Climate change: NGO trains Nasarawa women farmers in smart agriculture

The Women Environmental Programme, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has trained no fewer than 100 women farmers in the Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on climate education and sustainable farming practices, as a way to improve their livelihoods.

The Programme Lead for WEP, Damaris Uja, made the disclosure during the training on Wednesday, in the Doma LGA of the state.

She explained that the project was designed to help women farmers understand climate change and adopt practices that would mitigate its impact on their farms.

Uja said the training was organised by WEP, under its project titled, “Strengthening Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood for Rural Women,” funded by Irish Aid with support from the Government of Ireland.

The WEP Programme Lead noted, “Changes are happening around women farmers, and it affects their farming. We want them to know they can improve their farming practices through climate education.

“They have to understand that climate change is here with us. The heat and irregular rainfall patterns they are experiencing today are reality.

“We want them to have access to weather information. So, we brought people from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency to educate them on how they can access weather information,” she said.

According to Uja, one of the major challenges women farmers are facing is lack of access to the relevant weather information, especially the climate seasonal calendar as released by NiMet.

“Once they see the first rain, they run to their farms and plant. Before you know it, they will not get another rain again.

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“So, when is the right time to plant in the next farming season? These are some of the things they are learning to understand to improve their farming practices,” she said.

Speaking on the selection, Uja said the organisation selected 100 women who were direct beneficiaries of the programme, using data collated during community engagements in five communities in Doma LGA.

She said the project was designed in such a way as to impact over 1,000 households indirectly.

Uja further explained, “We went to communities, and through the leadership of these communities, we were able to select the women from each of the communities who are into farming.

“It is not just able-bodied women, but it is also inclusive of women with disabilities, because most times they are left behind. People think they cannot farm, but they actually farm,” she added.

In his presentation entitled, “Climate Education,” a retired Director of Climate Change from the State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Angbashi Ishaku, emphasised strict adherence to the climate seasonal calendar.

“The central message of the presentation is to educate the women on climate change, how it affects them, particularly losses due to unstable rainfall and weather patterns, and what they can do to reduce its impacts,” he said.

Some of the participants, Alheri Joseph and Asheazi Nasara, expressed appreciation to the NGO, saying the training has helped them to learn the importance of climate-smart agriculture, including proper timing for planting, harvesting and storage management to reduce post-harvest losses.