Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture - NAWIA

12/11/2025

2025 World Food Day
Zamfara Chapter of NAWIA empowers 114 women and six women groups with farm implements. - 16th October 2025

The NAWIA State Chairperson, Hajiya Shemau Nalado, distributed empowerment items to women farmers at an event commemorating the International Day of Food and Bumper Harvest, which was held in Gusau on Thursday.

Nalado announced that 70 women farmers were empowered with seedlings of either rice or soybeans, as well as organic fertilizer, herbicides, and insecticides.

Additionally, 30 women were supported in small and medium businesses, which included cake and waina production. Each beneficiary received a half bag of flour, 10 kg of rice or beans, and one liter of cooking oil.

Furthermore, six groups of women farmers received sprayers, water pumps, power tillers, and seedlings.

She noted that the distributed items were sourced from donations made by the government and other development partners who consistently assist the association.

Nalado expressed appreciation for the growing number of women in agriculture, citing that there are now over 2,000 registered members, while unregistered members may number around 5,000.

She also expressed gratitude to the wife of the Zamfara State Governor, Hajjiya Hurriya Dauda, for her tireless efforts in promoting women's empowerment and agricultural development.

Other organizations acknowledged for their support include the Zamfara Chambers of Commerce, ACRESAL, NG-CARES, LIPAN LP PRESS, and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

Presenting the packages to the beneficiaries, the wife of the Zamfara Governor, Hajjiya Hurriya Lawal, emphasized this year’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” which calls for unity and cooperation among farmers, families, and leaders to make healthy food accessible to all.

Represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Hajiya Suwaiba Mallam Mani, she stated that collaboration with organizations like NAWIA would ensure that women remain central to agricultural progress in Zamfara.

"As we mark this special day, I urge all farmers, especially our women farmers, to keep working hard and never give up. You are the strength of our state and the foundation of our nation’s food security.

“Let us all work hand in hand—government, private sector, and communities—to make Zamfara State a shining example of food sufficiency, resilience, and hope for the entire nation,” she said.

04/10/2025

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre partnered with the Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture - NAWIA to implement the project "Amplifying Climate Voices and Building Grassroots Capacity for Climate Preparedness in Frontline Communities." The project aimed to build the capacity of community-based organizations, smallholder farmers, and frontline actors to interpret and utilize seasonal forecasts and flood outlooks in developing early warning systems and mitigation plans. Additionally, the initiative sought to amplify the voices of climate change victims by documenting their experiences, particularly those of women and youth.

The project involved three key phases:
a. One-Day Training-of-Trainers (ToT) Workshop
b. Community-Level Dissemination and Engagement
c. Data Collection and Capturing of Climate Stories

In the first phase, 24 field officers and 6 State Coordinators were trained to understand climate change and its impacts on agriculture and the environment at large. At the top of the training outline was capacity building for the participants on interpreting and applying the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) Seasonal Climate Predictions and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) Annual Flood Outlook. Participants also learned to use tools such as the NIHSA Flood Dashboard, received training in digital data collection using KoboToolbox, and were oriented on how to capture farmers’ climate experiences and stories.

After successfully completing the Training of Trainers (T.o.T) workshop, the project proceeded to the next two phases: Community-Level Dissemination and Engagement, and Data Collection and capturing of climate stories.

These phases focused on reaching farmers across six states: Benue, Niger, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, and Plateau. The 24 field officers trained in the ToT led the efforts on the ground, engaging beneficiaries in Community-Level Dissemination and Engagement activities to build their capacity and awareness of NiMet's seasonal prediction data, as well as the NIHSA flood outlook data. This was followed by Data Collection and the capturing of climate stories.

Within 60 days of implementation, the project reached 3,685 respondents through data collection and the capturing of climate stories while engaging 3,725 participants during the Community-Level Dissemination and Engagement trainings. Overall, the project affected 120 communities across the six states. Training sessions were held in churches, at public squares, school institutions, and town halls, among other locations.

Limited funding remains a challenge for implementing on-field activities. The high costs associated with transporting personnel to the rural locations of climate-impacted victims to document their experiences were significant obstacles. Additionally, bad road conditions and concerns over security threats posed by herdsmen further limited the ability to report these incidents.

Without experiencing the damage caused by climate change firsthand, we would not be able to accurately underscore the need for a dedicated and deliberate commitment to funding climate mitigation globally. The losses are huge and unbearable.

We urge NiMet and NIHSA to ensure the early and timely release of this vital data. Farmers reported that having access to this information earlier, around March and April, would be extremely beneficial.

