Women farmers in Kwara state, under the aegis of the Small Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria (SWOFON), have presented
their needs, meant for inclusion in the state 2025 budget, to the management of the state Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) through the Women In Agriculture (WIA) department.
Speaking on behalf of the women farmers during the presentation , the state coordinator of the organization and the secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth Ndako and Titilayo Salami, respectively, said that
the request for agric gender-friendly machines was aimed to make work easy and simple and as well reduce the labour cost on the farm.
The women farmers, who also included request for equipment for women farmers with disability, asked the state government to provide bore holes and pumping machines on their farms for easy irrigation.
The SWOFON officials similarly requested the state government to include in the 2025 agric budget, “training and education on adaptive farming techniques, specific training programmes for farmers with disability and accessible agricultural information and resources (e.g audio
description, Braille materials).
“Our request also include; Power Tiller: Instead of waiting for tractor, we will use the tiller for plough. Harrow and diggers, Planters, Weeding machine: Grass cutting machine: These machines can be used in the cassava, cash
crops plantation, etc.”
“For RICE PROCESSING, we will need Paddy Huller Machine, The de-stoner, Rice polishing machine,
Packing machine and sealer for easy packaging.
“For GARRI PROCESSING: Grinding machine and Jack.
“For the farmers with disability: Flashing light for safety signal (e.g Tractor backup alerts) for farmers with hearing impairment, adaptive tools with tactile markers (e.g raised lines, different textures), Trained guide animals for mobility assistance, Protective clothing and gear (e.g hats, gloves, sunglasses) for sun protection, and modified equipment controls (e.g. joystick controls, pedal-operated
tools).”
Responding after the presentation of the request, the Managing Director Kwara ADP, Dr. Khadijat Ahmed assured that the requests would be passed to appropriate quarters for possible inclusion in next year budget.
She also informed the women farmers of such opportunity of an upcoming training programme on how to prolong storage and shelf life of soya bean cake, packaging, among other activities of the agency at Women in Agriculture (WIA) unit.
Also speaking, the Director, Women in Agriculture (WIA), Mrs. Elemosho Rafat, said such training programme would equip the women farmers with knowledge on how to export processed agriculture value chain products outside the country with aim of increasing sources of their income.
The agric officials, who encouraged the women farmers to attend the programme, said that they should step down the knowledge acquired during the training among their members.
In his remark, the Coordinator, Scaling Up Of Public Investment in Agriculture (SUPIA) project, Mr. Abdurrahman Ayuba, said the advocacy visit to the ADP is a collaborative efforts among the organizations to see to improved inclusion of stakeholders in agriculture budgeting, improved agriculture production and ensuring food sufficiency in the state.
Oyenike Oyeniyi
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