Climate and Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria (CSDevNet) and Communicating Development Initiative (CDI), have highlighted the need to build the resilience of women farmers as they promote innovation and technology for gender equality. This is made known at a joint-activity to mark the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) in Egume, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State on March 8, 2023.
The Gender Lead of CDI, Mrs Adehi Precious, speaking at the workshop said there were empirical evidence that women constitute majority of the world’s poor and vulnerable and are more dependent on natural resources that are under threat from climate change.
“In addition, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders driving change to achieve climate change mitigation and adaptation,” she added.
“They are involved in sustainable initiatives around the world and their participation and leadership result in more effective climate action. However, there remain a huge gap in digital skills and the use of technology by women,” Mrs Precious continued.
“Therefore, the 2023 IWD is another opportunity to reflect on the situations of women, adolescent girls and young girls in all their diversity, more so, women in the rural communities. It is an opportunity to renew our commitments to making gender equality a reality, and to moving towards an environmentally sustainable pattern of development that leaves no one behind and no woman out,” she concluded.
During the training workshop, several this women were so excited with the possibility of using digital tools like the smart phone to monitor their farms, which can both lead to cutting down on their working time on the farm, as well as reducing risk on both the women and their crops.
Mrs Yahaya Dorcas, the Leader of this Farmer Group appraised that it was so interesting to know about these digital tools, however, majority of them in this group did not even own a smart phone or knew how to operate them.
“This again has exposed the gap that exists with the female gender and the use of digital skills and the deployment of technologies. However, knowing that this woman occupies an important position in our society and our quest to overcome the impact of climate change, they must not be ignored,” she added.
Mr Abu Stephen, the National Network Coordinator of CSDevNet noted that several studies have shown that women were more vulnerable to the impact of climate change, a few such women lives in Nigeria and other countries on the continent of Africa.
“It is important also to note that several these women are using their indigenous knowledge to overcome the impact of climate change at the community level. It is therefore time for us to consider gender-responsive approach to innovation, as technology and digital education can increase the awareness of women and girls regarding their rights and civic engagement, thereby producing a society that is well equipped with “Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”,” he added.
Mrs Eke John towards the ending of the workshop, pleaded that this kind of training should be extended to more farmers in the rural communities, and more importantly, that such technologies be provided to them freely or at a subsidized rate as they will be happy to use them.
“It is without any doubt that the use of technology by farmers in weather forecasting and crop monitoring will go a long way to improve on food security and climate adaptation. We therefore call on decision makers at all levels to consider investing in these women that have become a frontline defense to the many impacts of climate change,” she stressed.