The African Tomorrow Plus (ATP) an NGO has pledge to support 100,000 women farmers on the farming, processing, preservation, packaging and promotion of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP).
The President, ATP, Mr Kenneth Eze said this during an empowerment event for women farmers in Abuja on Thursday.
According to him, the programme will cover a 3-year period of between 2024 and 2027, adding that it would be coordinated in partnership with Nigerian Women Economic Development Project NigWED Project.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NigWED Project is a collaborative initiative between SEEED Multipurpose Cooperative Society and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
It was established to provide financial, social inclusion and economic empowerment for Nigerian Women and Girls.
Eze said OFSP would provide healthy nutrition to reduce mothers and children mortality rate and provide economic livelihood improvements.
“I am optimistic that this initiative will provide health and wealth benefits for our women and girls.
“I urge other stakeholders in the agribusiness to support this initiative considering the short, medium and long-term benefits of this initiative,” Eze said.
Also speaking at the event Mr Lugard Okonobo, Director-General, NigWED commended the Eze for the initiative and promised to ensure its objectives were met.
“The economic situation in Nigeria today is scary as people can hardly feed well hence the strategic alliance with relevant stakeholders to improve things.
“We collaborate with organisations such as Raw Materials Research and Development Council, SMEDAN, NEPC, NDE, FMARD, State Ministries, Department and Agencies.
“To date, 30 Women have been empowered with OFSP Vines for the first planting phase within the Federal Capital Territory with prospects for expansion to other States in Nigeria,” Okonobo said.
NAN reports that many indigenous women farmers were trained and given startups begin the OFSP farming. (NAN)