From WILLIE ATTAH, Gombe
The proposed review of the National Gender Policy in Agriculture (2025–2030) and its strategic plan of action is targeting the promotion of equal opportunities and access to resources, services and programmes, irrespective of gender, to enhance food security and economic growth in Nigeria.
Although women represent between 60 and 79 per cent of Nigeria’s rural labour force, according to the Nigeria Gender Report 2012, males were five times more likely to own land for agricultural purposes than females, a situation that limited women’s ability to exploit land-based livelihood strategies, particularly in agriculture.
To change the existing imbalance in the agricultural sector, where males largely dominate in access to land, inputs, outputs, earnings and support services, ActionAid Nigeria, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, with support from AGRA and GIZ, convened stakeholders across the North-East in Gombe to review and strengthen the National Gender Policy to ensure inclusiveness and responsiveness.
This sixth review engagement meeting, held after similar exercises in the other five geopolitical zones, brought together participants from government, civil society, women farmers’ groups, youth networks, persons with disabilities and development partners.
In her opening remarks, Chairperson of the Steering Committee for the Implementation of the National Gender Policy in Agriculture at the North-East Zonal Consultative Forum, whose speech was presented by Blessing Akhile, Food and Agriculture Programme Advisor, ActionAid Nigeria, disclosed that the forum provided a vital opportunity to ensure that the voices of smallholder women farmers, young people and persons with disabilities were meaningfully captured in shaping a more inclusive and equitable food system.
She explained that since its launch in October 2019, the Policy had made significant progress in addressing gender gaps, promoting equity in access to resources and improving productivity across agricultural value chains.
According to her, “These efforts have contributed to food security, poverty reduction, and improved livelihoods for millions of Nigerians. Yet, as our food systems evolve, new challenges have emerged, making this review both timely and necessary.”
She commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for its leadership in working closely with the National Gender Steering Committee for the implementation of the National Gender Policy in Agriculture, chaired by ActionAid Nigeria.
She also appreciated development partners, particularly AGRA, GIZ, CARE, and others, for their invaluable support in the review process, adding, “Your partnership and commitment are strengthening our collective efforts to build a food system that is just, inclusive, and resilient.”
In her keynote address, the Director, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mrs Kachallah Zara Damaturu, acknowledged the disproportionate challenges faced by women and other marginalised groups in accessing resources, opportunities and decision-making processes in agriculture.
She urged participants to engage in robust discussions, share experiences and provide insights that would inform the review of the National Gender Policy in Agriculture, stressing, “Our collective goal is to develop strategic plans that will guide interventions from 2025–2030.”
Declaring the consultative meeting open, the Gombe State Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, Dr Barnabas Mallet, assured participants of Gombe State’s commitment to implementing the policy as soon as it is released.
He pointed out that the Governor Muhammadu Yahaya administration had demonstrated a gender-friendly posture in the agricultural sector.
According to him, “Governor Inuwa is gender-sensitive, as women, persons with disabilities, youth, and student groups have always been beneficiaries in the distribution of fertiliser and other farm implements, as well as other agricultural activities.”