A latest survey shows that Nigeria loses two point three billion dollars annually, to gender gap and bias in its Agrifood systems as the country commemorates the 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
This has sparked calls for more investment in women farmers, to address the gender disparities in Nigeria’s Agriculture sector as Rome based agencies of the United Nations meet at a ‘High-Level Dialogue and Farmers Market’ in Abuja
Women play a vital role across Nigeria’s agrifood system, they cultivate crops, manage livestock, engage in fisheries and aquaculture, process food, connect farmers to markets and help ensure household nutrition and food security. Yet they continue to face barriers in accessing land, finance, agricultural services, improved technologies and leadership opportunities.
The cost of this inequality is substantial. The gap has been estimated to cost Nigeria approximately $2.3 billion annually.
To change the narrative, Rome based agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, World Food Programme, WFP, UN Women, and United Nations Information Centre, UNIC, in collaboration with All Farmers Association of Nigeria, called for adequate investment on women farmers to boost food production.
With the theme “Advancing Women’s Leadership and Economic Power in Nigeria’s Agrifood System,” the event urges that for Nigeria to get it right in the Agrifood System, governments must use the International Year of the Woman Farmer as a turning point. Turning priority to recognition of women farmers, finance and investments that increase productive capacity, income, ownership and women leadership.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
