The Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, University of Ilorin, Prof. Opeyemi Ayinde has advocated gender equity in the adoption of technology and innovation for female farmers.
Ayinde made the call in Ilorin while delivering the 251st Inaugural Lecture of the university, entitled: “The Risk of Not Taking Risk in Agricultural Innovation and Gender Inclusivity.”
She pointed out that gender inequalities exist in accessing resources such as lands, credit, agricultural inputs, innovation and technology, education and extension services.
The don, who teaches in the Faculty of Agriculture, observed that considering gender as critical factor in agricultural research is related to agricultural productivity, food security, nutrition, poverty reduction, and empowerment.
“In all of these cases, women play a critical but often less recognised role and face greater constraint than men.
“Women are powerful agents of change and continue to make significant contributions to sustainable development despite existing structural and socio-cultural barriers,” she said.
The expert stated that men and women have unequal access to and control over key productive resources.
“This inequitable access to productive resources partly stems from the general perception that women’s contributions are negligible in mainstream agricultural policies and research agendas,” she said.
The expert in agriculture underscored the need to respond effectively to impacts of shocks in agriculture, adding that there is a need to design interventions that address the needs of the respective gender groups.
According to her, there is also need to include gender in agricultural research so that the system can identify ways to address the problem and contribute productivity.
The don advised government at all tiers to promote financial innovation and enhance access to agricultural credit for small scale farmers in Nigeria.
