From Khadija Ishaq-Bawas
Farming used to be traditionally viewed as a male-dominated occupation, with little input from women in supporting their families to grow crops and raise livestock. However, lately, a lot of women are breaking the bounds of this notion and engaging in agricultural production across Nigeria, despite gender-related impediments.
For Bilkisu Yahaya, a happily married, all-year-round rice and onion smallholder farmer in Birnin-Kudu local government area (LGA) of Jigawa State, the challenges are numerous; however, the main worry lies in gaining access to the market for the end product after the whole hard work that had been put in.
Bilkisu started farming by borrowing pieces of farmlands. She eventually used her inheritance to purchase her own land; now she develops about two acres of rice farm in her Chimadara paddy.
Bilkisu, who lamented the security situation of the area says sometimes she is scared traversing the area alone, which is why she is always accompanied by her male relatives.
Hence, the Small-scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), has, in its latest charter of demand, called for access to free and subsidised farming inputs, grant support, gender-friendly machinery, storage facilities and adequate community policing for smallholder women farmers in Nigeria.
If realised, for farmers like Bilkisu and Maryam, it will not only make a huge difference for their occupation but will go a long way to inspire more women farmers, thereby enhancing food security and the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), by extension.
