All over the world, in all cultures and communities, women play a crucial and significant role in agricultural production. Their activities cover all forms of agricultural activities from land preparation for crop production, agro forestry, livestock production, weeding, harvesting, preservation, processing to some extent and marketing.
Women are totally involved in all stages of the agricultural value chain.
During the off- season period, women engage in off farm activities such as weaving, sewing, knitting, bead making and so many more.
In addition to all so far listed and many more, women take care of the home front. They have babies, take care of the children, their husbands and so many more.
Can their roles and activities be assessed and quantified? It cannot be far from the truth to say that women are the unsung heroes of food preservation of food security. Their ability to sustain their homes both in the villages and rural areas is second to none.
In some communities, when a young maiden is married and going to her husband’s house, her mother and grand mother send her off with a brood of chickens, seeds and seedlings of crops to cultivate and start her own farm so she can produce food stuff for her homestead.
There is an on going effort to integrate women in extension services by the various State Ministries of Agriculture. This is essential for the achievement of goals such as increased food production, food self-sufficiency and sustained reduction of poverty and malnutrition.
Agricultural Development Projects (ADP) of the different States of the Federation had made important advances in incorporating gender in agricultural extension, by modifying the ADP system to provide for women farmers through the creation of Women-In-Agriculture (WIA) programmes in all the states of the federation.
In order to achieve food security, women should be mobilized to participate in gender specific activities, which includes post-harvest activities like processing, utilization, storage and marketing of agricultural products.
Women should engage in off-farm activities that encourage the transfer of the following home economic technology such as :
1. Cassava processing and utilization- pancake, flour and odorless fufu
2. Processing and storage of maize gari, cassava flour, tapioca, maize flour, malted maize drink, corn meal, pap (wet and malted maize flour).
3. Processing and utilization of soybean into soymilk, flour paste and soy meal
4. Processing and storage of fresh tomatoes into tomato paste.
5. Rabbit meat processing and utilization
6. Processing and storage of melon
7. Coco yam processing and utilization into cocoyam flour for soup thickening and cocoyam chips
8. Dry season vegetable gardening
9. Harvesting and storage of paddy rice and other food stuffs.
Belvyna Global Ltd organizes off farm training for Women farmers in rural areas.
Contact us for details of our Training programs and how members of your organization, state ministry, cooperative or any outfit can participate for their own personal development.
Email- info@belvynaglobal.com
