Group Advocates Bigger Budget, Better Tools for Women Farmers in Kwara
A coalition of agricultural advocacy groups has called on the government to increase funding and targeted support for women farmers in Kwara State, stressing that they remain the backbone of local food production but continue to receive inadequate support.
The Budget Committee Group (BCG), in partnership with the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), made the demand during an advocacy visit to key agricultural stakeholders in the state.
Speaking during the visit to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s office in Ilorin, Mr Abdurrahman Ayuba, Coordinator of the Scaling Up Public Investment in Agriculture (SUPIA) project, said the time has come to prioritise women in agriculture.
“Women farmers are not just helping in food production; they are the ones putting food on our tables every day. Yet, they are often left behind in terms of budgetary support and access to farming inputs,” he said.
Ayuba acknowledged the ministry’s previous support, especially in equipment provision to SWOFON members, but insisted that more needed to be done to bridge the gender gap in agricultural investments.
The Acting State Coordinator of the ministry, Mrs Faith Agu, promised that women farmers would not be sidelined in upcoming programmes. “We will ensure they benefit from every opportunity available,” she said.
The advocacy team also visited the Kwara State Agricultural Development Project (ADP) office, where Ayuba criticised the state’s proposed 2025 agriculture budget, describing the 0.97 percent allocation as grossly inadequate compared to the previous year’s 1.49 percent, and far below the 10 percent commitment agreed under the 2003 Maputo Declaration.
“There’s an urgent need to provide irrigation facilities to support dry season farming, especially with climate change already affecting yields,” he stated. He also called for investment in storage and processing facilities to reduce post-harvest losses and boost food security.
SWOFON State Secretary, Alhaja Titi Ade Salami, stressed the need for gender-friendly technologies that could ease farming burdens for women. “Many women still use crude tools. Government should budget for equipment that women can use without risking their health or safety,” she said.
Dr Khadijah Ahmed, Managing Director of Kwara ADP, assured the groups of continued support, pledging to keep women farmers informed about available government programmes and interventions.
The BCG, through its annual analysis of the Kwara State agriculture budget, aims to promote transparency and push for increased investment in rural farming communities.
The project is part of ActionAid’s SUPIA initiative and includes 12 partner organisations working across the state.
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