The federal government has restated its commitment to supporting women farmers in Kwara as part of efforts to strengthen food security in the state. The pledge was made by Faith Agu, director at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Kwara, during an advocacy visit by the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria and the Budget Committee Group.
Ms Agu said the ministry is ready to give women farmers access to empowerment programmes and government support schemes that promote sustainable agriculture and improved yields. She noted she was aware of inputs distributed to SWOFON members in other states and urged members in Kwara to be patient as more interventions are expected.
She added that upcoming programmes of the ministry would also involve persons with disabilities to ensure inclusive agricultural development and equal access to national farming opportunities.
In his remarks, Abdurrahman Ayuba, coordinator of the Scaling Up Public Investment in Agriculture project under ActionAid, said women are often sidelined in agricultural planning despite their important role in food production. He appreciated past interventions from the ministry but called for more targeted efforts that directly address the needs of women farmers.
Ayuba said more attention should be given to climate-resilient agriculture, irrigation technology for dry-season farming, and strategies to reduce post-harvest losses through improved processing and storage systems. He explained that these areas are essential for long-term food security and economic stability.
During a visit to the Kwara State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, the team was received by administrative officer Aminah Jidah, who reaffirmed the state government’s support for livestock rearing and production. She said L-PRES is prepared to assist women involved in livestock activities and also train those who want to venture into the sector.
Ms Jidah explained that the project conducts periodic training sessions to keep farmers updated on livestock practices. She noted that 30 per cent of training slots are allocated to women, describing it as proof of the project’s gender-balanced approach. She encouraged women farmers to reach out to L-PRES whenever they need support to increase productivity.
Earlier, SWOFON coordinator Modupe Suleiman called for targeted support to meet the practical farming needs of women. The Budget Committee Group, made up of 12 organisations under the SUPIA project, continues to review annual budgets to push for inclusive agricultural financing in Kwara.
