By Emeka Ugwuanyi
International organisations and stakeholders in the agricultural sector gathered in Abuja to brainstorm on how to enable women have greater access to funds and opportunities that would boost their earnings and ensure increase in their participation and output in agriculture to boost food security in Nigeria.
The event was African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR’s) Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) Project Inception Workshop. It featured the launch of African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network Nigeria (AWARFA-N). The workshop was organised by African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Workshop drew representatives from the United States Agency for International Development(USAID), Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations(FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD).and other stakeholders in Agriculture sector to discuss financing support for domestic food production, reduction of food security challenges caused by economic, climate, and political uncertainties in Nigeria.
The participants also discussed about strengthening institutional capacities and commitments to implementing gender inclusion and equality policies in the country.
To hear from the horse’s mouth, the forum invited female livestock farmers to share challenges they face, which also hinder other women from going into cattle rearing and mini dairy businesses.
To Dr Otto Vianney Muhinda, who is the Team Lead of Food and Agriculture, Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (FAO-ECTAD), development support was critical to strengthen women-driven small and medium private-sector enterprises in livestock because they are important key to sustainable prosperity in the economy.
Muhinda noted that strengthening feed and fodder support was critical to Nigeria’s food supply and overall economy, saying that women will make the difference by giving them greater access to financial resources, quality farming inputs and market access.
According to him, FAO acknowledges women’s work and that increased opportunities for them in the sector can significantly impact agriculture-driven growth.
In her remarks, the Chairperson, African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network ( AWARFA- N), Dr. Chinyere Ikechukwu- Eneh, stressed that if the government wants to make great progress in its efforts to achieve the goals of the food security implementation plan, involving more women would be a bold step on the path of prosperity.
According to her, the ultimate aim of AWARFA- N is to reach a greater number of women and provide entrepreneurship opportunities for them.
She explained that the potential of the livestock industry is yet to translate into enormous business and job opportunities, and that carries enormous implications among which is forfeited economic growth.
To bridge this gap, Ikechukwu- Eneh emphasized the need for the organization’s engagement with international development partners to prioritise addressing the problem in order to put the country on a sustainable path to economic recovery and prosperity.
Moving forward, she assured that the organisation draw a comprehensive approach and prioritise it to aid in removing barriers to women’s participation in the agribusiness.
AWARFA-N is the Nigerian Chapter of the African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network. AWARFA-N was established by the African Union Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources in Cairo, Egypt, July 2018. Its membership cuts across the agriculture value chains such as dairy, poultry, aquaculture, apiculture, small ruminants, piggery and related crops that serve as raw materials for animal feed.
Its objective is to identify investment opportunities for women-led enterprises in livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and apiculture value chains.
