Ogun State Government Invests in Women Farmers to Improve Food Security
Not less than 160 women farmers across eight local government areas in Ogun State, have been empowered with 480 chickens and 2,160 garden seedlings in order to enhance food security and economic prosperity in the state; courtesy of Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).
The beneficiaries, comprising nursing mothers, youths, adults, and pregnant women, were selected from Odeda, Obafemi-Owode, Ifo, Odogbolu, Ijebu North-East, Yewa South, Yewa North, and Ijebu East Local Government Areas.
At the flag-off ceremony held at OGADEP, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo, represented by Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Kehinde Jokotoye, assuredly outlined that the initiative aimed to improve the livelihood of women farmers and enhance the well-being of the people.
“The empowerment will not only boost household income but also increase the availability of eggs for consumption, reduce malnutrition, and build a healthier society,” Owotomo said. “Your commitment to agriculture and resilience are remarkable. You are the backbone of our rural economy, and through your efforts, Ogun State will continue to achieve food security and economic prosperity.”
Each beneficiary received three chickens, along with their feed, varieties of home garden seedlings, and fertilizers. The distributed seedlings included high-nutritional-value crops like banana, orange, sweet brown potato, pumpkin, plantain, soursop, pawpaw, tomato, and pepper.
Acting Project Coordinator, VCDP, Temitope Ajisafe, stressed that empowering women in nutrition would boost productivity and health among families. Victoria Shobande, Acting Programme Manager, OGADEP, urged beneficiaries to nurture the distributed items well to fully enjoy the benefits.
Beneficiaries Oluwafemi Olabiran and Barakat Olubaje, from Ijebu East and Odeda Local Government Areas, respectively, appreciated the state government, promising to make good use of the items to enhance their nutrition.
