CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Women farmers in Cross River State, particularly in the communities of Apiapum and Agwagune in Obubra and Biase Local Government Areas, are facing increased hardship due to the escalating effects of climate change, mainly flooding.
Their crops no longer yield well, planting is becoming rocket science, and persistent flooding is tearing up their farmlands.
These and many more were highlighted by the women during a two-day (28th-29th May 2025) roundtable discussion hosted by the Women’s Initiative for Self-Actualization (WISA) under the Urgent Action Fund Project, in Calabar.
The women before now, said they never knew that some of the old farming practices were contributing to climate change, which is affecting their farmlands as well as their yields. They were also glad to hear that they can own lands, strengthening their planting and harvesting powers.
Speaking on behalf of Agwagune, Eke Ogboekume, observed that the roundtable challenged long-held beliefs. “We were used to bush burning as a method, but now we’ve learned better ways – to clear and rake. The impact will spread as we sensitise more women in the 11 wards of Biase.”
Ogboekume who is also the Community Development Officer in Biase, appealed to donors and the state government to extend this kind of roundtable discussion to other LGAs too.
Elder Mrs Franca Robert Mbina from Apiapum shared her personal experience, saying women were being forced by men to farm in flood-prone areas because they could not own a land. “Before now, I believed women couldn’t own land. But now, I know we have rights, and I will tell other women in my community,” she said.
Converseer reports that the project, which runs for six months, is aimed at addressing environmental injustices affecting indigenous women, especially those involved in farming.
According to George Nya, the Programme and Community Mobilisations Officer of the Urgent Action Fund Project, the aim is to draw attention to the ways in which climate change disrupts women’s livelihoods.
“Climate change is not a new problem, and rural women are at the frontline. They are the powerhouse of our agricultural production. When their farmlands are destroyed, it affects food supply and pricing, impacting everyone,” Nya said.
He further disclosed that they have initiated advocacy with key ministries in the, including Agriculture and Irrigation, Humanitarian Affairs, and Women Affairs, to promote synergy between stakeholders and the newly formed network of women farmer advocates.
Mfon Akpan, the Finance and Compliance Officer of WISA, explained that the two pilot communities were selected after in-depth research. “The women in these areas have long been excluded from policy discussions affecting them. This roundtable is the first time many of them are sitting at the same table with stakeholders to voice their challenges,” Akpan noted.
She lamented that women’s voices are often sidelined in community meetings, where one woman might represent an entire group without the freedom to express their collective concerns. “We discovered that women are frequently allocated flood-prone lands. When floods occur, their families suffer. They are also the majority workforce in agriculture, yet their access to resources and decision-making remains limited,” she added.
Maria Ukpayang, State Coordinator of the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), reiterated the need for practical support. “We need equipment beyond hoes and machetes. Women also need radios to access climate information. If we listened to weather reports, we could plan better and avoid flood-prone areas,” she said.
Ukpayang added that traditional customs often prevent women from owning land. “But if a woman has money and legal documentation, she can own land. What we need is empowerment and sensitisation,” she added.
A facilitator at the meeting, Obase Okanke Ofem, We Lead Executive Director of Professor Charles Effiong Foundation, said the programme is already driving change at the grassroots level. “Most of the participating women are opinion leaders in their communities. This training empowers them to cascade knowledge and advocate for policy changes,” he stated.
Speaking on the environmental aspect, another facilitator, Engr. Bassey Edem, Energy and Environment Lead, volunteering for Green Concerns for Development (GreenCode), noted that climate change has distorted the farming calendar. “Seasons are no longer predictable. Women must be educated on alternatives like organic farming and non-destructive land clearing methods,” he said.
A key outcome of the forum is the establishment of a State-wide Climate Advocacy Network, with a policy brief developed by FIDA (International Federation of Women Lawyers) to be presented to the government. The brief calls for a dedicated agricultural budget for women, accessible funding, and the provision of improved, non-genetically modified seedlings.