In a significant initiative in Bauchi State, an NGO named Catalysing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience (CASCADE) has provided empowerment to 1,482 women smallholder farmers with orange-flesh potato vines and 613 others with various vegetable seeds. The primary goal of this endeavor is to promote backyard farming, enhancing nutrition for women and children under five years of age in the region while bolstering resilience against price fluctuations and climate change-related impacts.
During the commencement of the 2024 Rain-Fed Season Agricultural Inputs Fair and Voucher Redemption in Miri community, Bauchi, Isaac Ishaya, the Programme Manager of CASCADE in Bauchi, emphasized the significance of supporting women smallholder farmers at the household level to cultivate vegetables and orange-flesh potatoes in their backyard gardens. This strategic approach aims to address hidden hunger by leveraging the nutritional benefits of orange-flesh potatoes and the essential role of vegetables in household nutrition.
CASCADE has also forged partnerships with private sector entities to enhance agricultural linkages between farmers and leading agricultural firms, thereby reinforcing confidence among women smallholder farmers. By facilitating access to agricultural inputs and bridging the gap between farmers and input sources, CASCADE seeks to empower farmers and strengthen agricultural participation in Bauchi, encompassing areas such as Bauchi, Dass, Jama’are, Ningi, and Toro LGAs.
Helen Ciroma, the Head of Women in Agriculture at Bauchi State Agricultural Supply Company, emphasized that the support provided to women farmers will not only enhance their livelihoods but also improve their nutritional well-being. Highlighting the nutritional benefits of orange-flesh potatoes, including its richness in Vitamin A, anti-inflammatory properties, immune system support, and suitability for diabetics, Ciroma underscored the practical versatility of the crop, suggesting alternative uses such as utilizing the leaves as vegetables and the tubers for fufu.
Expressing gratitude for the intervention, beneficiary Maryam Sani extended appreciation to CASCADE, affirming their commitment to maximizing the potential of the seeds provided to enhance farming practices and boost income generation among women farmers in Bauchi State.
