By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
Palm Valley Nigeria Limited, in partnership with Women Farmers Network (WOFAN,) has engaged key stakeholders in exploring how fostering peace can enhance sustainable agriculture.
The engagement, which took place in Kafanchan, was part of their activities to celebrate the 2024 World Peace Day.
The event featured a panel discussion with agricultural experts, farmers, and peace advocates on the mitigation of hunger, poverty,y and inequality through agriculture,e amongst other topics.
The Chief Executive Officer of Palm Valley, Mr Ezekiel Jatau, explained that they were marking the peace day because of the critical role peace plays in sustainable agriculture.
“Today’s event marks a pivotal milestone in our collective journey towards peace and prosperity.
“Our ultimate goal is to empower the local population, foster economic growth,h and contribute to peace-building efforts through sustainable agriculture,” he added.
Represented by Samson Reuben, Palm Valley’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Jatau said the recurring farmers/herders clashes had become a threat to food security, hence the need to find a way out.
According to him, communities needed to evolve innovative strategies to harness agricultural power, peacebuilding, and promote harmonious coexistence.
Various speakers, including Tanko Tete, the paramount ruler of Kanninkon Chiefdom; Shuaibu Aliyu, the Fulani leader of Dangoma; and David Jonathan from the Kaduna State Agricultural DevelopmentAgencyc restated the need for peaceful coexistence.
Other speakers were M.r Yunana Barde, the Chairman of Jema’a Local Government, and M.r Shedrack Danladi, National President of Southern Kaduna Students, and Youth Foru,m among others.
They highlighted some of the issues that still pose a threat to peace, including the destruction of crops at farms by herders, farming on grazing routes, and mutual suspicion,n among others.
On the way forward to resolving the entrenched conflicts devastating communities and affecting agricultural productivity, the stakeholders called for an end to the use of minors for cattle rearing. Other steps they agreed to take were joint efforts in protecting farms and cattle and peaceful resolution of issues through available lawful means.
Elanza News reports that Palm Valley and WOFAN are implementing a project tagged WOFAN ‘WOFAN ICON 2’ in Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna States, with sponsorship from the Mastercard Foundation.
In Kaduna, the project, which supports women and youth farmers, is being implemented in eight local government areas of Jema’a, Jaba, Chikun, Kaura, Zangon Kataf, Kachia, Kagarko and Kaduna South.
