Enugu: Some stakeholders in agriculture have urged traditional rulers to end harmful traditional practices that are limiting women farmers’ access to farmland in rural communities. They made the call during the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-supported Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) Stakeholders Policy Dialogue meeting held in Enugu on Thursday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the programme was titled ‘Gender Action Learning System (GALS) Policy Dialogue with Relevant Stakeholders for Institutionalisation and Scaling Up of GALS Programme in Enugu State.’ GALS methodology is a tool developed by IFAD to promote women empowerment through gender transformation.
Mr. Patrick Ubru, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, emphasized the need for traditional rulers to facilitate and make land available for women and youths to enable them to embrace agriculture. Ubru, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Victor Ngwu, called on them to also look into some harmful traditional practices that limit and affect women adversely and make some reforms. He explained that the state government introduced a Land Bank where they acquired land from communities and then gave it out to interested women, youths, and investors.
The state has also created a Farm Estate Initiative, where each ward is to donate 200 hectares of land to the government for development and one hectare each to 200 farmers within the community. Ubru noted that the state is aware of the challenges women face in the acquisition of farmland and is taking bold steps to ensure that women become successful farmers. Commending the impacts GALS was creating in families and communities, Ubru pledged to support the programme.
A farmer, Mrs. Nnenna Ejim, also urged communities and the state government to allocate farmland to women and youths up to 50 and 30 per cent respectively. Additionally, the Traditional Ruler of Mbu-Akpoti in Isi-Uzo Council Area, Igwe Sunday Agbo, expressed excitement over the programme, stating it would help correct gender disparity in the country. The royal father urged women to engage in political reforms that would allow them to participate in the law-making process to override traditional practices that affect them.
Mr. Humphrey Ubanyi, the Rural Institution, Gender and Youth Mainstream Officer, VCDP, Enugu, explained that the GALS policy dialogue came as a result of the significant successes recorded in GALS activities. Introduced to the state in 2021, the programme has yielded tremendous results, confirmed through testimonies from beneficiaries. He noted that women now participate in household decision-making, own assets, and have control over their income, while men assist their wives with house chores to reduce workload.
The meeting aimed for stakeholders to recognize the benefits of GALS and institutionalize it to sustain the gains beyond the life of the VCDP programme in Enugu State. Ubanyi also commended the State Programme Coordinator, VCDP, Enugu, Dr. Edward Isiwu, for supporting the RIGYMO department.
