Gendering Women Farmers

Abstract

Nigeria is a mounting and predominately agrarian economy. Seventy percent of its population resides in rural areas, and 60% of these households depend on agriculture as their primary source of income. Agriculture serves as a crucial wheel of growth and plays a pivotal role in poverty reduction for these nations. Notably, women in developing countries significantly contribute to agricultural production. They are major producers of food and actively participate in various aspects of farming. The United Nations estimated that about 60% to 80% of the agrarian workforce in Africa is provided by female farmers; women dominate and play major roles in producing subsistence crops and livestock yet they are being marginalized. The chapter shows that the contribution of women in agriculture is extremely significant and recommends mainstreaming of gender in implementation and monitoring of agricultural policies and programmes for sustainable development and how Nigeria women farmers can be empowered through modern technologies.