Involve women in all agric sector policies – Minister

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan, has called on all tiers of government to include women in all policies in the agriculture sector since they constitute about 50 percent of Nigeria’s population as well as provide about 60-70 percent of the labour force in the rural areas thereby contributing  about 70 percent to the agricultural sector.
Senator Alhassan, who made this statement during her courtesy visit to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi 11, to inform him of her plans to implement  laws and policies that would encourage the welfare and well-being of women, children, persons with disabilities (PWDs), the elderly, and other vulnerable groups especially in Kano State, noted that mainstreaming gender into the agric sector was imperative.
 The minister, who was represented by her senior assistant, Engr. Abubakar Umar, said mainstreaming gender into the agric sector informed the focus of her advocacy on women in agribusiness and agro allied products in Kano State. 
The minister urged the emir to support them in the area of sensitisation and mobilisation of women at the grassroots on the need to engage in agribusiness;  intervene in advocating for gender sensitive policies/programmes of government; help to solicit for increased government agribusiness funding; and solicit for his support for land ownership by women; amongst others.
The emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was represented by Walin Kano, Alhaji Mahe Bashir Wali, said women and children were important to the state which made them a priority to the emirate, which created a section to cater for their affairs.