FG, Chinese Company To Collaborate In Agriculture To Empower Women
The federal government of is to collaborate with a Chinese-owned company Lima machinery, on mechanised farming to enhance the skills and productivity of Nigerian women in the agricultural sector.
The agreement between the company and the Ministry of Women Affairs will empower women with skills to boost agricultural productivity, elevate the income level of women, as well as generate revenue for the nation.a have agreed to partner
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Minister, of women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, said the collaboration would focus on animal feed, rice milling production and the provision of mechanised farming tools, a market hub that will be fashioned where products could be advertised and sold with convenience.
Kennedy-Ohanenye, explained that there will be hubs, like a warehouse in each local government, where if you cannot sell all, you notify the hub operators, so that the villages will have access to these hubs to show what they have and are placed on the portal alerting the buyers, who will make their demands.
She said, “we are also planning for them to have a butchering locations in each of those hubs, so that they can go there butcher with packaging machines and freeze to be distributed across the nation, which will bring down the cost of food and enable the farmers get more money
“Our Chinese partners will give us improved seeds and Mechanized farming tools to make it easy for Nigerians to do these work, which will help them to make more proceeds without overworking themselves.
“So that we will multiply what we used to get before, sell cheaper and Nigerians will get more food.
Kennedy-Ohanenye, noted that fish grilling machines locally fabricated to grill 500 fishes every two hours powered with gas, biogas and charcoal will be distributed as part of its sustainable empowerment programs for women in Nigeria.
The Sales Manager, Lima Machinery Company China, Gatsby Kang, said the collaboration will further strengthen the existing relationship between the two countries.
Kang assured that the feeds that would be produced will be healthy and contain locally sourced food in right proportions to boost the growth and development of the animals that will be feeding on them.
“We want to use our equipment to help the local people using machines, because technology can bring huge yield in production and make meaningful difference in their lives,’’ he said.
In another development, the minister, said that the ministry has taken legal action in Enugu court against a mother and stepfather over negligence, sexual molestation and infecting diseases on a nine-year-old girl.
She said, legal proceedings have commenced against Christabel Ewuru and husband Ifeanyi Ewuru to ensure justice for the survivor.
According to Kennedy-Ohanenye, the owner of Peace Mass Transit, Dr Sam Onyishi, had promised to take up tuition for the girl’s education from primary to university level.
Also, the minister announced the first court sitting against the management and some staff at the Maitama General Hospital over alleged negligence and refusal to treat Greatness Olorunfemi, victim of “one chance’’ before her death at the hospital.
According to her, taking legal action against those found guilty will serve as deterrent to others as people are held accountable for their actions and inactions
