Palm Valley NG

COMMEMORATION OF WORLD FOOD DAY AND LAUNCH OF WOMEN PROCESSING CENTERS We recently celebrated the WORLD FOOD DAY under the WOFAN ICON2 Project in our project locations with the Theme "Right to Food for a Better Life and Future". the speakers spoke on the theme ‘empowering Women and Smallholders: The Cornerstone of the Right to Food’. they Emphasized on the critical role of women in achieving food security, encouraged the production of healthy and nutritious food and Praised Palm Valley Nigeria Limited for setting up the processing centers. It was also an event to launch the 2024 women processing centres to empower women with tools and facilities for processing agricultural produce and promote food security.

FROM WASTE TO WEALTH: MASTERING PROCESSING, PACKAGING, RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT We recently held a series of transformative training sessions across Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Benue States in Nigeria, focused on processing, packaging, recycling, and waste management. Our goal was to equip our community partners with the skills they need to boost agricultural productivity and sustainability. Throughout these sessions, we explored everything from improving product quality to adding value through enhanced processing techniques. Participants learned better methods for rice parboiling, sorting, drying, and milling. We also emphasized the importance of packaging, discussing how it helps with preservation, safety, freshness, and even branding. One of the most impactful aspects of our training was the focus on reducing post-harvest losses. We zeroed in on recycling and waste management, particularly with rice husk. Our participants discovered how rice husk can be transformed into briquettes for sustainable energy generation. This not only reduces waste and carbon emissions but also prevents landfill overflow, boosts productivity, and creates new income and job opportunities within the communities. We also encouraged knowledge sharing among community leaders to extend the benefits even further. By fostering collaboration, we’re ensuring that the skills gained will continue to make an impact long after the training is over. Additionally, we highlighted the importance of utilizing processing centers to maximize efficiency and productivity. Through these comprehensive sessions, we empowered our partners with the tools and knowledge to drive economic growth, promote environmental sustainability, and contribute to overall community development.   #WasteManagementMastery #SustainableFuture

LAUNCHING AND CEREMONIAL OPENING OF YEAR 2 WOMEN PROCESSING CENTERS We officially commissioned the 2024 women makeshift/processing centers for business operations. The purpose of this event was to introduce the center's services and capabilities to stakeholders and raise awareness about the WOFAN ICON2 project support for agricultural development. Community partners and surrounding areas now have access to fully equipped agro-processing centers, solar boreholes and solar poles. One of the focus session discussed was the sustainability plans for the processing centers. Attendees includes: - Government officials - PVNL Board Chairman - Traditional leaders - Religious leaders - District/Village heads - Mega cluster leaders The event aim to Increase visibility for the WOFAN ICON2 project and makeshift centers and raise awareness to encourage increased patronage at the centers. The event successfully highlighted the importance of the processing centers and the role of everyone in supporting agricultural development with traditional dancers adding colour to the event.

GOLDEN HARVEST: FARMERS BROWN FIELD DAY Hurray! Hurray! Harvest is Here. We recently held Brown Field day across our project locations. It was a day of celebration and learning, a day that marked the culmination of months of hard work and dedication. The air was filled with excitement. This year, the focus was on demonstrating the concept of mechanization at harvest. It was meticulously planned to showcase how modern machinery could revolutionize the harvesting process, making it more efficient and less labor-intensive. Community partners from all over our project locations came together, eager to enhance their capacity and skills on best practices during harvest. They learnt how to use various machines that could save time, labor and cost. The techniques they learned promised to improve crop quality and boost productivity and profitability. A crucial part of the training was teaching farmers how to track the water content in their crops using the Moisture Meter. This knowledge was essential to ensure optimal dryness and avoid mold during storage. The Farmer’s Brown Field Day had not only demonstrated the power of mechanization but had also strengthened their skills. The farmers left with a sense of accomplishment and a vision for a more productive and profitable future. ...And so, as the harvest season continue, the lessons learned on this special day would resonate through the communities thereby ensuring a bountiful and prosperous harvest for all.

