SWOFON wants agric policy that will reduce vulnerability among women farmers

By Ahmed Ahmed

The Small Scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON) Bauchi State advocated for a gender Agricultural policy that would reduce vulnerability among women farmers.

Hajiya Marka Abbas, State Chairperson SWOFON made the call at a one day interactive forum on the 2021 World Food day, title “Better Production, nutrition, environment and life on Wednesday in Bauchi.

She said the gender agricultural policy is also expected to drastically reduce the vulnerability of small holder women farmers to various gender bias vices in agriculture.

“As well as bridging the gender gap, the State ministry of budget and economic planning should ensure that the ministry of Agriculture implements what was budgeted for women farmers in the state.

“To also ensure gender equality through periodic impact analysis of all agricultural policies, programmes, on small holder women farmers to also eliminate all forms of cultural, religious and gender bias in agriculture”

“The government should also review the land use act to address the issue of gender discrimination in land ownership and provide appropriate life saving technology for small holder women farmers,” she said

The Chairperson added that the government should support women farmers with training on nutrition and other sensitive agricultural programmes at the household level.

Hajiya Abbas also called on the state government through the State Ministry of Agriculture to create a budget line for the funding and implementation of the National Agricultural gender policy.

In a remark, Mr Jidauna Tula, Commissioner Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that commemoration of the 2021 World food day was timely and apt, considering the prevailing food insecurity in the country.

“That was compounded by the COVID-19 global pandemic and its effect on the food value chain as well as climate change across the country, which also affected farmers’ ability to produce.

Represented by Alhaji Yakubu Abdullahi,the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, reiterated the commitment of the government to support Small holder women farmers in the state,

He pointed out that the interactive forum will avail the women farmers the opportunity to brainstorm the actions to be taken.

Earlier, Hajiya Maryam Garba, Executive Director Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative in Bauchi said the government has been supporting women farmers in the state through the provision of farm inputs, training and funding.

Our correspondent report that the interactive forum was organised by Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative and supported by actionaid.