University Lecturer Advocates Gender-Based Agricultural Policies to Boost Women’s Involvement
By Bon Peters
Port Harcourt/Nigeria: Dr. Clara Ifeanyi-Obi, a senior lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Port Harcourt, has called on the Nigerian government and policymakers to implement gender-based agricultural policies aimed at increasing women’s participation in agriculture. She made this appeal during the monthly congress of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World, held on Friday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In her address, Ifeanyi-Obi emphasized that such policies would not only enhance women’s involvement but also play a critical role in addressing challenges posed by climate change, which is severely impacting food security. She noted that women constitute over 60 percent of Nigeria’s farming population but continue to face various deprivations that hinder their productivity.
Reviewing gender in climate change-related policies in African agriculture, with a focus on Nigeria, Kenya, and Malawi, Ifeanyi-Obi stressed the need for increased awareness of climate change policies and better access to funding for women farmers. She also highlighted the importance of collaborations with agencies such as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and the adoption of climate-adaptive agricultural practices to mitigate risks like drought, flooding, and pest infestations.
The lecturer further underscored the significance of the Gender Responsive Agricultural System Policy (GRASP) Fellowship, a career development program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD). The program aims to promote gender-responsive agricultural policies across Africa.
“Government budgetary allocations must incorporate findings from credible climate change researchers to empower women in the agribusiness sector,” Ifeanyi-Obi concluded.
