Did you know that women play a far bigger role in agriculture than most people realise? For many, the word ‘farmer’ conjures up the image of an older man behind a plough. But across Nigeria and the wider African continent, women have long been an essential part of the agricultural workforce — planting, harvesting, processing, selling, and holding farming households together through every season.
2026 is the International Year of the Woman Farmer — a global recognition that is long overdue. At Babban Gona, it is a moment to shine a light on the women who show up for the land, their families, and their communities, season after season.
Women in Agriculture: More Than You Think
Women’s roles in agriculture have become more defined over time. From production and processing to marketing and utilisation, female farmers are involved at virtually every stage of the food chain. Whether running their own farms, contributing to family operations, or working as suppliers of labour, women are deeply woven into the fabric of Nigerian agriculture.
And their participation is not limited to light duties. Here are some things that may surprise you about women in agriculture:
Women are involved in some of the most physically demanding tasks on the farm — planting, fertiliser and herbicide application, harvesting, and threshing. The work is hard, and they show up for it regardless.
They balance farming with domestic responsibilities in a way that few others could manage. Running a household while handling the demands of a full farming season is no small feat — yet women in agriculture do it with remarkable consistency.
Women thrive in community. They draw strength from working alongside one another, sharing knowledge, pooling resources, and lifting each other through difficult seasons. At Babban Gona, this is something we witness closely through our trust groups, where women farmers support one another not just as farmers but as a genuine community.
Women are deeply passionate about what they do. They invest fully in every planting season and approach each harvest with the commitment of someone who understands exactly what is at stake for their farm, their family, and their future.
The Challenges They Face
Women in agriculture are not exempt from the challenges that affect most smallholder farmers. Limited access to financing, inadequate training, lack of quality inputs, and poor access to markets all stand between a hardworking female farmer and the results her effort deserves.
Beyond these shared challenges, women often face additional barriers. Socioeconomic factors such as income levels, access to education, and infrastructure gaps can significantly limit the opportunities available to female farmers — particularly in rural communities where these gaps tend to be widest.
At Babban Gona, we provide support to smallholder farmers — including women — to help cushion the impact of these challenges. Because we believe that when a woman farmer has access to the right credit, the right inputs, and the right knowledge, the results speak for themselves.
Why It Matters
Women in agriculture are not a minority story. They are a central part of how Nigeria feeds itself. Recognising their contribution is not just the right thing to do — it is essential for the future of the sector.
When female farmers are supported, yields improve, household nutrition improves, and the next generation grows up seeing agriculture as a viable and dignified path. The ripple effect of investing in a woman farmer reaches far beyond the farm gate.
In this International Year of the Woman Farmer, let us do more than acknowledge women in agriculture. Let us ensure that the systems, the support, and the opportunities they deserve are actually within reach.
Because with the right environment to thrive, women in agriculture will not just contribute to the sector’s growth — they will lead it.
At Babban Gona, we are committed to supporting every smallholder farmer — including the women who have always been at the heart of Nigerian agriculture.
