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Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF) 2023: FAO And Partners Call For Interventions To Improve Women Condition In Agrifood Systems

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The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems (SWAFS) report, launched in April 2023, provides new evidence that demonstrates where gender gaps persist – costing sub-Saharan Africa USD 95 billion annually – and how they can be tackled. While the report brings forth alarming figures, it also highlights progress achieved, particularly in policymaking and women’s rights to land.

Read Also: African Development Bank’s SEFA Welcomes $50 Million In New Commitments From Germany and United States of America At Africa Climate Summit

It also contains clear calls to action that can be adopted by stakeholders in the private, public, and international spheres – and those present at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF) 2023.

The AGRF is Africa’s premier forum for convening stakeholders in Africa’s agricultural landscape so that, together, they can take action and share lessons that will move Africa forward.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) gathered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Zanzibar Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, the International Agrifood Network (IAFN), the East African Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP), and the Agricultural Research and Development program (AWARD) to highlight key points from the report and provide the opportunity for stakeholders to share insights from their work on empowering women in agrifood systems.

From grassroots to institutional powers: The solution is in collaboration

Born and raised in a family of 11 in rural Zimbabwe, BMGF Interim Director of Agricultural Development Enock Chikava opened the event with an impactful firsthand account of his experience in the agrifood sector:

“For me, uplifting the status of women in agrifood systems is a personal mission”. Mr. Chikava has dedicated his life to working toward smallholder farmers’ success as they use technology to raise productivity, incomes, and nutrition levels.

Dr. Lauren Phillips, FAO Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division Deputy Director highlighted key figures extracted from the SWAFS report regarding the African context. Particular emphasis was placed on the working conditions of women in the continent:

“Despite the importance of agrifood systems for women’s livelihoods and welfare of their families, their roles tend to be marginalized and they are often engaged in vulnerable self-employment activities: irregular, informal, part-time, labor-intensive, and often low-skilled.”

They also receive lower remuneration and bear the burdens of unpaid domestic work. “On average, women earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men in wage employment in agriculture,” said Dr. Phillips.

Limited access to productive resources, services, and finance was also emphasized, all of which contribute to a productivity gap of 24 percent between female and male-owned farms of the same size. Such figures should not be discouraging, however. They are a wake-up call.

Best practices were also at the center of the stage throughout the discussion. Robynne Anderson, International Agrifood Network Director General, shared success stories from the recently concluded pilot Accelerator Mentorship Programme for Women-Led SMEs in Africa.

The stories of participants who in less than six months were able to establish foundations and obtain processing equipment by networking with bigger companies in the region brought hope and energy into the discussion.

“Fifty women joined the program, and through their networks, cooperatives, associations, and connections, over 500 000 women across the region were impacted by the program,” said Robynne, closing her intervention with a promising outlook into the second edition of the mentorship program.

Zahor Kassim Alkharousy, Director of the Blue Economy Development and Coordination Department of the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries in Zanzibar, also mentioned the newly established Blue Economy Policy 2022, which contains specific outcomes for inequality and for women in the fisheries sector.

Improved access to finance and the provision of seaweed processing equipment were listed as priorities under this Policy. To close the panel, Janice Kimaro, EAWiBP representative, stressed the importance of capacity building and trade facilitation across the region as keys to women’s empowerment and gender equality in agribusiness.

This is particularly relevant with the roll-out of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.

Multiplying best practices and solidifying actions across the region

The message delivered by the SWAFS report is clear. To achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment in agrifood systems, three main targets must be prioritized:

investment in high-quality research and sex- and age-disaggregated data;
interventions at scale using proven approaches that close asset and resource gaps such as gender-transformative approaches; and
intentional interventions focused on women’s empowerment.

Hitting the three targets above could increase global GDP by 1 percent (USD 1 trillion), provide food security for 45 million people, and increase the incomes of an additional 58 million people and the resilience of 235 million people.

With the publication of the SWAFS report, FAO commits to strengthening actions on gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly for rural women who are facing additional intersectional constraints and vulnerability related to their age, ethnicity, disability, and Indigenous Identity.

Efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems depend on gender equality and the empowerment of all women. We encourage all stakeholders to make a commitment to join FAO in growing equality.

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NEMA Distributes Grains To Vulnerable In Kebbi

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May 17, 2024

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Director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar has distributed assorted grains from the federal government to the people of Kebbi State.

