Ndokwa Women In Delta State Seek Land For Mechanised Farming

The women under the aegis of the Ndokwa
Daughters and Wives Association are

optimistic that they could increase food
supplies in the state and even feed other
states in Nigeria.
They said they are keying into the
diversification plan of the government to
boost the nation’s economy that is in
recession.

Led by the President of the association,
Philomena Egwuenu, the group also
decried increasing attacks of suspected
Fulani Herdsmen on communities, saying
the attacks have prevented them from
going to their farms.
She said that the association had trained
members on different aspects of
agriculture.
“One thing that is militating against this
project is land.
“You cannot just get one plot of land to do
mechanised agriculture. That is not
possible. You cannot get this land from
families and you cannot even buy.

“The government is the place we can
acquire land,” she said.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs,
Omashola Williams, who represented the
Governor at a meeting with the women,
commended the women for their
commitment to boosting the state’s food
security.
She assured the women that the
government would look into their request.
Mr Williams highlighted that women had
the responsibility to lead the children and
youth back to agriculture, saying that
family and education were key in
sustenance of the society.
Delta State Commissioner for Women Affairs,
Omashola Williams, said the government would
address the security issue
At the meeting, the link between training a
girl child and improving agriculture was
emphasised.
Their demand showed that at a period
where the government is focusing on the
diversification of the economy, rural
women are increasingly becoming a force
in providing food and securing overall
family welfare.
It shows that there is a strong link
between food security, good nutrition and
women.
While addressing reporters after the
meeting, the Vice President of the Ndokwa
Daughters and Wives Association, Tecola
Okoro, told the State government that
women in the area were faced with
numerous obstacles to access productive
inputs, access land and services required
for rural livelihood and development.
Agriculture sector is the leading non-oil
sector in Nigeria economy, with the
government making efforts to diversify the
nation’s economy which is at the moment
in recession.

Tomatoes farming is one aspect of agriculture
the Ndokwa people are involved in
About 70 per cent of the Nigeria’s
population engage in agriculture while
about 30 per cent of the total working
population are taking part in white collar
jobs and others in commercial activities.
According to the statistics from World
Bank, for the 70 per cent of the world poor
who live in rural areas agriculture is the
main source of income.
But the unavailability of land has
continued to pose a serious challenge to
producing enough food and other
agricultural produce.
In Ndokwa area of Delta State, women
participate more in agriculture than those
in other parts of Delta State.