Nigeria is losing an estimated $2.3 billion annually because of the gender gap in agricultural productivity, equivalent to about 2% of the country’s GDP, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

The FAO says the economic cost highlights the need for greater investment in women farmers and action to remove barriers to land, finance, technology, agricultural services, markets and leadership opportunities.

The figures were highlighted by Jimmy Owani, representing the FAO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, during a high-level meeting and panel discussion in Abuja marking the 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.

The event, held at the United Nations House under the theme “Advancing Women’s Leadership and Economic Power in Nigeria’s Agrifood System,” examined the role of women in strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural economy and food systems.

Women contribute an estimated 37% of labour in crop production and play important roles across crop farming, livestock, fisheries, food processing, trading, entrepreneurship and agricultural innovation. However, female-managed farms often record lower productivity because of unequal access to productive resources and opportunities.

Agriculture contributes between 22% and 25% of Nigeria’s GDP and supports the livelihoods and food security of millions of people. Closing the gender gap could therefore have wider implications for agricultural productivity, food security and inclusive economic growth.

The challenge extends beyond Nigeria. Women account for approximately 41% of the global agrifood workforce but continue to face inequalities in access to productive resources, finance, technology, markets and decision-making opportunities. The FAO estimates that closing global gender gaps in agricultural productivity and wages could add nearly $1 trillion to the global economy while reducing food insecurity.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is also supporting women and farming communities in northern Nigeria. Over the past five years, its interventions have reached 128,000 women through initiatives involving agricultural inputs, equipment and storage, irrigation, market linkages and resilience hubs.

According to WFP representative Edouard Thiam, more than 70% of jobs created through WFP activities have gone to young women. The organisation is also using local procurement to purchase food from Nigerian farmers and businesses, helping retain agricultural spending within the domestic economy.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has likewise reached at least 96,827 women through programmes including the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises for Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) and Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ).

These programmes are supporting women to move beyond subsistence farming into organised production, processing and market participation, while improving access to finance, productive assets, knowledge and technology.

The initiatives include training in improved crop production practices, advisory services, savings, credit, insurance and financial literacy. IFAD has called for continued investment in women’s productive capacity, enterprises, organisations, innovation and leadership.

The discussions in Abuja highlighted that increasing women’s participation in agriculture is not only a matter of inclusion. Greater access to resources, markets and decision-making could also strengthen productivity and help Nigeria capture more value from its agrifood sector.

With agriculture remaining a major contributor to Nigeria’s economy, addressing the barriers faced by women farmers could form an important part of the country’s efforts to improve food security, rural incomes and agricultural growth.