Mr Olawale Fasanya, the Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), says the agency has trained 80 participants in agriculture business and entrepreneurship in Delta.
Fasanya made this known at a workshop tagged: ”Women in Self-Employment Programme (WISE-P)” in Asaba on Monday.
He said that the programme was aimed at promoting self-reliance amongst women.
Fasanya, represented by the State Manager of SMEDAN, Mr Babalola Adeleke, said that the WISE-P was also aimed at empowering women, to enhance their skills and improve their productivity and sustainability in agricultural business.
He noted that the programme was designed to expose women farmers to the use of modern techniques and equipment, saying that the WISE-P would also equip women farmers with the knowledge of how to keep records.
Fasanya also noted that the WISE-P would help promote and advocate for self-sufficiency and food security in Nigeria as well as expose women to agriculture insurance.
He said that the WISE-P would further help to acquaint women farmers on necessities of proper storage facilities and preservation of farm products to reduce post-harvest wastage to the barest minimum.
Fasanya advised women farmers to be acquainted with the regulatory procedures and product certification to bring forth standard quality products that could compete in both regional and international markets.
While encouraging productivity and entrepreneurship in women, he assured that SMEDAN would continue to encourage all upcoming entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
The women were selected from the 25 local government areas of the state.
