An NGO, Mennonite Economic Development Associate (MEDA), says it has trained 9, 985 women in Bauchi on processing techniques to encourage value addition to agricultural produce.
Mrs Roxie Ola –Akuma, MEDA’s Project Information and Communication Officer, made the disclosure at the Project Media Advisory Committee (PMAC) meeting, on Thursday in Bauchi.
Ola –Akuma said that the women were exposed to production, processing and marketing techniques of three value chain products: ground nut, soy beans and rice.
She said that the beneficiaries were trained in seven selected local government councils in the state.
Ola –Akuma listed the participating councils to include Bauchi; Toro, Ganjuwa, Warji, Katagum, Jamare and Dass.
“MEDA is working in seven local councils to improve production, processing and get market for women into the three value chain of rice, ground nut and Soya beans.
“The training is to find market solution for women into various kinds of their products.
“In about three years; 9, 985 women were trained using 397 cooperative groups in the targeted communities’’ she said.
According to her, the organization also trained Women Sale Agents (WOSAs), as middle persons that will inform the women on current market and prices to enhance transaction.
Ola-Akuma disclosed that that the organization planned to expand the scope of training programme to reach 16,000 women and youths between 2017 and 2022.
She noted that the organization was working in partnership with the Association of Small Scale Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), to promote production and market analysis.
The MEDA official said that the organization had sponsored radio jingles to create awareness on prices, analysis and solutions to market issues, adding that: “The radio programmes targeted women conducting business from home”.
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