How we see the agricultural landscape and its drivers in Nigeria is changing. After decades of ignorance, women in agriculture are finally coming into the spotlight. The government and many other organizations are helping to empower female farmers in Nigeria. This article will reveal how these efforts shape the country’s more inclusive agricultural future.

In this article, you will learn about the vital aspects of women in agriculture in Nigeria.

Contribution of Women in the Agricultural Economy of Nigeria

The current situation for female farmers in Nigeria

International and Non-Government steps that are changing the situation for the better

Success stories relating to female farming from across Nigeria

What the Government is doing to help

Nigeria is an agriculture-dependent country. This sector provides a vast number of jobs for the economy. However, we have yet to learn about the driving force of this sector. It is women in Nigeria’s agriculture sector. In the country, women provide 70 percent of agricultural labor. They also supply 50 percent of labor for animal husbandry-related activities. And 40 percent of food processing-related activities.

This significant contribution by women in Nigeria has been around for a while. Almost 60% of the families in Nigeria had females involved in agricultural activities. This is according to a 2010 report by the World Bank. This shows women’s level of contribution in this sector for a long time. 

Source: Above Whispers

Female farmers in Nigeria face many challenges despite their significant contribution. The biggest challenge for them is the lack of resources. Vital resources like land, Finance, and technology are inaccessible to them. The traditional norms make it harder for women to access large plots of land or get loans. 

Another massive barrier for female farmers is training and access to proper education. Local communities have made combined efforts in this regard. But, reaching female farmers in rural and underserved areas has been a big problem. 

Women also face barriers to reaching profitable markets. The value chain marginalization of female farmers is a big challenge. But, government and non-government attempts are being made to solve this problem.

Many international and local non-government organizations are trying to change the status quo. Their efforts are concerned with empowering female farmers in the country. They are providing them with resources and conditions that help them.

Heifer International focuses on collective farming enterprises among women. Through self-help groups, it builds trust and moral support among women. The female farmers receive training, capital, and market opportunities. These groups can help them enhance market reach and scale their production.

The Initiative for Gender Empowerment and Creativity organizes the climate-smart shea processing facility. This program helps female farmers to add value to their products. It helps them produce and market shea butter in their facility. This way, they get more in return than selling raw nuts at a minimal price. This kind of empowerment is helping female farmers achieve economic independence.

Global Affairs Canada funds a program called Investing in Women in Nigeria (IIW-Nigeria). This program focuses on business management and gender equality. It provides women in Kano State with financial grants and non-financial help. This program helps women transform their roles in agriculture and business operations.

The Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture (NAWIA) empowers female farmers through education. This program provides resources to help women engage in agriculture. These resources include capacity building, training, and sensitization programs. They also help women and girls know about opportunities in agri-business and entrepreneurship. 

CARE International, an NGO, works to maintain gender equality in Nigeria’s agriculture. Its programs focus on providing women with training and resources to enhance productivity.

The Story of Saudatu Yakubu tells the story of a smallholder farmer in Nigeria. She shifted from traditional farming practices to modern ones. She did so with the help of HortiNigeria. Due to this transition, she was able to increase her yields in cabbage farming. Her success made these modern farming practices more lucrative to her fellow farmers. This tells us about how education can transform lives in this field.

The First Lady of Nigeria started “Every Home a Garden” to encourage first-time female farmers. The winner will receive a prize of 20 million Naira. The very first edition of this competition was set in 2023. The winner, along with getting a large prize, also gets highlighted. This is a crucial breeding ground for success stories for female farmers in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Government is enacting various policies to empower these female farmers. Understanding the importance of women in agriculture, they are introducing policies accordingly. They have introduced the National Gender Policy to promote gender equality in Agriculture.

FarmerMoni is the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) initiative. This initiative will help female farmers by providing them with accessible financing. It offers loans worth N300,000 to N2,000,000 that are repayable over six months.

The Smallholder Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria (SWOFON) works with the government. It helps the government budget so that female farmers’ needs are considered. This organization works with partners like the International Budget Partnership (IBP). Together, they have made great strides in securing inclusive budgeting.

Women are a crucial driving force for agriculture and farming in Nigeria. Their contribution cannot still be overlooked. The level of contribution female farmers have made has been without any support. So, imagine what it could be if they got support. The government is finally realising its worth. They are trying to empower them because of their contribution to the economy. Through this empowerment, Nigerian women can reshape the Nigerian Agriculture scene.