Introduction

The Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) Jigawa State chapter has intensified calls for increased agricultural funding and improved land access for women farmers. The appeal follows a comprehensive budget accountability assessment that examined state spending and programme delivery between 2021 and 2025, revealing both progress and persistent gaps in supporting female smallholders.

What Happened

The assessment found that agriculture received an average of 6.58 per cent of Jigawa State's approved budget during the review period significantly below the 10 per cent target established by the African Union's Malabo Declaration. Despite this shortfall, Jigawa recorded the highest agricultural capital execution rate among five evaluated states, at 65.9 per cent, outperforming Nasarawa, Niger, Anambra, and Oyo. SWOFON highlighted that Jigawa is the only state where citizen input into the budget process is treated as standing practice rather than an annual negotiation, and the sole state where women farmers' priorities can be traced to specific budget lines, including a dedicated gender budget segment covering health, education and agriculture. The report documented the distribution of pumps, processing kilns, and N50,000 grants to 13,680 members, though the organisation noted the actual reach of these interventions across the full membership base remains uncalculated. On land, customary tenure norms were identified as a binding constraint, with 24.5 per cent of surveyed members reporting they do not own land, even as 84.9 per cent noted some improvement in access. The assessment further warned that without improved storage, processing, transportation, and market information, farmers may struggle to translate inputs into higher incomes, and called for stronger links between women farmers and irrigation schemes, farm settlements, and value-chain infrastructure.

  • Jigawa achieved the highest agricultural capital execution rate (65.9 per cent) among the five states assessed.
  • The state is the only one where citizen budget input is treated as standing practice rather than annual negotiation.
  • Documented interventions of pumps, kilns, and N50,000 grants reached 13,680 SWOFON members, with reach across the full membership base uncalculated.
  • Customary land tenure norms affect secure ownership, as 24.5 per cent of surveyed members reported they do not own land.
  • SWOFON urges expanded gender budget segments, improved land-tenure documentation, and stronger links to irrigation and value-chain infrastructure.

Why This Matters

Women farmers form a vital part of Nigeria's food production system, yet they consistently face funding shortfalls and land-tenure challenges that limit their ability to scale operations. Jigawa's progress, particularly its institutionalised budget participation and documented delivery of inputs, shows what is possible when state systems intentionally include women's priorities. However, the gaps identified in delivery reach, land security, and post-production support underscore the need for sustained investment and monitoring. Scaling these successes could improve food security, increase rural incomes, and set a precedent for other states aiming to meet the Malabo Declaration benchmark.

Key Takeaways

  • Jigawa leads the five-state assessment in agricultural capital execution and gender-responsive budgeting practices.
  • Documented interventions reached 13,680 SWOFON members, but the full membership impact remains uncalculated.
  • Customary land tenure continues to limit secure ownership for a significant share of women farmers, highlighting the need for transparent beneficiary records and grievance mechanisms.
  • SWOFON urges the state to expand its dedicated gender budget segment, close the allocation gap toward the 10 per cent Malabo target, and institutionalise citizen participation at the local government level.
  • Greater investment in storage, processing, transportation, and market information is essential to turn input support into meaningful income gains for smallholder women farmers.

Conclusion

Jigawa already possesses a foundation of institutionalised participation, a dedicated gender budget segment, and the strongest documented delivery record among the states assessed. Building on that momentum, the state is urged to expand its gender budget allocation, move agricultural funding toward the 10 per cent Malabo benchmark, and deepen accountability engagements with women farmers at both state and local government levels. By addressing land-security gaps, enhancing post-production support, and ensuring that documented interventions reach every member of the cooperative, Jigawa can transform its current progress into lasting economic empowerment for its women farmers.