Women farmers and other stakeholders have urged the federal government to adjust this year’s budget provision for agriculture to enhance gender sensitivity and responsiveness and to address the myriad of challenges facing women farmers.
They made the call Sunday in Abuja at a roundtable organised by ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) in collaboration with the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), ONE, and the CAADP Non-State Actors Coalition (CNC) on the 2024 proposed agriculture budget.
The technical programme and data analyst of the Society for Empowerment and Self-reliance, Ambassador Ayo Omowu, said funding should primarily focus on engaging consultants or consultancy firms to assist women, youths, and farmers with disabilities in navigating the challenging access to credit in Nigeria.
He said the agriculture budget should be augmented by increasing line items for the implementation of the National Gender Policy in Agriculture, specifically addressing challenges unique to women farmers.
Omowu recommended making insurance readily available and easily accessible for all women farmers across communities.
“The federal and state governments should make substantial investments in rural roads, facilitating the transportation of agricultural produce and trade.
“Insurance products tailored for smallholder women farmers should target risk factors like rainfall, drought, pests and high temperatures.
“The federal government should allocate 10% of its annual budget to the agriculture sector, aligning with the 10% Maputo/Malabo Declaration required to support a minimum 6% growth rate for the sector, as outlined in the CAADP framework,” he said.
Abigail Danladi, representing the Miriangowfan Women and Children Foundation, stressed the need for investments in irrigation.
