From Our Correspondent
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have pleaded with the Bauchi State Government to invest more in irrigation farming to encourage food production.
They made the call during the 2023 Interactive Forum of World Food Day, organised by a non-governmental organisation, Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative (FAWOYDI) in Bauchi.
FAWOYDI held the event with support of the ActionAid Nigeria.
The stakeholders said irrigation activities could change the fortunes of peasant farmers.
It can also encourage productivity and enhance food security, hence the need to improve investment in the sub-sector.
The FAWOYDI Executive Director, Mrs Dinatu Daniel, said access to clean water is a fundamental human right. It plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, she added.
According to Daniel, the availability of clean water is essential for agriculture, food production and the overall well-being of the people.
She said contaminated water sources caused waterborne diseases, malnutrition and other health complications that affect food security and human development.
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Daniel noted that enhancing access to clean water could improve sanitation and hygiene practices. It could also reduce the risk of disease transmission and promote better nutrition.
“There is a need to consider investing more in irrigation farming. It has the potential to boost the country’s food security which will translate into meaningful development.
“Irrigation allows for off-season cultivation, thereby extending the production period.
“When combined with storage and preservation capacities, irrigation can allow a community to do off-season farming profitably,” she said.
Hajiya Marka Abass, the Coordinator of Smallholder Women Farmers of Nigeria (SWOFON), said women farmers account for 80 per cent of agricultural production.
Women also account for 60 per cent of agricultural processing activities in the country, Abass added.
She said SWONFON advocated for the adoption of budget lines to fund implementation of the National Gender Policy by the state government.
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