By: Hembadoon Ode
In a bid to boost agricultural productivity and empower women at the grassroots level, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has expressed readiness to collaborate with SHEFARMERS Association on initiatives aimed at supporting female farmers across the country.
The commitment was made on Thursday, May 15, 2025, during a courtesy visit to RMRDC headquarters by delegates from the SHEFARMERS Association, led by the FCT chapter coordinator Dr. Maimuna Abdullahi Habib.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Habib explained that the purpose of their engagement with the Council was to explore avenues for partnership that would enable female farmers gain access to essential agricultural resources and capacity-building support. According to her, many grassroots female farmers are willing and eager to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s agricultural development but are often hampered by limited access to inputs, tools, and infrastructure.
“Our members are committed to farming and are ready to work, but their efforts are being stifled by a lack of fertilizers, modern farming equipment, and post-harvest processing tools,” she stated.
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She said through this visit, the association hope to initiate a partnership with RMRDC that will address these challenges, particularly in the provision of fertilizers, mechanized equipment for cluster farmers, and other essential resources.”
Responding, the Director General RMRDC Professor Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso, represented by the Director, Agro and Allied Department Dr. Sab Ebiriekwe, affirmed the Council’s willingness to collaborate with the SHEFARMERS Association.
He emphasized that supporting grassroots farmers is crucial for increasing agricultural productivity and enhancing food security nationwide.
The DG noted, “Empowering grassroots female farmers with the right tools, training, and inputs will lead to better harvests and, ultimately, contribute significantly to our national food security goals.”
According to him, RMRDC operates a training school and would be open to collaborating on capacity-building programs, the provision of improved seedlings, and the establishment of shared processing facilities for cluster farmers. He further added that the Council would ensure close monitoring and evaluation of all interventions to generate formal impact reports.
To advance the collaboration, he requested SHEFARMERS Association to submit a detailed proposal outlining the areas of potential partnership for further review and consideration.
The meeting ended on a note of optimism, with both parties expressing their commitment to working together toward the sustainable empowerment of female farmers across Nigeria.
