The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women farmers in Kwara State to enhance food security.
Mrs. Faith Agu, Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Kwara, made the pledge while receiving members of the Smallscale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON) and the Budget Committee Group (BCG) during an advocacy visit.
Agu said the ministry is ready to provide women farmers with opportunities to benefit from empowerment programmes and various government support initiatives. She emphasized that women farmers are a core segment of the agricultural sector, producing food primarily for domestic consumption, and their growth and development must be prioritized.
“I am aware of inputs distributed to SWOFON members in some states, and I urge Kwara members to be patient. Future ministry programmes will also include Persons With Disabilities to ensure inclusive,” Agu said.
Mr. Abdurrahman Ayuba, Coordinator of the Scaling Up Public Investment in Agriculture (SUPIA) project under ActionAid, acknowledged the vital role of women in food production but noted that they are often sidelined in agricultural planning and support. He called for more targeted interventions, particularly in climate-resilient agriculture, irrigation for dry-season farming, and post-harvest loss reduction through improved processing and storage facilities.
At the Kwara State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), the Project Administrative Officer, Mrs. Aminah Jidah, assured women farmers of state government support for livestock rearing and production. She highlighted periodic trainings offered by L-PRES, with 30 per cent of participants being women, as evidence of the programme’s gender-balanced approach. Jidah encouraged women farmers to seek assistance from L-PRES whenever needed to boost productivity.
SWOFON Kwara Coordinator, Mrs. Modupe Suleiman, also called for targeted support to meet the specific needs of women farmers, ensuring food sufficiency in the state.
The BCG, comprising 12 organizations under the SUPIA project, conducts annual budget reviews to advocate for inclusive agricultural financing in Kwara State.
