The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-supported Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has urged stakeholders to take steps towards improving women’s access to agricultural land to enable them to fully harness their potential in farming.
The State Programme Coordinator (SPC), Sunday Ituma, made the appeal in Abakaliki during the state’s commemoration of the International Year for the Woman Farmer.
Ituma said traditional rulers and members of the state legislature were invited to the event to deliberate on measures and policies that could improve women’s access to land for agricultural activities.
“The programme understands the challenges faced by women in their farming endeavours and these include acess to land, funds, inputs among others.
“We are aware that some aspects of culture forbid women from land ownership and we want things to change.
“We want the house of assembly to make laws that allow women own lands while traditional rulers should realise that women have rights to lands,” he said.
The SPC observed that many women who engage in farming are forced to rent or pay for access to farmland, leaving them without cultivation spaces when they cannot afford the associated costs.
“The programme realises that women face challenges to access funds and that is why we train them on linkages to financial institutions for funds’ access.
“Women also face challenges in accessing inputs but VCDP has done extemely well in that regard including providing training, capacity building and extension services to farmers.
“The programme also provides equipment to assist women in production, processing and marketing of the farm produce including construction of market infrastructures in benefiting communities,” he said.
Ituma explained that the United Nations (UN) designated 2026 as the International Year for the Woman Farmer, following previous global observances dedicated to women.
“IFAD which funds agriculture under the UN system directed all projects in Nigeria and across the world to celebrate the year.
“The VCDP in turn directed every participating state to set a date to assemble women working for us in celebration of their roles in agriculture,” he said.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nkechinyere Iyioku, said the global recognition of women’s contribution to agriculture was a welcome development.
Iyioku, who was represented by Ngozi Emeka-Anosike, appreciated the interventions of VCDP in Ebonyi, saying the programme had contributed to advancing the participation and productivity of women in agriculture.
“The ministry of agriculture will continue implementing policies and programmes which empower women agriculturally because such enhances the economy of families and communities,” she said.
The Rural Institution, Gender and Youth Mainstreaming Officer (RIGYMO) of VCDP in Ebonyi, Fransisca Anya, also expressed satisfaction with the progress made by women beneficiaries, particularly their ability to display and market products developed through the programme’s interventions.
Oluchi Ajah, a member of the Ivo Local Government Area (LGA) Impactful Women Network, said the celebration would encourage more women to intensify their involvement in agricultural production.
