Stakeholders in Kaduna on Thursday said cooperative farm hubs, mentorship programmes and improved access to land are practical measures to accelerate women’s participation in agriculture.
They highlighted these measures at a policy dialogue organized to mark International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026 in Kaduna.
It was reported that discussions at the dialogue focused on strategies for implementing the Kaduna State Gender Policy in Agriculture 2026–2030.
The event was organized under the Policy and Agricultural Systems Strengthening (PASS) project, supported by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), with technical assistance from Synergos.
The Commissioner for Youth Development, Gloria Ibrahim, said agricultural hubs where women farmers operate collectively could significantly reduce production costs and boost productivity.
According to her, farm clusters allow women to pool resources, access land collectively and benefit from shared inputs, equipment and extension services.
“When women cultivate farmland together in a hub, they are able to reduce production costs and support each other in improving their output,” she said.
Ibrahim added that collective farming structures could also improve market access and strengthen the bargaining power of women farmers.
She also emphasized the importance of mentorship programmes to guide younger women seeking careers in agriculture and agribusiness.
According to her, mentorship enables emerging female farmers to learn from experienced professionals who can guide them on opportunities, risks and practical pathways to success in the sector.
Ibrahim further urged media organizations and digital content creators to highlight success stories of women farmers in order to inspire greater female participation in agriculture.
Earlier, the Executive Director of Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LEADS), Esther Ahuwan, noted that the state’s Gender Policy in Agriculture was designed to address structural barriers limiting women’s access to productive resources.
READ ALSO: Ondo L-PRES trains 1,000 livestock farmers on modern techniques
She said that although women constitute a large share of the agricultural workforce, many still face challenges in accessing land, finance, improved inputs, extension services and markets.
Ahuwan explained that the policy promotes gender mainstreaming in agricultural planning, budgeting and programme implementation across relevant government institutions.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kaduna State, Mr Kabiru Salihu, said the association was restructuring its leadership framework to ensure greater inclusion of women and young farmers.
Salihu said AFAN was currently establishing executives across the state’s 23 Local Government Areas and 255 wards to strengthen farmer representation.
He disclosed that about 2,700 farmers had so far been registered in the state under the exercise, including approximately 700 women.
According to him, AFAN is also collaborating with development partners to expand training opportunities for women farmers.
In general, the stakeholders called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, farmer groups, development partners and civil society organizations to foster effective implementation of the gender policy in agriculture.
