News in brief: The Ogun state government has pledged support for the SheFarmers Initiative by connecting it with opportunities and allocating a budget for women’s empowerment. The initiative aims to provide crucial support for rural women in agriculture, addressing their need for resources, modern technologies, viable markets, and overall agricultural viability.
Ogun state will support the SheFarmers Initiative, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering women in agriculture. Samuel Adeogun, the Permanent Secretary of the Ogun state Ministry of Agriculture, disclosed this at the launch of the state’s chapter of the initiative.
Adeogun commended the initiative and promised that the government will connect it with opportunities within the agricultural sector. He reaffirmed the commitment of the administration to improving the livelihoods of its citizens through deepened involvement in agriculture.
The Permanent Secretary highlighted past initiatives where women in the cassava value chain were empowered with production inputs and financial backing. He also announced plans for a budget allocation for further women empowerment in agriculture.
The national president of SheFarmers Initiative, Temitope Ande, advocated for robust support for women in agriculture. She said this was especially important for rural women, to enable them to adopt mechanised farming and modern agricultural technologies.
Furthermore, she stressed the importance of viable markets for their products and services. She also made the call for measures to enhance agricultural viability.
The Initiative is seen as a welcome development in Ogun State. Women play a pivotal role in the agricultural sector, but they are often marginalised and lack access to the resources and support they need to succeed. The Ogun state government’s pledge of support for the SheFarmers Initiative is a positive step towards empowering women in agriculture and transforming the sector.
