• Calls for government support

ActionAid Nigeria has trained over 12,000 small holder women farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on organic farming practices to boost healthy food production, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.

The training was carried out under the three-year Strategic Partnership for Agroecology and Climate Justice (SPAC) project, implemented in partnership with the Smallholder Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON).

Speaking at a stakeholders’ campaign on land ownership and market access for smallholder women farmers in Abuja, SWOFON Programme Officer Hajara Ramson said the initiative empowered women with agroecological skills that promote environmental protection, public health, and economic sustainability.

She explained that agroecology encourages organic farming methods that regenerate soil, reduce reliance on chemical inputs, and improve food quality and safety.

Despite the progress recorded, Ramson noted that many beneficiaries still face structural barriers, particularly insecure access to land and limited market opportunities.

“Without secure land rights and functional market access, the skills and knowledge these women have gained cannot translate into improved food security or sustainable income,” she said.

According to her, the stakeholders’ engagement provided a platform for government officials, development partners, and community leaders to examine practical pathways for enhancing women’s access to land, strengthening market linkages, and scaling agroecological practices nationwide.

Ramson urged governments at all levels to institutionalise support for agroecology through policies that guarantee women’s access to land, markets, and productive resources, stressing that the approach has the potential to significantly enhance food security, public health, and environmental sustainability.

She added that while the SPAC project has come to an end, sustained government commitment and multi-stakeholder collaboration are critical to expanding its impact and improving the livelihoods of women farmers across Nigeria.
Also speaking, the District Head of Abaji, Alhaji Kamal Adamu Shuaibu, said improved farming practices could substantially increase food production in the FCT.

He noted that despite rapid population growth in the territory, sustainable agricultural development remains key to ensuring food security for residents.

While acknowledging the challenge of land grabbing in the FCT, the traditional ruler encouraged women farmers to organise themselves more effectively to secure access to land.

He called on them to work collectively to position the FCT as a leading hub for organic food production in Nigeria, including supplying schools and institutions, to boost incomes and community wellbeing.