Gombe women farmers decry post-harvest losses — Report

Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria, Gombe State chapter, on Tuesday, bemoaned the impact of post-harvest losses to food security in the state.

 

Speaking during a press conference on the 2025 Gombe State Agriculture Budget organised by Hope Foundation for the Lonely, Gombe State Budget Committee, with support from ActionAid Nigeria, Airudia Mamman, noted that it portends a major setback.

 

She said, “Post-harvest losses continue to hinder Gombe State’s agricultural value chain, especially for smallholder women farmers due to poor storage, processing, and preservation facilities.

 

“Despite a ₦10m allocation in the 2024 budget, no funds were released. Worryingly, the 2025 budget did not make provision for post-harvest losses support.”

 

Continuing further, Mamman added, “We urge the government to restore and increase funding for community-based storage facilities, agro-processing support and equipment, farmer training on preservation and value addition, cold chain systems, and market linkages, etc.”

 

“Reducing post-harvest losses is not only an economic necessity, but also a critical component of improving food availability, increasing farmer incomes, and ensuring return on investment. It must remain a visible priority in the state’s agricultural development agenda,” she added.

 

On-farm inputs, Mamman noted that they are vital to boosting agricultural productivity, profitability, and food security. In the 2025 Gombe State Agriculture Budget, the fertiliser subsidy remains unchanged at ₦1 billion, the same as in 2024.

 

“However, the allocation for general agricultural inputs has been reduced from ₦30 million in 2024 to ₦25 million in 2025, despite rising input costs and growing demand among smallholder farmers.

 

“This reduction signals a weakening commitment to input support, especially when smallholder farmers, particularly women, need greater access to affordable, quality inputs to sustain their yields.

 

“We call on the Gombe State Government to restore and increase the allocation for agricultural inputs and ensure transparent distribution of subsidised fertilisers and inputs at affordable prices. Furthermore, the fertiliser subsidy should incorporate organic fertilisers to promote sustainable soil health and climate-resilient practices.”

 

While harping on the need to encourage women and youth in agriculture Mamman described it as central to agricultural production in Gombe State, especially at the community level, where they play a critical role in food production and household income generation.

 

She added, “It is crucial that the state government not only maintains dedicated budget lines for their empowerment but also ensures the timely and full release of allocated funds.

 

“In the 2025 Agriculture Budget, ₦30m was allocated to Smallholder Women Farmers, marking a 40 per cent reduction from ₦50m in 2024 and a 57 per cent drop from ₦70m in 2023. This downward trend is concerning given the rising need for support in inputs, mechanisation, credit, and market access.

 

“The Youth in Agriculture budget remains stagnant at ₦20m for 2025, the same as previous years, with no record of fund release or implementation to date. This lack of progress risks alienating young people from the sector, despite their importance to innovation and food security.”

 

On her part, Chief Executive Officer of HFL, Sarah Yapwa, disclosed that the engagement is a key milestone in our collective efforts under the Scaling Up Public Investment in Agriculture (SUPIA) project—a project aimed at ensuring that public investments in agriculture are not only increased but also inclusive, equitable, and impactful.

 

Yapwa said, “As you are all aware, agriculture remains a vital sector in Gombe State. It is the bedrock of livelihoods for thousands of smallholder women and youth, and a major driver of food security, economic resilience, and poverty reduction.

 

“Yet, year after year, budgetary allocations to the sector have fallen short of both national expectations and international commitments, such as the Maputo and Malabo Declarations, which mandate that at least 10 per cent of public expenditure be committed to agriculture.

 

“Our analysis of the 2025 Gombe State Agriculture Budget reveals mixed outcomes. While we commend the state government for increased allocations to extension logistics and the consistency of fertiliser subsidies, we are equally concerned about the reduction in funding for key strategic areas, particularly those that directly benefit smallholder women farmers, youth engagement, climate resilience, post-harvest support, and research and development.”

 

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