The Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has advised small scale women farmers to seek collaboration with key stakeholders in the financial and Agricultural sector for food security.
She disclosed this in an advocacy visit by the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria in Abuja.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary Basheer Nura Alkali, he said, ” Government alone cannot provide all the resources needed by citizens therefore the need for collaboration with well meaning individuals and organisations that will provide the needed direction for a progressive development for our country”.
He advised the women to start dialoguing with key stakeholders like the apex financial houses and Federal Ministry of Agriculture to make special provision for the members for a period of five years that will guarantee off takers who would buy the farm produce and store in the Federal food reserve.
He added that the Ministry is looking forward to areas of collaboration from the content of the advocacy, for a purposeful progress in ensuring that the much desired food security is achieved within the shortest possible time.
The National President of Small Scale Farmers Organisation of Nigeria Mrs. Mary Ishaya enumerated the challenges faced by women farmers ranging from the lock down period that made farmers abandon their farmlands, to lack of access to land , loans , inputs to farm, flood and drought.
She presented the demands of their organisation which include, support in form of palliative or facilities that will allow them go back to the farm, training on climate change and how to increase food production in the country with the assistance of the Ministry.
She presented a document which articulated the charter of their demand which includes increase in budgetary allocation for the Agricultural sector and a conducive environment for feeding the nation.
Grace Osuji
For:DD (Information)
17th June, 2021
