Women Farmers Seek Finance and Land as Climate Pressure Disrupts Production

By GLEBM News Desk

Women farmers in Nigeria are calling for improved access to land, agricultural finance and climate information as unpredictable weather patterns increase production risks and threaten farm incomes.

The farmers raised the concerns at a climate-focused gathering in Lagos where stakeholders examined the implementation of the Belém Gender Action Plan and its implications for women and girls.

Farmers said erratic rainfall has increasingly disrupted planting and harvesting cycles, affecting both the quantity and value of agricultural output.

For women involved in smallholder farming, the effects can be particularly severe because many operate with limited financial reserves and have restricted access to productive assets.

Access to agricultural land remains another major challenge. Women farmers can face difficulties obtaining secure and affordable land, limiting their ability to invest in long-term improvements such as irrigation, soil management and mechanisation.

The lack of reliable climate information can also make it harder for farmers to determine when to plant, what crops to select and how to prepare for extreme weather.

Climate-related risks are becoming an increasingly important consideration for agricultural investment because unexpected rainfall, drought and other weather disruptions can reduce yields and increase financial losses.

Improving access to credit could allow farmers to invest in irrigation, improved seeds, storage and other technologies that can reduce exposure to climate shocks.

Stakeholders also emphasised the need for policies that recognise the particular barriers faced by women in agriculture.

For Nigeria, supporting women farmers has wider implications because women are active across production, processing and agricultural trading.

Better access to resources could therefore strengthen household incomes while contributing to food supply and rural economic activity.

The concerns raised by the farmers highlight the need to connect climate policy with practical agricultural financing, land access, extension services and reliable information.