Nasarawa State’s smallholder farmers have urged all tiers of government to develop and execute policies that will expedite rural women’s sustainable access to agricultural grants as part of the Federal Government’s drive to increase food production and food security under President Bola Tinubu, thereby promoting nutritious diets for Nigerians.
During a two-day workshop in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, experts stressed the necessity of a complete approach to attaining healthy diets, especially through capacity building and better access to amenities for rural women. Designed for smallholder farmers, agribusiness owners, and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), the event focused on important interventions to fight malnutrition in Nigeria.
The government and pertinent organisations must work together to combat malnutrition, emphasised Isaac Ishaya, Project Manager of the Catalysing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience (CASCADE). Ishaya noted the value of utilising local resources to advance food security and nutrition knowledge while discussing the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs-funded program conducted in northern states like Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, and Nasarawa.
Access to necessary infrastructure is crucial for guaranteeing sustainable, high-quality food production in rural communities, according to Christian Ediagbonya, a financial expert and workshop resource. The Nasarawa State Ministry of Health’s Chief Nutrition Officer, Halima Yusuf, also noted stunted growth and malnutrition as significant barriers to economic development. She advocated for more funding for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses to improve household nutrition and food security.
Kadijat Yahaya and Patience Phillip, two smallholder farmers who participated in the program, expressed gratitude for the endeavour. They said it gave them new ideas and methods for improving food production and nutrition in their local communities.
