The Justice, Development and Peace Initiative (JDPI), Catholic Diocese of Katsina, has organised a capacity building and empowerment workshop for women as part of its efforts to address food insecurity, economic hardship, and household vulnerability across communities in the Diocese.

The initiative, titled “Campaign Against Hunger and Hardship,” focused on equipping women with practical skills in home based agro processing and safe farming techniques to promote self reliance, improve household food production, reduce post harvest losses, and strengthen community resilience.

Empowering Women Through Practical Skills

The multi day training brought together women from various parishes and communities across the Diocese. Participants received practical instruction aimed at improving agricultural productivity while providing them with skills that can be applied within their homes and communities.

A major component of the programme was home based agro processing, where participants were trained on ways of transforming locally produced farm commodities into value added products.

The training explored practical methods of processing grains, tubers, and other agricultural produce into products such as flour, pastes, and preserved food items. These methods can help extend the shelf life of farm produce while creating opportunities for additional household income.

Training in Safe and Sustainable Farming

Participants were also introduced to safe and sustainable farming techniques, with emphasis on practices that promote food safety, environmental responsibility, and improved agricultural productivity.

The training included guidance on safer handling of agricultural chemicals, organic soil fertilisation, crop rotation, and efficient water management.

The practical knowledge is expected to assist beneficiaries in adopting safer approaches to food production while contributing to the protection of the environment and the sustainability of agricultural activities.

Promoting Financial Literacy and Women's Enterprise

The programme further incorporated basic financial literacy and enterprise development.

Participants were introduced to basic bookkeeping practices and cooperative formation strategies designed to help them manage and develop home based agro processing activities as viable small scale enterprises.

The initiative seeks not only to improve food production but also to strengthen the economic capacity of participating women by equipping them with skills that can contribute to sustainable household livelihoods.

Women as Agents of Community Transformation

Organisers emphasised the important role women play in household food production, food preparation, agriculture, and the economic wellbeing of families.

Community leaders and diocesan representatives encouraged the beneficiaries to regard the knowledge acquired during the training as “seeds of transformation”, urging them to apply the skills in their homes and communities and to share their knowledge with other women.

The participants were also encouraged to work collectively, support one another, and explore opportunities for cooperative initiatives that could strengthen food security and economic resilience within their communities.

Faith Based Response to Hunger and Hardship

The Campaign Against Hunger and Hardship reflects the Diocese's broader commitment to addressing the underlying causes of poverty and food insecurity through practical empowerment and skills acquisition.

Rather than focusing solely on immediate relief, the initiative seeks to equip vulnerable communities with sustainable skills that can strengthen household livelihoods, improve food security, and promote greater self reliance.

Through programmes such as this, the Justice, Development and Peace Initiative continues to contribute to the Church's mission of promoting human dignity, social justice, sustainable development, and the integral wellbeing of communities across the Catholic Diocese of Katsina.