NAIROBI, March 8 (Xinhua) -- It is possible to realize a climate resilient, food and nutritional secure future in Africa subject to harnessing the ingenuity and skills of the continent's female gender, experts said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a virtual forum in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital to mark International Women's Day, the experts stressed that narrowing the gender gap will be key to the success of climate response and agricultural transformation in Africa.
Josefa Sacko, the African Union (AU) commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment noted that women have been at the frontline of the continent's quest for climate resilience and food security, hence the need to empower them with the right policy, financing and legislative tools.
"There is a dire need to incorporate women in designing climate resilient farming systems to help reverse rising food insecurity and dwindling incomes for the rural population in the continent," Sacko remarked.
She noted that women accounted for more than 70 percent of food produced in Africa, adding that they required enhanced access to capital, inputs and markets in order to transform subsistence farming amid threats posed by climate change.
In addition, Sacko called for policy reforms, capacity development, training and access to clean technologies to boost the productivity and resilience of female-led agricultural activities in the continent.
Agnes Kalibata, the president of Nairobi-based Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) noted that climate change, voracious pests and market volatility had taken a heavier toll on women farmers in the continent, hence the need to provide them with buffers like crop insurance, irrigation technologies and drought resistant seeds.
Kalibata said the 27th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) conference slated for November in Egypt should come up with a new roadmap for strengthening women's participation in activities that promote Africa's resilience in the face of climate emergencies.
Sabdiyo Dido, head of Gender and Inclusion at AGRA said that eliminating cultural barriers alongside skills, knowledge and financing gaps was key to boost the participation of women in transforming Africa's food systems. ■