Nigeria, Stakeholders Collaborate to Review National Gender Agriculture Policy

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The Representative of the Permanent Secretary, FMAFS, Director, Special Duties, Mrs Kachallah Damaturu during the Workshop.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has announced collaboration with the International Centre for Environmental Health and Development (ICEHD) and other stakeholders to strategically review the National Gender Policy on Agriculture to promote sustainable agricultural practices, empower farmers and enhance food security.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, FNSE, represented by Director Special Duties, Mrs. Kachallah Damaturu said the policy which was launched in October, 2019, is key to addressing challenges faced by rural women farmers, described as the backbone of the Agriculture sector.

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While revealing that the ministry’s mission aligns with the goals of ICEHD, recognizing the value of collaboration in driving meaningful change, Mr. Ogunbiyi added that through partnership, the Ministry aims to strengthen the policy framework, enhance capacity building, and promote gender equality.

“We must recognize the importance of a collaborative approach. We will work closely with ICEHD, government and other non-government organizations, civil society, and the private sectors to ensure our efforts are complementary and effective”, he was quoted in a statement issued by the ministry on Tuesday.

Director Special Duties, Mrs. Kachallah Damaturu said the review of the gender policy was not just an administrative task, rather, an opportunity to enhance women’s participation, address barriers they face, and ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities.

“We seek to identify gaps in our current policy framework and explore innovative strategies that can empower women in agriculture. Your contributions are invaluable as we strive for a more inclusive agricultural landscape”, Mrs. Damaturu stated.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Maryam Keshinro, represented by Director Gender Affairs, Adamu Samaila Web, said the review was an opportunity to refine and strengthen the policy to reflect the evolving needs of women, men and youths in the Agriculture sector.

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She stated that it was a moment to ensure that the voices of those most affected by systematic inequalities are heard and their contributions recognized, adding that it is also a call to action for all stakeholders, government, private sector, civil society and development partner to work collaboratively and purposefully towards translating the policy into impactful change.

Highlights of the event was the general discussions on the policy review process by the National Gender Steering committee, overview of the existing policy, the journey so far on the policy implementation process and the presentation on findings of the situational analysis of gender based violence in agrifood systems.

In attendance were representatives of the National Council of Climate Change, NCCC, Federal Ministry of Environment, Women farmers associations and cooperatives, AGRA, Policy Innovative Centre, Plan International, amongst others.

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