UN Women Unveiled Rice Milling Machines In Dass Communities
UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong address women at Ɓadel Community of Dass local government area of Bauchi State. Photo: Murtala Muhammad
By Murtala Muhammad
In a quest to improve the rights and livelihood of rural women in Bauchi State, UN Women has unveiled rice shelling and dehusking machines in Ɓadel and Mbakwara communities in Dass local government area.
At a ceremony to mark this year’s International Rural Women’s Day, with the theme “Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All”, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong said each of the rice dehusking machine has the capacity to produce over twenty tonnes per day.
Ms Eyong said empowering the rural women was crucial as they account for about eighty percent of the agricultural labour force, including informal work, performing the bulk of unpaid care and domestic work within families and households in rural areas.
According to her, UN women is also supporting rural women in Bauchi through climate smart practices with the use of Biogas, to serve as an alternative source of cooking aimed at reducing deforestation, tackling health risks associated with firewood and Climate Change challenges.
Governor Bala Mohammed represented by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Professor Simon Yalams said his administration was passionate about women development and has made remarkable impact in their small businesses to thrive.
Earlier speaking, the Programme Associate of UN Women in Bauchi State, Ms Temitope Wealth-Ekanem said the essence of the day was to recognise the efforts of rural women and their contribution to the country’s economy.
The Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman, recalled that in the past such initiative was introduced in the local council but could not see the light of the day due to the action of some unpatriotic citizens.
While appreciating UN Women for donating the rice milling machines, the Emir of Dass Alhaji Usman Othman assured to work with the local council authority erect a perimeter fence to guard the facility against anyone with bad intent.
Highlight of the event was testimonials from two users of biogas cooking equipment, saying it was efficient and economical.
