By Amos Aar
WOMEN farmers under the aegis of Delight Women in Agriculture Initiative (DWAI) in Benue State have raised alarm over worsening insecurity, noting that continued violence has hampered access to farmlands and undermining food production across the state.
The concern was raised at the end-of-year programme of DWAI, Benue State Chapter, held under the theme: “Women Delighted to Be Farmers.”
In an address delivered on behalf of the National President of DWAI, Hon. Eniola Ehinafe, Prof. (Mrs) Martha Musa, commended the Benue chapter for its resilience and consistency, describing it as a strong pillar of the national structure. She assured members of continued support from the national leadership to strengthen women-led agricultural activities.
Speaking earlier in her welcome address, the Benue State Coordinator of DWAI, Mrs. Janet Akuse, said insecurity remains the biggest challenge confronting women farmers in the state.
She explained that fear of attacks and restricted movement have disrupted farming schedules, limited expansion to new locations and weakened coordination of activities across local government areas.
Akuse said DWAI was established to combat hunger, poverty and unemployment among women through agriculture, but noted that these goals cannot be fully achieved without a secure environment for farming.
According to her, members of the organisation are practising women farmers and agripreneurs who own farms and also participate in collective farming projects. She disclosed that the Benue chapter currently operates a cassava farm in Apir, as well as livestock and cashew farms, but added that insecurity has slowed the growth of similar projects in other parts of the state.
She appealed to government and security agencies to prioritise the protection of farmers, especially women who are often more vulnerable to attacks, stressing that improved security would enable them to cultivate larger areas, increase yields and contribute more effectively to food security in Benue State.
Akuse also called for mobility support to help women farmers safely access farms in rural communities and improve monitoring and coordination of agricultural activities statewide.
In a goodwill message, the Benue State Coordinator of the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) said insecurity continues to force many women farmers to abandon their farms, despite interventions such as access to fertiliser and other farm inputs. She urged authorities to urgently address security challenges threatening agricultural livelihoods.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACRESAL) Project, Mr. Victor Ama, represented by the project’s Human Resource Officer, Mr. Godwin Adamgbe, assured the women farmers of partnership aimed at strengthening climate-resilient agriculture while underscoring the need for improved security.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to individuals who have supported women farmers, including the National President of the initiative, Hon. Eniola Ehinafe, whose award was received on his behalf by Prof. (Mrs.) Martha Musa, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Daspan.
Participants at the event were unanimous that addressing insecurity in farming communities is critical to empowering women farmers, safeguarding livelihoods and stabilising food production in Benue State.
