Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted the importance of gender inclusion in the Tinubu-led administration’s ‘Renewed Hope’ Agenda during the National Gender Policy in Agriculture Forum in Abuja. The Minister, represented by Oluwatoyin Alade, the Director of the Department of Human Resources, emphasized the commitment to invest in food security, climate change, and increased gender participation.
Kyari outlined the ministry’s interventions, including fertilizers distribution, employment generation, and support for affordable food, as part of the broader strategy to enhance food security. The National Gender Policy in Agriculture Forum addressed the need for gender-focused policies to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development.
ActionAid Nigeria urged international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) to collaborate in implementing the National Gender Policy in Agriculture. The organization emphasized the importance of bridging gender gaps in the agricultural sector and advocated for INGOs to actively support key objectives outlined in the policy.
Azubike Nwokoye, Food and Agriculture Programme Manager at ActionAid Nigeria, presented a political economy analysis, emphasizing that effective implementation of the National Gender Policy could close gender gaps in agriculture, boost output, and foster economic growth. The recommendations included setting up State Gender Steering Committees, investing in small processing facilities, and addressing gender-based discrimination in land access.
Women farmers’ representatives, including the Small-scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), emphasized the need for policy implementation, increased budget allocation (50%) to women farmers, and addressing challenges faced by women in the sector. The participants called for equity and inclusivity in agricultural policies to enhance food production.
The Minister of Agriculture affirmed the government’s commitment to socio-economic empowerment, recognizing the pivotal role of women in agriculture. The call for collaboration, policy implementation, and gender-sensitive initiatives underscores the shared objective of achieving sustainable food security in Nigeria.
