Abuja:The Smallscale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) has called on the Federal and State Governments, as well as the National Assembly, to institute an annual national celebration and investment plan to honor the contributions of rural women to agriculture and food security.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Florence Ojo, Acting National President of SWOFON, made this appeal during an interview in Abuja to mark the International Day of Rural Women. The day is commemorated annually on October 15, and the theme for 2026 is ‘Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature.’
Mrs. Ojo emphasized the importance of recognizing rural women’s roles in food security and national development and urged that October 15 should be a platform for accountability and measurable progress, rather than just a ceremonial event. She advocated for activities such as recognizing outstanding women farmers, holding exhibitions of agricultural produce, engaging in policy dialogues, and making concrete commitments to enhance the livelihoods of rural women.
She highlighted the vital roles played by rural women across the agricultural value chain but pointed out challenges such as limited access to land, affordable finance, quality inputs, modern technology, extension services, and markets. Mrs. Ojo called on governments, development partners, and financial institutions to turn public recognition into meaningful policies, adequate funding, and sustained investment.
Drawing a parallel with International Women’s Day, Mrs. Ojo argued that rural women farmers deserved similar recognition and celebration on October 15. She pressed for secure land rights, affordable financing, quality seeds, gender-friendly equipment, climate-smart technologies, and improved extension services for these farmers.
Additionally, she advocated for fair markets, competitive prices, stronger value chains for women-produced commodities, greater representation in policymaking, and dedicated budgetary allocations for smallholder women farmers. Mrs. Ojo described these needs as essential investments in food security, rural development, women’s economic empowerment, and the nation’s future.
She called for increased collaboration among development partners and civil society organizations to amplify rural women’s voices and effect lasting change. Mrs. Ojo reassured women farmers that their contributions to agriculture and national development were significant and that their dignity warranted protection. She emphasized that they are not just participants in agriculture but leaders, producers, entrepreneurs, and indispensable partners in national development.
The International Day of Rural Women, observed annually on October 15, was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 to acknowledge the critical role and contribution of rural and indigenous women in advancing agricultural development, improving food security, and eradicating rural poverty.