Source: All Africa
The Federal Government will soon introduce labour-saving technologies for female farmers in the country to boost agricultural production.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, disclosed in Abuja while receiving his counterpart in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina.

According to him, "In Africa, especially in Nigeria, women represent over 70 percent of the farming population; produce more than 80 percent farm produce, mostly at subsistence level and use traditional and time-wasting implements. As a result of this, women in agriculture are faced with triple challenges including socialization process, lack of access to modern labour-saving technologies, and agricultural extension services."

He pledged to conduct a gender audit in his ministry "with a view to mainstreaming gender into its programmes and operations".

Earlier, Women Affairs Minister Hajiya Maina said her ministry currently has over 1,000 registered women cooperative societies and women-based NGOs focused on women and gender mainstreaming, "in addition to records of women entrepreneurs, farmers, and traders whose activities are greatly limited due to lack of resources and support".

• Nigeria