WOFAN trains women, youth on rice processing, value-addition

The Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) on Friday commenced training of women and youth groups on rice processing and value addition in Kano State.

SOLACEBASE reports that the two-day training, which was supported by the MasterCard Foundation, aimed to enhance the skills and income of the participants in the rice value chain.

WOFAN Executive Director, Hajia Salamatu Garba, said the training was part of the organisation’s efforts to empower smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, to improve their productivity and income.

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“WOFAN has been working with the MasterCard Foundation to provide inputs, equipment, and extension services to over 40,000 rice and groundnut farmers in seven states of Nigeria.” Salamatu Stated

She also added that “The training was also aimed to promote food security, nutrition, and environmental sustainability, by reducing post-harvest losses, improving food quality, and utilizing rice waste.

She urged the participants to apply the knowledge and skills they acquired to their businesses and share them with other members of their communities.

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The training covered various topics, such as rice parboiling, milling, de-stoning, packaging, branding, and marketing.

The participants were also tutored on how to transform rice husk into briquettes and other products, such as fertilizer, animal feed, and insulation materials.

The training was facilitated by experts from WOFAN, the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

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Speaking to SOLACEBASE the participants who were drawn from Zamfara, Adamawa, Nassarawa and Kaduna States expressed their appreciation to WOFAN and the MasterCard Foundation for the training opportunity saying it had opened their eyes to the potential in the rice value chain.

They said they were eager to start or expand their rice processing and value-addition enterprises and contribute to the economic development of their families and the nation.