By: Theresa Donatus, Uyo.
Women farmers in Akwa Ibom State have called on the state government to subsidize farm inputs, improve rural road infrastructure and strengthen support for smallholder farmers as part of efforts to boost food production and promote sustainable agriculture.
The appeal was made during a sustainable agriculture training organized by the Clement Isong Foundation (CIF) for women farmers drawn from four local government areas of the state.
The training focused on organic farming, climate-smart agriculture and value addition, while providing participants with an opportunity to identify challenges confronting smallholder farmers and propose practical solutions
Speaking during the session, Mr. Enomfonabasi Paul-Simon Harry, Climate and environmental justice advocate who doubles as the Team Lead of STEPS Foundation, explained that the foundation initiated the programme after discovering that many farmers who claimed to practice organic farming lacked access to the necessary organic inputs and technical support.
According to Harry, the widespread use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides poses health and environmental risks, stressing that sustainable agriculture remains one of the most effective ways of protecting the ecosystem while ensuring food safety.
Also speaking, Mr. Etim, Ediomo Oscar, Soil Analyst/Environmental Conservationist, noted that excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers such as NPK and urea degrades soil quality, contaminates the environment and could contribute to the growing prevalence of diseases linked to food contamination.
He also warned against the common practice of harvesting crops immediately after applying pesticides without observing the recommended waiting period, saying such practices expose consumers to harmful chemical residues.
“The idea behind sustainable farming is to produce food without destroying the soil, the environment or human health. Organic farming offers a healthier and more environmentally friendly alternative, but many farmers lack access to organic fertilizers and other essential inputs,” he said.
On his part, Brendan Bassey, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Officer II, disclosed that field visits to farming communities across the state revealed that inadequate access to organic farming resources remains one of the major reasons many farmers are unable to fully embrace organic agriculture.
He explained that information gathered during the engagement would help the foundation design interventions tailored to the actual needs of rural farmers.
Representing the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), Mrs. Joy Kelly highlighted the numerous challenges confronting women farmers, particularly those in remote communities.
She identified poor road networks, long distances between farms and markets, post-harvest losses, crop theft, insecurity, flooding and the high cost of agricultural inputs as major obstacles reducing agricultural productivity.
Kelly lamented that many rural farmers lose substantial portions of their harvest due to lack of storage and processing facilities, while recent flooding has destroyed farms and killed poultry in several communities.
She appealed to the state government to subsidize quality farm inputs, provide affordable farm equipment suitable for women, improve rural roads and facilitate market linkages through produce off-takers.
“The most pressing need is accessible roads. Farmers struggle to transport their produce from the farms to the markets. Government should also subsidize farm inputs and connect women farmers with organizations that can purchase their produce,” she said.
She further urged the government to investigate the realities facing rural farmers by engaging directly with communities instead of relying solely on reports from government officials.
According to her, firsthand assessments would enable authorities to develop interventions that genuinely address farmers’ needs.
The training also featured practical sessions on climate-smart agriculture and value addition facilitated by Professor Edna of Akwa Ibom State University.
Participants were introduced to improved farming techniques and simple processing methods capable of reducing post-harvest losses and increasing farmers’ incomes.
Using mushroom production as an example, the professor demonstrated how proper packaging and processing could transform highly perishable farm produce into marketable products with longer shelf life.
Many participants expressed excitement over the knowledge gained, noting that they had previously lacked access to such information because of transportation costs and their remote locations.
The Clement Isong Foundation said the programme forms part of its broader efforts to strengthen sustainable agriculture, improve food security and build the capacity of rural women farmers through practical training, advocacy and community engagement.
