• Unpleasant world of smallholder women farmers in Ebonyi
From Wilson Okereke, Afikpo
Smallholder women farmers are critical to subsistence farming. But in Ebonyi State, they complain of gender imbalance in terms of attention and assistance by government and organisations.
In fact, women farmers in Mgbom N’Achara autonomous community, Ohaozara Local Government and Ugwu Odida village in Onicha Igboeze autonomous community, Onicha Local Government, flayed their alleged neglect by government. They claimed that they had not been provided with access to seedlings, grants and farm tools as their male counterparts. A farmer from Isinkwo in Mgbom N’Achara, Mrs. Nnenna Okoro, lamented: “All my crops were destroyed by the enormous water which settled on my farms after the Ata River had overflown its bank.
“Additionally, the situation landed me in serious debt since the crops which I cultivated with loan were damaged. The situation has actually stopped some persons from involving in farming activities because of fear. This is why I am seeking government intervention.”
When Daily Sun visited the vast swap area called Odida Mmahi, where peasant farmers usually engaged themselves in all season activities in Ugwu Odida, Onicha Igboeze, one of the women, Mrs Bessie Okereke Nwankwo, said: “I did not attend any school during my early days.
“This made me join my late parents in farming activities involving crops as yam, water yam, cocoa yam, cassava, groundnut, potatoes and vegetables. Even after I had gone for early marriage at the age of 14 years, I had no other option than to continue the same farming with my late spouse.
“His land is far bigger than that of my parents. Through this farming, I have singlehandedly produced some graduates, businessmen and women among my nine children.”
She said she has adapted to the system particularly: “My family members do not go to bed hungry. There is availability of food items. I also use the proceeds to meet other petty financial needs of the home.
“I have already prepared fully for the forthcoming cultivation season. I have enough seedlings of various crops on ground with the money I sourced from village unions and my savings.”
Mrs Uzoma Jacob Okereke, 67, another farmer, said: “Because I did not have formal education, I started farming early being the predominant occupation at that period.
“I have gathered experiences in small scale farming that I can cultivate crops such as rice, yam, cassava and others, as you can see now that I’m inside one of my farms where I planted fruited pumpkin known as Ugu.
“And due to the high charge of the labourers who do collect N100 for making a heap coupled with the scarcity of cash in the country, I decided to be making the heaps gradually by myself. I have spent over N23,00 for bush clearing, making of the heaps and for the purchase of the pumpkin seedlings.”
She claimed her success in subsistence farming was a result of her personal effort and her children who usually provide money during farming periods. She said she has not received any form of support from government:
“There were occasions government promised us fertiliser and other inputs. We are yet to receive any of the items. Some other persons have equally visited us in our individual farms. They interviewed us and took our pictures with the promise that we would be empowered financially. We have not heard from them till now.
“Farming and domestic works have become parts of my life. I operate all alone. I never joined any group or organisation from the outset of my farming activities.”
Mrs Catherine Obasi was met clearing a piece of land in preparation for the cultivation of Ede Ugwu, a species of cocoyam. It usually matures for consumption before the period for rice planting. She appealed for support: “The only assistance that I can boast of, is simply the free access to all my husband’s pieces of land which the man had granted me. Besides this, I have not come across help from anybody or government.”
She admitted having some knowledge of budget in Nigeria. But unfortunately, she said budget has reflected positively on her farming activities. The 54-year-old woman plants groundnuts, cassava, potatoes and varieties of vegetables.
She too sought financial support, access to seedlings and farm tools: “Since I engaged in farming after I returned from the city with my husband, I have not been provided with even fertilizer let alone finance or other help. That has not stopped me from doing what I know very well.
“Before now, I have tilled some places to plant yam. I have equally spent over N98,000 on yam seedlings in addition to the ones that I have.
“In the area of rice cultivation, I will not spend much. I have enough storage in that regard which I can still sell to realise money for other purposes as clearing of land, making the beds, weeding and to buy fertilizer.”
Mrs Ogo Okoro said she spent N100 for the cultivation of each of the heaps: “My reason for choosing periodical crops is to enable me plant rice on the same land between May and June.
“My challenges include finance, lack of external assistance and in few cases, unfavourable weather. My source of fund is usually loans from some village groups. We are seeking empowerment from government.”
Her daughter, Confidence, a fresh graduate currently renders a helping hand to her mother. She said: “The work is tedious. Every bit of the activity is done manually mostly with crude implements. Financial assistance and mechanization will help smallholder women farmers in Ebonyi State.”