FG, IFAD Celebrate 2026 International Year of Women Farmers in Niger
By Hajara Muhammad Sambo
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and other development partners, has celebrated the 2026 International Year of Women Farmers in Niger State, with a renewed call for greater empowerment and support for women engaged in agriculture.
The event, organised under the FGN/IFAD-Assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), brought together women farmers from nine participating Local Government Areas of the state, including Bida, Borgu, Edati, Katcha, Kontagora, Lavun, Mokwa, Shiroro and Wushishi.
Speaking at the event, the State Programme Coordinator, Hadizat Isah, highlighted the achievements recorded by women farmers through the programme, as well as the challenges confronting them.
She urged the beneficiaries to remain hardworking, self-reliant and committed to improving their livelihoods, while making the most of the opportunities provided through the programme.
Representing the Niger State First Lady, the Chief Secretary, Hadiza Mai Kano, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting women farmers and promoting their economic empowerment.
She noted that some beneficiaries had successfully developed products that met international standards, with several securing certifications from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), while others had gained international recognition for their products.
The beneficiaries, in separate remarks, commended VCDP for its interventions, particularly the provision of training, capacity building and modern processing equipment, which they said had significantly improved their productivity, processing capacity and businesses.
They called for the sustenance and expansion of such interventions to enable more women farmers to increase production, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to the state’s agricultural development.
