By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
AS the world marks the International Food Day, Kogi Government state government has restated its resolve to boost food production by according priority to empowerment of Women in Agriculture and small scale businesses.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Timothy Ojomah disclosed this at the 2025 World Food Day Celebration with the Theme: “Hang in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future.”
The event was organized by Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture with support from ActionAid Nigeria.
Ojomah assured that the state government would not relent in its determination to encourage women participation in agriculture and small scale businesses.
“Government will not relent in encouraging women participation in agriculture and small scale businesses to boost food production and socio-economic activities of the state and Nigeria at large”, he assured.
The commissioner also promised to ensure robust budgetary allocation to Agriculture sector in the years ahead saying that the sector’s budget would continue to improve with full involvement of women farmers.
According to the Commissioner, the Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture this year acquired 8,000 hectares of land allocated to farmers for farming activities with women as great beneficiaries.
He expressed delight with the current sharp fall in prices of virtually all agricultural products now, describing the development as better happening that will defeat hunger and poverty in Nigeria.
Hajia Rukayyat Ahmed, Kogi State Coordinator of SWOFON, in her speech, said that the goal of the World Food Day celebration is to raise awareness of all stakeholders on the need for sustainability of sound agriculture and food security in Kogi State and Nigeria in general.
“The celebration also affords us the opportunity to reflect on our roles of agriculture in ensuring food security and combating hunger.
“We women farmers will not relent in contributing our quota to nation building”, the Coordinator assured.
Hajia Rukayyat Ahmed advocated training of women farmers in Climate Change and other aspects of Agriculture to provide them with practical solutions that can upscale their efficiency in farming activities.
Participants at the celebration include; representatives of Kogi Assembly House committee on Agriculture, Ministries of Agriculture, Budget and Planning, Kogi State Agricultural Development Project (ADP) among others. (Ends)
