History was made, last Thursday in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, when a non-governmental group, Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progressive Development Initiative (NWAPDI) took its sensitization on home grown farming programme to women in the area.

The body, which started in April, 2024 in Rivers State, is boasting of huge grassroot followership and is planning a green revolution, according to the Rivers State Coordinator, Ngozi Ajayi, that would change the fortunes of women farmers and their families.

Ajayi, who was joined by NWAPDI’s local government coordinators from Etche, Okrika, Emohua, and Omuma, were on ground on Thursday at Ibaka Town, Okrika, to inaugurate 12-member Ward Coordinators of NWAPDI in the area.

She stated that since July, when the local government coordinators of NWAPDI were inaugurated, the body which aims to boost food   sufficiency and arm women with skills in agro production, has grown in followership, especially among the women folk.

She commended women in Okrika for the interest they showed in the scheme, adding that she was impressed with the huge turnout and participation.

Shortly after inaugurating the 12 Ward Coordinators, Ajayi charged the women to ensure that they exploit the opportunities provided by NWAPDI, reiterating that the body has come to stay as a way of improving the wellbeing of women who, most times, are providers in their families.

With self-sufficiency farming, she stated that many families can sustain themselves by engaging in small gardening and farming within the available space in their houses. “We want all of you to go back to your families and tell your people that whatever space you have, utilize it for subsistence farming.”

“As you can see, the body is made up of lawyers, lecturers, teachers, and women in different sectors. The essence is to call attention on the need for women to collaborate together so their voices will be heard.”

“Women are the major backbone in the agric sector, and if their efforts are harnessed to impact on the nation’s food production, their impact can go far.”

With NWAPDI on board, she expressed optimism that the plight of women farmers will be reduced, such that all government and international support will get to the grassroots.

She disclosed that NWAPDI will site projects in line with the environment and needs of the area. “Okrika is a riverine community, and hence, whatever we plan to do will be in tune with the area, and fish farming and aqua culture will be given attention.”

Meanwhile, NWAPDI Coordinator in Okrika Local Government Area, Professor Nene Jamabo, a Professor of Aqua Culture at the University of Port Harcourt, Choba has revealed that the body plans to commence a Cluster Farming scheme in the area.

Prof. Jamabo, while expressing joy over the interest shown by women in the LGA, said with cluster farming, women will be empowered more than before, explaining that the essence of the cluster farming is to ensure that every participant has value in their activity.

“What we intend to do is Cluster Farming, and it’s a whole lot of value chain. We want every woman to put food on their table.”

“In Okrika we have observed that most of the women are into crafts, so we will combine cluster with integrated farming- to create a chain; some will be farming, some will be processing and others will be into marketing.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Okrika Local Government Area, Ibiene Ogan, who was represented by the Secretary to the Okrika Local Government Council, Gold Okujagu, hailed the initiative.

She described NWAPDI as timely and very crucial to the current economic challenges in the country, explaining that in an era of processed foods, the initiative will encourage women to grow organic foods.

“Many women don’t know what they are feeding to their families today. And I believe this will reduce so many hazardous things we have been consuming.”

Her fears are coming with high rate of cancer in the society, as she blamed some of these ailments to some foods consumed by the populace.

“Women need to be educated. What we eat can be grown by us and we become sure of what we are eating, said Okujagu,” so for me, I will urge every woman to engage in subsistence farming at any level to reduce hazardous things we eat “.

Speaking after the inauguration, the newly inaugurated Ward 2 Coordinator, Ibiere Williams, expressed gratitude to the Rivers State and Okrika Local Government Coordinators for organizing the programme.

Mrs Williams, who is of Ngeme-Biri, a civil servant, observed that many women from different parts of Okrika attended the programme, which indicated the readiness on their part to end food scarcity in the area.

“We saw many women from different parts of Okrika. That means we are ready to farm and see what we can gain. We appreciate the organisers, and they really encouraged us. We learned that there are so many ways for planting since we do not have much land in Okrika. Our women were happy.”

The Ward 2 Coordinator, however, promised to encourage women in her ward and follow up on them by planting the cassava stems and seeds given to all attendees to plant.

According to her, “we are given these items free to plant in broken buckets, nylon and bags due to scarcity of land in the area. We were taught that sand mixed with fresh fish intestine can serve as manure. This was very educative. If we practice what we were taught, in the next one year, there will be food sufficiency in Okrika.

In her comments, a member of NWAPDI, Felicia Barasin, a business woman from Bulome-Biri stated that the programme was good and timely because the economy is harsh and many families were finding it difficult to feed.

Mrs Barasin also stated that farming is important, but for her, providing boats to help them in their businesses is key.

“The way Okrika is, we are riverine. Our young women are into fishing, picking of periwinkle, Igbe, and firewood in the mangrove forests. Like now, firewood is the reigning business, which is sometimes N1,000 per bunch. This is due to the scarcity of kerosene.

“We hire boats, like two or three persons can contribute N10,000 for a boat for one week, which is expensive. So, if we have boats, it will help us, and we will be grateful,” she said.

Highlight of the occasion was the administration of oaths to the Ward Coordinators of the local government area by the Legal Officer, Ibiwari Waribo.

Cassava stems, okro, and vegetable seeds were shared amongst the women after the training section.

Over 500 women from Okrika Local Government Area attended the programme.