Don canvases polices, services to boost women farmers' productivity

The Head of the Department of Agronomy, University of Ilorin, Dr Oluyemisi Fawole, has canvassed the development of gender policies and services designed to encourage women farmers boost their productivity.

Fawole, made this submission on Tuesday at the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Role Modelling Event, which took place at the university.

She said developing such policies would enhance agricultural productivity and profitability, guarantee food security and reduce poverty in the country,

Fawole presented a seminar paper titled: “Advancing Women in Agriculture: Roles of Education and Research.”

The Agronomist observed that despite the significant roles and contributions of women in the agricultural sector, they were confronted with socio-economic constraints that limited their productivity.

These constraints, according to her, include limited access to the essential elements of farming, resources and credit, information and technology, education and training, among others.

Fawole, a lecturer in the Faculty of Agriculture, pointed out that although women constitute a large portion of the farming population, women's possibilities in agriculture were hindered by formal and traditional rules.

"Existing evidence from small-scale studies across the continent documents the numerous disadvantages that women face in accessing the same resources, training, markets and opportunities as men," she said.

All of these, she noted, had negative effects on agricultural productivity.

In order to address these disparities, the don then advocated the application of education and gender responsive research to tackle “the barriers that hold back the productivity of women farmers.

She added that this could enhance gender equality and usher in a broader economic growth.

“Education will make women more equipped, skilled and able to compete with men to take advantage of the better income-earning opportunities.

“To increase the productivity of female farmers, gender responsive research that goes beyond the farming system and examines the entire food value chain is required,” Fawole added.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Gabriel Olatunji, expressed delight at the substantial number of female academics in the University.

He said the event was put up to show “to the world what women can do and do better.”

According to him, the African agricultural sector must increase its responsiveness to the needs and contributions of women if it is to be effective and sustainable.

Ambali stated that cultivation of high potential African women scientists would prove vital in addressing urgent needs of small holder farmers.

He pointed out that solutions would be achieved with the full scientific community men and women working together.

"The University management looks forward to many more AWARD Fellows from among the female academic staff," he said.

In his remarks, the Director, Academic Planning Unit, Prof. Olubunmi Omotesho said, “AWARD is a game changer in empowering African women scientists to accelerate agricultural development in the continent.”

He said , “today in the Faculty of Agriculture, we have made significant progress in terms of having about 30 female academic staff; for a long time, it was just one or two.”

“AWARD is out to change the situation and empower women to contribute more to the process of agricultural development in Africa.

"I want us to be able to raise many more AWARD fellows from among the many academic staff that we have here. It is a very competitive process but we can do it,” he said.