Nigeria may struggle to overcome food insecurity unless women farmers gain better access to land, affordable credit, modern technology and agricultural support services, a Professor of Agricultural Economics at Kwara State University (KWASU), Taibat Moji Yusuf, has warned.
Yusuf gave the warning while delivering KWASU’s 23rd Inaugural Lecture, titled “Empowering Women Farmers in Nigeria: Closing the Gender Gap for Agricultural Transformation and Food Security.” She called for reforms to land ownership and inheritance practices, including joint land titling for married couples, to give women greater access to productive agricultural resources.
The don also advocated flexible loans that do not rely heavily on land collateral, more female agricultural extension officers and mobile advisory services in local languages. She urged increased investment in rural infrastructure, mechanisation, childcare facilities, storage, transportation and market information to reduce the burden on women farmers and minimise post-harvest losses.
Yusuf further called for stronger public-private partnerships, gender impact assessments in agricultural policies and greater representation of women in agricultural decision-making. She said closing the gender gap would boost women’s livelihoods, increase agricultural productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to achieve sustainable food security.
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