UN Women and the Islamic Organisation for Food Security have launched an initiative to equip women farmers with climate‑smart technologies to boost cassava yields and reinforce Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

Beatrice Eyong, UN Women’s country representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said at the Cassava Value Chain Stakeholders’ Debriefing & Consultation in Abuja on Wednesday that the programme would drive inclusive transformation of Nigerian agriculture.

Ms Eyong underscored the pivotal role of women in agriculture, especially cassava, stating that despite comprising over two-thirds of the workforce, women face persistent barriers to accessing land, finance, technology, and markets across West and Central Africa.

She claimed addressing those gaps could raise yields by 30 per cent, increase food output by four per cent, and cut malnutrition by 17 per cent, offering substantial gains for food security and public health.

She noted that women in cassava value chains were often confined to low-income, labor-intensive roles, lacking access to improved seedlings, modern processing tools, credit, and secure market access, which hindered their ability to scale operations.

Mr Eyong called for women to gain access to climate-smart technologies, microfinance, cooperative support, and formal market linkages to help them move from subsistence to viable agribusiness.

She reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to empowering women as leaders, not just beneficiaries, in food security and climate resilience, thereby increasing their agency in the sector.

“Let us expand women’s access to climate-smart technologies, finance, and markets; strengthen policies that recognise and protect their roles; and create green jobs for a resilient, equitable Nigeria,” she said.

William Agyei-Manu, IOFS representative, stated that the initiative prioritises women at the core of food security and climate-resilient agricultural systems across OIC member states.

“Together, we can transform cassava from subsistence farming into a growth driver, inclusive development, and women’s economic empowerment across Africa.

“Let us build a future where no woman farmer is left behind, where her contributions are recognised as central to sustainable food security,” he added.

(NAN)