HortiNigeria, a nonprofit organization, has strengthened the capacity of over 40,000 female farmers in Kano as part of its gender-based mainstream initiative to boost food security.
The project, which focuses on horticulture practices to expand market opportunities and reduce leakages for female farmers and youth across four states of intervention, including Kano, Kaduna, Oyo, and Ogun, has equally recorded an 83 per cent reduction in post-harvest losses in the areas of operations.
At a special event tagged “Mata Adon Gona,” meaning Women Beautiful of Farm, held in Kano, HortiNigeria showcased the impact of its intervention on Women Empowerment in Kano.
Olubukola Funsho Sanni, a Youth Agenda Specialist at IFDC, emphasized that the programme’s success lies not in the number of women supported alone, but in the transformation of livelihoods.
Sanni reminded that HortiNigeria, an International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) funded project with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has transformed the income of smallholder female farmers since the intervention launched in Nigeria.
She noted that women farmers in Kano now produce high-grade hybrid seedlings, negotiate land access, and link directly with processors and marketers, rising from HortiNigeria support.
A youth and gender advisor from Wageningen University and Research, Netherlands, Thomas Tichar, affirmed that beneficiaries have been equipped with agronomy training.
Tichar, a research partner in the project, explained that HortiNigeria’s intervention has brought about a change of mind, improved teamwork among female farmers. He added that the project contributed to market and household income and supported families.
In a keynote address, the Technical Advisor to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr. Nurudeen Zauro, highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to bridging gender gaps in agriculture through the Aso Accord and initiatives like #ShesIncluded, which aim to close the 9% gender gap in financial access.
Dr. Zauro, represented by the Director of Sustainability and Inclusion, applauded HortiNigeria for supporting the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s target of a 1-trillion-dollar economy by 2030.
“HortiNigeria has shown that when women are equipped with tools, training, and finance, they do not just grow crops; they grow communities, incomes, and hope.
“HortiNigeria has trained 44,822 youth and 20,329 women in modern horticultural techniques, supported 898 MSMEs, mobilized €4.1 million in capital, and achieved 205% income growth among smallholder farmers.
“Innovations such as solar-powered cooling hubs, cold chain systems, and plastic crates have led to an 83% drop in post-harvest losses, which previously was a major challenge in the vegetable value chain.
“This is not just a showcase, it’s a call to action. Let us empower women not just as farm labourers, but as leaders shaping the destiny of agriculture in Nigeria,” the Presidential Advisor declared.
On her part, Kano State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Alisha Lawal Saji, commended the initiative and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to inclusive agricultural development.
She added that the state is working to expand access to land, finance, and training for women farmers, especially in rural areas, in line with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s broader agenda for inclusive growth.
The Commissioner called for stronger public-private partnerships, scaling of proven innovations, and alignment with continental initiatives such as the AfDB and World Bank’s Mission 300 to ensure Nigeria leads in driving food, energy, and financial security across Africa.
