Resilient women farmers in Chad battle climate challenges and social barriers

Despite women constituting more than 60% of Chad’s agricultural workforce, they are frequently denied land ownership and autonomy over agricultural work. Chad has been experiencing rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and deteriorating soil quality which have caused crop failures, insect infestations, and food insecurity. As a country where agriculture employs approximately 80% of the labor force, the consequences of the climate crisis are particularly powerful. Many women interviewed have recounted how climate change has affected their crop yields, cultivation plans, and economic livelihood. At the same time, it is still common for women to be expected to be especially responsible for childcare while simultaneously working as farmers and while being excluded from inheritance. This is an example of the nuanced challenges facing women’s rights that may seem separate from climate justice, but that provenly exacerbate climate change’s gendered effects. Addressing it requires prioritizing women’s experiences in order to avoid prescriptive approaches that may misinterpret sociocultural values through a purely Western lens. The AgriJob Booster Chad project (AJB-C) is an ongoing initiative with some potential. Georgine Néloumta, a leader of CELIAF, reports the intervention successfully removes practical barriers by providing participants with otherwise scarce and expensive resources, such as seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural equipment. Through eliminating these obstacles, the project supports women in growing and selling their own produce, which subsequently has caused them to become more included in household decisions regarding finances. The project nonetheless has imperfections and limitations. While it can be considered a start, it’s not enough. A multifaceted process that 1.) places women’s leadership at the forefront, 2.) coordinates with community leaders to change societal attitudes, 3.) encourages policy enforcement that center protection of women’s rights, and 4.) enables women to invest in their farms and businesses is required to build upon the successes and shortcomings of smaller-scale projects such as these.