NAN-H-8
Women
By Martha Agas
Jos, Aug. 19, 2017 (NAN) Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), says bad roads, and lack of access to land among other factors are major impediments to women farming.
Mrs Mary Afan, the National President of SWOFON, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Jos.
She expressed worry that in spite of their fervent efforts to better their lives and support their homes, the existing impediments were frustrating their efforts.
“Even on foot, women farmers have challenges in getting access to their farms, thereby hindering the transportation of farm produce to markets. We are also handicapped as we do not have access to land.
“We are discriminated against, as women do not inherit land in our culture, they rent farmlands and sometimes the owners do not honour agreements.
“For example, your crops require two years to mature, but after a year, they demand to use their land.
“We are also constrained by access to information from service providers on researches on improved seedlings, weather conditions, how to prevent infestation of pests, right use of pesticides, among others,’’ she said.
She urged the state government to de-politicise access to some agricultural interventions and farm inputs like fertilizer and to ensure their timely distribution.
“The rural farmers are side-lined and the wrong people get assistance, hence our continuous poverty and hardship,’’ she lamented.
Afan said that SWOFON had paid several advocacy visits to the Plateau government which promised to allocate land in the three senatorial zones to the association to tackle cultural prejudices being suffered by women farmers.
She also advised that agriculture be made a priority to create jobs through the establishment of agro allied industries.
According to her, this will ensure increased Internally Generated Revenue for projects and rapid development of the country. (NAN)
MAA/HAS/EEE
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Edited By Hajia Sani/Ese E. Ekama