By Husaini Yero The Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture (NAWIA), Zamfara State Chapter, on Friday celebrated the 2026 W...
By Husaini Yero
The Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture (NAWIA), Zamfara State Chapter, on Friday celebrated the 2026 World Food Day with a call for increased support for women farmers to strengthen food security in the state.
The event, held at the Trade Fair Complex in Gusau, brought together women farmers from the state’s 14 local government areas, government officials, traditional rulers and development partners.
In her keynote address, the State Chairperson of NAWIA, Hajiya Shemau Muhammad Nalado, said this year’s global theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” underscores the critical role women play in food production.
She disclosed that the association has more than 3,000 women across the state engaged in rice, millet, groundnut, poultry and vegetable production. She added that the association had recently received a visit from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) skills accreditation.
However, Nalado identified several challenges confronting women farmers, including limited access to affordable loans and grants, inadequate modern farming inputs and machinery, insufficient storage and processing facilities, and the effects of climate change.
She appealed to the Federal and Zamfara State Governments, the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and development partners to support women farmers with loans, agricultural inputs and training.
“If you empower a woman farmer, you feed a whole community,” she said.
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.
The First Lady, who was represented at the event, praised Nalado for her exemplary leadership and sustained efforts to advance agricultural development in the state.
She also commended her husband, Governor Dauda Lawal, for his administration’s support for farmers through agricultural grants, the timely distribution of fertiliser and other interventions aimed at increasing food production.
Earlier, the State Programme Manager of NAWIA, 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 trained more than 2,200 women in 2026 alone in improved rice parboiling, groundnut oil extraction, dry-season vegetable farming and climate-smart agriculture.
According to him, NAWIA also facilitated access to improved seeds and fertiliser for 1,120 members.
Anka identified insecurity, inadequate modern farming 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.
He said such interventions would strengthen the association’s activities, improve agricultural productivity and enhance the livelihoods of women farmers across Zamfara State.
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