayers, fertilizers, wheelbarrows and cash grants amongst others.
