Women farmers voiceless in influencing agricultural policies – ActionAid Nigeria
NAN-H-30
Policies
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, Nov. 29, 2016 (NAN) The ActionAid Nigeria says Nigerian women remain the most voiceless in influencing agricultural and land policies in spite of their being the primary actors in agriculture sector.
Mr Oluwole Elegbede, Director of Finance and Acting Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, said this on Tuesday at the 3rd Annual Farmers Forum and inauguration of the organisation’s new executives in Abuja.
The forum was organised by ActionAid Nigeria and Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON)
He said that the forum was to increase small holder farmers’ capacity to demand pro-poor policies and their implementation.
Elegbede said the forum would strengthen the people’s action to hold government and corporate organisations accountable and enhance people’s access to quality services and outcome.
“We know that women in Nigeria constitute 60 to 80 per cent of the agricultural labour force but their access to agricultural related services of credit, inputs, technology, training and advice are limited.”
He applauded the officials of SWOFON for their relentless efforts and sacrifices towards steering the organisation to an enviable height.
“You are providing voice for small holder women farmers across the country.
“SWOFON is a vocal and visible pressure group that will continue to support small holder women farmers,’’ he said.
He described the organisation as a veritable platform contributing to rural economic development which ActionAid Nigeria was excited about.
Mrs Sarah Ypwa, the outgoing president, SWOFON, handed over to her successor, Mrs Mary Afan.
Afan, the new President, pledged to work together with the members of SWOFON to provide opportunities for small holder women farmers to push their demands.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SWOFON is a national level smallholder women farmers’ platform whose formation of members drawn from across 34 states with over 1,000 cooperatives. (NAN)
EPA/ADA/MST
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab/Muhammad Suleiman Tola