The federal government has reiterated its unwavering support towards the implementation of the National Gender Policy on Agriculture.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar made this known at the weekend when he received members of the National Gender Steering Committee led by the ActionAid Country Director, Ms Ene Obi in office in Abuja.
He recalled that, last year, the Ministry inaugurated the National Gender Steering Committee on the implementation of the National Gender Policy on Agriculture to mainstream gender into climate change for people with disabilities, access to input for women amongst others.
Dr. Abubakar commended the Steering Committee for its great achievement towards creating visibility and awareness especially in translating the National Gender Policy in local languages to ensure the domestication of the policy in some States of the Federation.
He stated that the commitment to implement 8 out of the 11 objectives of the policy which aligns with the mandate of the committee had been forwarded to the World Bank through the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning for necessary action.
The minister pointed out that the onerous responsibility of adopting strategies for a seamless implementation of the objectives of the policy and the well-articulated resolutions at the median retreat to pay courtesy calls on the Ministers of Women Affairs, Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation as a formidable strategy aimed at creating awareness on the policy for positive outcomes.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe commended the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, for accepting to provide leadership to this Committee on the implementation of the National Gender Policy on Agriculture, and also the Executive Director Development Research and Project Center, Judith-Ann Walker for sponsoring the 2nd retreat of the Committee which will take place at Grace Point Hotel, Wuse Zone 6.
In her remarks, the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ms. Ene Obi said that the National Gender Policy was an assertive document, which recognized the limitation of growth and development of the Agricultural Sector
She pointed out how female farmers had been supported by different |Ministries through ActionAid Nigeria with agricultural produce and training programmes throughout |States of the Federation for subsidized rates.
Ms. Obi also pleaded to create a budget for small scale women farmers to be able to access Central Bank of Nigeria credit facilities at single digit rate.
