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), Sunday Ituma, made the call in Abakaliki during the programme’s celebration of the International Year for the Woman Farmer.

Mr Ituma said that the programme invited traditional rulers and state legislators to the occasion to brainstorm on ways of evolving policies that would ensure greater access to land for women.

“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 noted that most women pay for or rent land to cultivate and that when they fail to do so, they would not have spaces to cultivate.

“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.

He noted that the United Nations (UN) earmarked 2026 as the International Year for the Woman Farmer as the organisation hitherto celebrated 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 for us in celebration of their roles in agriculture,” he said.

The state commissioner for agriculture and natural resources, Nkechinyere Iyioku, said she felt honoured that women were recognised globally for their contributions.

Ms Iyioku, represented 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 enhances the economy of families and communities,” she said.

The Rural Institution, Gender and Youth Mainstreaming Officer (RIGYMO) of VCDP in Ebonyi, Fransisca Anya, expressed delight that women were showcasing their products courtesy of VCDP’s intervention.

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.

(NAN)