National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Taiwo Niyi, KWARA |
Women farmers in Kwara State, especially smallholder rural farmers, have been urged to leverage Information Communication Technology (ICT) to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance economic growth.
This call was made by Funmilayo Esther Famuyiwa, an agricultural entrepreneur and co-founder of Ayosifam Integrated Service Ltd, during an interview in Ilorin on Sunday.
Famuyiwa emphasized that ICT-based initiatives could provide women farmers and youths with critical resources such as extension services, insurance, microcredit, farm inputs, and market access, fostering sustainable agriculture and bolstering food security.
“Our aim is to empower more women and youth in cassava farming while promoting sustainable agriculture and food security. This initiative creates robust opportunities for smallholder rural farmers, especially women, to reduce post-harvest loss,” she said.
She revealed that Ayosifam had upgraded its website to offer services like extension support, farm insurance, and online produce listings. Farmers in designated catchment areas of Kwara State can now access microcredit and farm inputs after undergoing certification by extension agents.
Highlighting the vital role of women farmers, Famuyiwa noted their contribution to agricultural productivity and their significance in sustaining Nigeria’s economy.
“In our years of operation, we discovered gaps in farmers’ operations. Because our focus is not solely on profit but community impact, we developed this initiative to empower smallholder rural farmers, especially women, to increase their yields and reduce post-harvest losses. With the creation of online market access, we bridge the gap for women farmers who face challenges in marketing their harvest,” she explained.
As part of its efforts to add value to agricultural produce, Ayosifam processes cassava harvested by women farmers into high-quality products, including Ayosifam Garri, Ayosifam Lebu, and Ayosifam Cassava Chips. “We help these farmers by taking their cassava produce and converting it into cassava-based food products, addressing the challenge of market access and ensuring their produce does not go to waste,” she added.
Famuyiwa reiterated that ICT solutions could revolutionize agriculture in Nigeria by addressing key challenges faced by smallholder farmers, particularly women.
