By Muhammad Amaan
The World Food Programme (WFP) says investing in women farmers is part of investment in Nigeria’s agriculture, an ambition to generate greater prosperity in the country.
The WFP Deputy Country Director, Edouard Thiam, said this on the sideline of a High-level Dialogue and Farmers Market in commemoration of the International Year of Women Farmers (IYWF) on Thursday in Abuja.
Thiam identified women as making significant contribution to the country’s agricultural sector.
He said there was a need to strengthen their contributions through higher production, higher incomes and greater value within the agricultural economy.
He said the programme in recognition of their contribution prioritised buying locally when there was need by purchasing food from Nigerian farmers.
According to him, by purchasing locally that investment remains within the country, adding that it keeps markets active, expands rural employment and reduces dependence on food brought in from elsewhere.
“Women farmers must be part of that growth. So, our work in northern Nigeria will continue to connect immediate needs with longer term economic opportunity.
“It will also support farmers to produce more, earn more and build stronger livelihoods,” he said.
Also speaking, Programme Manager, UN Women, Mr Peter Mancha, said women account for 50 per cent of Nigeria’s population but were sidelined across all sectors.
He specifically noted that in the economy, private sector women are performing greatly, adding that they account for 70 per cent in agricultural workforce.
Mr Mancha said Women dominate agriculture production at the grassroots level but remain poor because they are denied access to land which is a major aspect of production.
He identified other challenges confronting the farmers as insecurity, lack of access to credit facilities, enabling environment, policies, subsistence farming among others.
Mancha said women farmers needed an enabling environment to thrive and create the kind of development the country desire.
“When you empower a woman, you empower the nation. Any woman you empower that benefit will replicate even beyond her immediate family So, it is a smart approach to invest in women,” he said.
He tasked stakeholders on policies, programmes, investment among others that could transform rural women from subsistence farming to commercial farming.
Mancha urged them to build women farmers’ capacity in the area of climate- smart agriculture, technological innovation that would enable value addition in their produce.
He urged government at both national and sub-national levels to incorporate women in budget preparation to adequately address their challenges.
