3 months ago
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As part of efforts to provide added streams of income for widows and further empower them, the Rose of Sharon Foundation (RoSF) has concluded a three-day training for the women on new urban farming methods to help them upskill and diversify.
The training, which held at the foundation’s head office in Lagos, saw hundreds of beneficiaries taken through intensive programme on new agric methods, starting off commercial farming cheaply and being provided materials to kick start their journey.
Country Manager for the foundation, Dr Ndudi Bowei, said the training focused on two relatively emerging farming techniques – hydroponics and soilless farming. She said these methods were chosen because it is helpful for those who don’t have access to a lot of space to farm.
“Smallholder farmers that use this method can plant in seed trays, nurse the seedlings and transplant after a few weeks to buckets, bags, or land if available.”
She said most widows do not ordinarily own lands and soilless farming can come in handy for them. “They can use cocopits (made from coconut shells) to grow their own food. We know what is happening with food insecurity in the country; and this is a particularly vulnerable population, so, it’s harder for them.”
Bowei said they decided this was the right time to support the women in this regard, especially as agriculture issues and issues of climate change, which is related to food security, is also on the hot burner. “Women are limited in terms of access to lands compared to men and we know this will help those of them that have always wanted to supplement by growing their own food in their little space to tackle food insecurity and land ownership problems.”
One of the beneficiaries, Olajubo Sherifat Abigail, who thanked the organisers, added that the training is timely and beneficial to them. The smallscale farmer, who grows vegetables and cassava commercially, said she learned new skills and methods that will boost her activities and help her diversify.
National Coordinator, RoSF, Oloruntosin Taiwo, applauded the women for undergoing the training, adding that the new technology would be a game-changer, stressing that the methods being taught is smart agriculture, which is encouraged globally.
“These skills they are learning now would be with them for life and they can even pass it on to their children. The women would be shared to different groups and would be monitored in clusters, learn from each other and receive support from us, including the provision of experts.”
Durojaiye Olusegun Philip of Greenfield Agro-Allied Consult and Farming Systems Ltd, who trained the women, said the soilless farming method was used because they are trying to encourage urban farming.
He said the materials used are locally-sourced, organic and easy to get. “This training is not just theory, but also hands-on practical and the crops planted now will be reviewed later this month. We’re also teaching them how to turn everyday waste like kitchen waste and eggshells into organic fertilisers in a bid to reduce startup costs.”
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