The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has empowered women and youths in Lagos State with yam processing machines. The programme, which is part of the ‘Emergency empowerment of youths and women on yam processing, packaging, value addition and utilisation in the South-East, South-South and South-West regions’, was held at the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority office in Oko-Oba, Agege.
The Lagos State Coordinator for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Omolara Oguntuyi, while speaking during the handover of the machinery to the beneficiaries, said that the intervention was for yam farmers in the state to assist them in processing yam to flour and poundo. She said some months ago, farmers in the state were trained on yam processing and that it was during the training that beneficiaries of the machinery were selected based on their participation and interest in yam processing by the facilitators saying “It is not just anybody that you can give the machine to, it must be people that will know how to use it and have passion for it. The Data Processing Officer, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Adebowale Rotimi said he came to supervise the process, and that he was encouraged by the enthusiasm of the women to work.
The Programme Manager, Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority, Kosoko Tawakaltu, said that there was training some time ago for women and youths in yam processing, packaging and marketing and that beneficiaries were there to get their machinery. She said that the training was done in each state on crops they have comparative advantage on, stating that yam, cassava and maize was what was done in Lagos. She said she is confident that the beneficiaries will make good use of the machinery to improve their livelihood. One of the beneficiaries, Taiwo Adenike, while speaking on behalf of others, appreciated the Federal Government for the initiative.
6. Rukayat Abdul Ganiyu of Nafarm Foods
7. Atinuke Lebile of Cato Foods
8. Nwodo Joy Oluebube of Joy Doves Enterprises
9. Oluwatosin Oladotun of Ewatomi Business Hub
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