Federal Government and IFAD Launch Women in Agriculture Network in Edo

Benin City, Edo State – November 29, 2023 – The Federal Government’s Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has officially launched the Edo chapter of the Women in Agriculture network in the Niger Delta.

LIFE-ND, a project supported by IFAD, the Federal Government, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), marked this significant initiative during a policy conference involving the Youths in Agriculture Network in Benin.

Dr. Clement Uwew, the Rural Coordinator of LIFE-ND in Rivers, led the inauguration of the Women in Agriculture network, highlighting the project’s goal of empowering women to actively influence policy decisions within rural institutions and organizations.

Approximately 40 women farmers from diverse regions of the state, representing various agricultural value chains, were carefully selected to form the foundation of the Women in Agriculture network in the Niger Delta region.

Dr. Uwew emphasized the strategic framework behind establishing this network, stating, “With the establishment of the Women in Agriculture network, we want to achieve a strategic framework where women will be encouraged as farmers to form themselves into groups to have their voices heard.”

He further elaborated on IFAD’s belief that empowering women with a voice to shape policy decisions in rural institutions and organizations would lead to increased contributions from women to the agricultural sector.

The launch of the Women in Agriculture network is poised to foster collaboration, amplify the impact of women in agriculture, and contribute to the overall development of the agricultural landscape in the Niger Delta. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to enhance gender inclusivity and empower women as key contributors to sustainable agricultural practices and rural development.