Women seek FG’s support to enhance food production

THE National Woman Coordinator of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Enitan Onitiri and other women farmers have called for collaboration with the Federal Government and agricultural policy makers for sustainable farming practices and improved food security.

This is just as the women farmers cried out to President Bola Tinubu over lack of inputs like seedlings, livestock feeds and fertiliser to grow crops.

Onitiri, who spoke on behalf of the women farmers in Abuja, noted that food production would remain a mirage without adequate support from the Federal Government.

The women highlighted the need for targeted support; including access to land, inputs, financial resources and implementation of policies that would promote gender-inclusive agricultural practices which, according to them, would not only empower women but also foster economic growth and resilience in the agricultural sector.

She said with 80 percent of farmers in Nigeria being women, they play a crucial role in agriculture and remain committed to contributing significantly to the nation’s food production.

Onitiri said the association has strategically aligned its programmes and policies in achieving the set objective which will not only make food available, affordable and accessible but create jobs and reduce poverty among women and youths.

Onitiri told the president to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) and other agencies to work directly with farmers instead of going through middlemen.

“Mr President, we women, we are ready to work. We are ready to export our produce from the farm to other countries. Feeds are very expensive now.

“Most farmers are closing up because they cannot afford the feeds, especially feeds for livestock. We need this protein for our children so that they will grow well. We need these products so that we can stop eating frozen foods,” she said.

She added, “Agricultural business is not just the business of government but our business and that is why when Mr. President declared emergency on food security in Nigeria, which is in line with his eight-point agenda, we strategically aligned our programmes and policies in achieving the set objective which will not only make food available, affordable and accessible but create jobs and reduce poverty among women and youths.

Also, the special assistant to the AFAN Women Leader and Coordinator for Women in Agriculture in Southern Nigeria, Omolara Abati Svensson, appealed to President Tinubu to direct key agencies to collaborate with grassroots women farmers.

According to her, grassroots women farmers in Nigeria face challenges but are resilient and can turn agriculture into gold with support from the government.

Omolara said, “We’re not getting any support whatsoever from the government. We all know the stories. I speak for every single one of us. But because we are resilient, we are women of virtue; we take a little and we turn it into multiples from our pockets, so please, Mr President, work with us, we are the grassroot farmers.”