DAY OF RURAL WOMEN: FCTA STARTS
FARM PRODUCE MARKET
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is starting farm produce display market for rural farmers in the territory.
The minister of state for FCT, Dr Ramatu Aliyu disclosed this on saturday in Abuja at a forum organised by Global Women Development Network (GWDN) to commemorate United Nations’ International Rural Women day for the multi-tasking roles of rural women in supporting their families.
The women who gathered in their cluster farm groups from all the six area councils of FCT came with different food items for sale at the venue, modernized charcoal stoves and cash gifts to support farming were also distributed to the women.
Dr Aliyu explained that the market which would be quarterly, was initiated to encourage rural women farmers across the six area councils, display farm produce in an open place where many people can easily come to patronize them.
She said that the idea will also help the women have value for their money than farming and allowing the produce to get rotten without supply.
“With the seriousness I have seen in the rural women farmers in the FCT, we will start quarterly farm produce display market, where all and sundry will be encouraged to buy off from the farmers, this will make them have value for money. Where is the essence of farming , when the produce get rotten without supply?
“Rural Women deserve all commendations because of their unending efforts to farm, they are gradually taking the centre stage.
We are also going to look at ways that they can be transporting the food items easily to the market” she said.
Mrs Aliyu also promised to ensure that the women are given the opportunity to have access to fertilizer at subsidize rates, farm implements and seedlings to encourage them to farm on larger scale.
She assigned the Director, FCT Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Dr Jumai Ahmadu to work with the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat for smooth take-off of the market.
In her remarks, the head, Global Women Development Network (GWDN) Nigeria, Dr Jumai Ahmadu said that the rural women especially farmers deserve support to excel in their farming.
She explained that the group under her watch will continue to provide the enabling environment for the women to gain more from farming.
The programme was supported by FCT Social Development Secretariat, Helpline Foundation for the Needy and Addfun International School.
