DeltaWomen

November Issue
provide tools women need for businesses. Food preservation (canning, drying, etc.) is lucrative business considering our nonexistent electricity supply. Spice/ herb markets are virgin markets as we depend largely on wild plants and the few home-farmed vegetables. Many Africans in the West rely on Asian stores for their spices and condiments. Women can learn about the cultivation and uses of local herbs and through cooperatives, operate large-scale spice/ herb farms that can also generate large export yield especially from Africans in diaspora who crave these home-tastes. Pharmaceutical companies are tapping into the power of herbs. Our women can boost Nigerian science and pharmaceutical research through their contributions to agriculture. Give a man a fish and he feeds for a day, teach him how to fish and he can feed for life. Our women need skills and tools, not hand-outs. References: 1. Adekanye, T. O. Women in Agriculture in Nigeria: Problems and Policies for Development. Womens Studies International Forum. 7 (6): 423 431 (1984).

The

Newsletter

CEO

Elsie Ijorogu Reed

Guest Writers

Dr. Tony Egba, Technical Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigeria

Regular Contributors Proofing and Editing

Kirthi Jayakumar

Achilla Imchen, Ifeoma Agumanu, Oby Madukoma, Rohit Kumar, Stephanie Smith

Design and Layout

Mohanad Abdelnabi

A 1984 study of rural Nigerian women and agriculture indicated that women were major players in food-crop agriculture yet lacked vital resources to enhance productivity and contribute adequately to rural development. This is 2012, and women are yet to receive the sort of boost needed to become drivers of agricultural and general economic development.

Agriculture

We need community-oriented agricultural education to teach women not only best practices for their type of soil, but also relevant 2. Ojoko, S. Effectiveness of a Community technological and economical tools that will Oriented Approach to Teaching/ Learning enhance their ability to contribute adequately to Vocational Agriculture in Nigeria. Studies in their family and community wellbeing. Educational Evaluation. 19: 447 451 (1993). Cooperatives can boost purchasing power and credit unions with flex-loan programs can By Obi Esiaba
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News relevant for poverty alleviation in Nigeria

such as solar, wind and biomass, especially for the electrification of rural communities USAID/NIGERIA STRATEGY 2010 2013

African Union of the Blind (AfUB) Youth Mankind United to Support Total Education Empowernment Project in Lagos-Nigeria 2011(MUSTE) Undergraduate Scholarships for 2013. Nigerian Students 2013 NAB/MTN Foundation scholarship for Visually Rivers State, Nigeria: Governor Rotimi Amaechi Impaired Students in Tertiary institution 2012to enforce free education in 2013 On going China-Nigeria bilateral relations on going AfUB and NAB HIV/AIDS and Sexual Nov. 13, 2012 Katsina Govt. approves N442mn Reproductive Health Program in South-West for poverty alleviation Nigeria. 2012-2013 (Public Relations Officer Nigeria Association of the Blind Tel: +234 Poverty alleviation: Kano gives 88,000 women 8055056840. info@nigeriaassociationoftheblind. N10,000 each to mitigate poverty org) Kogi State Community and Social Development Dangote spends N430m on flood victims, Agency (KGCSDA) Poverty Alleviation (closing women empowerment in Kogi - He said Dec 2013) N50million worth of foodstuff and relief materials would be donated, while N150million would be Nigeria to invest N 880.9 bn in energy given in cash. He also said N230million would projects until 2013: This is expected to be be distributed to women to boost economic achieved through significant investment in rural activities in the state. electrification programme that will facilitate the expansion of transmission and distribution lines to a majority of rural Nigeria, It states that By Ifeoma Adukanu alternative energy technology will be developed from coal and other renewable energy sources, less than 158 naira a day. This trend needs to change, now more than ever. Current Projects Current projects and strategies look promising. The Nigerian government has an ambitious plan to reduce poverty by 36% over the next 15 years. This will be done by increasing adult literacy by 20% and increasing primary school enrolment to 100%. As mentioned in our September newsletter, education is the key to eradicating malnutrition, and insuring a healthy and a longer living populace. In addition, the government hopes to change the structure of various NGOs from a top-down to bottom-up. Frequently development projects have stagnated waiting for the approval of one overburdened president
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or manager. This new bottom-up structure will divide responsibilities and power among several people, allowing for projects to move forward. Finally, youth inactivity has created many social issues, so the Nigerian government plans to create 200 000 new jobs for youth over the next several years. Grameem Bank is a NGO that provides small loans with reduced credit to aspiring entrepreneurs to start up a new business. This project has already been operating in some rural parts of Nigeria with some success. Bosede Ogunleye who took part in this project went from earning 26 cents/day selling satchels of water to owning a small meat shop where she sells frozen meat and fish. With her new income she is now able to send her children to school and need not worry about where their next meal will come from. Future Development Projects

