HortiNigeria, a horticulture program funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has successfully trained over 62,000 smallholder and entrepreneurial farmers in Nigeria on best agricultural practices. The announcement was made by the HortiNigeria Programme Director, Mr. Mohammed Salasi-Idris, during a two-day event aimed at sharing the success stories and challenges faced by farmers.
Program Achievements and Training Details:
– Trainees: The program trained 60,000 smallholder farmers in Northern Nigeria and 2,000 entrepreneurial farmers in the South-West.
– Demographics: Of the 60,000 smallholder farmers, 40% were women and 50% were youth.
– Innovations: Piloted innovative technologies among the entrepreneurial farmers.
– Digital Outreach: Engaged over 70,000 farmers through digital platforms and social media, providing vital agricultural knowledge and updates.
Program Objectives and Focus:
HortiNigeria aims to develop a sustainable and inclusive horticulture sector to enhance food and nutrition security in Nigeria. The program, implemented in four states (Kaduna, Kano, Ogun, and Oyo), focuses on essential crops such as onion, pepper, okra, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, watermelon, and sweetcorn.
Key Initiatives:
– Partnerships and Pilots: Partnered with local entities to pilot innovative production systems, promoting regional crop diversification.
– Financial and Market Connectivity: Engaged with financial institutions and promoted marketing connectivity by linking farmers with markets.
– Sector Coordination: Enhanced coordination and business linkages through collaborations with public and private entities.
As HortiNigeria moves into its final year of implementation in 2025, the program aims to expand its reach, scale successful innovations, increase access to finance, and build robust systems for sustainable agricultural development.
Stakeholder Engagement:
The program has urged stakeholders, including government officials, potential donors, and the media, to support and promote its initiatives to ensure a sustainable future for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Success Stories:
– Beneficiaries: Farmers like Mrs. Adetola Taiwo from Ogun and Mrs. Omolola Balogun from Oyo praised HortiNigeria for exposing them to best agro practices, increasing their innovation and productivity, and supporting them with input technology for year-round farming.
– Knowledge Transfer: The East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT) component of HortiNigeria has helped farmers access high-quality seeds and improve market connectivity.
Program Consortium:
HortiNigeria is a four-year program, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented by consortium partners including the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT), Wageningen University and Research (WUR), and KIT Institute (KIT).
The two-day event included a stakeholders’ tour of Soiless Farm Lab at Awowo and FUNAAB Farm Hubs in Abeokuta, showcasing HortiNigeria’s success stories. The program also donated eco-efficient solutions to FUNAAB Hub and a Waste to Wealth Bin at Soiless Farm Lab.
HortiNigeria’s efforts in training farmers and implementing innovative agricultural practices have significantly contributed to the sustainability and productivity of Nigeria’s horticulture sector. The program’s ongoing initiatives and future plans promise further advancements in food security and agricultural development in the country.
