As the world marked International Women’s Day 2025 under the theme “Accelerating Action,” the spotlight in Nigeria shone brightly on the role of women in transforming the agricultural and food system. Across the country, millions of women work tirelessly to feed the nation, yet they remain underrepresented in decision-making, land ownership, and access to climate-smart technologies. If Nigeria is to ensure food security and economic stability, urgent action is needed to empower female farmers and agribusiness owners.
Women make up about 70% of the agricultural labour force in Nigeria, yet their contributions are often undervalued. Many lack access to formal land ownership, financing, and modern farming tools, leaving them vulnerable to climate change and economic instability. Recent discussions at the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Gender Inclusion Workshop organized by African Food Changemakers (AFC) and Climate Action Africa (CAA) revealed critical barriers impeding women’s full participation in food production. These challenges include erratic weather patterns, post-harvest losses, high costs of technology adoption, inflation-driven agricultural input costs, and cultural barriers that limit women’s decision-making power.
The urgency to “accelerate action” is clear: climate change is disrupting traditional farming cycles, leading to lower yields and financial instability for smallholder farmers. Without targeted interventions, women will continue to struggle, and Nigeria’s food systems will remain fragile.
Bridging the Gap: Climate-Smart Solutions for Women Farmers
Experts at the workshop emphasized that the solution lies in the widespread adoption of climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices. Women-led agribusinesses can significantly benefit from climate adaptation strategies such as:
Beyond Farming: Women as Climate Champions
Nigeria cannot achieve sustainable agricultural transformation without recognizing women as leaders in climate action. Advocacy efforts must engage traditional institutions to promote gender parity in resource allocation, and government policies must prioritize gender-responsive climate financing.
Additionally, addressing gender-based challenges such as sexual harassment in agricultural markets, lack of access to technology, and limited participation in policy discussions will ensure that women can fully contribute to a food-secure Nigeria.
Call to Action: The Time is Now
With Nigeria’s food security at stake, the theme of International Women’s Day 2025—“Accelerating Action”—must be more than a slogan. It is a call for urgent interventions that prioritize women’s empowerment in agriculture. Governments, NGOs, financial institutions, and agribusiness stakeholders must act swiftly to break down barriers, implement inclusive policies, and support women-led agribusinesses.
By scaling up women’s participation in climate-smart agriculture, Nigeria can build a resilient, food-secure nation while accelerating gender equality and economic development. The future of Nigerian agriculture depends on the strength, innovation, and leadership of its women farmers—and the time to support them is now.
About the author
Odinakachi Nwachukwu is a Program Manager at African Food Changemakers (AFC) where she oversees key programs, including Building Resilience Against Climate and Environmental Shocks (BRACE), Leading African Women in Food Fellowship (LAWFF), and the Scaling Export Program (SEP). She holds a master’s degree in financial management from Heriot-Watt University, UK. Kachi is a Certified Project Manager and a Public Sector Leader.
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