International Fund for Agricultural Development-Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP), announces it would increase women participation in agriculture by 50% in Niger before it winds up in 2024.
Dr Mathew Ahmed, the State Programme Coordinator said that the measure would increase agriculture production to ensure food security of the state and the nation. The process would create jobs and wealth as well as producing food for the women to support their households.
“When the VCDP started in Niger, 38% out of the 100% of farmers participating in agriculture were women. When the VCDP-Additional Financing (AF) started, the women participation reduced to 16%, making the VCDP to come up with this advocacy and sensitisation. The effort yielded good result because women participation had increased to 48%. The VCDP has a target to increase it to 50% before the end of the programme by December 2024,” he said.
Factors militating against women participation in agriculture
He further noted that the exercise would ensure more women participation in agriculture to enhance their livelihood. Under the VCDP, many women were into rice and cassava processing while a few are into production.
Ahmed said that some of the factors militating against women participation in agriculture were lack of support from their husbands. Others include non-access to farm land owing to cultural/traditional and religious affiliations in the state.
Prof. Abigail Jirgi, VCDP Consultant and Resource Person, said that the sensitisation would ensure participation of women in decision making processes at any level to better their lot. Jirgi said that women empowerment in the various agricultural value chain would enable them own resources and also control the resources for better livelihood.
“We are calling on more women in agriculture value chain 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 incomes accruing to households, there will be food and nutrition security,” said Prof. Abigail.
The IFAD-VCDP is a collaboration among Federal Government, IFAD and nine participating states of Anambra, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa, Taraba and Ogun. There are currently 33,200 VCDP farmers in Niger spread across the eight benefiting local government areas of Bida, Katcha, Kontagora, Shiroro, Edati, Borgu, Wushishi and Mokwa.
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