Professor calls for support for women farmers in Nigeria

A professor of agricultural economics at Kwara State University, Malete, Taibat Yusuf, has called on Nigerian leaders to remove barriers that stop women from fully participating in farming.

Mrs Yusuf made this statement during the 23rd Inaugural Lecture of the school. The lecture was titled, "Empowering Women Farmers in Nigeria: Closing the Gender Gap for Agricultural Transformation and Food Security."

With over thirty years of experience in research, the professor said it is important to empower women farmers. This will help improve farming output, strengthen food security, and reduce poverty in Nigeria.

She urged the government to change inheritance laws. These changes should guarantee women's rights to own and inherit land, no matter their marital status. She also suggested promoting joint land ownership for married couples.

Major obstacles

According to her, unfair land ownership rules are a big problem. These rules make it hard for women farmers to access credit, farming supplies, and other resources they need.

Mrs Yusuf also called for more gender-friendly agricultural financing. This financing should include microcredit schemes that do not need land as collateral.

She said banks should create loan products that fit the needs of women farmers. Also, digital financial services should be expanded to support women in remote areas.

The professor also suggested changes in agricultural extension services. This includes hiring more female agents and offering flexible training times that consider women's home responsibilities. Mobile platforms should also be used to give farming advice in local languages.

She mentioned that investments in rural water supply, electricity, and childcare would help ease the unpaid domestic work women do. This would free up more time for farming and agribusiness.

She also recommended better access to machines and tools that ease work for women farmers. These tools should be designed to meet their specific needs.

The professor highlighted the need for adult education, farming training, and cooperative groups. These will help women improve their management skills, use new technologies, and strengthen their negotiating power.

She called for policies that support income diversity through off-farm jobs, agro-processing, and entrepreneurship. She noted that better roads, electricity, and communication technology would help rural families better cope with farming challenges.

She also asked the government and private companies to grow contract farming and credit programs through partnerships. These programs should give farmers reliable markets, resources, and funding. There should also be investments in storage, transport, cold-chain facilities, and market information systems to cut food waste and help women farmers make more money from their produce.

She mentioned the need to promote eco-friendly farming technologies. This includes using moringa-based organic fertilizers through farming extension services and cooperative networks.

The professor urged communities to grow moringa to ensure a steady supply of raw materials for making the organic fertilizer.

On policy matters, she called for mandatory gender impact assessments for agricultural programs. There should also be more women in policy committees, agricultural boards, and farmers’ unions.

She asked for budgetary provisions specifically for gender-responsive agricultural investments. Stronger monitoring systems should also be set up to check their impact.

Addressing the bigger issue of poverty and food insecurity, Mrs Yusuf said agricultural policies must connect with national poverty reduction strategies. Food security cannot be achieved without considering jobs, education, and healthcare.

She pointed out that about 140 million Nigerians live below the poverty line. Coordinated efforts across different sectors are now urgent. Closing the gender gap in agriculture is not just about fairness. It is also a key strategy for changing Nigeria’s agricultural economy and improving national food security.