By Gloria Osemudiamhen
The Office of the Edo State First Lady has recorded a bumper cassava harvest from its Model Skills Acquisition Farming Programme, in a move aimed at strengthening food security and improving the livelihoods of women and smallholder farmers across the state.
The milestone was recorded at the First Lady’s demonstration farm in Uteh, where harvested cassava tubers were distributed free of charge to women and male farmers from different parts of Edo State.
The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, represented by the Chief Protocol Officer of the Office of the First Lady and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Mrs. Mabel Obetoh, said the initiative was a continuation of the agricultural empowerment programme launched to support women and farmers.
She recalled that the previous year, the Coordinator had distributed agricultural inputs, including cassava stems, to women farmers across the state as well as members of the Integrated Farmers Association of Nigeria (IFAN).
According to her, the impressive harvest from the demonstration farm had shown the potential of cassava farming to contribute significantly to food security and household income.
“You can see how bountiful the cassava harvest is. We thank her for giving us this opportunity to empower women with cassava that they will process into akpu, garri, tapioca, flour and other products to earn income for their homes,” she said.
Mrs. Anani disclosed that the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs had earlier inspected the farm and commended the initiative for its potential to strengthen food production and improve women’s livelihoods.
She noted that the level of productivity recorded on the farm demonstrated what could be achieved if more farmers adopted improved agricultural practices.
“If all farmers were producing at the level of the farm’s output, there would be no hunger in Edo State,” she said.
The Coordinator reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting women in agriculture through sustained provision of farm inputs, training and access to markets.
She said the initiative was in line with the administration’s agenda of promoting food security, agricultural development and sustainable livelihoods for the people of Edo State.
Also speaking, the President of IFAN, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Bako Ebiredelu Dogwo, commended the First Lady for providing a platform to empower women and smallholder farmers.
He said that, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and on the directive of the Coordinator, the cassava harvested from the demonstration farm would be distributed free to farmers as part of efforts to alleviate poverty.
“The stems for this cassava were sourced from Ibadan and wet-treated. That accounts for the remarkable yield you see today,” Dogwo explained.
He commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for creating an enabling environment for agriculture and acknowledged the role of the First Lady’s office in driving the agricultural empowerment initiative.
Beneficiaries, including Mrs. Grace Ehinomen, Mrs. Tawa Bayefine, Mr. Friday Ebhomen, Pastor Igberase Monday and Mrs. Esumeh Uche, among others, expressed appreciation for the free distribution of the cassava tubers.
They described the initiative as timely and impactful, saying the cassava would be processed into various products to generate income for their households while contributing to food security.
The beneficiaries also highlighted the economic value of cassava, noting that the peels could be used as livestock feed while the stems could be replanted to expand production.
They said the crop offered opportunities for value addition and job creation, stressing that virtually every part of the plant could be put to productive use.
According to them, sustained implementation of the programme could help reduce food insecurity, create economic opportunities for young people and women, and contribute to crime reduction across the state.
The beneficiaries pledged their continued support for the administration and appealed for the agricultural empowerment programme to be sustained and expanded to reach more farmers across Edo State.
The initiative further underscores the state government’s focus on agricultural development, food security and women’s economic empowerment.
