By Noah Peter
In an effort to increase food sufficiency in Kogi State, the International Food Agricultural Development and Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP) has organized a Gender Based Violence Policy Dialogue on Scaling-up Gender Action Learning Systems in Kogi State.
Declaring the meeting open, the National Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, Doctor Fatima Aliyu described the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) as a household methodology that helps achieve gender-transformative results in IFAD’s operations.
The program was aimed at promoting gender transformative and empowerment in agriculture value chains and other spheres of life.
Doctor Fatima Aliyu, who was represented by Knowledge Communication Advisor (KCA), Mrs. Vera Onyeaka-Onyilo, said the policy dialogue was for stakeholders to brainstorm on how to scale up GALS and build on lessons from other states and countries.
According to her, scaling GALS was to enhance women participation in agricultural Value Chains to boost productivity while contributing to gender equality and poverty reduction.
She explained that GALS has impacted on family and relationships, resource management, shared responsibilities as well as livelihood and team work.
State Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Timothy Ojomah, commended VCDP for the initiative, saying it has impacted the lives of benefiting farmers in the state thereby boosting the economy of the state and enhancing food security.
He urged the participants and relevant stakeholders to work together to utilize the acquired knowledge from the program to improve their well-being.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, Stella Adejoh, said VCDP has over the past three and half years impacted greatly on the lives of farmers across the five benefitting local government areas of state.
According to her, the initiative is supporting farmers in Rice and Cassava production in Lokoja, Ibaji, Ajaokuta, Kabba-Bunu and Olamaboro local government areas.
One of the participants, Eunice Abimbola Agbogun, the Executive Director, Challenge Parenthood Initiative (CPI) commended the VCDP for the initiative, saying GALS initiative will effectively address the issues surrounding gender inequality in the state.
Participants were drawn from the Non-governmental organizations, Policy Makers, Farmers, Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders, Men, Women, youths, among others.
