African Women Farmers ‎Task ECOWAS Heads on Land Rights

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Pan African Rural Women Assembly has challenged the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Heads of States to move from words to action by addressing the issue of women land rights in all the countries in the region.

The group said despite commitments and promises made at several fora on the need for rural women’s empowerment to alleviate property, fighting hunger and sustainable development, it lamented that these challenges remain an issue, particularly the issue of land rights.

The Chairperson of the group, Mrs. Ejim Nnenna made the call weekend in Abuja at a press conference on Land Rights for African Rural Women, organised by Oxfam Nigeria.

‎The women farmers stated categorically that poverty eradication would continue to elude Africa if land rights of women are not implemented. The group said, “records show that women represent more than 60 per cent in the agricultural labour force in sub-Saharan Africa.”

According to Nnenna, “We account‎ for 60 to 80 per cent of the total food production in the continent. We make up almost half of the agricultural labour force production and involve in 80 to 90 per cent in food processing, storage and transportation as well as hoeing and weeding.”

“Despite this significant contribution, less than 20 per cent of women farmers own their farm. While rural women are a powerful d‎river for agricultural development, our potential is still hampered by the disparities between women and men,” she added.

The chairperson stressed that in West Africa, rural women are being faced with three major challenges which include: equity in access to land; safety of operating and investment by women, and the protection and preservation of women’s land rights.

She lamented: “We are the first victims of land and related natural resources grabbing, all these together threaten the capacity communities to meet the whole challenges of sustainable agricultural and food system.

“As the ECOWAS Heads of States ‎are meeting again (Saturday), we again ask policy makers in West Africa to move from words to action. Direct right to land ownership, land use decision-making power, and protection against grabbing are all sensitive issues that require major reforms in land rights at regional level and each of the country under ECOWAS.

“We demand that access to land for women is not enough, if public funding targeting rural women is not made available, or if access to credit for women is not easy,” Nnenna stressed.

On her part, the State Coordinator, Country Women Association of Nigeria (COWAN), Ms. Jessica Vanket said if SDGs must be achieved, women rights to land are essential.