From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Sun Media Development Foundation, with support from the Urgent Action Fund Africa (UAF-Africa) has organised a one-day engagement programme with the Abia State Government, Small Holders Women Farmers and other stakeholders in an effort to address issues of erosion and end food insecurity in the State.
The event which was titled: “Women Farmers, Groups, Legislators, Stakeholders State Level Erosion Mitigation Support for Women Farmers in Abia State” was held in Umuahia, the state capital on Thursday, with participants drawn from all the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
In his speech, Mr. Victor Emereuwa, the executive director of the Foundation, said that the programme was the first stage of a project designed to address the pressing need to stop the destructive effects of erosion on farmlands owned by smallholder women farmers in the Abia, which had been neglected for the past 24 years.
Emereuwa bemoaned the fact that, as a result of years of neglect, women farmers, who make up over 88% of smallholder farmers in the State, had become poor vulnerable, and unproductive.
He noted that Abia State ranked among top 10 erosion sites in Nigeria, adding that there were about 275 officially named high risk erosion sites in the State, mostly located around farming communities, densely populated by women.
The ED stated that the project would provide the women the opportunity to create a charter of demands which they would then submit to the state government to be included and implemented in the state budget for 2024.
He explained that this will help advance the creation and execution of a long-term state-level erosion-mitigation strategy to assist female farmers.
He said: “One of the biggest threats to food security, rural women’s economic freedom, social interaction and environmental security is the existential threat of erosion in south-eastern Nigeria. That region in Nigeria experiences the worst form of gully erosion; heavily impacting on livelihood, food shortage and socialization and the dignity of women. Already identified in 10 states of Nigeria are 3,500 erosion sites.
“This presents an opportunity for women groups, social justice and environmental activists to act together to demand that the new government engage in rebuilding, relocation of erosion-laden farmlands, mostly owned by women and implementing a sustainable state level erosion-mitigation plan to support women farmers.”
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti on Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze lauded the initiative, noting that it was in line with the administration’s objective to shift the state from a consumption-based to a production-based farm economy.
Agbaeze said the government recognized the role of women as agents of development, which explained the reason for massive appointments of women in critical positions in the state.
The SA further disclosed that out of 3,620 square kilometers of land for agriculture in Abia, only 387 farm lands have been cultivated so far.
“With the involvement of foreign investors in the agric sector of the state, all the forest kidnappers made their hideouts, and would be cleared for farming.” He noted.
On her part, the state Commisioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Ngozi Felix commended the organisation for spotlighting the plight of small holders women farmers in the state.
Represented by Mrs. Chinyere Nwogwugwu, a director in the Ministry, the Commissioner stated that the activities of the women farmers and the difficulties they face might not have been known if it weren’t for the Foundation.
She revealed that the current Abia State administration was working hard to improve the welfare of women and to guarantee gender equality in the state through her Ministry.
Additionally, the commissioner of the Ministry of Environment, represented by Obinna Onyebuchi, expressed sadness that the state had become more vulnerable to erosion due to previous administrations’ disregard for flood hazards.
She expressed optimism however, that the partnership between the Foundation and the present administration would help to expedite solutions to the situation, adding the three erosion sites were already being tackled in the state.