2 months ago
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To ensure sustainable and safe agricultural production in Nigeria, AFEX and the Kaduna WEE Project have trained farmers in Kaduna on best agricultural practices.
In a statement released to PUNCH Online on Thursday, following the conclusion of a sensitisation campaign aimed at empowering female farmers in northern Nigeria, AFEX noted that the campaign is part of the WEE (Women Economic Empowerment) Project. This initiative promotes inclusion for women in rural Nigeria, focusing on providing essential resources to enhance capacity and food productivity in the country.
“Currently in Nigeria, women farmers produce 30 per cent less per hectare than their male counterparts due to fewer inputs and limited participation in extension services. They also tend to farm less valuable crops and employ less productive labour.
“Moreover, women in rural areas are more likely to be excluded from financial services. The World Bank reports that 37 per cent of women, compared to 46 per cent of men, are banked in developing countries,” AFEX said.
The statement explained that the WEE Project is a three-year pilot initiative funded by the Bayer Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It aims to increase women’s power and influence by removing barriers to work, enabling decent work, and supporting women’s enterprises to help women and girls thrive in the economy.
By leveraging existing partnerships in health and agriculture to create a sustainable model for women’s economic empowerment, the project focuses on improving access to agricultural inputs, expanding market opportunities, and providing adequate health services.
The two-day sensitisation campaign carried out by AFEX in Kafanchan, Kaduna, brought together key partners from the Kaduna State Women Economic Empowerment Project, Advantage Health Africa, Healthy Entrepreneurs, the Jennifer Etuh Foundation, and female farmer cooperatives to discuss the opportunities available through the WEE Project.
“Several female farmers were onboarded onto AFEX’s technology platform, WorkBench, and trained in global agricultural practices, crop management, and mitigation strategies.
“Attendees also had the opportunity to learn about the various offers from participating partners and ask questions about how to get involved,” the statement emphasised.
The Managing Director of AFEX Fair Trade, Kamaldeen Raji, said, “AFEX is committed to supporting the development of sustainable agricultural value chains in Africa. We believe that empowering women farmers is crucial to achieving this goal.
“The WEE Project provides a unique opportunity to leverage our expertise in agricultural commodity trading and market access to help women farmers in Nigeria overcome their challenges. By equipping them with the tools and resources they need to succeed, we can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable agricultural sector.”
Also speaking, the Project Coordinator for the Kaduna WEE Project, Mobolaji Adesanya, said, “We are excited about the success already achieved in this programme. This sensitisation campaign by AFEX was a great opportunity to connect with women farmers in our community.
“As we work towards transforming the lives of 30,000 female farmers, it is crucial to emphasise the importance of public-private partnerships to accelerate progress. By collaborating closely with stakeholders like AFEX, we will ensure that interventions are tailored to the specific needs and challenges faced by women farmers in rural areas.”
