Gombe State chapter of SmallScale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria, has called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry in the state to support members of the organisation with timely distribution of matured seeds.
According to The PUNCH, SWOFON stakeholders made this disclosure on Thursday during the presentation of the community scorecard on smallholder women farmers’ access to Agricultural inputs, organised by Hope Foundation for the Lonely with support from ActionAid Nigeria.
The chairperson of SWOFON, Airudia Mamman decried the impact of lack of access to agricultural inputs in the state saying it has affected food production in the state.
She said, “The right time is now. We have started preparing for the rainy season. What is next? We expect seeds, we want mature seeds. We expect that the ministry will support us. It’s not everyone that has the money to buy early-matured seeds, that is why we want women to be empowered. When women are empowered it will improve the food production of the state, what we want is to get to zero hunger.”
Also, Programme Officer of HFL, Ballin James, while presenting the scorecard said smallholder farmers dominate the agricultural sector, adding that they produce 90 per cent of the output.
“Yet have difficulties accessing Agricultural inputs. Women make up 70 per cent of agricultural labour, 50 per cent of animal husbandry-related activities and 60 per cent of food processing activities,” Ballin said.
