Abuja: Women farmers and petty traders in Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have called on the government and relevant stakeholders to enhance their access to affordable finance, storage facilities, and market linkages to improve their businesses. The women, speaking in separate interviews, emphasized that improved support mechanisms would also increase their household incomes.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, inadequate capital, increasing costs of farm inputs, poor storage facilities, transportation challenges, and unstable farm produce prices are significant hurdles affecting the livelihoods of these women. Mrs. Theresa Elias, a vegetable farmer, highlighted that women farmers often invest heavily in production but face challenges making reasonable profits due to limited market access and post-harvest losses.
Elias mentioned that the lack of affordable storage facilities forces many farmers to sell their produce immediately after harvest, often below production costs. She added that the absence of proper storage and transportation solutions results in losses if produce is not sold off quickly. Elias urged agricultural agencies to establish community-based storage facilities and strengthen linkages between farmers and bulk buyers.
Mrs. Grace Awoyi, another farmer, noted that the rising prices of farm inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides have made farming increasingly difficult for women operating on a small scale. Awoyi emphasized the need for low-interest loans and grants to enable women farmers to expand their operations and improve food production. She called for measures ensuring fair and transparent pricing of farm produce and stronger farmer cooperatives to help women negotiate better prices.
Similarly, Mrs. Shekwoyemi Daniel, a petty trader, pointed out that inadequate working capital and fluctuating prices have made maintaining sufficient stock difficult. She highlighted that women-friendly credit schemes, financial management training, and stronger connections to established markets could help women traders expand their businesses. Daniel stressed the need for sustainable government interventions to support women in building resilient businesses.
Mrs. Anna Yonah, a women leader in Baran-goni community, noted that improved access to mobile banking and social media has helped some women reach customers beyond their immediate communities. However, she stated that many women still lack sufficient capital and access to larger markets. Yonah called for regular capacity-building programs to enable women to compete more effectively.