BOOSTING AGRO-PRODUCT SALES FOR A STRONGER LOCAL ECONOMY We recently held step-down training sessions across our project locations to enhance the marketing skills of our community partners. These sessions focused on key marketing principles and strategies to help boost Agro-product sales in local and regional markets. Training Highlights: - Comprehensive understanding of marketing goals. - Developing tailored marketing plans. - Exploring market stages and product evolution. - Introducing the Marketing Mix (6Ps): Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, and Process. - Customer segmentation techniques. - Conducting and utilizing consumer taste panels. Methodologies Used: - Training: Theoretical insights and case studies. - Group Discussions: Sharing marketing experiences and challenges. - Role Plays & Simulations: Practicing marketing strategies. - Hands-on Exercises: Creating marketing plans and conducting taste panels. Continued support and capacity building are essential to overcoming challenges like market access and financial constraints, ensuring lasting improvements in farmers' livelihoods and the local economy. Together, we're empowering our community partners to thrive!

EMPOWERING LEADERS FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE We recently organized a capacity building training for Mega Cluster and Super cluster leaders across Kaduna, Benue, and Nasarawa States. This training focused on participatory monitoring and evaluation, and the establishment and management of a community-led inputs revolving scheme. Key topics included record-keeping, leadership and engagement strategies, and weekly activity reporting. This initiative aims to enhance the capacity of cluster leaders to take ownership of processing centers, promoting transparency and community engagement in the WOFAN ICON2 Project. By strengthening leadership structures, improving collaboration, and fostering community ownership, we are ensuring the long-term success and sustainability. Through workshop, group discussions, role-playing, and practical exercises, leaders are now equipped with the knowledge to manage the processing centers and equipment , maintain transparency, and ensure regular communication and progress tracking. Together, we are building a brighter future for our communities!

FROM DRUDGERY TO EFFICIENCY: A TRAINING SUCCESS STORY We organized a special training session across our project locations to train our community partners on simple labor-saving tools for harvest and post-harvest operations and promote their adoption to increase efficiency and reduce drudgery. The training adopted a participatory approach. Technical experts demonstrated the tools, followed by practical sessions. The outcomes of the training includes awareness on the importance of these equipment, their use and maintenance. Many expressed a strong interest in adopting the tools, indicating a positive shift toward mechanization. The training was a success, laying a strong foundation for the adoption of mechanization. Our community partners were empowered with new tools and skills thereby positioning them to improve their harvest outcomes, reduce labor intensity, and enhance their livelihoods. The training marked a significant step toward a more efficient and sustainable agricultural future.

PALM VALLEY COMMEMORATES WORLD PEACE DAY! We commemorated the International Peace Day on September 21, 2024, across Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Benue States in Nigeria. Our event, "Cultivating a Culture of Peace through Sustainable Agriculture," highlighted the vital role sustainable farming plays in fostering peace, reducing poverty, and ensuring food security. We aimed to empower smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, to become agents of peace and economic growth by educating people about the link between sustainable agriculture and peace, promoting environmentally friendly farming practices, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. Our forum brought together a diverse group of panelists, including representatives from state governments, the Peace Commission, conflict resolution experts, farmer representatives, community partners, herder representatives, ICT experts, security agencies, community leaders, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and media representatives. We also gifted wheelchairs to persons with disabilities, promoting inclusivity. This commemoration showcased the power of sustainable agriculture in creating a peaceful and prosperous future for all. By working together, we can make a real difference in our communities and cultivate a culture of peace that benefits everyone.

At Palm Valley, we're transforming lives and communities through the WOFAN ICON2 Project! As we implement this initiative, lives are transformed, families are fed, and the future becomes surer for young farmers - there's no greater reward than witnessing this positive change, empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders. #PalmValley #WOFANICON2 #FarmersEmpowerment #SustainableAgriculture #TransformingLives

EMPOWERING WOMEN: AGRA ACTION PLANNING WORKSHOP On August 23, 2024, the serene Doko Hotel, Niger State buzzed with excitement as 55 women processors from 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) gathered for an Action Planning workshop. As the workshop progressed, the women reviewed the progress made from 2022 to 2024. They celebrated significant achievements, such as increased production efficiency due to new technologies, enhanced skills from training programs, and expanded market access that led to better pricing for their products. However, they also discussed the challenges they faced, including market fluctuations and brainstormed solutions to overcome the obstacles they encountered. The feedback collected during the workshop was invaluable, providing insights that would refine and enhance future plans. By the end of the workshop, the women felt empowered and optimistic about their future. They understood that with the right skills, resources, and support, they could achieve economic stability and contribute to the development of their community.