Agricultural Budget: Women Farmers Seek Inclusion

Women farmers are seeking inclusion in the Agricultural Budget while calling for gender equality during its execution. 

The Smallholder Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON)-affiliated women farmers have advocated for gender equality in the execution of agricultural budgets at all levels of government, citing the fact that 75% of farmers in Nigeria are female.

During a "Public Dialogue on Gender-Responsive Agriculture Policy" hosted by SWOFON and the International Budget Partnership, the association's National President, Mary Afan, requested this on behalf of other women farmers.

Afan noted the necessity of including female farmers in the formulation and execution of national budgets to increase food production and security.

The SWOFON president observed that despite the number of people who rely on Nigerian farmers for their food rising, the majority of Nigerian women farmers continue to operate their farms using outdated equipment.

She noted that socioeconomic repercussions of insecurity and flooding across the country have led to a decrease in crop yields and revenue for women farmers and that it was now essential to mechanize fields. 

According to Austin Ndiokwelu, the Country Manager of the International Budget Partnership, agriculture is the second-largest contribution to the nation's GDP, accounting for nearly a quarter of the total.

Additionally, Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) stated that small-scale women farmers make up 60% of Nigeria's farming population and produce 70% of the country's food supply.