For the future, the Delta region needs to see an increase in the amount of small loans from NGOs like Grameem and local banks for aspiring entrepreneurs to insure more can reap the benefits of these projects. In addition, there should be more funding via the government or NGOs to these small business owners so that they can hire more staff. Not everyone has the creativity or determination to start up their own business, but there are many who would like to work. Such grants already exist in Canada and other countries and have proven quite effective. In addition, having youth more involved in the community at a younger age would cut back on the social problems that have developed as a result of inactivity. This could be done by making it so students must complete a certain amount of either work or volunteer experience before they can complete high school.

By Stephanie Smith

Women In Agriculture Food Security

Both women and men play critical roles in agriculture throughout the world, producing, processing and providing the food we eat. Rural women in particular are responsible for half of the worlds food production and produce between 60 and 80 percent of the food in most developing countries. Yet, despite their contribution to global food security, women farmers are frequently underestimated and overlooked in development strategies. Women around the world are engaged in a wide range of agricultural activities including: Selecting and conserving germplasm; breeding; saving seed; preparing land; weeding; controlling pests; harvesting; threshing; post harvest processing; livestock management; animal health; animal breeding; fodder collection; firewood collection; water extraction and carrying; tree planting; harvesting and processing forest products; food and remedy preparation; marketing etc.

Appropriate Technological Empowerment of women in Agriculture The term agricultural technologies was taken in its broadest meaning covering all the possible technologies related to agriculture. This included mechanical tools commonly referred to in the field, new seed varieties, land and crop management practices, and harvest and post harvest processing tools. Also included were the newer technologies such as biotechnology, information and communication technologies, remote sensing, GIS and GPS. The extent to which all these technologies are applicable or needed and used by rural women in agricultural activities will vary with biophysical and socioeconomic contexts some have never been used but are just beginning to show their potential. Rural women are the main producers of the worlds staple crops cassava, sorghum, rice, wheat, maize - which provide up to 90 percent of the rural poors food intake. Women sow, weed, apply fertilizer and pesticides, harvest and thresh the crops. Their contribution to secondary crop production, such as legumes and vegetables, is even greater. Grown mainly in home gardens, these crops provide essential nutrients and are
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Poverty Alleviation Projects in the Delta State

The Delta region should be the wealthiest state in Nigeria. Oil exports have brought billions of naira to the country, yet this money has been continually squandered away by corrupt officials and ineffective projects. One such project with OMPADEC was suppose to reduce poverty in the oil producing regions, but the $300 million earmarked for the project disappeared into the hands of contractors who did not complete their work. Young people and the environment have suffered greatly as a result. Some 70% of Nigerias population supports themselves on

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often the only food available during the lean seasons or if the main harvest fails. Womens specialized knowledge about genetic resources for food and agriculture makes them essential agro-diversity.

that womens contribution to agriculture in particular is poorly understood and their specific needs ignored in development planning.

