By Adedapo Adesanya
Federal government has said that the country’s milk production will reach about 30,000 litres per day, as it has set up five milk processing factories in line with President Muhammadu Buhari self-sufficiency policies.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Muhammad Sabo Nanono, stated this when he received a delegation of Nigeria Women Agro-Allied Farmers Association (NIWAAFA) over the weekend in Abuja.
According to a statement released by the Senior Information Officer of the Ministry, Mrs Juliet Okeh, the minister said that more of the milk processing plant will be established, adding that the milk plants will also capitalise on local Fulani retail milk sellers to supply at least 30 thousand litres of milk per day.
Mr Nanono also advocated for more women participation in agricultural food value chain to ensure sustainability and food security in the country.
He acknowledged the fact that in recent times women are the leading participants in agro-processing, milling of groundnut, processing cassava into flour and chips in order to meet their needs and also improve the economy of the country.
He further stressed the need for NIWAAFA saying it was important to diversify and be more inclusive to integrate more women both in the rural and urban areas, cutting across states of the federation into their association.
He cited the examples of the Fulani women selling milk and also other woman traders, trading in agricultural commodities, adding that the association should get more vocal people, so that they will politically, economically and socially be recognized in the country.
The Minister said he was aware of the challenges facing women farmers in Nigeria, such as the inability to stand on their own and get financing for what they do and promised that the ministry will link them up with some donor agencies that are gender equality oriented in order to assist them to access loans which will enable them acquire other farming tools.
In her address, the leader of Nigerian Women Agro-Allied Farmer Association (NIWAAFA), Mrs Elizabeth Igbine, requested for partnership and support for the association immediate demands which includes: establishment of a modern farmers market in FCT precisely in Gworza market, and a women farmers training centres across the federation.
