The Agriculture and Allied Employees' Union of Nigeria (AAEUN) has trained 50 women in Kwara State on farming in a bid to boost their interest in the vocation and enhance food production.

State chairman of the union, Comrade David Ehindero, stated in Ilorin that the training programme has been endorsed by LEAH Charity Foundation, a non-governmental organisation founded by the Kwara State First Lady, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed.

He said with the partnership, more women would be trained especially on vegetable farming, and commended the wife of the state governor for throwing her weight behind the initiative.

"I think it is good synergy that could propel us to do more. For a reputable non-governmental organisation like the Leah Charity Foundation to pick interest in what we are doing speaks volumes," he said.

Ehindero noted that AAEUN decided to focus on women because it felt they (women) should be encouraged to progress in farming business like their male counterparts.

He revealed that the Kwara State Government has also allotted land to AAEUN in furtherance of the project take-off. "The all season farming exercise for the first batch of 50 trainees now have land to commence farming operation while Leah Charity Foundation has equally promised to not only support the training of the second batch of 50 women, but also create market for their farm produce after harvest," he added.

While praising Leah Charity Foundation for its partnership, Ehindero stressed that they are poised to deliver when it comes to agriculture training towards checking the scourge of unemployment and to boost food production.

He therefore urged government at all levels in Nigeria to embrace the use of organic fertilizer so as to reduce the toxicity in our edible food in the country.

"We are determined to assist the government in promoting this initiative of organic produce so that our people can eat and live healthily," the chairman added.