By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe on Tuesday, urged the beneficiaries of agricultural inputs to make judicious use of the materials given to them, adding that the one who is faithful with little, more will be added.
Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe was assisted by the Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Mohammed Baba at the distribution of agricultural inputs and implement to 85 women groups and cooperatives to support them in the 2023 farming season held in Kaduna.
Dr. Hadiza said this is another opportunity that has been provided to them to contribute to the improvement of economic status of women, adding that they have done quite a lot, but they need to do more.
According to her, women are the most hardworking members in their communities, but they are least empowered.
“However, in addition to domestic activities traditionally assigned to us like cooking, fetching water and doing any other things, women are the most engaged hands in our predominantly peasant agriculture.
“Often, women engage in hard work with crude implements and very unyielding lands, so because of that, we usually have poor yields, and with the poor yields, we don’t make much and that circle of poverty continues,” she said.
She further said, “it is in realisation of this that our government led by Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai has consciously been pushing to support efforts of women, that even in their disadvantaged positions we will continue to do that in our state.”
Speaking further, she said, “our government engages a gender sensitive budgeting in a manner that has made women empowerment a priority.
“Women in the state also enjoy financial inclusion through Kaduna State Women Empowerment Fund. So far, government has made available the sum of six hundred million in three circles for small entrepreneurship activities managed by women without the need for Certificates of Occupancy usually demanded by banks”.
She disclosed that the annual support of two hundred million Naira which Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai has vowed to maintain as long as he is the governor of the state has been sustained.
“I am sure the beneficiaries of this gesture are all farmers, therefore, today’s distribution of agricultural inputs will go a long way in complimenting what we are doing here today.
“Moreover, in complimenting of what we are doing in the state today, women will go home with improved seeds of rice, maize, cowpea, and groundnut as well as fertilizer, herbicides, wheel borrows and basic hand tools that will boost farming and increase yield, she said, adding that women should cultivate the habit of one for all and all for one.
She called on women to engage more in dry season farming because it offers better prices.
“I am certain many women are not aware of this,” she added.
She assured the women that this inputs shall be distributed to the right people because of the confidence she has in the Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development and the staff of her ministry who have been committed.
“They are wonderful in lifting the status of women in Kaduna State,” she stressed.
“If the ministry continues to lead us aright, I am sure they will and the economy of women in Kaduna State will soon refer to the things of the past,” she added.
