The Regional Delegate of Women Empowerment and the Family, MINPROFF, Ediage Lucia, has called on the population of Kupe Muanenguba to support rural women for better yields in food and cash crops.
Ediage was speaking at Ebonji, Tombel Sub Division during celebrations marking the 28th edition of Rural Women’s Day on October 15, 2023 under the theme; “Rural Women and Green Economy: Better Production and Processing to Size the Opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area.”
While appreciating rural women for their enormous sacrifice to feed the society daily, the Regional Delegate said these women must be supported and equipped for better productivity and yields.
She said though vulnerable, rural women are victims of violence from men and the society, which impedes development.
The delegate admonished stakeholders in Kupe Muanenguba to assist rural women financially and materially so that they can better feed the nation.
Speaking on behalf of the Divisional Delegate for Women Empowerment and the Family, Kupe Muanenguba, Ngwene Cecilia Mbolle, the Sub Delegate of Women Empowerment and the Family, Tombel, Epie Vivian said rural women play an active role in fostering the socio-economic development and the political landscape of Kupe Muanenguba.
She said Kupe Muanenguba is full of potentials and rural women must exploit these rich human and natural resources to scale up production and improve on living standards.
Amongst the many challenges faced by rural women in Kupe Muanenguba, the delegate expressed the urgent need for the creation of Women Empowerment Centers in Tombel and Nguti.
Ngwene lamented on the dilapidated states of farm to market roads, insufficient farming equipment for rural women, lack of mean to transform primary products such as plantains and cassava, amongst others. She said these challenges retard rural women from operating in full capacity to enhance food crop production.
The delegate appealed to sons and daughters of Kupe Muanenguba to come to the rescue of rural women.
The Coordinator of Women’s Groups Ebonji, Ngede Cecilia expressed gratitude with the choice of Ebonji as host of Rural Women’s Day in Kupe Muanenguba.
Ngede said as a form of diversification, besides agriculture, rural women are moving into piggery, goat rearing and the domestication of table birds like fowls. She said they need financial support to accomplish this vision.
According to Ngede, rural women also need farm inputs like spraying machines, wheelbarrows, trucks, pesticides and fungicides. She said this will lead to high yields and improve the living standard of the rural women.
Meanwhile the Divisional Officer of Bangem Sub Division, Nyam Leonard Njowon reassured the women of Kupe Muanenguba of government’s concern on the plight of rural women.
He implored them to be steadfast in their development drive insisting that the government machinery grinds slowly but steadily.
The DO challenged rural women of Ebonji in particular and the Division as a whole to continue in enhancing the ideals of peace and unity and to promote the notion of living together for no meaningful development can be achieved in wrangling. He called on all women groups to function within the ambits of the law and wished the women happy celebration.
Also present was the Regent Chief of Ebonji, Prince Mbembe Mbong Ngole.
Choral singing and traditional dances boost the ambiance of the celebration.
By Ngome Ernest