Read Also: Katsina State Government Approves 200 Million To Tackles Malnutrition

While distributing the grains yesterday at Bulasa government grains stores in Birnin Kebbi alongside with Governor Idris the DG NEMA, Zubaida Umar said the gesture from the federal government was aimed at reducing poverty amongst the less privileged in Kebbi State.

Umar added that the grains would be distributed across the 21 local government areas of the state to the vulnerable persons in the grassroots.

Governor Nasir Idris while commending the federal government for the gesture said, the initiative underscored the government’s commitment in supporting those in need especially in this challenging time.

He said the gesture is an act of kindness and generosity of APC led-administration towards making a real difference by impacting the lives of those facing hardship and uncertainty in the state.

“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the federal government under the able leadership of our dear President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his swift response and unwavering commitment in providing relief to the most vulnerable members of our society,” he added.

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NNPCL Committed To Nasarawa Oil, Gas Initiative – Kyari

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1 day ago

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May 17, 2024

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Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has said it is committed to partnering with the Nasarawa State government in the area of oil and gas development.

Read Also: Federal Government Vows To Expose Fake Certificate Holders

The group managing director of NNPCL, Engr. Mele Kyari, who disclosed this during the second day of the Nasarawa Investment Summit yesterday in Lafia, said Nasarawa is blessed with substantial natural gas reserves.

Represented by the executive vice president (Gas and Power), Olalekan Oguleye, the NNPC boss said the state has the potential to power industrialization that would drive economic growth to improve the lives of its citizens.

He noted that the company is more than willing for further collaboration that will unlock the full potential of the state’s natural resources for the benefit of the state and the country at large.

Kyari appreciated the bold steps the state government has taken towards building its economy in the area of solid mineral and energy.

He said the state has become a home not just for mineral resources but also for agriculture and energy.

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Court Disbands Cross River Cocoa Allocation Taskforce

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2 weeks ago

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May 8, 2024

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A High Court sitting in Effraya, Etung local government area of Cross River State has granted a motion ex-parte disbanding the state Cocoa Allocation Surveillance Team from operating at the Government Cocoa Estate.

Read Also: Nigeria To Raise Mining License Fees, Other Charges – Dele Alake

The court restrained the team from harassing allottees of government cocoa farms in Etung local government area of the state.

The order came five days after the Bassey Otu administration issued a statement suspending the activities of surveillance team at the cocoa estate in the state.

The court headed by Justice Amajama Eneji, after the proceedings yesterday, adjourned the matter for augment on May 23, 2024 after a counter affidavit to the motion on notice and statement of defence was filed by counsel to Cross River State government, Barr. Woda Ogar.

In a brief interview with journalists at the court premises at Effraya, counsel to Cross River State government, Wada Ogar, said, “I just came today to find out that there were 27 others recently filed.

“The ex-parte application was all taken today and had been variously adjourned to May 23, 2024 for hearing of the motion on notice. But what I came here for were suit no. HA/16, 17 and 18, 2024 which have been served on me and I have filed my responses.

“Well, it is the allegation of the claimants that some hooligans are taking over the plots over which we are in court, harassing the people and all that.

“That is why in the first place, they brought an application ex-parte to restrain those people and then they alleged that, surveillance committee set up by government was being used to perpetrate illegalities, because of that, the court made another ex-parte which had gone viral” Woda said.

Meanwhile, counsel for the claimants, Mba Ukweni (SAN), averred that he and his clients (claimants ) came to court to take a motion for interlocutory injunction to restraint government and its agents, her appointees from interfering with allottees of government cocoa farms.

“So, we were served with their counter affidavit yesterday but, my learned friend for the defendant was gracious enough to bring to the attention of the court that from which ever perspective whether the government was not aware of the pendency of the matter made by the court which they have or from other sources for other reason decided that they should disband the taskforce which my colleague brought to the attention of the court.

“We had to leverage on it and said if the government itself have now discovered that the activities of the members of the taskforce and the people they are using to harass people in the estate is illegal, the court should give a stamp of legal authority to that and restrain them.

“So, the court agreed with both of us and has made the order which is as good as an interlocutory injunction. it is an order of court restraining them so, the status quo remain parties have to continue with what they are doing.

“The people who had been allotted estate cocoa farm have to continue with the allocation because that is the status quo.

“As at January, they have already been led into possession so, they have to be in possession and do their work. It doesn’t have to be disturbed; work does not have to be disturbed by any person at all,” he said.

When asked to explain what would happen in the eventuality of disregarding the court order, Ukweni said, “If they disrespect the court order, the law is not limited in what to do, they will be sanctioned.”

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