by Julian Osamato10 hours ago
WIMA says it remains committed to breaking barriers for women in agriculture, fostering inclusion, and driving Nigeria’s agricultural transformation through innovative mechanisation solutions.
The Women in Mechanised Agriculture Association (WIMA) is revolutionising access to agricultural technology for women across Nigeria, empowering them with mechanised farming solutions to enhance productivity and economic opportunities.
Speaking at the launch of a new initiative in Abuja, Dr Aisha Wazir, Board Chair of WIMA’s Board of Trustees, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to ensuring women have access to mechanisation, recognising its transformative impact on agricultural productivity.
“Mechanisation makes a significant difference in agricultural practices. It enhances efficiency, reduces labour intensity, and ultimately leads to increased yields,” she stated.
WIMA, established in 2019, was founded to address the lack of access to mechanised farming tools for women, particularly those in rural and underserved areas.
The association has since expanded, operating 24 mechanisation hubs across 19 states, with full operations in seven states. These hubs provide essential services such as threshing, irrigation, and spraying to ease the burden on women farmers.
Aisha Yakubu, President of WIMA, highlighted the organisation’s business model, which enables women to invest in mechanised equipment collectively.
“We have structured a crowdfunding approach, allowing women to purchase units of equipment such as tractors, making ownership more affordable. For example, instead of purchasing an entire tractor worth N59 million, women can buy units starting at 5,900 naira and share in the profits,” she explained.
Agribusiness specialist and WIMA member, Heather-Ronke Akanni, reiterated the organisation’s core values—empowerment, sustainability, inclusivity, excellence, and resilience—while calling on the government to implement policies supporting women in mechanised agriculture.
“We already have policies for women in agriculture, but we need specific regulations that prioritise mechanised farming for women to maximise its impact,” she urged.
National Coordinator of WIMA, Hadiza Abakaruma, provided insights into the association’s expansion, noting its partnership with the MasterCard Foundation in 2020, which led to significant growth. “We started with just six women, but by 2020, we had 250, and today, we have over 2,000 women benefiting from mechanised farming,” she said.
She also revealed WIMA’s transition to non-fossil fuel equipment, adopting solar-powered threshing machines to promote sustainable farming practices. “The initiative has established 12 hubs across Kano, Kaduna, Adamawa, and Gombe, where women-run centers facilitate mechanized services. With continued government and private sector support, WIMA aims to attract further investments and donor funding to expand its reach, creating more opportunities for women in the agricultural sector”.
“This is a game-changer for agriculture in Nigeria,” Abakaruma noted. “By integrating mechanization into farming, we can boost productivity, attract young people into agriculture, and contribute significantly to economic diversification.”
Reporting by Julian Osamoto; Editing by Muzha Kucha