The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has launched the National Gender Policy in Agriculture.
The Document would promote and ensure the adoption of gender sensitive and responsive approaches towards engendering plans and programmes, in such a way that men and women have equal access and control of productive resources and facilities to bridge gender gaps.
Speaking at the launch held in Abuja recently, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, said that the document would provide a policy direction for the different roles of women and men in Agricultur,e for development and gender equality, for access to resources, as well as, equal opportunities in maximizing means of livelihood and also necessary condition for progressively realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Sen. Dr. Abdullahi Adamu, said that the role of women in the Agricultural sector cannot be overemphasized because women are involved in all the processing, from clearing of the farm, harvesting and packaging of agricultural products.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, FMARD, Dr. Mohammed Bello Umar, represented by the Director, Special Duties /Gender, Mr. Zubairu Abdullahi, said that to achieve the task of bridging gender gap in Agriculture Sector, the Ministry apart from pursuing and encouraging the establishment of gender friendly policies, has initiated various women friendly programmes and activities, aimed at mainstreaming gender into agricultural activities in collaboration with relevant organizations.
Dr M.B Umar pointed out that as a Ministry, we are committed to the socio-economic empowerment of women and men in the sector. We therefore, acknowledge, acting in line with the Sustainable Development Goals declaration, that gender equality is a prerequisite for eradicating poverty and promoting sustainable human development.
Ezeaja Ikemefuna
For: Director, Information (FMARD)
