Nasarawa State Women Farmers Seek Training on Modern Farming Techniques

In order to increase food production, a coalition of women farmers in Nasarawa State has urged the state government to engage more extension workers and build the capacity of women farmers in the areas of modern farming techniques.

This was disclosed in a press conference by the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in collaboration with Ogbonge Women, the Small Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria (SWOFON), the Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), and other women’s organizations in Lafia the state capital.

Mrs. Ruth Joseph of SWOFON highlighted the need for the government to enhance the capabilities of women by providing them with access to information about climate change, as well as new and improved seeds.

“I want to appeal to the government to engage more extension workers to reach out to women farmers and build our capacities in the areas of modern farming. Women are hardworking and ready to contribute their quotas to food security,” she said.

Similarly, Justina Bala from ASSAPIN highlighted that women are highly susceptible to the effects of climate change and emphasised the need for the government to provide assistance to them in order to help them cope with its impacts.

“As small-holder women farmers, whenever you are hit by the impact of climate change, it leaves us helpless. When your farm is being washed away, it affects your livelihood, and it makes the cost of living high because items in the market go up,” she said.

Patience Oomegho, a volunteer in the community-based agricultural extension, described the land tenure system as one of the greatest issues impeding agriculture and income generation for rural female farmers in Nigeria.

“So, we are saying that the government at all levels and traditional rulers should look into this problem regarding women owning land. They should develop policies that will enable women to have access to land given that women contribute a lot to food security,” she said.

While remarking, Mrs. Patricia Onoja from Ogbonge Women urged the government to remove obstacles that impede women farmers from accessing loans, and asked for a larger budget allocation for agriculture and interest-free loans to increase their production. Women farmers raised issues concerning security, highlighting their fears of herders and kidnappers.

They urged the government to ensure the safety of women, particularly rural women farmers. At the press conference, Mr Ango Adamu, Executive Secretary of YMCA Mada Hills, announced that the event was part of the “Together Against Poverty” (TAP2) project, supported by Oxfam Africa.

The goal is to garner government and ministry support for female farmers so that they can reach their aspirations through farming-related activities and the agricultural value chain. Such support will also help to strengthen their quality of life, bolster their resilience, and ensure their voices are heard.

“It’s also about recognising the role played by women farmers in food security despite the challenges of inadequate and discriminatory tendencies around farm input distribution, inadequate access to land, and other agricultural support services,” he said.

Agro Nigeria / Foluke Ibitomi