WODGOH Held a sensitization programme for women Farmers in Bwari Area Council, FCT Abuja

 The Women of Dignity & Girls of Honour Empowerment Initiative (WODGOH), a non governmental organization, held a sensitization and training workshop for women farmers in Bwari Area Council tod

ay the 9th of June, 2022. 

According to the Executive Director of WODGOH, Mrs  Adekunle Olaide Racheal, the workshop was organized as part of women empowerment programme of WODGOH. During her welcome address she stated that harmful chemicals have been widely used across the nation to protect stored farm products against pest damage despite it's dangers to human, livestock and the environment. She therefore urged farmers to preserve their farm products using natural methods only.

The sensitization workshop which was held at the Bwari Area Council Secretariat in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja was attended by a large number of 

indigenous women farmers and other women agripreneurs from across the Area Council. 

Special Guest at the occasion was the Bwari Area Council Chairman, Dr John Gabaya, represented by Mr. Isah M. Haruna      who is also the HOD Agric Department of the Bwari Area Council. Other dignitaries present were the Women Leader of the Bwari Women, the Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Esther Emmanuel who represented the DPO Nigeria Police Force Bwari Division and the resource Persons drawn from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The representative of the Executive Chairman expressed the willingness of the Executive Chairman to be present, but unavoidably absent. The resource person from the IITA, Mr Adebayo Oluwaseun delivered the sensitization lecture on two related issues of preservation of farm products. In the first session of the sensitization lecture he gave full detailed proper methods of preserving farm produce, while in the second session he stated the effects of harmful substances used for preserving farm products. 

Each of the above sensitization lessons was immediately followed by an interactive session in which some of the participant women farmers explained the methods of preservation they knew and have been using. It was revealed that some of the methods the women have been using include the use of chemical preservatives, pepper etc. The resource person commended their efforts at product preservation but emphasized  the use of chemical substances for product preservation should be stopped.

 He then explained to the women other better methods of preservation. In response to some of the questions about the practicality of the best methods taught, the resource person enjoined WODGOH to bring those willing to IITA to see a demonstration of the best methods.

As part of a proper method of farm products storage learnt today, the women farmers stated the need for solar dryer in the Area Council to ease their farming business.

The lecture was delivered in English language and interpreted in Hausa language for better understanding. 

 The women expressed their delight and gratitude for the new lessons they have learnt from this sensitization.

 In the third session, ASP Esther Emmanuel spoke on the safety and security tips for women farmers. She informed the women farmers to be security conscious and alert generally,  and in particular, when going to their farms. She said even though police are at alert and on surveillance of the area, their effort cannot cover all at the same time due to logistics and material inadequacies, she said women should avoid going to farm early and/or returning late in the evening. She also said the women farmers should go to their farms in groups, not  one person. She advised that as far as possible they should be in accompaniment of male farmers or their husbands. She also advised them to go to their farms with phones and they endeavor to have police security numbers.

The women were glad and promised to make use of the new techniques learnt for farm products preservation.