Mrs Theresa Loveday is one of the beneficiaries of Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Small Grants Programme in Obudu, Cross River, who testifies that the programme has empowered many women, including her.
“I sell vegetables to cater for my children after I lost my husband some years back but things have become better since I become a beneficiary of this programme,’’ she said.
Other beneficiaries also say that the programme is popular because it ensures that the beneficiaries get adequate knowledge and awareness on small-scale farming by using soil and water resources.
Corroborating this view, Mr Niyi Adegun, the Vice-Chairman, Rural Infrastructure Services for Under-Served Population, a non-governmental organisation who is the Grant Recipient of the programme, said that it had promoted small-scale farming in various communities in Cross River.
He said that the beneficiaries were drawn from eight communities and two women associations in the Obanliku Local Government Area of the state.
He also noted that the goal of the current project was to protect and restore essential ecosystem, reduce poverty and increase agricultural productivity.
According to him, the beneficiaries are trained on improved methods of planting, preserving of vegetables, sustainable land management and irrigation.
“We have trained more than 200 women on propagation of vegetables and we raised and distributed seedlings to them under the programme.
“More than 50 farmers benefited directly from the programme while the project’s indirect beneficiaries are estimated to be more than 540,000 people.
“Those that benefited indirectly included transporters, middlemen and local tax collectors, among others.
To sustain the programme, Mr Eguaoje Festus, Desk Officer of GEF at the Federal Ministry of Environment, urged the beneficiaries to improve on their productivity.
“If you do more, you will get more assistance and even if the assistance is not coming forth again, you will be able to sustain what you have done so far.
“If you can produce enough to feed yourselves, then you have alleviated the greatest element of poverty, which is the shortage of food,’’ he said.
But Mrs Ibironke Olubamise, the National Coordinator, GEF- Small Grants Programme (SGP), said the programme had supported more than 100 non-governmental organisations to implement such environmental initiatives across the country for its sustainability.
“GEF-SGP is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the GEF partnerships and it is executed by the United Nations Office for Projects Services.
“The principle of project is rooted in the belief that global environmental problems can be best addressed if local people are involved and there are direct community benefits and ownership.
“GEF-SGP is implementing more than 113 projects in 25 states. Its focal areas are biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, persistent organic pollutants and international waters,’’ she said.
She also said that the implementation of the programme in Obudu was impressive, resulting in increased awareness about biodiversity loss and its effects on the environment.
She, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to sustain what they had learnt by practising it and by sharing the knowledge with other people from neighbouring communities.
To further boost the activities of the programme, a project simply known as Wise Administration of Terrestrial Environment and Resources, has trained no fewer than 1,000 on the platform of GEF-SGP on climate change in Bumaji, a community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River.
Mr Edwin Ogar, the coordinator of the project, said that the project focused on creating awareness about environmental degradation and empowering communities to address deforestation and climate change issues.
He said that five communities in the local government — Bamabariko, Bakie, Bakuriko, Oguefor and Ochakwai –had benefited from the project.
“More than 650 people benefited directly from sensitisation on deforestation and climate change while 100 participants –80 women and 20 women — attended the training on construction of energy-efficient woodstoves.
“Also, 250 woodstoves have been constructed and they are being used on a daily basis, while 50 farmers have been trained on agro-forestry and raising of economic trees,’’ he said.
Some of the beneficiaries in the communities said that the project had given them requisite knowledge of how to address deforestation and understand the impact of climate change.
Mr Cyprian Ntsia, a farmer in Bamabariko, said that the project had increased his understanding and other famers’ on climate change issues.
“Before the intervention of the project, we lacked the knowledge of how climate change can reduce our productivity and also cause poverty.
“The project has made us to be aware of the right technology by providing improved seedlings, cassava stems and also woodstoves for our women,’’ he said.
Similarly, Mr Francis Moribu, another beneficiary, said the communities had received polythene bags to raise cocoa seedlings.
“With the improved method of farming, we are sure of a rich harvest. We have received cassava stems, yam seedlings and constructed honey boxes to raise bees.
“We have also received training on the fabrication of woodstoves and our women have now been trained on how to construct the stoves,’’ he said.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Rebecca Ofre from Oguefor community, said she was optimistic that her harvest this year would increase following the improved method used in farming.
“I have already planted the yam seedlings given to us and I am expecting that the harvest will triple this time around,’’ she said.
Appraising the benefits of the project, Mrs Halima Mohammed, the former Desk Officer of GEF, Federal Ministry of Environment, urged non-governmental organisations to take the advantage of the project to support rural dwellers, especially women.
According to her, GEF emphasises gender mainstreaming through its programmes and projects which present opportunities to increase human empowerment and effectiveness of its investment in enhancing global environmental benefits.
“GEF aims to achieve global environmental benefits and sustainable development by promoting issues related to gender equality as they affect men and women for their empowerment,’’ she observed.
