Food Security: MAIS Partners Women in Agriculture Cooperative Federation Limited(WIACF) to ensure food security in Kogi state.
Emmanuel kehinde,Ilorin
The Mechanized Agriculture Investment and Services Limited (MAIS) has partnered with Women in Agriculture Cooperative Federation Limited (WIACF) to ensure Food Security in Kogi State.
The MAIS CVO, Mr. Benjamin Aduli, spoke during a strategic meeting between Kogi State Commissioner of Agriculture and a delegation from WIACF and other farmer associations led by the National President of Women in Agriculture Cooperative Federation Limited (WIACF), Comr(Mrs) Audu Esther (JP) at the Commissioner’s office in Lokoja, Kogi State.
A statement signed by MAIS CVO, Mr. Benjamin Aduli noted that the organisation was ready to partner with WIACF to develop agriculture in the State, especially in the area of rice, maize and cassava production. He said that with the efforts of WIACF since their partnership, his Organization would like to start the rice project in Kogi State as a pilot scheme. Mr. Benjamin also added that his Organization is having two different projects – rice cultivation project from the presidency and MAIS project on rice, maize and cassava cultivation.
The MAIS CVO said he was determined to execute legacy projects, which will impact positively and directly on the people of Kogi State.
In fulfilling the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the MAIS introduced a Pet Programme, known as “Development of Production-Driven Food Price Control Mechanism” which has agriculture as one of its key components. The Project. HOPE Initiative of the President seeks to engage youths, women and men in Agricultural Sector in Nigeria, by creating employment opportunities for them.
MAIS has made his intention known to the Government of Kogi State that his Organization was interested in commencing this great projects in Kogi State. MAIS is resolute in the quest to provide food security in Kogi State and need to engage the youths, women and men into agriculture to achieve this. He added that Kogi State is blessed with arable lands, rivers, rainfalls, committed farmers and other ecological factors in its favour; provide opportunity to plant rice and maize at least twice within a farming season. He also added that, we are trying to move from subsistence Agriculture to Mechanized farming in order to harness all the opportunities that Kogi State has to offer.
The National President of Women in Agriculture Cooperative Federation Limited (WIACF), Comr(Mrs) Audu Esther (JP) who led the team, appreciated the Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. Timothy Ojomah for his warmed reception during the visit of MAIS CVO.
Comr(Mrs) Audu Esther said WIACF was established in 2009 to provide the following objectives to her members:
(a) Access to funds
(b) Access to Technology
(c) Capacity Building
(d) Markets linkages etc
She said she was glad that MAIS has come to assist WIACF to achieve her objectives and giving Kogi State opportunity to be among the pilots scheme States. Comr(Mrs) Audu requested the State Government to provide enably environment for this project to strive and provision of adequate security. The major challenge of the farmers now is insecurity, whereby women are raped on their way to their farms, youths and men are killed. She said Kogi State farmers are always and ever ready for this type of good initiatives as far as it’s capable of putting food on their table. We shall demonstrate, to show that local production of food in sufficient quantity is possible in Kogi State to feed the country as a whole; in order to contribute to the President’s agenda of self-sufficiency in food production. “No Farmer, No Nation. No Women Farmer, No Food on the Table”.
Kogi State has a comparative advantage in rice, maize, cassava production etc, in comparison to other States. With the massive arable lands, favourable rainfalls and other ecological factors that can boost food production in the country, Kogi State is the best choice, says by Comr(Mrs) Audu Esther (JP), National President of Women in Agriculture Cooperative Federation Limited (WIACF).
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. Timothy Ojomah welcomed the whole ideas and plans of MAIS to establish such a project of this magnitude in the State. He said, his Principal, His Excellency, Alhaji Usman Ododo will also received this with joy because he has already given him a matching order to look out ways of reducing hunger and poverty in the State through agricultural programmes and projects. That His Excellency is always ready to put smiles in the faces of the farmers in Kogi State. The Hon. Commissioner said every plans would be put in place to make sure that security is intact and enably environment is
provided to make this project a success.
