A consortium, Catalysing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience has supported 1,482 female smallholder farmers with orange-fleshed potatoes in Bauchi State.

The group also supported 613 other women with assorted vegetables.

Programme Manager of CASCADE Nigeria’s Bauchi office, Isaac Ishaya, stated this at the inauguration of the 2024 rain-fed season agricultural input fair and voucher redemption event in Miri community, Bauchi Local Government Area on Tuesday.

“We are supporting 1,482 women smallholders in Bauchi with orange-fleshed potatoes and 613 other women with assorted vegetables,’’ Mr Ishaya said.

He said that CASCADE’s efforts spanned Bauchi, Dass, Jama’are, Ningi and Toro local government areas of the state.

“This initiative aims to build confidence among women smallholder farmers. CASCADE Nigeria has engaged private sector actors to strengthen agricultural linkages between the farmers and leading agricultural firms. We also encourage smallholder farmers to participate in sourcing their inputs and aim to bridge the gap between them and their input sources,” he said.

Head of Women in Agriculture in the state Agricultural Supply Company, Helen Ciroma, said that the support to women smallholder farmers would significantly improve their livelihoods and nutritional status.

“The orange-fleshed potatoes are rich in vitamin A, and will reduce inflammation, boost the immune system and are beneficial for patients with diabetes. The women can plant the potatoes in sacks at home, utilising both the leaves as vegetables and the tubers for dishes like fufu,” Ms Chiroma said.

Acting Executive Director of Forward in Action for Education, Poverty and Malnutrition, Dabis Mwalike, reinforced the benefits of engaging women smallholder farmers in backyard farming.

This Ms Mwalike said would enhance the nutritional status of women and children under five years.

She stated, “The potato vines and vegetable seeds will boost their farming and improve their nutritional values.”
(NAN)