This extends to matters as basic as the design of farm tools. But womens full potential in In the livestock sector, women feed and milk agriculture must be realized if the goal of the the larger animals, while raising poultry and 1996 World Food Summit - to halve the number small animals such as sheep, goats, rabbits of hungry people in the world by 2015 - is to be and guinea pigs. Also, once the harvest is in, achieved. rural women provide most of the labour for post-harvest activities, taking responsibility for Empowerment of women is key to raising storage, handling, stocking, processing and levels of nutrition, improving the production and marketing. distribution of food and agricultural products and enhancing the living conditions of rural Although rural women are assuming an populations. increasingly prominent role in agriculture, they remain among the most disadvantaged of Areas for action populations. War, the rural-to-urban migration of men in search of paid employment and rising In most developing countries, both men and mortalities attributed to HIV/AIDS has led to a rise women farmers do not have access to adequate in the numbers of female-headed households in resources, but womens access is even more the developing world. constrained as a result of cultural, traditional and sociological factors. Accurate information This feminization of agriculture has placed a about mens and womens relative access to, considerable burden on womens capacity to and control over, resources is crucial in the produce, provide, and prepare food in the face development of food security strategies. of already considerable obstacles Food Security, at the individual, household, FAO studies demonstrate that while women in national, regional, and global levels [is most developing countries are the mainstay achieved] when all people, at all times, have of agricultural sectors, the farm labour force physical, social, and economic access to and food systems (and day-to-day family sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet subsistence), they have been the last to benefit their dietary needs and food preferences for from - or in some cases have been negatively a healthy and active life. FAO (2001) affected by - prevailing economic growth and development processes. Creative and Gender friendly ways of addressing the critical factors that affect Gender bias and gender blindness persist: agricultural production and productivity farmers are still generally perceived as male that ensure food security as defined by FOA by policy-makers, development planners and should be pursue by all African countries. agricultural service deliverers. For this reason, Some of this factors are listed below; women find it more difficult than men to gain access to valuable resources such as land, credit Access to land and agricultural inputs, technology, extension, training and services that would enhance their Ownership of land encourages farmers to invest production capacity. time and resources in long-term improvements and facilitates access to agricultural support Despite the fact that women are the worlds services. Inheritance and land tenure laws limit principal food producers and providers, they womens ownership and use of land. remain invisible partners in development. A lack Access to credit of available gender disaggregated data means Short- and long-term credit is needed to pay for

inputs and hired labour. In the developing world, and development of agricultural technology. banks and credit associations are less inclined Access to rural organizations to lend to women because, without property and land rights, they lack collateral. Agricultural cooperatives and farmers organizations help members obtain resources Access to agricultural inputs and represent members interests before government. Improved seeds, fertilizers and pesticides are a vital means of enhancing production. Extension However common prerequisite for membership services and cooperatives distributing inputs of these rural organizations in some part rarely reach women who also lack the necessary of African countries is, very often, head of cash to purchase even government-subsidized household status or land ownership, which inputs. applies solely to men. Access to extension and training Agricultural extension program inform farmers about new technologies and plant varieties. Few extension services are targeted at rural women, few of the worlds extension agents are women and most of the extension services focus on commercial rather than subsistence crops - the primary concern of women. Access to education Investing in human capital reduces poverty and encourages sustainable economic growth. But prevailing attitudes about womens social, political and cultural rights severely limit girls access to education throughout the developing world. Access to technology Access to services Services such as transport and market facilities help farmers expand their income-generating activities. Although women have a role in the trading of goods and the food they produce, illiteracy and lack of legal rights prevent them from joining formal service institutions Recently, the Minister for Agriculture of Nigeria, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina is addressing this critical productivity factors by building crops value chains and creating farmers data bank through the registration of all farmers without gender discriminations. Every farmers registered will receive growth enhancement support (GES) in form of improved seeds, seedlings and agro chemical inputs fertilizer.

Labour-saving technologies are important means By Dr. Tony Egba of increasing production and improving peoples (Technical Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture quality of life. But the needs and priorities of and Rural Development, Nigeria) women are rarely considered in the research Proving an overall assessment on the impact of women networks in Nigeria is not possible without in-depth analyses, given the diversity of the sectors involve. However, there is no doubt that networks and collective action can open diverse pathways to womens livelihoods Womens economic independence is central and empowerment, including access to funding, to their empowerment in many areas of their training, and even highlighting issues at a lives, including health, education, and their governmental policy level. futures. In Nigeria, women networks have the potential to play a critical role in their economic In the area of agriculture and rural development, independence in key development sectors. for example, though many women in Nigeria

