The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has called for increased access to land for women to realise their agricultural potential.
The State Programme Coordinator (SPC), Chief Sunday Ituma, made the call in Abakaliki during the programme’s celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Ituma said the programme invited traditional rulers and state legislators to the occasion to brainstorm on ways of evolving policies that would ensure greater land access for women.
“The programme understands the challenges faced by women in their farming endeavours, and these include access to land, funds and 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 to own land, while traditional rulers should realise that women have rights to land,” he said.
The SPC noted that most of the women pay for or hire land to cultivate, and when they fail to do so, they have no space to farm.
“The programme realises that women face challenges in accessing funds, and that is why we train them on linkages to financial institutions for access to funds.
“Women also face challenges in accessing inputs, but VCDP has done extremely well in that regard, including providing training, capacity building and extension services to farmers.
“The programme also provides equipment to assist women in the production, processing and marketing of farm produce, including the construction of market infrastructure in benefiting communities,” he said.
He noted that the United Nations (UN) earmarked 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, as the organisation had previously celebrated an international year for 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 with us in celebration of their roles in agriculture,” he said.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Nkechinyere Iyioku, said she felt honoured that women were recognised globally for their contributions.
Iyioku, represented by Mrs Ngozi Emeka-Anosike, thanked VCDP in Ebonyi for its interventions, which have promoted the activities of women in agriculture.
“The Ministry of Agriculture will continue implementing policies and programmes which empower women agriculturally because such efforts enhance the economy of families and communities,” she said.
The Rural Institution, Gender and Youth Mainstreaming Officer (RIGYMO) of VCDP in Ebonyi, Mrs Francisca Anya, expressed delight that women were showcasing their products courtesy of VCDP’s intervention.
Mrs Oluchi Ajah, a member of the Ivo Local Government Area (LGA) Impactful Women Network, noted that the celebration would motivate women to redouble their efforts in agricultural production.
