June 3, 2025 | Cross River State, Nigeria— Indigenous women farmers in Abi and Biase Local Government Areas of Cross River State are facing severe challenges as flooding destroys farmlands and livelihoods. Despite making up over 70% of the agricultural workforce, these women remain excluded from decision-making in land ownership, policymaking, and disaster response.
A recent advocacy effort by Women’s Initiative for Self-Actualisation (WISA) and Green Concern for Development (GREENCODE) revealed systemic gender disparities worsening the crisis. Women’s farmlands are often located in flood-prone areas, disrupting crop yields and deepening poverty.
The groups called on the Cross River State government to reform land policies to ensure women’s rights to own and inherit farmland, provide grants and seedlings to small-scale women farmers, and include women in agricultural and climate planning through a statewide network.
Mfon Akpan of WISA urged, “With more funding, we’d expand beyond these pilot communities. We urge the government to adopt our policy brief and act now.”
Bassey Edem of GREENCODE added, “We’re training women on organic farming and mulching to boost yields sustainably and reduce harmful practices like bush burning.”
Stakeholders also advocated for solar energy projects, affordable public transport, and enforcing the state’s Climate Change Commission to tackle climate change impacts.
Funded by Kenya’s Urgent Action Fund Africa, the project ends this month with hopes that government will heed women’s urgent demands.
