Anambra State Coordination Office Of FGN/IFAD VCDP Commemorates IYWF 2026
By Ebele Ezeh
The Anambra State Coordination Office of the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/IFAD VCDP) has joined its counterparts across the globe in commemorating the 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF), observed from January to December this year.
IYWF was declared by the United Nations General Assembly on May 2, 2024, adopted without a vote but by consensus during the Assembly’s 77th plenary meeting of its 78th session. The declaration seeks to recognise the enormous contribution of women to agriculture and food production, while drawing attention to challenges women farmers face, including limited access to land, finance, technology, agricultural inputs, and education, among others.
Declaring the event open, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Ben Odoemena, announced that, building on VCDP’s achievements, Anambra State is developing an Agricultural Strategy to effectively address issues of land, finance, mechanisation, and climate change, among others.
Dr. Odoemena, who described women as every nation’s wealth, expressed joy that the project conceived fifteen years ago remains active, empowering men, women, youths, children, and Nigeria at large.
In their separate remarks, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Esther Onyekesi, and her Culture, Entertainment and Tourism counterpart, Chief Udoji Amedu, encouraged women to embrace agriculture as a business, noting that many family problems experienced today stem from financial hardship on the part of the woman.
Representing the local government mayors of the nine participating council areas of Anambra State, Retired Captain Barrister Casmir Nwafor called for proper training of farmers on best and healthy processing techniques to curb the rising cases of kidney and liver problems.
In her opening speech, the State Programme Coordinator (SPC), FGN/IFAD VCDP, Dr. Deborah Onyefulu, disclosed that Anambra State VCDP has over thirteen thousand farmers. She described IYWF as an opportunity to acknowledge the strength, resilience, knowledge, and contributions of women farmers to their families, communities, the economy, and the future of food security.
Dr. Onyefulu listed land ownership, access to finance, modern technology, agricultural inputs, markets, training, and decision-making opportunities as major barriers confronting women farmers, emphasising that supporting women farmers is not a favour but an investment in development, food security, and stronger families, communities, and nations.
The 2026 Year of the Woman Farmer event climaxed with award presentations to eight women who distinguished themselves along the cassava and rice value chains, an inspection of exhibition stands by dignitaries, and a drama and cultural dance display.