Economic empowerment and the importance of networks

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are involved in subsistence agriculture, men still form the majority of land owners. Only 7.2% of women own the land they farm, and without land title, it is hard for women to raise money they need to start productive enterprises. Analyses on women empowerment have identified networking and building coalitions as a resource for tackling such systemic gendered concerns. Agricultural networks, for example, could aid in not only seeking funds from government, but also in establishing training centres in rural areas for women to learn use of modern agricultural tools. Women can also form agricultural worker collectives to pool resources and collectively acquire land and modern tools for farming. Organisations such as the Nigerian Women Farmers Association, and women involved in market associations could in turn serve as knowledge resources in the designing of initiatives to support women entrepreneurs.

the importance of networking and what they can achieve by networking with the right persons. Okanlawon urges that the ability to sell your business is also a function of proper networking. So, why say that you are shy, whereas you want your business to succeed? As an entrepreneur, you must go out there and network with clients: tell them what you do and do not look down on anyone. The stronger and larger the network -- in which ever sector (agriculture, manufacturing etc) -- the better the chances of networks obtaining international assistance to aid members. References:

Campaign Round Up
NO WOMAN LEFT BEHIND
At Delta women NGO, we see ourselves as a partner for progress to our women. We work with them to discover their unique abilities, talents and potentials. Our drive is to build in our women the essential skills required to do business in a world class way, making them creators of their own destiny and pillars of transformation in our society. The NO WOMAN LEFT BEHIND campaign needs YOUR support. Help Deltawomen by providing women the Technical and Vocational Skills Acquisition to overcome the challenges in todays world so that they can be useful to themselves rather than be used as agents of violence.

1. British Council 2012. Gender in Nigeria Report 2012: Improving the Lives of Women and Girls in Nigeria . 2. Adedotun Eyinade 2010. Women and In the formal sector, where women run only Participation in Nigeria: the Imperative of 20% of enterprises, networking is equally Empowerment. Issue 295, December. important. Nigeria also has one of the lowest rates of female entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan 3. Ibid. Africa. Networks can aid in building capacities for training, learning skills for information 4. Punch July 2012. Poor networking, bane technology and increasing membership, and of women entrepreneurial development other skills related to improving businesses. President, NNEW, http://www.punchng.com/ Highlighting the importance of networking to business/poor-networking-bane-of-womenwomen themselves, however, appears to be entrepreneurial-development-president-nnew/ much-needed factor in this sector. In a recent interview, Mrs. Lola Okanlawon, the President of the Network of Entrepreneurial Women, By Achilla Imchen identified that women tend not to appreciate

FREE EYE TEST

The Deltawomen Eye-Care Campaign in the Delta State serves to provide free glasses and eye check-ups. Our upcoming free eye test is going to be held on the 29th of December in Igbanke, Edo State, Nigeria.

DELTAWOMEN WINS THE UN VOLUNTEERING AWARD!

With the blog as well as the Delta Womens Facebook group to fight to end sexual harassment, which has about 14,000 members, Kirthi created platforms through which Delta Women connects with beneficiaries and policy makers, brings together like-minded individuals to exchange ideas and information, and raises awareness of womens rights. During the Abia University rape, we used social networking to bring the news to the forefront and force reaction from the authorities, says Elsie Reed. Kirthi, whose responsibilities encompass coordinating the contributions of other online volunteers, says: We are a very united team. I have made friends across the world. I think the biggest strength lies in the fact that were globally placed. Each of us in the volunteering team is allowed to work on an activity that tangibly affects an on-field activity. We have seen a real impact in the form of awareness expansion, concludes Elsie. People have been encouraged to speak out, privately and publicly, and through this, they educate themselves and their families and friends. People come back to us and tell us how their lives have changed because of the information we offer them, because of the help we give them. People have told us how they averted greater danger in their lives with the good help of knowledge. Women in the Delta State have also contacted us when they suffered harassment or rape. We are like a go to for those in need.

WELCOME, NEW VOLUNTEERS 6

Deltawomen welcomes 10 new volunteers, who join our team this month to work on our various projects.
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