By Philip Yatai

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Women of Vision Development Initiative, says it is mobilising women in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State to invest in agriculture.

The Coordinator of the NGO, Mrs Ladi Bonat, stated this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

Bonat said that the women had been organised into a group to access support from government and other development partners and funding from donors.

She said that the group, called Grassroot Vision for Women Kaura Multipurpose Cooperative Society, would be investing in agricultural cultivation, processing and marketing.

This, according to her, will empower the women financially, considering the vast opportunities that abound in the agricultural sector.

“Other activities of the group will include women rights issues, discauraging gender-based violence, promoting maternal and child health care and girl child education.

“We have already registered the cooperative with the state government and paid courtesy visits to the cooperative officer and women development officer in Kaura Council for partnership,” she said.

The coordinator said that women contributed immensely to agriculture and rural development, adding, however, that their contribution was being limited by cultural and religious norms.

She identified other key challenges as lack of ownership to farmlands, access to financia and other community resources and access to quality and affordable farm inputs.

She said that a recent survey had revealed that the lack of ownership and control of farmlands was limiting women’s productivity in agricultural production in Kaduna State.

Bonat added that the survey, facilitated by the Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW), an NGO, also showed that the lack of control over lands prevented women from expanding production.

“The report also shows that men have access to all critical resources for agricultural production more than women, due to biased traditional practices.

“It also indicates that lack of funds was the most important factor hindering women from accessing land, followed by culture, religion, illiteracy and insecurity.

“Organising the women into a group will, therefore, enable them to navigate around some of these challenges and enable them to easily access support,” she said.