Rice: 41,000 youths and women farmers to benefit from WAY project

About 41,000 youths and women farmers in Bauchi state have been penciled down to benefit from a five- year project, women and youth project(WAY), which is being undertaken by Menonite Economic Development Association (MEDA); and supported by the Canadian government through Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

The programme was launched in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State according to the launchers, was aimed at improving the beneficiaries business performance and agricultural business environment in the state as well as supporting small entrepreneurs and small businesses run by women and youths in Nigeria.

“‘The Youth Entreneurship and Women Empowerment Project also aims to increase the communities capacity to raise awareness of the consequences of early and forced child marriage.
“16,000 entrepreneurs and small scale businesses will improve their business capacity and business environments. 25,000 families and community members will become better educated on the consequences surrounding early and forced child marriage.”
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Speaking, the Canadian ambassador to Nigeria, Christopher Thornley said that the project will help increase agricultural entrepreneurship in Bauchi State.
He said that the project is also part of a long term international intervention project by the Canadian government in Nigeria.

According to him, the Canadian government has been involved in many developmental projects across Nigeria over many years.
Mr Thronley informed that his country is also actively involved in various interventions in Bauchi State in the areas of health, agriculture and other areas.
He further explained that Plan International, Global Affairs Canada is also working with Oxfam LINE project in Bauchi State, which is also targeted at 10,000 poor farming households in the area of agriculture and nutrition.

In the area of health, the ambassador added that Canada is working with the Bauchi State Government to improve the lives of 1.9 million pregnant women and 1.7 million children.
In his remarks, MEDA project manager, Chom Bogu said that they are launching the project to facilitate a process, which will help farmers and youths to have easy access to farm inputs and other incentives.‎

He said that they will also collaborate with private companies to help the farmers have access to modern farming techniques and access to processing technologies which will help reduce wastages and improve their economic status.

While speaking, Bauchi State governor’s wife, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed Abubakar called on the women farmers and the youths to embrace the opportunities provided by the project and improve their capacities.

She said that due to the involvement of women in rice farming in the area, wife of the president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari has donated a rice mill, which will soon be installed to help the farmers in processing their rice produce.

From Samuel Luka, Bauchi