Coalition launches farming initiative to empower low-income women

The Feminist Coalition, a women’s rights organisation, has announced the continuation of its second programme named ‘the Feminist Coalition Farming Initiative’.

The coalition, which focuses on championing equality for women in Nigeria, in June 2022, began the pilot programme of the farming initiative in collaboration with Amo Farms Sieberer Hatchery Ltd, a Nigerian poultry company that created the Noiler Chicken.

A statement issued in Abuja, Monday, quoted a founding member of the coalition, Laila Johnson-Salami, saying that the aim of the initiative is to provide low-income women, a majority of whom are single mothers and widows, with resources to start a poultry business which would then provide both food and income for their families.

Johnson-Salami said at the start of the pilot, each beneficiary received 20 chicks – some for rearing for sale and others for consumption, while using part of their revenue to purchase more Noiler chicks.

“Six months into the initiative, the beneficiaries are beginning to see profits from the sales of their chickens and following this success, the Feminist Coalition will be adding more women to the programme.

“The Noiler Chicken is a dual-purpose chicken breed that produces 4 times more eggs and 3 times more meat than other chicken breeds native to Nigeria,” she explained.

On the importance of the programme, a co-founder of Feminist Coalition, Damilola Odufuwa, said: “Now more than ever, affordable, accessible food is important. The consequences are greatest for women and children, with many low-income mothers who are also primary caregivers, currently fighting to protect.”