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May 28, 2020

Overcoming gender bias in Sokoto

Fresh Produce
Nigeria
Cooperation is the main struggle I have, when I first contact these men. Most of them say they are too busy, that they have something else to do.

One of the inclusive aspects of 2SCALE is the involvement of women and youth at all levels of partnership activities. For the implementation of activities, partnership facilitators work in close collaboration with business champions and other actors across the value chain. But a large part of the field activities is carried out by the program's business support services (BSS). This technical implementing partner plays a crucial role within the cluster. This is why, in selecting the BSS, 2SCALE encourages a high proportion of female coaches among their staff.

Mabruka Adamu Gurori, 23, is an extension service worker. She is passionate about agriculture. After her graduation in Statistics, she joined the Agricultural Graduates Association of Nigeria (AGAN), a youth organization with a special focus on agriculture. In Sokoto, the organization is affiliated with the Agroheed Support Initiative, the BSS in charge of implementing field activities - as part of the onion partnership with Tays Food Limited. One of the major responsibilities of this organization is to improve production at farm level, by promoting good agricultural practices, including climate smart initiatives and strengthening the smallholder farmer cooperatives' capacity - in terms of leadership and administration.

Mabruka is one of the few female coaches of AGAN. She learnt step-by-step agronomic skills, such as good agricultural practices, crop protection, and pre and post-harvest handling of agricultural produce. All of this knowledge she imparts during her coaching sessions. However, as she states, being a female extension worker is not always easy. Transport to remote areas, security issues or even lack of authorization of husbands (to travel alone), are among many daily challenges that our 2SCALE female coaches face.

Read also: Insights on being a female coach in the 2SCALE program

What motivates me is that we women are left behind in everything. That’s why I want my fellow women to see how I work hard to do these things, even if it’s not easy.

Being an extension worker is not often easy when it comes to changing certain habits. Sometimes, farmers even reject the ideas and knowledge shared by extension agents. The role is even more complicated when it comes to a woman to carry out this mission of raising awareness among men.

Mabruka works with an onion cluster in Sokoto, including a farmer organisation that consists mainly of men. The start was not very easy for her, however she enjoys a challenge and always finds the courage to continue on.

The first time I came here, they even wondered how a lady like me can show them anything valuable. But gradually they understood that what I provide is important. The main struggle is how to bring farmers together and make them understand that you are not here to tell them what to do, but to help show them how to improve their farming activities.

Mabruka's work is not only limited to the transfer of agricultural technical skills. She also leverages her many meetings and sessions to help sensitize these men, to open up new opportunities for their wives to work.

I would advise them to also allow their women to join the farming activities. Because it’s not only farming, it’s business.
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