Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has said that empowering women with mechanised farming tools will significantly accelerate agricultural productivity, strengthen food security and expand economic opportunities across Nigeria.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, made the remarks in Kaduna during the celebration of International Women’s Day, organised by the Women in Mechanized Agriculture Association (WIMA).
According to him, the gathering was more than a ceremonial event, describing it as a reflection of what he called a “quiet revolution” being driven by women across farms, markets and agribusiness hubs.
Sani noted that agricultural mechanisation is transforming farming globally, stressing that Nigeria must embrace modern technologies to remain competitive and meet the rising demand for food.
He explained that mechanisation goes beyond the introduction of machines, as it improves productivity, enhances efficiency, reduces labour burdens and opens new economic opportunities for farmers, especially women.
The governor pointed out that women farmers often juggle both farming and household responsibilities, adding that access to mechanised equipment could significantly reduce their workload while increasing farm output and income.
He emphasised that agriculture remains a major source of livelihood for millions of Nigerians, with women playing critical roles across the value chain, including production, processing, marketing and food distribution.
Despite their contributions, the governor acknowledged that many women farmers still face challenges such as limited access to land, finance, technology and mechanised services, which continue to limit their productivity.
Sani reaffirmed the commitment of the Kaduna State Government to support women and youths in agriculture through policies and investments that promote agribusiness development and improve access to modern farming technologies.
Also speaking, President of WIMA Aisha Yakubu Bako said the association was established in 2019 to provide mechanisation services to farmers while empowering women as service providers.
She revealed that the organisation has expanded from just six members at inception to about 2,900 women who now provide mechanised services such as ploughing, harvesting, threshing, drying, irrigation pumping and crop spraying across several states.
Meanwhile, a representative of PropCom Plus, Kator Abagu, said the programme has partnered with WIMA to establish solar-powered mechanisation hubs and introduce climate-smart agricultural technologies aimed at improving the productivity and livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
