To promote sustainable agricultural production in Nigeria, AFEX, in collaboration with the Kaduna Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Project, has trained farmers in Kaduna on advanced agricultural practices.
In a statement released to newsmen on Thursday, AFEX outlined that the training was part of a broader sensitization campaign aimed at empowering female farmers in northern Nigeria.
The campaign, conducted under the WEE Project, seeks to promote women’s inclusion in agriculture by equipping them with essential resources to boost productivity and capacity in the sector.
“Currently in Nigeria, female farmers produce 30 percent less per hectare than their male counterparts due to limited access to inputs and extension services. They also tend to grow less valuable crops and rely on less productive labor. However, rural women are often excluded from financial services, with only 37 percent of women in developing countries having access to banking, compared to 46 percent of men,” AFEX noted.
The WEE Project, a three-year pilot funded by the Bayer Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to dismantle barriers for women, enabling them to access decent work and establish successful enterprises.
The initiative leverages partnerships in health and agriculture to provide a sustainable model for economic empowerment, focusing on improving access to agricultural inputs, expanding market opportunities, and enhancing healthcare access.
The two-day sensitization campaign, held in Kafanchan, Kaduna, brought together key stakeholders, including partners from the Kaduna State Women Economic Empowerment Project, Advantage Health Africa, Healthy Entrepreneurs, the Jennifer Etuh Foundation, and several female farmer cooperatives. Discussions centered on opportunities presented by the WEE Project and how women farmers can benefit.
“Several female farmers were integrated into AFEX’s WorkBench platform and trained in global agricultural practices, crop management, and risk mitigation strategies. Attendees also engaged with partners to learn about their offers and how to get involved,” the statement added.
Kamaldeen Raji, Managing Director of AFEX Fair Trade, emphasized the company’s dedication to supporting sustainable agricultural value chains in Africa, highlighting the crucial role of empowering female farmers.
“The WEE Project provides a unique opportunity to leverage our expertise in agricultural commodity trading and market access to help women farmers overcome their challenges,” Raji said.
Mobolaji Adesanya, Project Coordinator for the Kaduna WEE Project, expressed excitement over the program’s progress, noting the importance of public-private partnerships in accelerating success.
“As we aim to transform the lives of 30,000 female farmers, close collaboration with stakeholders like AFEX ensures that interventions are tailored to the specific needs and challenges faced by rural women farmers,” she said.