NiWARD seeks support for women researchers in agriculture

The Nigerian Women in Agricultural Research for Development (NiWARD) has called for concerted efforts to deepen research in agriculture to aid female farmers to boost the drive for the country’s food sufficiency dream.

While making the call at the 10th NiWARD annual conference with the theme: ‘Innovation ideas and research outputs for Agricultural development,’ in Lagos, the Founder, Professor Stella Williams stressed the need for inclusion of women in government’s agric policies.

According to the professor of Agric Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), women are at the core of farming practice, yet government has not been supportive of their activities.

She said the group need fund to pursue research in agriculture, noting that through their efforts many initiatives aimed at improving farming have been introduced.

Williams said: “Because women are not political in their orientation, they are not pushed first. If we do not have the financial support, we cannot do much, we don’t have any financial support. It’s from our membership dues that we get funds.

“We need funds from the federal, state and local council levels. We need to be politically engendered into whoever are the political leaders to work with them right from the grassroots.

“In Nigeria, most times, it is a top-bottom approach to who you know in the society. If you are not financially supported, there is very little that you can do. Even when you go to the rural villages, if they do not see you supporting their activities, they will listen to you and once you turn your back that is the end.

“So we would like to seek partnership with members of the American Institute, East African, South African institutions, among others for us to make progress.”

NiWARD President, Prof. Oluyemisi Fawole, said the annual conference brings together all the award fellows, award mentors and award mentees.

“The fellows are brought together so that we can impact the community around us.

“We have put together capacity training for scientists who are interested in agricultural development, in gender responses, agricultural research, bridging the gap between men and women, and to ensure that more women are trained in agricultural development.”

Counsellor for Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Mission, West Nigeria, Dr. Gerald Smith, described the programme as another momentous day dedicated to promoting a gender-responsive agricultural innovation system for food and nutrition security across Nigeria.

He expressed the United States Department for Agricultural (USDA’s) determination to collaborate with varied stakeholders across Nigeria’s expanding food value chain.

“USDA supports robust research output and innovation that are increasing agricultural productivity and efficiency,” he said.

Smith, who noted that innovative agricultural sector plays a strategic role in improving the availability of food and achieving food security, added that Nigeria’s burgeoning aquaculture sector is positioned to be one of the driving forces needed to address food and nutrition security.

“Through USDA support in tandem with the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH), Nigerian researchers and food scientists are working on iron-fortified soy flour-garri blend,” he said.