Women farmers under the auspices of Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) has lamented the inadequacy of support from government and stressed the need for proactive effort to address such inadequacy.
At a 2-day workshop organized for the women farmers by Trust Africa funded project which is aimed at advocating for government commitment to the Malabu declaration which Nigeria is a signatory, the women farmers also lamented the lack of equipment and machines for processing, storage facilities and the lack of transportation amenities.
The workshop which was also an interface meeting between SWOFON and government representatives in accessing government intervention in various value chain programs in Kaduna State.
It was also aimed at sensitizing the Women farmers on government programs and rate government intervention that will help to increase production.
Challenges identified by the service providers include funding, inadequate manpower, inadequate logistics, insecurity of farmers and un-timeliness of intervention. On the part of the service users where the women farmers belong, challenges such as inadequacy of support in terms of inputs and technical support such as poor information spread, insurance, stiff critiria for accessing land and funding among others were also identified.
In their assessment at the end of the workshop using laid down indicators, the women farmers who are service users scored the government bad in terms of private sector engagement, public Private partnership, access to credit and information services.
The women farmers numbering about 22 randomly picked from across the local governments in the state also scored the state government very bad in the area of infrastructural development, innovation and technology, and inclusion.
In the area of organization and linkage, the women scored the government good and okay in the area of enabling policies, regulation and institution.
In their various contribution, the state coordinators of SWOFON, Hannatu Soni and Agera Temileti all commended the Trust Africa funded project for an opportunity provided them to voice out their challenges.
On their part, Aisha Abba from the Ministry of Agric and forestry and Deborah L. Yusuf Head of women in Agriculture in KADP also lauded the workshop and it’s organizers.
One of the women farmer who participated at the workshop, Rhoda Gaya said, she is committed through farming to contribute to the economy growth of the nation, but stressed the need for governments assistance
No comments:
Post a Comment