Group Tasks Govt on Climate Justice for Women Farmers

Omolabake  Fasogbon

The International Centre for Environmental Health and Development (ICEHD) has stressed climate justice to be able to arrest the scourge of food insecurity ravaging many parts of the country. 

This was even as a 2023 report by West & Central Africa Food Security Data, Cadre Harmonise revealed that about 26.5 million persons may grapple with high level of food insecurity in 2024.

The group identified climate change as a driving factor of food insecurity, noting that women farmers are more affected but not sufficiently catered for in agriculture policies. 

The group thus called for policy reforms that would prioritise mainstreaming of gender in agriculture budgeting and financial inclusion, to realise sustainable climate justice. 

It further tasked all stakeholders within agriculture framework to team up to drive the much- needed reforms.

These solutions were proffered during an endline meeting ‘for climate justice and economic resilience project for rural women farmers in Nigeria’ organised by ICEHD in Lagos, recently.

Speaking at the event which also featured a updated book presentation, Project Manager of ICEHD, Dr. Sonnie Bowei, lamented that despite being crucial to nation’s food sufficiency, women farmers do not get commensurate support or intervention from government. 

“The reality of climate change is evidenced in increased temperature, variable rainfall, rise in sea level flooding, drought, desertification and land degradation, all of which bring a gendered impact as it disproportionately affects women and widens gender inequalities,” Bowei added.

Bowei stressed that motivating women farmers would drive food buoyancy, adding that small scale, women farmers account for 70 per cent of agricultural workers and 80 per cent of food producers. 

She identified some of the havoc of climate change on the women to include sexual abuse, insecurity and investment loss, amongst others. 

She said that the ICEHD with support from African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) recently embarked on a two-year project as a way of supporting women through climate challenge and ultimately boost food security. 

She said the project which saw 200 women farmers in Lagos and Abuja trained on climate justice and economic residence, also empowered and enlightened the farmers on how to weather climate storm, and also carried along key stakeholders as to expedite necessary interventions from government.