Gombe Govt. pledges continued support to women farmers
The Gombe State government has restated its commitment to sustaining support to women farmers in the state.
Mr Barnabas Malle, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, gave the assurance when members of the Gombe State Budget Committee Group (BCG) paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday.
Malle commended the women farmers for their contributions to boosting food security in the state and country.
He said that small-scale women farmers had made immense contributions to the federal and state government’s efforts at boosting food security and ensuring availability of food in the country.
“On that note, we will continue to support you all and work to ensure that your success is supported in whatever way we can.
“Whatever demands you have raised, we will do our best to see the area we can assist and I can assure you whatever budgetary allocation in your name will get to you.
“Feel free to come to us for anything and we will give the little support we can because of your contributions to food availability in the state and country,” he said.
The commissioner also seized the opportunity to clarify claims that the ministry had received the N15 million allocated to the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), Gombe State chapter.
“Last year, your group came to find out, and they said that some amount was released and was not given to the women.
“I don’t know anything about that, maybe the issue is there in the budget but it was not released.
“If the money was released, it is meant for your group and not for the ministry, and we would have given it to you.
“We are transparent at the ministry, and we want to see your progress, and assist you to ensure that women improve in agriculture,” he said.
Speaking earlier, while presenting the state’s 2025 agriculture budget observations and recommendations, Mr Ephraim Samuel, secretary of the group, highlighted their key concerns to the government for urgent attention.
Samuel, on behalf of the group, decried the 3.45 per cent budgetary allocation to the agriculture sector.
He stated that the low budgetary provision posed a threat to food security, given the crucial role of agricultural investment in ensuring food availability.
The group criticised the N30 million allocated to SWOFON in 2025, noting that it represented a 40 per cent reduction from N50 million in 2024 and a 57 per cent drop from N70 million in 2023.
They expressed concern over the downward trend, especially given the rising demand for support in areas such as inputs, mechanisation, access to credit, and the critical role of smallholder farmers in food production.
Samuel urged the state government to tackle post-harvest losses.
He described this as a major constraint in the agricultural value chain for smallholder women farmers, due to inadequate storage, processing, and preservation facilities.
Our correspondent reports that the advocacy visit was supported by Hope Foundation for the Lonely and ActionAid Nigeria.
