The Crucial Role of Women in Promoting Climate Resilience in Agriculture and the Challenges They Face

Nyifamu in a backyard farm

Climate change poses significant challenges to the agricultural sector, which is a crucial source of food, income, and livelihood for millions of people around the world. Women play a critical role in agriculture, accounting for nearly half of the agricultural workforce in many countries. However, they face numerous challenges that can limit their ability to adapt to climate change and promote climate resilience in the agricultural sector. As a farmer myself, I have had my own first-hand experiences.

In this article, I will be sharing some important roles that women play in promoting climate resilience in agriculture, the challenges they face, and the potential solutions to address these challenges.

The Role of Women in Promoting Climate Resilience in Agriculture

Women’s contributions to agriculture are essential for building climate resilience. They play a critical role in seed selection, soil management, water conservation, and livestock care. Additionally, women are often responsible for food processing, storage, and marketing, which are crucial activities for ensuring food security.

Moreover, women farmers have extensive knowledge of local agricultural practices and environmental conditions, which enables them to identify climate risks and develop innovative solutions. For example, women farmers in Northern Nigeria have used traditional knowledge to develop climate-smart farming practices such as crop rotation, mulching, and intercropping, which have helped them cope with climate variability and improve yields.

Challenges Faced by Women in Agriculture

Despite their critical role, women in agriculture face numerous challenges that limit their ability to promote climate resilience. These challenges include:

• Lack of access to land and property rights: Women farmers often lack secure land tenure, which makes it difficult for them to invest in their farms and access credit.
• Limited access to finance and markets: Women farmers have limited access to credit, which makes it difficult for them to purchase inputs, such as seeds and fertilizer. Additionally, women farmers face discrimination in accessing markets and are often paid lower prices than their male counterparts.
• Limited access to technology and information: Women farmers have limited access to agricultural extension services, which provide information on climate-smart practices and new technologies. Additionally, women farmers often lack access to appropriate technology, such as irrigation systems and drought-resistant seeds.
• Gender-based violence and discrimination: Women farmers face gender-based violence and discrimination, which can limit their mobility, decision-making power, and access to resources.

Addressing these Challenges

To promote gender-responsive climate resilience in agriculture, there is a need to address the challenges faced by women. Some potential solutions include:

• Improving access to land and property rights: Governments and civil society organizations can work together to promote women’s land tenure security and provide support for land registration.
• Providing financial and market support: Financial institutions can develop gender-responsive lending programs that prioritize women farmers. Additionally, governments can promote women’s access to markets by providing infrastructure and training on market negotiation.
• Promoting access to technology and information: Governments can prioritize investments in agricultural extension services that reach women farmers, and promote the development and dissemination of appropriate technologies that meet the needs of women farmers.
• Addressing gender-based violence and discrimination: Governments and civil society organizations can work together to address gender-based violence and discrimination through legal reforms, awareness-raising, and capacity-building programs.

Conclusion

Women play a crucial role in promoting climate resilience in agriculture, but they face numerous challenges that limit their ability to contribute fully. By addressing these challenges, we can empower women to play an even greater role in building climate resilience and promoting sustainable agriculture. It is time to recognize and support the contributions of women farmers and ensure that they have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive in the face of climate change.