Bauchi Society Equip 100 Women With Practical Gardening Knowledge

The Bauchi State College of Agriculture (BASCOA) Women Farmers Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society has unveiled a plan to equip 100 women with practical knowledge of home gardening while fostering awareness about climate change mitigation.

The chairperson of the society, Amina Haruna, hinted about the plan at a transformative event organized to empower women through home gardening to address climate change held yesterday at BASCOA, Bauchi.

The chairperson highlighted the event’s significance in addressing the dual challenges of food security and environmental conservation, stressing that the primary goal of the initiative is to equip 100 women with practical knowledge of home gardening, and foster awareness about climate change mitigation.

She said, “This event marks a pivotal step in our journey toward a more sustainable future for women in agriculture. We aim to empower women through knowledge and skills that will help them take control of their food production and improve household nutrition”.

Amina Haruna appreciated the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) for its continued support, recognizing its role in providing resources and opportunities for women farmers.

She also acknowledged the contributions of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) and the Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, both of which donated tree seedlings to participants.

“These seedlings are a symbol of our commitment to environmental preservation and the fight against desertification in our region,” Haruna added, encouraging women to embrace home gardening as a means of self-reliance and resilience in the face of climate change.

Shafi’u Haladu Babaji, Bauchi Team Leader of WOFAN, representing the Executive Director of WOFAN, Dr. Salamatu Garba, commended the initiative and emphasized WOFAN’s commitment to uplifting women through agriculture.

“WOFAN has already registered over 15,000 women in Bauchi State through various projects, providing them with agricultural inputs, processing machines, and tricycles to support their farming activities. We believe empowering women will transform their communities,” Babaji said.

Maimuna A. G. Aliyu, Gender Officer of ACReSAL Bauchi, delivered a presentation titled Seeds of Change: Women’s Role in Tree Planting for Environmental Conservation, and stressed the importance of women’s involvement in tree planting to combat climate change and urged women to embrace the opportunity to engage in seedling production.

Aliyu stated that, “Women are key players in environmental conservation, and at ACReSAL, we ensure women are given 40% representation in all our programs. We have initiated the ‘One Person, One Tree’ campaign, and today we are distributing 100 economic trees to the participants.”

Hadiza Muhammad, Bauchi Field Officer for the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, echoed the importance of empowering women through initiatives such as home gardening. She emphasized the role of women in ensuring food security and preserving the environment.

“The Great Green Wall initiative is focused on empowering women because we understand that women are the backbone of every prosperous venture. Through home gardening, women can become self-reliant, support their families, and contribute to environmental conservation,” Muhammad said.

The event, which featured practical training sessions and distribution of seedlings, concluded with a call to action for women to embrace home gardening as a sustainable practice that not only improves household food security but also contributes to global climate resilience efforts.

“The Women Empowerment through Home Gardening and Climate Change Mitigation” event attracted women farmers from across the state, with a focus on promoting sustainable agricultural practices, was organized in collaboration with key partners with a view to empower women through home gardening while addressing climate change.