At least 442 farmers from Kaduna and Katsina States, North West Nigeria, have benefitted from a four-day medical outreach organised by Rashak Farms and Agro Allied Limited which was held from 23rd January to 26th January 2024.
The outreach, which covered the four local government council areas of Igabi and Kauru (in Kaduna State) and Faskari and Dandume in Katsina State), according to the organisers, underscores Rashak’s commitment to community welfare, the need for attendees to prioritise health and invoking proactive health measures in line with the Sustainable Development Goals 3 (SDG3) which focuses on promoting healthy lives and well-being for all and the interconnection between health and agriculture in promoting a healthy and thriving community.
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation, Mrs Rahmah Aderinoye, the event was organised basically to highlight the global significance of Rashak Farms’ Medical Outreach Program in offering free health check-ups and consultations to smallholder farmers and its commitment to inclusivity, particularly reaching out to women and disabled individuals which resonates with SDG 3’s emphasis on leaving no one behind. She added that the outreach centred on addressing key health indicators such as high blood pressure, malaria and blood sugar are common among farmers and aligns with SDG 3’s targets for reducing communicable diseases in line with the broader agenda for transformative and sustainable development by 2030.
“Our unwavering commitment to farmer health and inclusivity ensures that no individual, including women and the disabled, would be overlooked or excluded from Rashak’s initiatives. We understand that key health indicators such as high blood pressure, malaria and high blood sugar are common among farmers and affect their productivity. What we are doing here aligns with SDG 3’s targets for reducing communicable diseases and it is in line with the broader UN agenda for transformative and sustainable development by year 2030,” she stated.
Communications Manager, Muhammad Isah, who commended the community leaders, stakeholders and partners for their support, said the event could not have come at a better time as Rashak would go to any length to make sure that farmers especially women are provided with every opportunity to excel in agricultural business. He however added that this can only be achieved when farmers are healthy.
“Our journey is steadily gaining momentum. Just last year, in October, we proudly launched our pioneering All-women Outgrower program in Jigawa. Furthermore, in December, we made history by securing a Sharia-compliant investment from A-Z Impact, a first for any agribusiness in Africa. Aligning with our mission, we are now extending our efforts by providing essential medical care for our farmers, starting this year in early January.”
Speaking on behalf of his counterparts and the beneficiaries, the village head of Kadisau, Faskari LGA of Katsina State, Umar Saidu, while praising Rashak for spearheading such initiatives, commended their pioneering role in promoting community development and cohesion. He also urged farmers and community members to remain proactive in seeking medical knowledge and prioritizing health above all else.
The trio of Fatima Rabiu, Veronica Augustine and Kasimu Shuaibu who represented the beneficiaries thanked the organisers for the attention it gives to their health and other empowerment programs they have benefitted from.
Rashak has been instrumental in transforming the lives of over 6,000 smallholder farmers in the past 8 years with emphasis on data-driven technology, sustainable agriculture and socio-economic development with a specific mission to empower women and differently-abled individuals in farming communities.