Calls grow for greater support to women rice farmers in Ebonyi

Stakeholders in Ebonyi State are urging the government to scale up support for women rice farmers, citing their central role in food production and the pressing need to enhance food security across the state.

Speaking in Abakaliki, agricultural experts, civil society leaders, and farmers emphasized that women make up the bulk of the labour force in rice farming, yet continue to face major barriers such as limited access to credit, poor input distribution, and climate-related disruptions.

Ms Nancy Ifeyinwa, Lead Director of the Neighbourhood Initiative for Women Advancement (NIWA), said her organisation has been working to empower rural women through capacity-building and advocacy. She noted that NIWA’s initiatives focus on agronomic training, financial literacy, and climate-smart farming practices, while also advocating for fair wages and improved working conditions for women involved in rice parboiling and processing.

“Our goal is to reduce poverty and boost productivity among rural women. But large-scale support like input distribution and access to finance must come from the government,” Ifeyinwa said.

She praised the Ebonyi State Government’s distribution of fertilisers, seeds, and herbicides under the People’s Charter of Needs programme and its collaboration with international partners like Thailand to strengthen farmer training.

Mr Philips Ewa, an agricultural extension agent, called for deeper cooperation between government, civil society, and development partners to ensure women have the resources and knowledge needed to thrive in agriculture. He commended the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agriculture Support Programme and partnerships with organisations such as FAO, CGIAR, and UN Women for offering training, input support, and biogas initiatives targeted at rural women.

Local farmers, however, say more is still needed. Mrs Margaret Nkwuda urged state authorities to make certified inputs more affordable and available, while Mrs Ijeoma Okorie from Izzi LGA appealed for accessible credit and targeted extension services for women in remote areas.

“Most times, I depend on personal savings to buy inputs. When the cost is too high, I have no choice but to skip planting,” Okorie said.

Though there are no official figures, stakeholders estimate that women account for nearly 80 percent of the workforce in Ebonyi’s rice production sector. They stressed that while commendable steps have been taken, unlocking the full potential of women farmers will require more inclusive policies and sustained investment.

Ebonyi remains one of Nigeria’s top rice-producing states, offering year-round farming opportunities through irrigation and ongoing value chain development.