Women Farmers Demand Security, Land Access To Boost Food Production

By STELLA JOHNSON OGBOVOVEH

THE Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) has urged the Federal Government and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration to address worsening insecurity that continues to deny farmers safe access to farmlands and production areas.

The appeal came during the presentation of SWOFON’s “Charter of Demand of Smallholder Women Farmers in the FCT” at a State-Level Interactive Forum and World Food Day commemoration organised in Abuja by ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with SWOFON.

FCT Coordinator of SWOFON, Mrs. Comfort Sunday, said insecurity remains a major threat to food production and rural livelihoods, noting that ensuring farmers’ safety is critical to achieving national food security and sustainable development.

“Women farmers feed the nation, yet they face the greatest risks,” she said. “Improved security will enhance productivity, increase household income, and drive inclusive growth.”

Sunday highlighted the numerous barriers faced by smallholder women farmers—including limited access to land, credit, agricultural inputs, markets, and extension services—which continue to hinder productivity and deepen poverty.

The SWOFON Charter, she explained, reflects the collective voice of women farmers and calls for gender-responsive agricultural policies that guarantee equitable access to resources and opportunities.

The group urged government at all levels to:

• Increase public investment in agriculture and ensure transparent, gender-sensitive budgeting;

• Expand access to farmland through secure land tenure for women cooperatives;

• Strengthen climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture training;

• Improve post-harvest infrastructure, including storage, processing, and market facilities;

• Upgrade rural roads and water systems to improve produce movement and market access.

Sunday also called for the recruitment of more agricultural extension officers to support innovation and adaptation to changing climatic conditions.

“Implementing this charter will not only empower women farmers but also strengthen food systems and community resilience,” she added.

The organisation expressed optimism that genuine policy action and collaboration with the FCT Administration will help create a safer, more inclusive agricultural environment where women can thrive as key contributors to Nigeria’s food security and economic growth.