FCTA introduces farm produce show market

Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has introduced a farm produce display market for rural farmers in the territory, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu.

He made the disclosure in a statement to mark the United Nations International Rural Women’s Day, on Sunday in Abuja.

Aliyu said the market which would be quarterly, was initiated to encourage rural women farmers across the six Area Councils, to bring their best farm produce to an open place where all and sundry would be encouraged to come and buy off from them.

Aliyu explained that the idea would also help the women have value for their money than farming and allowing the produce to get rotten without being supplied.

“With the seriousness, I have seen in the rural women farmers in the FCT, we will start a quarterly farm produce display market, where all and sundry will be encouraged to buy off from the farmers.

“This will make them have value for money. Where is the essence of farming, when the product gets rotten without supply?

“Rural Women deserve all commendations because of their unending efforts to farm, they are gradually taking the centre stage.

“We are also going to look at ways that they can be transporting the food items easily to the market.

This is also part of the FCT Administration’s commitment to empowering women to succeed in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda for women.”
Aliyu also promised to ensure that women are given the opportunity to have access to fertilizer at subsidise rates.

The Minister, however, directed the Director, FCT Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, to work with the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat for the smooth take-off of the market.

Ahmadu, who is also the Country Head, Global Women Development Network (GWDN) Nigeria, said rural women, especially farmers, deserve support to excel in their farming.

She explained that the group under her watch will continue to provide the enabling environment for the women to gain more from farming.

(NAN)

Felix Oloyede

Felix Oloyede is a Mass Communication graduate with 19 years experience in journalism. He has worked with TheWeek Magazine; Mirror Newspapers; West Africa BusinessNews and BusinessHallmark Newspaper. Oloyede has covered different news beats ranging from crime; arts; politics; commerce and industries to finance and economy. He is an alumnus of Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa. He has also attended different trainings on Media Communication at the Lagos Business School. He is an alumnus of Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa. He has also attended different trainings on Media Communication at the Lagos Business School.