Women farmers blame gender-based violence for food insecurity

Smallholder Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON) in Federal Capital Territory has attributed food insecurity in the country to the rising spate of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

They lamented that domestic violence against women both at home and farms, has worsened owing to the economic crunch. The association’s chairperson, Mrs Comfort Sunday, who raised the concern during a stakeholder’s consultative meeting and media nriefing, lamented how cows invaded her two-and-a-half hectares of maize farm and destroyed all the produce.

She said many of her members also complained of the incidence and feared that this may lead to hunger in the country. Sunday said: “The herdsmen come into our farms because they know we cannot defend ourselves, unlike the men folks that can easily defend themselves.”

She pointed out that smallholder women farmers are the backbone of the agricultural economy as they contribute significantly to food security, household income, and rural development, but they are faced with systemic challenges that impede their productivity and well-being, among which GBV stands out as a pervasive and often overlooked obstacle.

The Secretary of SWOFON, Nnana Mercy, stated that many women farmers experience physical violence, sexual harassment, and emotional abuse, often within their homes, communities, or workplaces, which leads to diminished mental health, reduced productivity, and even abandonment of farming.

She added that GBV limits women’s access to resources such as land, credit, and inputs and also restricts their ability to participate in training programs or access market leading to poverty and inequality.

Mercy said: “Due to fear of stigma and retaliation, women often refrain from advocating for their rights or participating in community decision-making processes. This loss of voice hinders progress for themselves and their communities.

“Violence disrupts planting schedules and diverts resources away from productive uses to address the consequences of abuse, including medical costs and legal proceedings.”

To address GBV and its impact, the smallholder women farmers called for a coordinated and multi- sectoral approach, as well as the need to enforce laws and policies that protect women’s rights, ensure equal access to agricultural resources, and address GBV in rural areas.