Group Calls for 15% of Land for Women, Submits Recommendations to ECOWAS

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Network of Peasant Organisations and Producers of West Africa (ROPPA), has called on governments of West African states to give grants of at least 15 per cent of land developed by public or semi-public institutions to groups of women and young farmers for the purpose of agriculture.

The ROPPA, which revealed its membership of 22 million farmer and pastoral organisations, submitted to ECOWAS its recommendations on the securing of access to land for women and young people in Africa.

In collaboration with the Coalition for the Protection of African Genetic Heritage (COPAGEN), the group said that this became necessary as access to land and security has become a major problem for women globally, particularly in Africa. 

The focal person and host for the convergence of seven countries out of 16 member states, Ms. Zainab Mohammed, disclosed that the recommendations were hinged on effective participation of university researchers, experts, traditional chiefs and communicators of West Africa.

She said that amongst the recommendations, it is expected that ECOWAS would encourage member states to promote alternative land tenure reforms that take into account private domains to land registered in its name and the extraction of land under customary rights.

Other recommendations are the need to “relaunch the process of developing regional land guidelines recognising equitable and customary land rights in line with the African Union’s framework and guidelines on land policies in Africa.

“Member states should give grant at least 15 per cent of land developed by public or semi-public institutions, as in Mali, to groups of women and young farmers who are motivated and interested in agriculture.

“Commit to decisively supporting inclusive and participatory land reforms that provide security for communities based on customs and traditions, whether they are being developed, completed, implemented and monitored, taking into account the opinions of communities without discrimination against groups under pressure, including pastoralists, fishermen, women and young people.”