Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Nigerian Women in Agriculture: Has our Agricultural Extension Services failed them? – A

Igboji Esther Nelly Igboji Ola Paul, Rufina Adannaoma Ugwuoke

Abstract


The role and place of women in the world cannot be underestimated. In governance, politics, military, commerce, industry, high-tech, agriculture. Imagine a world without Angela Markel; Hilary Clinton; Margaret Thatcher; Indira Gandhi; Mrs Gates; Mrs Zuckerberg and all the Whos Who in World Women. In agriculture, they are the bedrock from ancient times. As men go for hunting expedition, the women engage in gathering and nurture of natural resources to put food on the family’s table. Even before the US launching of “Cooperative Extension” in 1914 and the UN World Conference on Women in 1995 there is no denying the fact that women were relegated to the background by men in all realms of life. Thanks to many women liberation movements that have identified and liberated women especially in developed countries. Today, women are nearly ruling the world. In agriculture, they have been identified as pillars for sustainable development and livelihood. Hence, our agricultural extension services must put women as the insurance for averting world food catastrophes as world population leap in bounds. Currently at over 6 billion and projected to reach 9 billion in 2050.


Keywords


Participatory democracy, Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainable Agricultural Development, Women in Agriculture, Agriculture Extension Services; Poverty Alleviation; Gender Equality, National Economy.

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