Grazing Reserve Development: FCTA partners with Islamic Development Bank
Hudu Yakubu, Abuja.
Authority of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has hinted that it is working in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to develop a grazing reserve in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, hinted this during the launch of Women Agro-Processors Agricgen and Exporters Initiative and Flag-off of the National Export Centre in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The Minister noted that more than ten thousand women and youths 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 meat-processing, waste-to-gas and other sectors, adding that they are also working with Micro Finance Banks to obtain cheap loan for women associations.
She further hinted that, recently, over thirty-four million Naira (N34,000,000) has been given to women associations in the FCT to boost farming activities.
“Just last week we launched green farming in the Gwagwalada Area council where six hundred women have been trained and starter packs have been given to them.
“Currently, they are undergoing their training, afterwhich they can stand on their own.
“The green farming training is a new technology which is a year programme that you can be doing at the back of your house, if you have space,” said the Minister.
Dr. Aliyu also disclosed that they have already given an approval for the establishment of one in the six Area councils of the FCT so that women can fully engage in farming activities.
She added that approval has also been given for the establishment of an industrial park in the FCT.
“This industrial park is going to be an all- year round programme for women and youths, where a 100 hecter of land has been set aside.
“The women will be put in clusters. They are going to be provided with all the necessary tools like pumping machine, water carnel so that we can give them input, fertilizer so that we can support their irrigation farming,” said Aliyu.
She pledged the administration’s commitment to work closely with the Women Agro-Processors so that more women and youths can be empowered in the FCT.
Earlier, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, said that the 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.
“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 the leadership of WAPAGIEN, headed 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 government to 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.
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