The leadership of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has endorsed the newly-formed Nigeria Women for Agricultural Progressive and Development Initiative (NWAPDI) and called for increased support and encouragement for women to engage in agricultural productivity for national development.
Last Tuesday, Omolara Svensson, National Coordinator and President of NWAPDI, announced the organization’s withdrawal from AFAN due to poor inclusion of women in AFAN’s activities and ongoing leadership disputes within the association.
In a show of solidarity and support during the Train-the-Trainers workshop on safety and security for women farmers in the North Central Zone, AFAN President Arc. Kabir Ibrahim emphasized the importance of supporting women farmers to boost food production and achieve food security in Nigeria. He praised the focus and reliability of women in agriculture, noting that AFAN would seek their involvement in future initiatives.
Omolara Svensson welcomed AFAN’s endorsement, explaining that NWAPDI’s withdrawal was necessary to enhance agricultural productivity in Nigeria and ensure greater involvement of women in the sector, from production to processing and trade. She assured that NWAPDI would collaborate with AFAN once its leadership issues were resolved to ensure food sustainability and economic viability in agriculture across Nigeria and Africa.
Svensson also urged the Federal Government to prioritize the security and safety of women in agriculture. Acknowledging current efforts to ensure food security, she stressed the need for capacity building for women farmers to guarantee their safety on farms and in processing plants. NWAPDI has initiated training on safety and security for women in agriculture across all states, starting with workshops in Abuja for the North Central Zone and Lagos State for the South West Zone.
She highlighted the importance of safety and security training, noting that 42% of NWAPDI’s work focuses on these areas. The training aims to equip women farmers, processors, and traders with the necessary knowledge and orientation regarding safety and security. Svensson announced that the training would expand to other zones, including South South, South East, North East, and North West, to ensure comprehensive coverage and improvement in agricultural safety and security practices.
