250,000 female farmers to get mobile phones for improved food production

In a bid to enhance the productivity of its 10 million female farmers across the country, the Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progressive and Development Initiative (NWAPDI) has promised to deploy 250,000 smart phones with e-healthcare features to the farmers.

NWAPDI, which formally separated from the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), to focus exclusively on women’s empowerment in agriculture, with approval from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has been playing central role in shaping policies and programmes that benefit women farmers.

It has equally trained 10,000 women and youths in modern agricultural practices in 2024, while it also increased access to micro-loans and agricultural inputs for rural farmers.

Through strategic partnerships, impactful training programmes, and robust advocacy efforts, the organisation said it has significantly advanced its mission of empowering women and youths in agriculture, laying a strong foundation for sustained growth and development in 2025.

Speaking on its vision for 2025, the National Coordinator, NWAPDI, Omolara Svensson, said building on the successes of 2024, NWAPDI aims to lead the transformation of Nigerian agriculture through empowerment, innovation, and sustainability. “The focus for 2025 is to expand technological adoption, enhance youth engagement, and foster collaborative partnerships that deliver measurable impact.”

While speaking on the FarmAssure initiative, which she described as an advanced enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, tailored for agriculture, Svensson said the initiative empowers farmers with tools for precision agriculture, real-time crop management, and operational efficiency. “By integrating AI, IoT, and blockchain technologies, FarmAssure streamlines farm operations, supply chain logistics, and financial planning, enabling sustainable and productive farming practices.

“Another aspect is AgriCert, which is a blockchain-enabled framework designed to ensure transparency and trust in agricultural trade. Acting as an escrow manager, it secures financial transactions between buyers and suppliers. AgriCert also enhances supply chain traceability, compliance with international trade standards, and access to global markets for NWAPDI farmers, making it a cornerstone for securing transactions and equitable agricultural commerce. We will facilitate $20m in exports through AgriCert.

“Key initiatives for 2025 include Digital Agriculture Expansion, and to roll out the FarmAssure ERP system to 30 per cent of NWAPDI members for better operational efficiency.

“We will Pilot the FarmAssure ERP with 5,000 regional coordinators across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while we will train 2,000 members on FarmAssure usage in the second quarter and evaluate the system’s impact and scale nationwide in the fourth quarter.”

She added that another focus the body is looking at is on health and digital inclusion where they will deploy 250,000 smart phones with e-healthcare features to NWAPDI members and establish partnerships with telecom providers for distribution. “We will also train members on using mobile health apps for preventive care and mental health resources.”