The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, has eulogized women farmers for their resilience as the powerhouse for food production in Nigeria despite various challenges in the country.
Abubakar made this known during a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja by the National Gender Steering Committee led by the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, Ene Obi.
The minister assured that the ministry is ready to support women farmers with assistance needed in order to boost productivity amidst daunting challenges, especially, with the worrisome situation of insecurity.
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He recounted that the inauguration of the National Gender Steering Committee by his Ministry in 2021 was aimed at ensuring visibility and awareness, to mainstream gender into climate change for people with disabilities, access to input for women amongst others.
He commended the committee for its great achievement by translating the National Gender Policy in local languages to the understanding of local farmers and ensured the domestication of the policy in some States.
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Abubakar went on to disclose that the ministry has forwarded the commitment to implement eight out of the 11 objectives of the policy, which aligns with the mandate of the committee to the World Bank through the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning for necessary action.
Also, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, appreciated the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, and the Executive Director Development Research and Project Center, Judith-Ann Walker, for their commitment over the Committee.
The Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi, while delivering her speech called for women farmers’ access to single digit interest loan facilities, noting that it is now time to create a budget for small scale women farmers to be able to access Central Bank of Nigeria, and credit facilities at single digit rate.
