Kisiedu Acquaye

YPARD Nigeria was part of a 2-day Agricultural Policy Review to spotlight inclusion for gender, people living with disabilities and vulnerable groups.

There is growing evidence that improving women’s access to agricultural resources such as farm inputs, markets and land improves livelihoods, reduces poverty and improves food security of a nation. YPARD Nigeria in recognition of this fact partnered with the Life and Peace Development Organisation (LAPDO) and Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission on the Nigeria Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) Project to promote the mainstreaming of gender and social inclusion in Oyo State’s Agricultural Policy.

This was accomplished during a 2-day workshop at the Ibadan Business School on August 10 and 11, 2022. During the workshop, YPARD Nigeria Country Representative, Mr Akin Showemimo made a presentation highlighting gaps in the state’s agricultural policy that could be barriers to the involvement of women, youth and people living with disabilities. All the Oyo State Agricultural Ministries, Departments and Agencies were present and there was a thorough examination of the state’s agricultural policy. Recommendations were drawn up and a rough draft was prepared to be reviewed and validated at a later date.

The validation exercise of the agricultural policy review which was held on October 25, 2022, at the BON Hotel Nest Bodija and had in attendance, the Oyo State’s Honourable Commissioner of Agriculture who received the stakeholders. He expressed his joy that vulnerable groups were well represented in the event and in his words “with the reviewed validated policies, smallholder women farmers, people living with disabilities and youth will be specifically captured in Oyo States Annual Budget henceforth - this is a big win for all the peoples of Oyo State, Nigeria’.

The Communication Champion of YPARD Nigeria, Isaiah Adekunmbi who was present at the validation exercise expressed joy that the event was a success and appealed to other state departments of agriculture to work with YPARD Nigeria to inculcate the Sustainable Development Goal 8: Gender Equality in their respective policies.

YPARD Nigeria can be reached through [email protected] for issues concerning Agricultural Development and related partnership opportunities in Nigeria.