The deputy chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria in Lagos, Shakin Agbayewa, says women account for about 80 per cent of subsistence farmers in Nigeria.

Mr Agbayewa stated this in an interview on Thursday in Lagos while discussing the structure of Nigeria’s farming population.

He said women remain the backbone of smallholder agriculture, especially in food crop cultivation, processing, and marketing.

According to him, despite their enormous contributions to national food supply, many female farmers still face challenges such as poor access to farmland, credit facilities, improved seedlings, and mechanised tools.

“Of the 100 per cent of farmers who do not have mechanisation, about 80 per cent are women,” he said.

Mr Agbayewa said empowering female farmers would have a direct impact on food availability, family welfare, and rural development.

He noted that women are active in cassava processing, vegetable farming, poultry, grain trading, and other agricultural value chains across the country.

He called on government agencies, financial institutions, and development partners to design programmes specifically targeted at female farmers.

According to him, access to low-interest loans, cooperative support, irrigation tools, and training would help women expand beyond subsistence farming.

He also stressed the need to protect women farmers from exploitation by middlemen and land tenure limitations.

Mr Agbayewa said Nigeria would record faster agricultural growth if women farmers received the support necessary to move into commercial production.

He added that recognising and empowering women in agriculture should remain a top national priority.

(NAN)