From Shuaibu Ibrahim Gusau
The Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture (NAWIA), Zamfara State Chapter, has called on governments and development partners to increase support for women farmers to boost food production and strengthen food security in the state.
The association made the call on Friday during its celebration of World Food Day 2026 at the Trade Fair Complex in Gusau.
The event brought together women farmers from the 14 local government areas of Zamfara State, government officials, traditional rulers and development partners.
In her keynote address, the State Chairperson of NAWIA, Hajiya Shemau Muhammad Nalado, said the global theme for this year’s celebration, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” highlighted the important role women play in food production.
She disclosed that the association had more than 3,000 women engaged in rice, millet, groundnut, poultry and vegetable production across the state.
Nalado also revealed that the association had recently received a visit from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in connection with the accreditation of its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) skills programmes.
However, she identified limited access to soft loans and grants, inadequate modern farming equipment and inputs, insufficient storage and processing facilities, and climate change as major challenges facing women farmers.
She appealed to the Federal and Zamfara State governments, the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and development partners to provide women farmers with affordable financing, agricultural inputs and training.
“If you empower a woman farmer, you feed a whole community,” she said.
Zamfara First Lady Commends NAWIA
In her address, the First Lady of Zamfara State, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, commended NAWIA for its commitment to agricultural development and women’s empowerment.
Represented at the event, the First Lady praised the state chairperson, Hajiya Nalado, for her leadership and efforts to advance agricultural development.
She also commended Governor Dauda Lawal for his administration’s support for farmers through agricultural grants, timely fertiliser distribution and other interventions aimed at increasing food production.
Association Trains Over 2,200 Women Farmers
Earlier, the NAWIA State Programme Manager, Ukashat Bashar Anka, said the association had grown from 15 women in 2024 to more than 2,548 registered active women farmers across the state.
He disclosed that the association had trained more than 2,200 women in 2026 in improved rice parboiling, groundnut oil extraction, dry-season vegetable farming and climate-smart agriculture.
According to him, NAWIA had also facilitated access to improved seeds and fertiliser for 1,120 members.
Anka identified insecurity, inadequate modern equipment, limited access to large-scale credit, post-harvest losses and climate change as major challenges affecting women farmers.
He appealed to the government and development partners to establish a Women’s Agricultural Hub and Processing Centre in Gusau, include NAWIA members in government agricultural programmes and provide mobility support to enable the association to reach women farmers in rural communities.
The association said increased investment in women farmers would help improve agricultural productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen food security across Zamfara State.