The Bauchi State Government has been called upon to tackle post harvest losses by investing massively in agriculture.
Chairperson, Small Scale Women Farmers of Nigeria (SWOFONSWOFON, Hajiya Marka Abbas made the call this on Saturday in Bauchi.
She said farmers lose at post harvest from flood, spell among others, this farming season.
“Govt should invest massively in agriculture that would focus on tackling post-harvest losses through processing and storage facilities, training, market access, among others.
According to her, government should encourage dry season farming and mitigate problems of climate change, insecurity and farmers/herders clashes in the state.
She also said the state, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, should create budget lines for funding and implementation of the National Gender policy in Agriculture.
Hajiya Abbas urged the government to urgently constitute a gender steering committee which will include SWOFON members for the implementation of the gender policy in the agricultural sector.
This, she said, would offer equal access and gender- sensitive approaches towards food production.
She said government should also conduct interactive sessions with women farmers, to capture budget issues and make the budget and policy processes inclusive,” Abbas said.
Hajiya Abbas also urged the Federal Government to urgently review the Land Use Act that would address issues of gender discrimination in land ownership.(NAN)