Mainstreaming Gender in Agriculture, Farmers Aggregators Initiative Of Nigeria, Sets to Empower Women as October 2024 Summit Draws close
By Genesis ogiri, Abuja
In its avowed determination to ensuring the protection and advancement of the social rights of the feminine gender, the FAIN has unveiled a comprehensive plan and Roadmap for the sustainable empowerment initiatives that will enhance the economic status of women in the country.
It is well known that women face significant barriers in accessing funding, technical support, and business capacity development opportunities in the agriculture sector. These barriers have hindered their ability to grow sustainably and fully participate in the economic development of our country.
According to the CEO, Mr Cornelius Agenyi, the program seeks to transform the role of women in agriculture value chains in Nigeria, to increase incomes, improve climate resilience, and transform their livelihoods.
He explained that the initiative will extend beyond the provision of Resources for them but also encompasses training programmes that will be conducted by experts to equip women for various aspects of farming, livestock rearing, and small-scale industries. “The goal is to empower women to not only generate income but also become self-sufficient entrepreneurs, capable of supporting their families”, the CEO added.
CEO assured that FAIN will continue to foster collaboration for the upliftment of the lives of women in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration.
FAIN is working in collaboration with major Stakeholders to ensure transparency, proper coordination and implementation
The program will identify unique and innovative farming business ideas with demonstrable social impact.
FAIN will also provide non-financial technical assistance on gender equality, human rights advocacy, business and management, and climate-smart agriculture. Additionally, customized technical assistance will be provided through collaboration
The program will foster partnership and close coordination with multiple stakeholders, including business membership organizations, community-based organizations, women’s rights organizations, financial institutions, and government ministries, including agriculture, women’s affairs, commerce, and cooperative development.
Thursday Newsway Media gathered from the press release that, agriculture remains a crucial sector in the Nigerian economy, accounting for 25 percent of the GDP and employing a significant proportion of the workforce. However, the sector is yet to recover from the recession that hit the country in 2020.
" The sector Faces challenges, particularly concerning gender disparities. Women, who form a substantial part of the agriculture workforce, often encounters barriers that limits their productivity and economic empowerment
" Today, we acknowledge these challenges and we are committed to transform them into opportunities. Gender mainstreaming in agriculture business is not just about equal access to resources and opportunities; it's about recognizing the pivotal role play in the Food security, poverty alleviation, and economic growth.
Mr.Cornelius maintained that, to achieve meaningful progress in the area of food security in Nigeria, women must be rightfully place in line with the sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) that talks about gender equality, because women form the integral part of the food value chain.
It is in line with this that the Farmers Aggregators Initiative of Nigeria chose the theme for this Year's summit tagged " Achieving sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Through Mainstreaming Gender Inclusion in Rural Agriculture Value Chain Addition.
In a statement issued to Newsway Media, during the press conference, the CEO called on Nigerians to keep hope alive as the local Organizing Committee has been constituted with a mandate to plan for a summit in October 2024.
The strategic partners , Stakeholders, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of women affairs who gave us official endorsement, with other collaborators who indicated interest to work with us and women drawn all over the Federation are expected to attend this National Summit.
The CEO , Mr. Cornelius Agenyi, noted that the submit Seeks to give Nigerian women Access to Resources like lands , finance, inputs and Technology. Capacity Building, through training and skills development and Management
Market access to women, efforts must be made to integrate women into agricultural value chain and provide them with market information and opportunities.
Also, the summit will advocate for policies that will promote gender equality in agriculture, Supportive legal frameworks and institutional mechanism that will protect woman rights. More so, Research and Data is needed on gender dynamics in agriculture to inform evidence -based politics and intervention.
Mainstreaming gender in agriculture business is not just a matter of social justice; it is a smart economics. Let us work together to create an inclusive agricultural sector where women and men contribute equally and reap the benefits equitably
