Kaduna, Nigeria – Two hundred women from a targeted number of 900 sponsored women in Kaduna on Saturday began training on home-grown crop production, designed to compat vegetable deficit and high cost of food.
The training is being run under the Small Home Farmers Development Initiatives, founded by Hajiya Hajara Yusuf Dantso.
Speaking to the women, Dantso said she was showcasing the programme to enable women to support themselves and in response to her desire to see high commodity prices crash drastically.
She said she assembled a team of farming professionals to take the women on both theoretical and practical sessions at the training.
The training focused on planting potatoes, yams and vegetables at home, preparing soil mixtures for various crops, and creating home-made insecticides.
Trainees received free seeds, including spinach, moringa, tomato, and okra, to start their own gardens at home.
Dantso emphasized that home gardens can minimize space use and enhance security as farming occurs within home premises.
She noted that home-style gardening empowers communities by bringing agriculture closer to homes.
After the first batch of trainees, made up of 200 women, more are expected in subsequent batches.
Last year, Dantso’s NGO also empowered women through fish farming training during which she distributed fish juveniles for rearing.
She disclosed that plans are underway for another fish farming training soon.
Dantso called on governments to support her initiatives by facilitating trainee recruitment, while her NGO offers free training and a nominal fee from independent participants.
She also urged men to support their wives in this endeavor to benefit their families
Certificates in agriculture and various farming aspects will be issued as the programme progresses.
