UN Women, in partnership with the Islamic Organisation for Food Security, has launched a new initiative to equip women farmers with climate‑smart technologies aimed at increasing cassava yields and strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

UN Women’s country representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, made this disclosure at the Cassava Value Chain Stakeholders’ Debriefing & Consultation in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasizing its potential to drive inclusive transformation in Nigerian agriculture.

Highlighting the critical role of women in the sector, especially in cassava production, Ms. Eyong noted that although women make up more than two-thirds of the agricultural workforce, they continue to face significant barriers to land, finance, technology, and market access across West and Central Africa.

She explained that addressing these gaps could boost yields by 30 per cent, raise overall food output by four per cent, and reduce malnutrition by 17 per cent—contributing to improved food security and public health outcomes.

Ms. Eyong further observed that women involved in cassava value chains are often restricted to low-income, labor-intensive roles, with limited access to improved seedlings, modern processing tools, credit, and stable markets—constraints that prevent them from scaling their operations.

She urged that women be provided with climate-smart technologies, microfinance, cooperative support, and formal market linkages to transition from subsistence farming to sustainable agribusiness ventures.

Reaffirming the initiative’s goals, she stressed that women should be empowered as leaders, not merely beneficiaries, in advancing food security and climate resilience, thereby strengthening their agency across the agricultural sector.

“Let us expand women’s access to climate-smart technologies, finance, and markets; strengthen policies that recognise and protect their roles; and create green jobs for a resilient, equitable Nigeria,” she said.

The representative of IOFS, William Agyei-Manu, stated that the initiative puts women at the forefront of efforts to achieve food security and build climate-resilient agricultural systems across OIC member states.

“Together, we can transform cassava from subsistence farming into a growth driver, inclusive development, and women’s economic empowerment across Africa,” he added.