Ogun State Government has stressed the need for the institutionalization of the ongoing nutrition mainstreaming targeted at improving feeding habits of farmers and women in rural communities, in order to boost food production and sustain the gains of the programme initiated by Value Chain Development Programme VCDP funded by the Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in partnership with the state
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotoomo who made the call on Tuesday in Abeokuta while declaring open an event tagged "The Policy Dialogue Nutrition: Improving Livelihood Through Nutrition Mainstreaming In Ogun State, says doing this would consolidate on achievements of VCDP in scaling up food production as it winds down activities in 2026 in the state
The commissioner lauded VCDP for improving the livelihood of farmers and quality of food in the rural communities through the Nutrition Mainstreaming which according to him, has continue to promote family health and build a stronger communities
"Through series of training on the utilization of Cassava, Rice and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes, VCDP have impacted women and youths with knowledge needed to change their feeling habits, improve family health and increase the income of the rural populace in the participating Local Government Areas including Yewa North, Yewa South, Ifo, Odeda, Obafemi-Owode , Odogbolu as well as Ijebu North East and Ijebu East", he stated
Owotoomo also called for deliberate efforts to scale up the Nutrition programme for farmers and women in rural communities, so as to ensure a stronger families, more resilient communities and greater food security
He revealed the achievements of VCDP to include empowerment of more than 15,000 Rice and Cassava producers, Processors and Marketers , improved Rice production from 1.5 metric tonnes to 3.1 tonnes per hectare, Cassava from 18 metric tonnes to 33 metric tonnes per hectare and over 13,400 farmers who received improved seeds , cuttings and fertilizers and herbicides, 10 processing units and 23 processing clusters equipped with essential machinery amongst others
The Commissioner then enjoined all stakeholder to be committed to the survival of the legacy by sustaining and scaling the Gender Action Learning System.
"In doing so , we will not only empower women and youths but also secure a future of inclusive growth and food security for Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole", he submitted
Also the Acting Ogun State Project Co-ordinator, Abiola Adewole-Sobukola explained that the essence of the Nutrition Mainstreaming programme was aimed at involving policy makers to formulate policy on the importance of nutrition in the feeding habits of people
According to her, 777 women across the participating eight local government areas have been trained under the programme on utilization of rice and Cassava products to make confectioneries and healthy food items for the farming populace to promote balanced diet and improve nutrition
She added that the major objective of the programme was to break the cycle of malnutrition particularly among women in rural communities
"Women with decision-making power can make informed choices that positively impact their children's nutritional status, potentially breaking the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition"
"Financially independent women are more likely to invest in their children nutrition and health", she maintained
Some of the trained women shared experiences with participants while nutritional experts from the Federal University of Agriculture and the State Ministry of Health also commended the VCDP for the initiative and offered tips on the importance of nutritional foods and hygiene environment in ensuring healthy lifestyle
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