Supporting women farmers is not a favour but an investment in development, food security, stronger families, stronger communities and stronger nations, the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/IFAD-VCDP) has said.
Dr Deborah Onyefulu, Anambra Coordinator, IFAD-VCDP, stated this at the commemoration of the 2026 International Year of Women Farmers in Awka on Tuesday.
The event, organised in collaboration with the Anambra Ministry of Agriculture, had the theme: “Investing in Women Agrifood Systems and Securing the Future for Resilience.”
Onyefulu called for greater access to land, finance, modern technology, agricultural inputs, markets, training and decision-making opportunities for women farmers to enhance agricultural productivity and food security.
She said women played critical roles across the agricultural value chain, including cultivation, planting, harvesting, processing, preservation, marketing and provision of food for their families.
“When a woman farmer has access to land, she has a stronger foundation on which to build a future.
“When she has access to affordable finance and the right technology, her productivity increases, while access to markets and fair prices translates her hard work into sustainable income,” she said.
The coordinator said the programme had more than 13,000 farmers across nine participating Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, comprising women, men and youths.
She listed the LGAs as Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Awka North, Orumba South, Orumba North, Ihiala, Ogbaru and Aguata.
Onyefulu said the celebration was an opportunity to recognise the strength, resilience, knowledge and contributions of women farmers to families, communities, the economy and national food security.
She also stressed the need to involve women in agricultural policy formulation and decision-making, saying their inclusion would make the agricultural system stronger and more responsive to community needs.
The coordinator called for greater efforts to encourage young women and girls to embrace agriculture as a profession, business, source of innovation and pathway to leadership.
“Agriculture can be modern, profitable, scientific and technologically driven and women must be at the centre of that transformation.
“Supporting women farmers is not a favour; it is an investment in development, food security, stronger families, stronger communities and stronger nations,” she said.
Dr Ben Chuks Odoemelam, Anambra Commissioner for Agriculture, described women as “the wealth of the nation.”
Odoemelam said the administration of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo recognised the role of women farmers and was investing in agriculture to address challenges relating to access to land, finance and climate change.
“Do not be discouraged. The government will continue to support you as you drive food security and healthy food in the state,” he said.
Mrs Esther Onyekesi, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, urged women to participate in agriculture irrespective of their career paths to become independent and self-reliant.
She said their participation would contribute to the growth and wellbeing of their families, communities and the nation.
Speaking on behalf of the VCDP Women Farmers Network, Mrs Uju Nwankwo said agriculture was not just a job but a source of livelihood and a means of securing the future of children.
Nwankwo appreciated IFAD-VCDP and the state government for their support to women farmers in the state.
“We get support in the form of entrepreneurship training, farm inputs, access to land and loans from Agric Bank and other financial institutions.
“Many of us have also diversified into the production of agro-products. We are encouraged to stay committed to ensuring food security in our families, communities and the nation at large,” she said.
The event featured an exhibition of agricultural produce and products, as well as the presentation of awards to outstanding female farmers in the state.