23/06/2025

*FREE One-Day Climate & Agriculture Training – June 24*

HEDA Resource Centre invites you to a one-day online training on how to use weather and flood forecasts to improve farming.

🗓️ Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
🕘 Time: 9:00AM – 3:30PM
💻 Location: Online (Zoom)
💡 Cost: Free
📜 Certificate: Yes, for active participants

You’ll learn how to:

- Understand this year’s rainfall and flood forecast
- Plan better for crops and livestock
- Access support like finance, insurance, and advisories
- Open to farmers, extension agents, agribusiness, and agriculture officers.

🔗 To register, please visit: https://bit.ly/hedatraining

Still need clarifications? Chat Mayowa on WhatsApp: 08102619637

Don’t miss it!

Welcome! Thank you for your interest in this course, organized by HEDA Resource Centre. This one-day course covers a wide range of topics across crop and livestock farming, with practical guidance on how to use weather information to improve agricultural decisions. You will also gain access to infor...

30/03/2025

HAPPY EID-EL-FITR to all our Members in the Islamic states. We wish you the greatness and property that comes with the celebrations. May the long fast cleanse you and make you whole before Allah and may he bless the works of your hands and that of the members of your family.

28/03/2025

ACCELERATING EMPOWERMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR SMALLHOLDER WOMEN.

In April 2024, the Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture (NAWIA) partnered with BOPinc to launch the "Value Chain Integrated Services (VCIS) Project." This initiative, funded through Bopinc's Beyond Farming Collective Project by Gates Foundation, had the overall objective to support NAWIA to establish an Agro-Service Center at Adagi Community in Kwande LGA, Benue State, that will provide smallholder women farmers with access to labor-saving equipment for land preparation, harvesting, and agro-processing. The project also sought to train smallholder women in Climate-Smart Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) to increase productivity, improve post-harvest handling of agricultural produce to reduce losses, and build their capacity in value addition to increase income. Furthermore, the project had among its objectives to create alternative market opportunities for NAWIA members by connecting them to online agro-marketing platforms, with the assistance of NAWIA field officers who will help deploy these technologies to reach remote rural communities.

The problems of low productivity and heightened poverty among smallholder women farmers informed the decision for this initiative. These challenges stemmed from limited access to labor-saving equipment, inadequate knowledge of post-harvest handling of produce, poor storage techniques, lack of value addition skills, as well as insufficient access to premium markets for their produce.

The project aimed to impact 1350 smallholder women directly, with an estimated 6000 others as indirect beneficiaries.

THE JOURNEY SO FAR
With funding from BOPInc, the Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture has so far delivered huge milestones on the project. This includes;
a. Construction of the main 6,400 square meters Agro-Service Center with two units of high-grade commercial buildings, 1 Factory house, and 1 training hall with warehousing facility.
b. Installation of a mobile 3.5kva solar-powered Multi-Grain threshing facility.
c. Provision of two (2) units of 18hp Tiller machines.
d. Provision of one (1) set of Garri processing line with two (2) fryers, two (2) pressers and two (2) units of sieving equipment.
e. Installation of one (1) unit of 25hp Rice Milling Machine with huller.
f. Installation of one (1) unit of 380V Rice destonner machine (1 ton per hour capacity)
g. Provision of 2 pieces of large-size rice parboiling drum units
h. Construction of 240 square foot drying slab
i. Installation of one (1) unit of 6.5hp Groundnut decortinator (shelling) machine. (1 ton per hour capacity)
j. Installation of one (1) unit of 20hp Flour milling machine (Patalli) with 5-ton per hour capacity
k. Construction of a Mini-Sized Agro-Services Shop

In addition to the above, the project has also constructed and equipped two additional Agro-Service Centers for garri processing in Apa LGA (Benue State) and Mandi Community, in Ilorin West LGA Kwara States.

In providing access to wider markets through online marketing, NAWIA partnered with Agriarche to train and onboard 41 NAWIA members and field officers on the Mobile Agro marketing App. These users have so far created awareness and sensitized over 700 smallholder farmers providing assistance for them to utilise the facility.

Currently, the training of women on post-harvest handling of produce and value addition is ongoing at the Agro-Service Center (ASC), along with other service provisions across all the agro-service centers.
With increased access to labour-saving machines for land preparation, the women will engage in the cultivation of larger plots of land, and they will use the climate-smart GAP practices to increase yield. Also, with the increased knowledge on post-harvest handling of produce, they will reduce the losses that arise from poor handling while also increasing their income through value addition and sales to wider markets that would be accessed via the online and mobile market platforms.

