COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE AGRICULTURAL STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING WITH THE WIFE OF THE ONDO STATE GOVERNOR, ARABINRIN BETTY ANYANWU-AKEREDOLU HELD AT THE BABAFUNKE AJASIN AUDITORIUM, IGBATORO ROAD, AKURE ON TUESDAY, 10TH OF JULY, 2018.
The Office of the Wife of the Ondo state Governor organized a technical meeting with major stakeholders in the Agricultural sector of the state to share her experience from the African Women in Agriculture (AWA) 2018 summit held in Morocco and to evolve effective strategies for women active participation in agriculture.
Some members of the delegation to the AWA (2018) Summit Include;
Mrs. Lilian Adesokan- Special Assistant to the Wife of the Ondo state Governor
Mrs. Ibidunni Ogunleye- CEO, Ledun Poultry Farms, Akure, Ondo state
Dr. (Mrs.) Adelodun Fadare- Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Animal & Environmental
Biology, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko
Mr. Adedamola Ayeni- Program Manager, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Foundation
(BAAF)
The theme of AWA 2018 Summit was “Empowering Women in Agriculture: Generating Sustainable Growth, Bridging the Gender Gap”
“AWA” is an initiative aimed at creating a network of stakeholders to ensure women
empowerment in agriculture, with special emphasis on rural areas and underserved
communities. The initiative covers crop production, livestock, fisheries and agro-forestry.
Presentations were made by Dr. Fadare and Mrs. Ogunleye (members of Ondo State
delegation). Mrs. Zabaida Damakka, an integrated dairy farmer based in Kano, also a participant at AWA, 2018 as well as Franklin Oloniju who spoke on Gender
Mainstreaming in the Agricultural Governance of Ondo State.
Constraints to African Women Development in the Agricultural sector
Illiteracy
Gender inequality and Imbalance
Lack of political will
Poor governance and administration
Limited access to loans and grants
Limited access to farm lands
Poor gender inclusion in agricultural policies and governance
Social and cultural customs
Limited participation of women in governance
Poor representation in position of authority.
At the end of the meeting and a group discussion facilitated by the Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Foundation (BAAF) Research & Strategy Team for Farmers’ groups;
recommendations were suggested by Cassava, Oil palm, Cocoa, Vegetable and
Livestock groups and agreed as follows:
AWA Nigeria should be launched
Women should embrace technology in agriculture to reduce stress
Women should do away with less productive pastime and women should press for
progress even when faced with challenges in agriculture
Starting small is beautiful, building on expertise and experience
There should be synergy between women researchers and women farmers
The relationship between MDAs and women farmers should be strengthened
The State government should amend the school curriculum such that crops peculiar
to the State e.g cocoa are introduced early to students
Government should encourage formation of commodity markets in boosting
production
Youth involved in government agricultural programs should be targeted to participate in vegetable farming.
Government should encourage community participation in school feeding programs especially in the rural areas to boost agricultural production with local food stuff selected as component of the school’s menu.
There is a need to reduce and end poverty of all forms through socio-economic
development of farmers especially the highly marginalized women farmers.
There is a need to reduce and end hunger through increase in cassava, livestock, oil
palm, cocoa and vegetable production for improved nutrition and better food
security in Ondo state.
SIGNED:
Dr. (Mrs.)Adelodun Fadare
Senior Lecturer, AAUA
Mrs. Ibidunni Ogunleye
CEO, Ledun Poultry Farm
Dr. (Mrs.) Abiola Ige
Cocoa Technical Group
Mrs. Grace Awelewa
Oil Palm Technical Group
Mrs. Peter-Ugueoke Benedicta
Livestock Technical group
Mrs. Oluwabunmi Fape
Cassava Technical Group
Miss. Timilehin Adesida
Vegetable Technical Group
