By Stanley Onyekwere
The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has expressed interest to start quarterly farm produce display market, where all and sundry will be encouraged to buy directly from the farmers, especially those from rural areas of Abuja.
Aliyu disclosed this, during the celebration of UN International Rural Women’s Day organised by Global Women Development Network (GWDN) Nigeria, at weekend.
She said the market, which would be quarterly, is initiated to encourage rural women farmers across the six Area Councils, to bring their best farm produce to an open place where all and sundry will be encouraged to come and buy off from them.
She explained that the idea will also help the women have value for their money than farming and allowing the produce to get rotten without supply.
According to her, “With the serious 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.This is also part of the FCT Administration’s commitment to empowering women to succeed in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda for women”.
Aliyu also promised to ensure that the women are given the opportunity to have access to fertilizer at subsidize rates, and others who are interested in farming.
The Minister, however directed 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, GWDN’s Country Head, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, said 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 women, which celebrated the UN International Women’s Day, came in their cluster farm groups from all the six Area Councils with different food items for sale at the FCT Sports Complex, Area 10.
