The Empowerment Initiative of People with Disabilities Farmers Cooperative Society has called for the deliberate inclusion of farmers with disabilities in agricultural policies, programmes, investments and empowerment initiatives across Nigeria.
The cooperative said persons with disabilities involved in agriculture were not seeking pity, but equal opportunities to work, produce, contribute to the economy and build sustainable livelihoods.
In a statement, the group noted that farmers with disabilities were already demonstrating their capacity to contribute to the agricultural sector through the cultivation of maize, rice, soybeans and other crops.
It, however, identified limited access to land, finance, agricultural inputs, machinery, irrigation, training, technology and markets as some of the major barriers preventing many farmers with disabilities from reaching their full productive potential.
“Farmers with disabilities are not waiting for pity. We are ready to work, produce, contribute, and build sustainable livelihoods,” the cooperative stated.
According to the group, what often limits persons with disabilities in agriculture is not their ability or determination to farm, but the absence of equal access to the resources and opportunities required to succeed.
It therefore called on government institutions, development partners, non-governmental organisations, philanthropists, financial institutions, agribusinesses and international organisations to recognise farmers with disabilities as partners in development rather than objects of charity.
The cooperative stressed that targeted agricultural support could significantly improve the productivity and livelihoods of farmers with disabilities.
It noted that access to fertiliser could increase harvests, agricultural machinery could reduce physical barriers, affordable financing could enable farmers to expand their operations, while secure access to farmland could give them the confidence to invest in long-term agricultural production.
It also emphasised the importance of training, appropriate technology and access to markets in helping farmers with disabilities transform agricultural production into sustainable sources of income.
The cooperative argued that inclusion in agriculture should not be viewed simply as a social intervention for persons with disabilities, but as an opportunity to unlock a productive force that has remained largely overlooked.
It expressed confidence that with the right opportunities and support, farmers with disabilities could feed their families, create employment, generate income and make meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s food security.
The group therefore urged stakeholders to invest in the capacity of farmers with disabilities, empower them with the necessary resources and promote their self-reliance.
“When farmers with disabilities receive the right opportunities, we can feed families, create employment, generate income, and contribute to Nigeria’s food security,” it said.
The cooperative concluded with a call for stakeholders to build a more inclusive agricultural sector where disability would not be a barrier to accessing opportunities, resources and markets.
“Invest in our ability. Empower our farmers. Build our self-reliance. Together, we can grow a more inclusive agricultural future,” the statement added.
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