Government Programmes in Nigeria - Federal Agricultural Coordinating Unit

Women in Agriculture (WIA)

In 1991, WIA was established in the Federal Agricultural Coordinating Unit, under the Department of Agriculture of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. Its aim was to integrate women into agricultural development through the alleviation of production constraints facing women. WIA has disseminated information on modern production, processing and utilization technologies which could reduce women’s workload. It has also tried to link women with sources of credit and better agricultural inputs, such as improved seeds and fertilizers. As a follow-up to WIA activities, a Nigerian delegation attended to the International Conference on Women in Agriculture.

WIA women’s groups have been organized around innovative agro-based activities and new technologies have been used and disseminated to women farmers. This has resulted in an increased output, hence more surplus and income for the family.