Women rise against poverty, set up pepper farm in C’River

Women in Boje community of Boki LGA of Cross River State have set up a massive community farm where they will cultivate mainly Birds Eye Pepper, with some other economic crops in between to optimally utilize resources. They formed the group and set up the project at the onset of this farming season. The women […]

Women in Boje community of Boki LGA of Cross River State have set up a massive community farm where they will cultivate mainly Birds Eye Pepper, with some other economic crops in between to optimally utilize resources.

They formed the group and set up the project at the onset of this farming season.

The women embarked on clearing, tilling and planting the pepper seedlings on the farm all by themselves.

They said they are looking forward to commissioning the farm soon to join the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s World Food Day.

Coordinator of the group Florence Kekong who also hails from the community said, “this is the first time they would be joining the world to celebrate this great day that recognises the efforts of farmers.

“Our goal is to produce healthy food to boost nutrition and economic growth of women and girls in rural areas as well as build their entrepreneurial skills.

“We have been at work with the rural women and girls, trying to build them to start their own innovative developmental programmes that truly enhance their livelihoods.

“We have initiated programmes in some communities that have empowered them to own their own businesses. All through the efforts of lovely people supporting empowerment and farming programmes.

“We cannot afford to wait for government to do all things for us. We are starting with nothing but we shall build an economically strong Boki with our passionate efforts.”

Kekong said that celebration of the World Food Day will begin with activities of the World Rural Women’s Day dovetailing into the WFD the following day, on October 16, 2020.

Kekong said the Bird’s Eye Pepper is enjoying huge support from well-meaning Boki personalities, women and friends.

The coordinator said they began to mobilize rural women to rise against poverty by pooling their resources together and that gave birth to what they called Rural-Urban March Against Poverty.

She said they plan to drill a borehole at the farm so that there would be water to grow the produce all seasons. “With water, the expansion of the farm would be possible so that the crop is produced in large quantity. We do not want the women to farm for a season and stop that will make them unable to meet the demands of the off-takers.”

She said the Birds Eye Pepper project is to consolidate on the success which the DawaDawa business for Irruan women farmers brought so that they should not depend on husbands or government.