By Muhammad Abdullahi
Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration, (FCTA), has said that it is working in partnership with Islamic Development Bank to develop grazing reserve in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu who stated this during the launch of Women Agro Processors Agricgen and Exporters Initiative and Flag-off of the National Export center in Abuja Nigeria’s capital
The Minister noted that, more than ten thousand women and Youth within the FCT will be empowered in the grazing reserve.
The Minister who was represented by the Secretary, Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat, Malam Abubakar Ibrahim revealed that, already there are many investors in the area of beat, meat processing, waste to gas and other sectors adding that they are also working with micro finance Bank for cheap loan for women association.
She further hinted that, recently, over thirty four millions naira has been given to women association in FCT to boost farming activities.
According to her, “Just last week we have launch green farming in the Gwagwalada Area council where six hundred women have been trained and starter pack has been given to them.
Currently, they are undergoing their training which after they finish they can stand on their own.
The green farming training is a new technology which is a year programme that you can be doing it at the bank of your house if you have space”.
Aliyu also disclosed that they have already given an approval to the establishment of one in the six Area council of the FCT so that women can fully engaged in the farming activities.
She added approval has also been given for the establishment of industrial park in the FCT.
” This industrial park is going to be an all year round programme for women and Youth where a 100 hecter of land has been site aside”, Aliyu said.
While explaining that the women will be put in cluster, she noted they are going to be provided with all the necessary tools like pumping machine, water carnel “so that we can give them imput, fertilizer so that we can support their irrigation farming”.
She pledged the administration commitment to work closely with the Women Agro Processors so that more women and Youth can be empowered in the FCT.
Earlier, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola said that FCT has over the years been consciously creating the enabling environment for agro and allied business development through its Agricultural and Social Development Secretariats. This we hope to step up going forward.
He stated that the administration is very much aware that the wealth and job creation potentials that are associated with Agro value chain business are quite enormous.
” And all of these can be productively harnessed, if our teeming youths and women embrace agriculture as a viable and sustainable means of earning income”, he said.
The Permanent Secretary then encouraged leadership of WAPAGIEN, led by its President, Mrs. Esther Folasayo Adebayo to expand the scope of its membership -making it more inclusive of the rural women and girls involved in Agro value chain ventures.
On her part, the President, Women Agro Processors Agricgen and Exporters Initiative (WAPAGEIN) Mrs Esther Adebayo urged State Governments to establish farm settlements, clusters of agro producers including women and youths.
She also enjoined the three tiers of should promote operation “feed yourself” by helping households to access information, and inputs that would encourage them to produce food around their houses to feed their families.