20/02/2025

*Climate-Smart Agriculture: HEDA Partners with Fresh FM Osogbo to Empower Farmers with Climate Information*

In a groundbreaking move to enhance climate awareness and support small holder farmers who rely on predictable weather patterns in Nigeria, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Fresh FM Osogbo.

The MOU, set to commence in January 2025, will span an initial 12 months. Under the agreement, HEDA will provide weekly climate updates from , , including news, tips, and other valuable content, while Fresh FM will broadcast these updates during its programs.

Read More Here: 👇

https://hedang.org/climate-smart-agriculture-heda-partners-with-fresh-fm-osogbo-to-empower-farmers-with-climate-information/

Fresh Fm Osogbo
Nigerian Meteorological Agency-NiMet
Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture - NAWIA

Azeez A. Salawu Nurudeen Salako Shakiru Ibn Sakariyah Arigbabu Sulaimon Olawale Olanrewaju Suraju

20/02/2025

If you're able to tuck a healthy child into a warm bed with a full belly in a safe home, you've won the lottery of life. - Anonymous

31/12/2024

**APPRECIATION FOR THE YEAR 2024**

The Board, management, members, and staff of the Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture (NAWIA) would like to express our profound gratitude to all our donors, partners, collaborators, stakeholders, and networks of resource persons for making this year a success. With your support, we have been able to advance our mission of creating a safe and enabling environment where smallholder women, youth, and persons with disabilities can thrive in their respective livelihoods.

Throughout the year, we initiated and implemented projects across our thematic areas, focusing on building the capacity of small-scale women farmers and women business owners. We provided them with the knowledge and skills needed to overcome climate shocks and unforeseen economic challenges. Additionally, we made significant strides in promoting women's rights to land ownership and inheritance, reducing gender-based violence, and enhancing women's participation in governance and decision-making.

Thanks to your partnerships, we successfully revitalized our organization. This included establishing a new board, creating a new strategic plan, developing new organizational policies, and strengthening the capacity of our workforce/human resources.

In 2024, NAWIA established 156 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), providing 3,744 smallholder women with access to financial services such as savings and loans. This initiative enabled women to diversify their existing businesses and start new or alternative income sources. We also trained 300 community women group leaders through a training-of-trainers program focused on reading and utilizing seasonal rainfall prediction data for climate-smart agriculture. As part of our climate action initiatives, NAWIA established two Forest User Groups, each comprising 50 members, equipping them with tools and skills for the recovery of lost vegetation and increased pollinator populations. This initiative also provided alternative income sources for 40 community women in apiculture.

Furthermore, we constructed and equipped three Agro-Service Centers across Benue and Kwara States. One of these centers spans 6,400 square meters and is equipped with land preparation machines (two tillers and one ridger), labor-saving equipment (two threshing machines and two shelling machines), and medium to large-sized agro-processing machines (including a garri processing line and flour milling equipment). In addition, we constructed two mini-sized garri processing centers, all aimed at increasing access to markets and improving the income and livelihoods of smallholder women. Over 15 local community women have been engaged with the facility, and training in value addition is currently ongoing.

As part of NAWIA's women entrepreneurship development activities for the year, our organization successfully trained 100 small-scale women business owners in financial literacy and business management. 50 of these women received free registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and are leading the competition in the market.

The achievements highlighted above would not have been possible without your unwavering support. We look forward to continuing our efforts in the coming year. We remain committed to the fight for a just society and a safe environment.

Thank you all.

Ngizan Chahul
President, NAWIA

AFEX Nigeria, Bopinc, United Nations Development Programme - UNDP, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network - BES-Net, Women Environmental Programme, HEDA Resource Centre Nenker Daniels, James Ker,

29/10/2024

Join all Nigerian women farmers tomorrow to discuss the future of smallholder agriculture in Nigeria

18/10/2024

Right to food for a better life and a better future!

We understand that everyone has a right to food, most importantly we understand that women have great roles to play in this as much as men.

The Zanfara state chapter of the Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture NAWIA celebrated her women in collaboration with Her excellency Hajia Huriyya Dauda Lawal, wife of the state governor along side the state coordinator.

It was a medium for:

~ Empowerment.
~ Social development
~ Access to markets

18/10/2024

On the occasion of the International World Food day, the Niger state chapter of Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture chaired by the state coordinator held a program to celebrate it's women.
The women were empowered with farm inputs.

Everyone has a right to food for a better life and a better future.