Gender Policy on Agriculture

A Policy mainstreams gender equality in Nigeria's agricultural sector by improving women's access to resources and services. It targets women farmers, policy makers, and extension providers. The goal is to boost food production and reduce rural poverty.

What Is This Policy?

A policy that mainstreams gender considerations into Nigeria's agricultural sector, recognizing that women contribute significantly to food production yet face unequal access to land, credit, technology, and extension services.

Who Does It Target?

Women farmers and agricultural workers Agricultural policy makers and programme managers Extension service providers Rural development agencies

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Close gender gaps in agricultural productivity by ensuring women have equal access to resources, services, and opportunities within the farming sector, ultimately increasing overall food production and reducing poverty in rural areas.

Key Features

Equal Resource Access: Provisions to improve women's access to land, credit, and agricultural inputs Gender-Responsive Budgeting: Allocation of agricultural funds with specific provisions for women-targeted programmes Technology Access: Promotion of labour-saving technologies suited to women's farming activities Capacity Building: Training programmes for women in modern agricultural techniques and business skills Data Collection: Gender-disaggregated data to track progress and inform policy decisions

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active across federal agricultural programmes Coverage: Federal and state ministries of agriculture Lead Agency: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gender Unit Partners: UN Women, FAO, World Bank, bilateral donors

How to Access

The policy is available through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Contact the Gender Unit of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture Access through state agricultural development programmes Available at relevant agricultural policy workshops and conferences

Official Resources

Website: fmard.gov.ng Contact: Gender Unit, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja

Legal Framework

Issued under the authority of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development pursuant to the National Agricultural Policy and the National Gender Policy. Aligns with Nigeria's obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Maputo Protocol, the African Union Agenda 2063 on gender equality, and the Land Use Act 1978 provisions on women's access to agricultural land.