By JIDAUNA DARING
In a bid to boost food production, Plateau State First Lady, Barrister Mrs Helen Mutfwang, has distributed various Agricultural Support Programme (ASP) items to 500 women and youths, courtesy of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Mrs. Mutfwang, who is the RHI Coordinator in Plateau State, presented the ASP items to the beneficiaries at Home Garden along Rayfield Resort Road, Jos, recently.
The items distributed included 620 bags of fertilisers, 500 birds, 620 seedlings, 120 watering cans, 50 cartons of herbicides, 400 bags of poultry feeds, 100 goats, 100 bags of ruminant concentrate, 80 hoes, 20 wheelbarrows, 500 farmers’ caps and 40 pairs of farmers’ gloves.
She disclosed that the programme was an initiative of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, under the RHI in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
“The ASP RHI is more than just an intervention, it is a catalyst for change,” Mrs Mutfwang said.
She explained that the programme was aimed at empowering women and youth, promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing food security across the country.
According to Mrs Mutfwang, the ASP was structured within four core components: Women in Agriculture Support Programme, Youth in Agriculture Support Programme, Every Home a Garden and Young Farmers Club.
She pointed out that each of these components was targeted at boosting youth participation, empowering women and promoting sustainable agricultural practices that would contribute to building a food-secure, prosperous and resilient Nigeria.
“Agriculture is not merely an occupation, it is a heritage, a culture, and a lifetime. It has the power to transform our communities, revive our economy, and secure a future of dignity and abundance for our children,” she said.
The Plateau First Lady maintained that the Agricultural Support Programme offered a transformative opportunity for the state and aligned with the priorities of the present administration in food security, employment and sustainable agriculture.
She urged beneficiaries to ensure the programme took them to a more prosperous tomorrow, emphasising, “Grasp it firmly and together we will position Plateau State as a beacon of agricultural excellence in Nigeria.”
She lauded Senator Oluremi Tinubu for the life-touching initiative, expressing confidence that the programme would significantly impact the state by improving the lives of farmers and their families.
“Her unwavering passion for uplifting communities is the heartbeat of this programme, and we are truly honoured to stand as partners of progress in this noble mission,” Mrs Mutfwang added.
She appreciated the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, whose collaboration and technical expertise she said had been pivotal in shaping the programme into a practical and sustainable force for change.
Mrs Mutfwang also commended the Plateau State Government for its continuous support in promoting initiatives aimed at lifting citizens out of poverty.
She emphasised the need for collective efforts to ensure the success of the programme, urging farmers to seize the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.
“Together we can make Plateau State a hub of agricultural productivity and economic growth,” she declared.
Speaking separately, the Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Caroline Dafur, her Education counterpart, Mrs Kachollom Gang, and the representative of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Samson Bugama, applauded Governor Caleb Mutfwang and his wife for their commitment to the RHI initiative.
They affirmed that the intervention was timely and urged the beneficiaries to put the items to good use.
“We are going to monitor all the items given to you. The reason for doing this is to ensure that the programme is sustained in our state,” Mrs Dafur said.
Presenting a paper on livestock farming, Dr Emmanuel Danjuma focused on broiler production, stressing the importance of preparing a safe and clean environment, monitoring temperature, feeding, watering and keeping records for business growth.
Another paper presented by Mrs Silas Dapiya titled, ‘Home Garden’, emphasised the importance of backyard farming as a way of fighting poverty and increasing food production in Plateau State.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Plateau State First Lady for her concern, describing the RHI initiative as a life-changing programme.
They promised to make proper use of all the items presented to them.