The International Fund for Agricultural Development-Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP), has disclosed plans to increase women participation in agriculture to 50 per cent before the programme wraps up in 2024. The Niger State Programme Coordinator, Dr. Mathew Ahmed, stated this at a one-day advocacy and sensitisation of traditional and religious leaders, on women empowerment in Bida, on Thursday. Ahmed informed that women empowerment would increase agricultural production to ensure food sufficiency in the state and the nation. Represented by the state VCDP, Rural Institution Gender and Youth Mainstreaming Officer, Hajiya Maimuna Ahmed, the Programme Coordinator said the development would create jobs and wealth as well as make food available to women to support their households. He said, “When the VCDP started in Niger, 38 per cent out of the 100 per cent of farmers participating in agriculture were women. “When the VCDP-Additional Financing (AF) started, the women participation reduced to 16 per cent, which made the VCDP come up with this advocacy and sensitisation. “The effort yielded good results because women participation had increased to 48 per cent. The VCDP has a target to increase it to 50 per cent before the end of the programme by December 2024. “There is the need to train the women in modern agriculture, support them with inputs, implements and infrastructure.” Also, Ahmed observed that, under the VCDP, many women are into rice and cassava processing and a few are into production, pointing out that some of the factors limiting women participation in agriculture were lack of support from their husbands, lack of access to farmland owing to cultural/traditional and religious affiliations in the state. On her part, VCDP Consultant and Resource Person, Prof. Abigail Jirgi, noted that the sensitisation targeted increased participation of women in decision making processes at any level. According to her, women empowerment in the various agricultural value chains would enable them to own resources and control them for a better livelihood. Her words: “We are calling for more women participation in agriculture because there are huge potentials in the sector. “If more women get involved or given the opportunity to participate in agriculture, we will produce more food in the country. “There will be more income accruing to households, there will be food and nutrition security.” Jirgi urged the three tiers of government and the society to work hard to change some societal norms in order to empower women in the various agricultural value chains
