Stakeholders in Kaduna have validated the Kaduna State Gender Policy in Agriculture to ensure the adoption of a gender sensitive and responsive approach to the agriculture sector.
The draft policy was developed by Legal Awareness for Nigeria Women (LANW) with support from AGRA, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, German Cooperation, KFW, The Rockefeller Foundation, UKAid and USAID.
A member of Board of Trustees, LANW, Mrs Rebecca Sako-John, during the opening of the validation meeting in Kaduna said that the gender transformative agenda is to align the state’s agricultural policy with the National Gender in Agriculture Policy towards addressing the gender deficit in contributing effectively to food security.
She said that the domestication of the National Gender in Agriculture Policy will strengthen the state agricultural enabling policy environment.
“This is part of LANW efforts in the past 20 years to promote social justice for marginalised and vulnerable groups through legal awareness, protection of fundamental rights and facilitation of participatory development.
“LANW has also facilitated the formation of Women Smallholder Farmers advocacy groups in Kaduna State to pursue their issues like access to land, funds and other issues with relevant institutions.
“This was done under the Enhancing Resilience and Up scaling of Gender Inclusive Rural Economy for Increased Productivity, Livelihoods and Food Security programme,” she said.
Presenting the highlight of the policy, the consultant, Prof Muhammed Ladan, said that the policy seeks to ensure gender consideration in the planning, programming, budgeting, and implementation of agricultural programmes.
According to him, the step will contribute optimally to the food security and sustainable development agenda of the state as well as sustainable means of livelihood.
