The Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Gombe State House of Assembly, Mohammed Kabir, has expressed optimism that members will support the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation to achieve food sufficiency in the state.
Kabir made this disclosure during an advocacy meeting organised by SWOFON, the budget committee group with support from Hope Foundation for the Lonely, ActionAid Nigeria.
Receiving the delegation, Kabir noted that the current administration is committed to attaining food sufficiency, stressing that efforts were on towards supporting women and other stakeholders in the sector.
He said, “Women farmers are dear to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s quest to provide food for all.
“The House will ensure that SWOFON gets the needed release of allocations which will boost their agricultural activities.”
On his part, Auwal Dukku, Secretary of the Appropriation Committee, who received the delegation on behalf of the chairman, Ali Baba Manu, acknowledged their concerns and assured them of the ministry’s commitment to supporting grassroots farming initiatives.
While urging the group to continue engaging with the state government and relevant stakeholders in the agricultural sector to advance their demands, he assured, “We will do the needful in addressing these issues. You need to do the necessary follow-up.”
Earlier, a representative of the BCG, Yusuf Atiku, called for increased inclusion and support for smallholder women farmers in the implementation of agricultural programmes.
He presented a detailed briefing on SWOFON’s activities and persistent challenges faced by small-scale women farmers, particularly the issues of low budgetary allocation, limited access to agricultural inputs, and poor funding opportunities.
The group advocated for inclusion, the timely release of budgetary allocations, among others.
