SWOFON Calls for women Inclusion in Gov't Agricultural Programs in Jigawa

By Hydar R. Ali, Dutse

The Small Scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON) has urged the federal and state governments to include women in their agricultural programs and interventions.

The call was made during a two-day capacity-building workshop organized by SWOFON in Dutse on January 21-22, 2025.

According to Hajara Adi, SWOFON's program coordinator and monitoring and evaluation officer, the organization promotes gender equality and empowers small-scale women farmers to take control of their livelihoods.

Adi noted that one of the key challenges SWOFON addresses is post-harvest losses, which affects many smallholder farmers, particularly women, in Nigeria.

Petunia Dorothy Kefas, SWOFON's national treasurer, stated that Nigeria loses an estimated N3.5 trillion annually to post-harvest losses, which hinders the country's food security and economic development.

Kefas emphasized that SWOFON advocates for increased funding for the agricultural sector, especially for small-scale women farmers. The organization also provides training and support to enhance their productivity and income.

Malama Ramatu Dahiru, Jigawa state SWOFON secretary, stressed the need for small-scale women farmers' inclusion in the state's agricultural budget. She also advocated for timely budget release and allocation of a percentage for women farmers.

According to Dahiru, over 13,000 women farmers in Jigawa state engage in crop production across 27 local government areas.

Engr. Bashir Musa, director of agric services at the state ministry of agriculture, acknowledged women's significant contributions to crop production despite facing challenges. He advised women to continue advocating for their rights to access necessary resources.

SWOFON has criticized the low allocation of funds to the agricultural sector in Nigeria's budget, deeming it inadequate to support smallholder farmers' needs.

Overall, SWOFON plays a vital role in promoting the interests of small-scale women farmers in Nigeria and advocating for policies and programs that support their empowerment and economic development.