Story from Ahmed SAKA, Bauchi
A Bauchi based NGO; Attah Sisters Helping Hand Foundation (ASHHF) has empowered women farmers and petty traders through the Village Saving Loan Association (VSLA) in Dambam and Ganjuwa local government areas of Bauchi state.
The Executive Director of ASHHF, Mrs Comfort Attah, made the disclosure at the end of a two days training of the women on Monday, saying that lack of access to finance often hinders productivity in women-run farms.
“To correct this, several VSLAs have been formed in the two local government areas where community members contribute on a weekly/monthly basis to raise funds.
“Needy members can use these funds for groundnut seed production, other farm activities and petty trading.
“Lack of financial power to women was one of the key reasons for a difference in productivity between farms managed by women and those run by men.
“Most smallholder women farmers and petty traders in Nigeria have limited or no access to land, labour, inputs or credit,” she said.
Attah said the new batch of 70 women include people living with disability (PLWD) and sexual and gender-based violence survivors, adding that the training was aimed at increasing their source of income.
The Executive Director said that the participants were trained on the drafting of the VSLA constitution, recordkeeping of savings passbooks, and issuing loans to group members.
“Calculating interest rates, and recovering loans. A VSLA kit was provided to each of them to start the savings process in their respective communities.
“The participants would then train other members of the group in their communities.
The training was supported by ActionAid /Global Affairs, Canada under the Women’s Voice Livelihood (WVL).
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