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The Gender Lead of Communicating Development Initiative (CDI) Mrs. Adehi Precious says there are empirical evidence that women constitute majority of the world’s poor and vulnerable and are more dependent on natural resources that are under threat from climate change. In addition, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders driving change to achieve climate change mitigation and adaptation.
They are involved in sustainable initiatives around the world and their participation and leadership result in more effective climate action. However, there remain a huge gap in digital skills and the use of technology by women. Therefore, International Women’s Day 2023 is another opportunity to reflect on the situations of women, adolescent girls and young girls in all their diversity, more so, women in the rural communities. It is an opportunity to renew our commitments to making gender equality a reality, and to moving towards an environmentally sustainable pattern of development that leaves no one behind and no woman out.
During the training workshop, several this women were so excited with the possibility of using digital tools like the smart phone to monitor their farms, which can both lead to cutting down on their working time on the farm, as well as reducing risk on both the women and their crops.
According to Mrs. Yahaya Dorcas, the Leader of this Farmer Group, “it is so interesting to know about these digital tools, however, majority of us in this group do not even own a smart phone and don’t know how to operate them”. This again has exposed the gap that exists with the female gender and the use of digital skills and the deployment of technologies. However, knowing that this woman occupies an important position in our society and our quest to overcome the impact of climate change, they must not be ignored.
Mr. Abu Stephen, the National Network Coordinator of Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet) noted that several studies have shown that women are more vulnerable to the impact of climate change, a few such women lives in Nigeria and other countries on the continent of Africa. It is important also to note that several these women are using their indigenous knowledge to overcome the impact of climate change at the community level. It is therefore time for us to consider gender-responsive approach to innovation, as technology and digital education can increase the awareness of women and girls regarding their rights and civic engagement, thereby producing a society that is well equipped with “Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”.
Mrs. John Eke towards the ending of the training pleaded that this kind of training be extended to more farmers in the rural communities, but more importantly, that such technologies be provided to them freely or at a subsidized rate as they will be happy to use them.
It is without any doubt that the use of technology by farmers in weather forecasting and crop monitoring will go a long way to improve on food security and climate adaptation. We therefore call on decision makers at all levels to consider investing in these women that have become a frontline defense to the many impacts of climate change.
