We want Policy to increase access to land ownership -- Women farmers

Small-holder women farmers have appealed to federal and state governments to formulate policies that guarantee them to access and rights to land ownership.

The women, under the aegis of Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), lamented that tradition in some rural communities often limits women access to productive land.

“There is still a lot of cultural attitude that blocks women from inheriting, purchase or even own land,” said SWOFON national coordinator, Omaboyowa Roberts, during the group’s annual forum yesterday in Abuja.

“We need policies that will aid us access land, and increase public financing for pety holder women farmers in Nigeria,” she added.

Roberts observed that the low level of production this year was limited due to flooding and the security challenges in some parts of the country.

“Women farmers aren't  strong, and the violent conflicts are preventing them from going to farms,” she said.

The women also appealed for gender-friendly farming tools to ease their activities and make their farming to be less stressful.

“If they cannot own big tractors because of the expense, we can have simple, gender-friendly farm tools that would enable them to be more efficient in their practices, help maximise their time and increase their produces,” she said.

Roberts listed other demands of the women farmers to include, involvement in budget planning, increased soft loans, easy business start-up packs, as well as sustainable plans.

These, she said, would help a small holder woman farmer grow up to a level of exporting her well-packed farm produce.

The forum was organised for the women farmers to express their challenges and get to know about opportunities available to them as small holder farmers.