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Plateau Govt cultivates 6,000 hectares of land for displaced communities
The Plateau State Government in its efforts to resettle communities displaced by crisis across the state, has commenced cultivation of 6,000 hectares of land for the upcoming farming season.
It also said it would provide seeds to farmers across the state in order to improve agricultural yield and reduce hunger to the barest minimum.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Samson Bugama while flagging off the cultivation of six thousand hectares of land particularly for displaced communities in the state, held in Mangu LGA.
He said the intervention, tagged, ‘Mechanisation Service Provision Intervention’, was targeted at communities affected by unrest and cluster groups across the state.
“Today we will be engaging the field, you can see the tractors are ready and so also all the staff of the Agric Training Service Centre and Marketing Ltd (ASTC) are equally ready.
“The strategy is to be able to see how we can provide mechanisation services to communities that have been displaced in our quest to see how we return people to their livelihoods that the crisis has taken out of the place they understand and do business.
“Governor Caleb Mutfwang in his magnanimity has decided that we engage about six thousand hectares of land, we will see how we can exceed six thousand hectares across the state.
“And we will be providing seeds for those places that have been cultivated; so that we will see how we will bring bumper harvest as we return people to their livelihoods,” he explained.
According to him, “Our priority is to start with communities that are displaced. But as much as resources allow us, we will be able to extend to the other communities; but our major goal is the resettlement of displaced communities to their livelihoods.”
On the safety of the farmers and their crops, Bugama said, “As you can see now we have the Agro-Rangers with us, and in those communities they have self-help groups that they have setup, that give early warning signals for those kinds situations, that we are going to utilise.
“This time around, we are going to ensure that government’s intervention is not wasted, we are setting a monitoring system, where we use modern technology to check incursions into such communities and we will see how we improve the system moving forward.
“But I must tell you that Governor Caleb Mutfwang is bent on ensuring that our people return back to their livelihoods. All these services government is providing are free and the seeds are also going to be free.”
Dr. Susan Bentu, Managing Director and CEO of ASTC, expressed gratitude to Governor Mutfwang for approving the mechanized cultivation intervention. She outlined the comprehensive plan for the cultivation, which will span four weeks and cover various zones in Plateau State. “In the Northern Zone, we will cultivate areas including Jol (Riyom), Sho (B/Ladi), Wereng & Kwi (Riyom), and more. The Central Zone will see activities in Mangu, Pankshin, Bokkos, and others, while the Southern Zone will focus on Wase River, Shendam Dam, and additional areas.”
Bentu detailed the crops targeted in each zone, with maize and potatoes in the Central and Northern Zones, and rice in the Southern Zone. “ASTC is a household name, not just in Plateau State but across Nigeria. We support farmers of all scales, from small-scale to large-scale operations,” she said. “Our services, including mechanization, are designed to enhance food production and empower farmers.”
Looking ahead, Bentu emphasized the sustainability of ASTC’s efforts. “We aim to raise self-sufficient farmers who are financially stable and capable of providing food for the populace. This initiative aligns with our vision and the state’s mission of ensuring a green and prosperous Plateau.”
The response from the communities has been overwhelmingly positive. “Last year, we covered 900 hectares; this year, we are tripling our scope,” Bentu noted. “This intervention reduces production costs for farmers and directly benefits them, empowering those at the grassroots.”
The Plateau State Government’s farming intervention marks a crucial step towards rebuilding conflict-affected communities and enhancing food security. With strong leadership from Governor Mutfwang and effective implementation by ASTC, the state is poised to see a significant boost in agricultural productivity and community resilience.
Menopause, the natural stage marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years, can significantly affect bone health and increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures due to declining oestrogen levels, a medical expert has said.
Although menopause has important health implications, it remains a frequently overlooked issue within Nigeria’s sexual and reproductive health and rights framework.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), menopause occurs when a woman’s menstrual periods stop permanently because of declining levels of oestrogen and the loss of ovarian follicular function. As a result, the ovaries stop releasing eggs for fertilisation, making natural conception no longer possible.
Common symptoms associated with menopause include hot flushes, night sweats, irregular menstrual flow, vaginal dryness, pain during sexual intercourse, urinary incontinence, sleep disturbances, mood changes, anxiety and depression.
Perimenopause refers to the transition period leading to menopause and extends until one year after the final menstrual period, while postmenopause begins after a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without menstruation.
In Nigeria, women generally attain menopause around the age of 48 and above as part of the natural ageing process.
Menopause and bone health
Speaking with PT Health Watch, Qudus Lawal, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, said menopause disrupts hormonal balance, leading to increased bone breakdown and reduced bone formation.
According to him, while nearly all women experience some degree of bone loss after menopause because of declining oestrogen levels, not all will develop osteoporosis or sustain fractures.
He explained that bone density before menopause plays a major role in determining a woman’s risk of osteoporosis later in life.
Using a financial analogy, Mr Lawal described bone health as a balance between deposits and withdrawals.
“The stronger the bone density a woman builds before menopause, the better protected she is against the accelerated loss that occurs afterwards,” he said.
Why bone loss increases after menopause
Mr Lawal explained that oestrogen normally suppresses osteoclasts, the cells responsible for breaking down bone tissue.
However, when oestrogen levels fall after menopause, these cells become more active, while osteoblasts, the cells responsible for building new bone, are unable to replace bone at the same rate.
This imbalance gradually weakens bones and increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
Maintaining healthy bones after menopause
Mr Lawal recommended a combination of proper nutrition, regular exercise and preventive healthcare measures to maintain bone health after menopause.
He advised women to consume balanced diets rich in calcium and vitamin D, engage in weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises, and take steps to prevent falls.
“When you take foods and supplements that are rich in those essential nutrients, it helps build the bone,” he said.
He stressed the importance of early intervention, noting that bone density loss is often silent and may not produce symptoms until complications occur.
“One of the ways people present is that they grow shorter. Normally, once you get to a certain age after puberty, you are not supposed to grow shorter.
“But many of our mothers begin to lose height over time, which may result from age-related spinal degeneration and bone loss,” he said.
According to him, many women only become aware of significant bone loss after suffering fractures.
“The fracture can be due to a fall, sometimes a little push that you normally have without having symptoms. Just a little trip in the bathroom could lead to a major fracture,” he added.
READ ALSO: Women demand fertility, menopause coverage in workplace health insurance – Report
Mr Lawal noted that in some countries, bone density screening forms part of routine wellness checks for postmenopausal women, helping identify individuals at high risk and allowing for early intervention.
He urged women to adopt healthy lifestyles and prioritise bone health long before menopause.
According to him, the goal is to ensure women build and maintain strong bone density before menopause to minimise the impact of hormonal changes later in life.
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