C'River: Women Farmers Bemoans Climate Change, Demands End To Illegal Loggings
By Victoria Effiong
WOMEN farmers in Cross River State are raising urgent concerns over the devastating impact of climate change on agriculture and livelihoods, calling for drastic measures against illegal loggings which has been identified as the major factor
The women farmers are equally calling for greater inclusion in policy-making and equitable access to resources.
Speaking at a recent climate dialogue in Calabar, Mrs. Franca Mbina, a small holder farmer from Agwagune community in Biase Local Government Area, recounted how unpredictable weather patterns have ruined traditional farming cycles.
"As a child, farming had a rhythm. We planted and harvested on time, and crops flourished. But now, despite following the same timetable, my yield is poor,” she said.
Mbina added that beyond erratic climate conditions, cultural barriers are further limiting women’s agricultural output.
"My farmland is very small. Women like me are often given tiny, less fertile plots by male relatives,” she said.
Double Burden: Climate Change and Gender Inequality
Across rural Cross River, many women farmers face a dual crisis. Floods, droughts, and changing weather patterns are destroying farmlands and homes, while systemic gender inequality deprives them of access to land, capital, and decision-making roles.
The result has been rising food insecurity, deepening poverty, and increased vulnerability to gender-based violence.
In response to these challenges, the Women’s Initiative for Self Actualization (WISA), with support from the Urgent Action Fund, has launched a six-month pilot project targeting women farmers in Biase and Obubra local government areas.
The initiative aimed to train women in climate-smart agriculture and empower them to advocate for gender-sensitive policies on climate adaptation.
Call for Government Action
Mfon Akpan, WISA’s Finance and Compliance Officer, stressed "that despite women being at the heart of agricultural productio, they are often excluded from state-level planning
“We are urging the state government to allocate dedicated funds for rural women farmers, provide improved seedlings and modern equipment, and ensure these resources are distributed fairly and transparently,” Akpan said.
Josh Nya, Programmes and Community Mobilization Officer for the Urgent Action Fund, said the project would also:
Establish a Women-Led Climate
Advocacy Network
Draft a Charter of Demands to be submitted to the Cross River State Climate Change Commission
Develop a roadmap for continued engagement with key stakeholders
Toward Sustainable Practices
Speaking, Eke Agbor, Community Development Officer for Biase LGA, noted that access to accurate climate information would help discourage environmentally harmful practices such as bush burning
“This knowledge will enable women to shift to more sustainable practices, improve yields, and protect their environment,” he said.
Strengthening Farmers' Voices
Chairperson of the Small-scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria (SWOFON), Cross River State chapter, Barr. Maria Ukpayang, encouraged women to register with cooperative societies like SWOFON to access training, mechanized tools, and financial support. She also cautioned against the adoption of genetically modified (GMO) seeds
“GMO seeds are not natural and cannot be reproduced. Relying on them creates food insecurity because farmers must keep buying seeds from large corporations,” she said.
“We need research that improves our indigenous seed varieties, not replaces them.”
Ukpayang also urged farmers to take seriously weather advisories from agencies such as NIMET to better plan their activities and reduce crop losses.
Advocacy Platform Launched
The event concluded with the inauguration of a Statewide Advocacy Network of Women Farmers on Climate Change, a platform designed to amplify rural women’s voices in policy discussions.
In his remarks,Obase Okanke Ofem, Executive Director of the Prof. Charles Effiong Foundation, commended the engagement, describing it as for a grassroots approach to climate advocacy.
“We expect primary behavioral change at the community level. A bottom-up strategy is essential in tackling climate change and gender-based violence—both of which directly affect women farmers,” Ofem said.
Findings revealed that due to massive deforestation, climate change has continued to threaten traditional farming and food security in around the state . This has completed rural women to stepped forward not only to survive, but to lead the charge for a more inclusive and climate-resilient future.
