The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) value chain development programme plus additional financing has trained women groups from Borgu, Edati, and Mokwa Local Government Areas of Niger State on processing rice and cassava into various food recipes to boost their economy.
Speaking during the training at Edati local government council, Niger State IFAD Assistant Agro Quality Enhancement Officer, Mrs Kolo Joy Teni stated that participants from the three LGAs were trained on how to develop some recipes from rice and cassava.
She noted that IFAD organised it to enable them to make more income, improve nutritional value, and generate employment for the farmers.
According to her, “We empower farmers by building their capacity and providing startup support, creating jobs for them to ensure sustainable economic growth.”
Some of the participants who are mostly farmers at the training pledged their commitment to enhance their socio-economic status in the face of Nigeria’s economic challenges.
They stated that all the skills acquired from the training to process rice and cassava into various snacks will help boost their income and help support their families in the midst of economic hardship.
Mary Jiya of Mokwa Local Government Area whose husband is a cassava farmer said the training will enable start a cassava processing business to improve her family’s life.
A beneficiary from Edati Local Government Area, Muslimat Mohammed explained that in view of the biting economic hardship, women are rising to the challenge to help support their homes, saying, “The training will go a long way in empowering us economically and affect our communities positively.
“We have learned innovative ways we never knew before to utilize rice and cassava, uplifting our living standards.”
Also, a liaison officer of IFAD from Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, Mrs Aisha Mohammed Mustafa said, “I am here to get trained and carry it down to my council for farmers to benefit and better their lives. I’ll cascade this knowledge to farmers in my council, enhancing their livelihoods.”
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