In commemoration of World Food Day and International Rural Women’s Day, a group known as Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) has launched a community intervention in Dumaji community of Garun Malam local government Area of Kano state north west Nigeria.
It was a collaborative initiative with the Mastercard Foundation under the Icon 2 project.
At an event in Dumaji community, the Executive Director Women Farmers Advancement Network WOFAN Dr. Salamatu Garba explained that, the community was unique as it started with a group of women who are farm labourers earning N120 per week after working tirelessly on people’s farms.
She stressed that, WOFAN has mobilized, trained, linked them with extension workers and advocated for farm land from the traditional leaders where a hectre was given to each of them.
She said, “the women cultivated about 40 bags from the one hectre out of the profit they sourced for another farm which was leased out to them, at the end of the day these women became independent”.
Dr Garba pointed out that, a women center equipped with modern rice and maize processing machines, a solar powered multipurpose dryer to reduce post harvest losses and increase income was provided under the icon 2 project.
She explained that, a solar powered marketing hub for People’s with disability PWDs equipped with 124 phone charging and phone repair gadgets was set up in Dumaji community.
“The solar powered center with charging points will serve the community and provide dignified job for PWDs”.
The executive director highlighted that, PWDs have transformed into extension workers and peer leaders received customized electric motorcycles to assist their movements from one place to another.
“WOFAN Donated 4 electric motor cycles to outstanding PWDs who have scaled up and transformed into peer leaders and extension workers to aid their mobility”
“At WOFAN we believe in the dignity of human beings if you support PWDs no matter how small it builds their confidence and brings out their best potentials”.
“Other Interventions commissioned in Dumaji community includes solar powered borehole to serve Dumaji community, school, and mosque”.
“WOFAN Launched 24 units of tricycle loaders to support agro produce labourers and transform their businesses from farm labourers to managers of agro- logistic systems.”
The district head of Garun Malam Alhaji Abubakar Sarkin Fulanin Ja’idinawa, represented by the ward head of Yadakwari Alhaji Dan’iya Ibrahim, commended WOFAN for the intervention and reiterated the traditional institute’s commitment to providing all the necessary support to achieve the desired objectives.
Some of the visually impaired beneficiaries, Barrister Aminu Kura, Abdulmutallif Iliyasu, and Bashir Idris Abubakar Kura, urged PWDs to desist from begging but to strive for self-reliance.
The theme for the International Day of Rural Women is “Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All” which highlights the essential role that rural women and girls play in the food systems of the world.
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