Enugu: The Federal Government has urged women farmers in the South-East geo-political zone to embrace sack farming and home garden to enhance agriculture and food security in the country. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, delivered the message at a workshop aimed at sensitizing small-scale women farmers and people with special needs in the zone.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ogunbiyi, whose keynote address was read by Chief Nkannebe Ugochukwu, the Enugu Zonal Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized the importance of empowering these groups with the knowledge and skills to cultivate their own food. He highlighted the potential for sack farming and home gardening to revolutionize food production in Nigeria, noting that these methods require minimal space, making them suitable for both urban and rural settings.
‘By adopting these practices, you will not only improve your household food security, but also contribute to Nigeria’s food sufficiency,’ he stated. Ogunbiyi also acknowledged the essential role women play in agriculture, describing them as the backbone of the sector and emphasizing the need for inclusivity for people with special needs.
The workshop is part of the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), which includes Women Support Programmes (WASP) and her pet project, ‘Every Woman a Garden.’ Mr. Victor Ngwu, Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture, expressed gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for organizing the event in the state, highlighting agriculture as a priority for the state government.
Participants expressed appreciation for the training, with Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ogbuonya from Imo and Mrs. Nwanoma Nnenna from Abia noting the valuable knowledge gained. The workshop concluded with the distribution of starter packs to women farmers and people with special needs, drawing participants from the five South-East states of Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Abia, and Ebonyi.