The women wing of All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, AFAN has a bright
idea on how the government can successfully win the war against food
insecurity and sustain the success. The group believes that they should be
made an element in a partnership that would involve the government and
officials charged with implementing policy decisions. According to the
group, this is the panacea for sustainable farming practices and improved
food security.
This suggestion was made by Mrs. Enitan Onitiri, women leader of AFAN,
while speaking with journalists in Abuja. Onitiri was at the media briefing
along with other women of the association. Though the women are not
canvassing for separation from the parent body, they made the request
because according to them, 80 percent of farmers in Nigeria are women.
The women believe that every support given to women would be a step in
the right direction. They, therefore, said that massive food production would
remain a mirage if the government does not give adequate support to
farmers.
As far as the women farmers are concerned, the support from the
government should include giving farmers access to farmland, granting
them agricultural inputs, as is being done now across the country by the
present administration. But it is clear that the women farmers want the
government to increase the support, and then given special attention to
women. Onitiri said her group would appreciate it if the government would
ensure that financial resources approved for farmers get to them and that
policies get implemented to the letter. Such policy implementation, she
said, should be gender-inclusive, designed to empower women as well as
foster economic growth and resilience in the agricultural sector.
She said that women play crucial role in agriculture and remain committed
to contributing significantly to the nation’s food production in line with the
Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration and also bring the
desired objective to the declaration of emergency on food security.
She said that 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.
Special assistant to the women leader and coordinator for women in
agriculture in southern Nigeria, Omolara Abati Svensson, also appealed to
President Bola Tinubu to direct key agencies to collaborate with grassroots
women farmers.
She urged for the President’s intervention to ensure that necessary
resources and support reach these farmers, while emphasising the urgent
need for the Bank of Agriculture, the ministry of agriculture and food
security and other institutions to work directly with the AFAN women
chapter for improved food production.
