From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Abia State government has pledged to accommodate smallholder women farmers in its proposed agricultural industrial land project that aims to revolutionize its economy.
This commitment comes after The Sun Media Development Foundation previously engaged stakeholders and pushed for the state government action to lessen the impact of erosion on women’s farmlands.
Dr Cliff Agbaeze, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Agriculture, hinted at an earmarked large expanse of land for agricultural practices in the state during a recent interview with Mr Victor Emwruwa, the Executive Director of the Foundation.
Agbaeze said the land will also accommodate smallholder farmers, including women farmers groups.
He said: ” The governor, Dr Alex Otti is prioritising agriculture beyond the subsistence level to commercial agricultural production, processing, and exporting.
“The state will be partnering with successful firms globally to boost its agricultural potential. Aside from reviving the existing farm settlements, the governor has directed reservation of an expanse of land for industrial-scale agriculture.”
During the stakeholders meeting convened by The Sun Media Foundation in January, the foundation called on the government to relocate smallholder farmers, whose farmlands were displaced due to erosion.
“This is a testament to a listening government,” said the ED of the Foundation, Mr Emwruwa.
“During our stakeholders meeting in Umuahia, we urged the government to engage women farmers in its agricultural plan. This is exactly what we are seeing with this bold and inclusive agricultural expansion plan.” He added.
In January, the Sun Media Development Foundation, with support from the Urgent Action Fund Africa (UAF-Africa) organised a one-day engagement programme with the Abia State Government, Small Holders Women Farmers and other stakeholders in an effort to address issues of erosion and end food insecurity in the State.
The event which was titled: “Women Farmers, Groups, Legislators, Stakeholders State Level Erosion Mitigation Support for Women Farmers in Abia State” was held in Umuahia, the state capital on Thursday, with participants drawn from all the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state
The programme was the first stage of a project designed to address the pressing need to stop the destructive effects of erosion on farmlands owned by smallholder women farmers in Abia, which had been neglected for the past 24 years.
At the meeting, the women were able to create a charter of demands which they submitted to the state government to be included and implemented in the state budget for 2024 to help advance the creation and execution of a long-term state-level erosion-mitigation strategy to assist the farmers.