Ministry partners Chinese firm on mechanized farming.

The Ministry of Women Affairs is collaborating with a Chinese-owned company to enhance the skills and productivity of women through mechanized farming.

The Minister, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, who made this known when she received some staff of the company in Abuja, said the partnership, is part of the ministry’s program, to elevate the income levels of women engaged in agriculture.

Mrs Kennedy-Ohanenye, emphasized that the joint effort would focus on a rice milling project, animal feed production and the provision of mechanized farming tools.

“There will be hubs, like a warehouse in each local government, where if you cannot sell all, you notify the hub operators, so that the villages will have access to these hubs to show what they have and are placed on the portal alerting the buyers, who will make their demands”.

The Sales manager of the company, Mr Gatsby Kang, expressed confidence that the collaboration would strengthen the existing ties between Nigeria and China.

“We want to use our equipment to help the local people using machines, because technology can bring huge yield in production and make meaningful difference in their lives,”

Mr Kang gave an assurance that the feeds that would be produced were healthy and contained locally sourced food in right proportions to boost the growth and development of the animals that will be feeding on them.

As a part of this initiative, locally fabricated Fish Grilling Machines, capable of grilling 500 fishes every two hours and powered with gas, biogas, and charcoal, would be distributed.

In another development, the minister stated that the ministry has taken legal action in Enugu court against a mother and stepfather over negligence, sexual molestation and infecting diseases on a nine-year-old girl.

Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, noted that acourt procedure has commenced against Mrs Christabel Ewuru and her husband Mr Ifeanyi Ewuru to ensure they were prosecuted and the survivor gets justice.

She revealed that the owner of Peace Mass Transit, Dr Sam Onyishi has promised to take up tuition for the girl’s education from primary to university level.