By Ahmed Ahmed
UN Women has donated two rice mills to women farmers in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The UN agency donated the mills to Badal and Mbakwara farmer groups, to provide livelihood and encourage rice production.
Beatrice Eyong, UN Women representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, stated this at the unveiling of the mills recently in Dass, Bauchi.
The event is part of activities to mark the 2024 International Day for Rural Women with the theme: “Cultivating Good Food for All”.
She said the mill with 10-tonne daily production capacity would encouraged rice and agricultural processing to add value to the produce.
According to her, about 80 per cent of women contribute to agricultural labour force including domestic work in Nigeria
Eyong said the UN Women in collaboration with the Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), and Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), had trained 250 women on bio-gas technology, to reduce dependence on fuel wood.
“UN Women trained women to use biogas fuel to reduce the risk of smoke diseases amongst women. We will continue to support women in uplifting their economic status,” she said.
She commended the Bauchi state government for providing an enabling environment for the organisation to implement its activities.
Also, Aminu Hammayo, the state Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning & Multilateral Organisations, said the state would engage communities to generate inputs from the public for the 2025 budget preparations.
He said that a meeting would be organised in partnership with development organisations, adding that women intervention programmes would be prioritised.
The Emir of Dass, Alhaji Othman Bilyamu Othman, admonished the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the facilities.
He said that his council would not condone vandalism of the mills, adding that it would benefit farmers in the area.