The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called for increased support for smallholder women farmers, saying this is key to strengthening grassroots agriculture in Nigeria.
He made the call at the flagship ceremony marking the implementation of the Promoting Grassroot Women in Agriculture in Nigeria (PROgWAN) pilot phase training for 200 women in Kano.
The training was organised by the Mata Iyayen Al’umma Foundation, a women-focused non-governmental organisation, with support from the Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA).
According to the Emir, “supporting smallholder women farmers is critical to boosting food production and improving livelihoods at the grassroots level.”
Represented by the Sarkin Fadan Kano, Mallam Ado Kurawa, the Emir Sanusi II commended the foundation for supporting smallholder farmers to boost agricultural production.
He urged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the training, saying, “This opportunity should be used to become self-reliant and economically independent.”
The Emir also advised the beneficiaries to show compassion to vulnerable people in their communities. He said, “Supporting beggars and the less privileged will help keep them off the streets and promote social responsibility.”
Mallam Ado Kurawa, the Emir of Kano's representative Farida Ahmed Tahir, the founder of Mata Iyayen Al’umma Foundation
Speaking at the event, the Founder of Mata Iyayen Al’umma Foundation, Hajj. Farida Ahmed Tahir said the PROgWAN initiative is designed to empower one million smallholder women farmers across Nigeria.
She explained that “about 30,000 women farmers in Kano State will benefit from the programme over the next five years.”
Haj. Farida said the program was introduced to address challenges facing women farmers. According to her, “many women farmers have limited access to capital, weak technical knowledge, low visibility, and poor market access.”
She said the pilot phase would train 200 smallholder women farmers on horticultural crops to improve productivity.
“The beneficiaries are the most disadvantaged women farmers, including smallholder and subsistence farmers, widows, the girl child, and persons with special needs,” she added.
Haj. Farida further explained that the two-day training would combine theory and practical field sessions.
She said, “At the end of the training, beneficiaries will be supported with modern seeds, fertiliser, pesticides, and funding where necessary.”
The Kano State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children, and Persons with Special Needs, Haj. Amina Sani Abdullahi expressed concern over the limited training available to smallholder farmers in the past.
She said, “Training opportunities for women farmers have not been adequate.”
She expressed optimism that the PROgWAN programme would bridge the gap. According to her, “the programme will equip women with the knowledge and skills needed to participate effectively in agricultural value chains.”
She added that the initiative would improve food security, reduce poverty, and strengthen women’s economic power.
“This programme complements the state government’s efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and women empowerment as drivers of economic development,” she said.
The commissioner urged beneficiaries to remain committed to the training. She said, “You should share the knowledge in your communities and become agents of positive change.”
On her part, the Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), represented by the Director of Admin and General Services, Hajj.
Bilkisu Khalil advised the women to apply what they learned. “Use the knowledge effectively to boost your productivity,” she urged.
One of the beneficiaries, Khadija Bashir Hassan, praised the initiative and expressed appreciation to the organisers. She said, “I will use the knowledge gained from this training to support my community and improve our farming practices.”
