By George George Idowu
To boost local food production, Hemam Synergy, an agribusiness firm, has announced plans to empower women farmers in Ibaji, Kogi State, to enhance rice production.
The company aims to provide these farmers with the necessary agricultural inputs and training to improve their yields, incomes, and overall socio-economic well-being.
Michael Ameh, the CEO of Hemam Synergy, recently shared the firm’s plans in Abuja.
He stated that the initiative would be supported by a grant from the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE), provided by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project aims to increase rice yields from 1.5 tonnes per hectare to an average of 4.5 tonnes per hectare. It also seeks to build farmers’ resilience to climate change, helping to reduce losses caused by floods and other natural disasters.
Addressing the ongoing challenges faced by women farmers, Ameh emphasized that rural farmers, who contribute 90% of Nigeria’s food production, continue to struggle with low yields due to poor agronomic practices, limited access to quality and affordable farm inputs, and weak adaptation to climate change.
He also highlighted the unemployment and underemployment issues faced, leading to rapid migration from rural areas to cities in search of better opportunities.
“In regions like Ibaji, Kogi State, where rice farming is a dominant occupation, many young women lack the necessary skills and training to find meaningful employment in emerging sectors,” Ameh explained.
To tackle these challenges, Hemam Synergy’s project will focus on local rice processing, climate resilience, and adaptation, specifically targeting the rice value chain in Ibaji. The initiative aims to provide meaningful employment opportunities in agriculture and equip rur
them with the skills needed to thrive in the sector.
The project will also recruit over 1,480 young extension service providers to train farmers in good agronomic practices and climate adaptation strategies, using technology-enabled field extension jobs to enhance their productivity.
Furthermore, the project will provide timely inputs to 13,000 young smallholder farmers, creating local employment opportunities and reducing the need for rural youth to migrate to urban areas.
Alice Arogbonlo, Head of Partnership and Sustainability at Hemam Synergy, added that the CFYE is a seven-year program funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and managed by the Palladium Group.
The fund aims to support innovative ideas that improve decent work prospects for youth aged 15-35 years.