Leverage Technology to Enhance Food Security, Expert Advises Women Farmers

Women farmers have been urged to embrace current trends in agriculture, particularly technology-driven practices, to boost food security and improve their livelihoods.

The Programme Manager, Public Finance Management at the Center for Social Justice, Mr. Sundayson Chidi, made this call on Thursday during a two-day Stakeholders Consultative Forum and Needs Prioritization Workshop for Smallholder Women Farmers held in Awka, Anambra State. The forum was organized by the Small Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria,(SWOFON) with support from the International Budget Partnership.

Mr. Chidi emphasized the need to transition from traditional farming methods to modern agricultural practices to increase productivity. He highlighted the role of mechanization and innovative tools in enhancing food production and positioning farmers for economic growth.

“Technology is key to increasing productivity in agriculture. Smallholder women farmers must adopt modern techniques and tools to move beyond subsistence farming, ensuring higher yields and better income,” Chidi stated.

A Director from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Awka, Mr. Arthur Mbuba, represented by the Desk Officer, Extension Services, Mr. Vincent Okeke, encouraged farmers to take pride in their profession. He emphasized the need for commercial and mechanized farming while assuring government support.

“Don’t be ashamed to identify as farmers. Farming is no longer about hoes and cutlasses but about mechanization and commercialization. Articulate your needs and submit them to the Ministry for necessary support,” Arthur said.

The Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Budget and Economic Planning, Agriculture, and Women Affairs, in their separate remarks, pledged support for SWOFON’s initiatives. They urged members to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to access vital resources for sustainable farming.

The National Officer, Small Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria, SWOFON, Mrs. Udeh Virginia, noted the organization’s significant role in ensuring food security, boasting over two million members nationwide. She called for continuous dedication to the group’s mission and sought skills training and mentorship opportunities for members to achieve greater productivity.

Executive Director of the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), whose organisation is partnering with SWOFON, Mrs. Ugochi Ehiahuruike, appealed to traditional rulers and community leaders to prioritize agriculture in their advocacy efforts.

“To address food security, we must prioritize agriculture alongside infrastructure. Community leaders should start requesting agricultural support alongside roads and other amenities,” she emphasized.

The forum provided a platform for aligning the needs of smallholder women farmers with key government and private sector stakeholders, fostering sustainable agricultural development in Anambra State.