The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on President Bola Tinubu to give more support and prioritise the immense contributions of smallholder women farmers in the quest for food security in the country. The group in a letter addressed to the President Tinubu and signed by the group’s Executive Secretary, Sulaimon Arigbabu, says the President needs to be more intentional about giving due attention to the contributions of women into agriculture and other nature-based livelihoods.
HEDA urged the President to consider bigger and more ambitious public investment directly targeted at promoting inclusion and empowerment for women-owned enterprises and initiatives through key ministries of agriculture, women affairs, water resources, energy, marine and blue economy, and the environment. They also called on President Tinubu to take leadership of, and show strong commitment to the development of national policy frameworks and actions integrating gender equality into climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. Highlighting the significance of amplifying the voices of smallholder women farmers in decision making, the letter emphasised women’s indispensable contributions to Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
HEDA listed limited land ownership, inadequate access to finance and technology, and the burden of climate change, as some of the challenges facing women farmers in the country. It stated that the biggest challenge is the lack of adequate inclusion of women in decision making in agriculture and climate solutions, in spite of women having more ‘boots on the ground’ than men in these critical areas. In a separate letter to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, HEDA urged the initiation of a review of existing land tenure laws to identify and address discriminatory practices against women’s land ownership and inheritance, potentially through community sensitisation programmes. While lauding the governor for appointing a woman as commissioner for agriculture, HEDA further tasked Sanwo-Olu to do more to give smallholder women farmers a voice and a seat at every level of decision making.
Meanwhile, the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Country Director, Dr. Godwin Atser has stated that the organisation recognises the immense contributions women are making in agriculture; a sector where their dedication and innovation are often overlooked. “From managing small farms to leading agricultural businesses, women are a cornerstone of food security and rural development. As we continue to build a truly inclusive agricultural sector, we unlock a multitude of benefits. This includes unprecedented advancements in agricultural productivity and economic empowerment for women, enhanced food security and improved nutrition for families and communities, and the creation of a more resilient and innovative agricultural landscape”, he said. Atser called on all stakeholders – the government, development partners, agricultural organisations, and individual farmers – to join SAA in creating a space where women can flourish, their voices heard, and their contributions celebrated.
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