Morganable News / communities
The Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) has trained 125 Nigerians in backyard farming, encouraging households to grow food in available spaces as rising food prices continue to affect family budgets.
Lagos —
The rising cost of food has made feeding a household increasingly difficult for many Nigerians. From vegetables and grains to other essential food items, families are spending more to maintain their usual meals.
For low-income households, the pressure is even greater as food expenses compete with rent, transport, school fees and other daily needs.
In response to this challenge, the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) has introduced more Nigerians to backyard farming through its Green Living Initiative.
aThe programme reached 125 participants and provided practical guidance on growing food in small spaces without the need for a large farm.
The initiative promotes the idea that food production can begin at home. It also encourages residents to make productive use of available spaces, reduce avoidable food expenses and develop skills that can benefit their communities.
CADEF Reaches 125 Nigerians Through Training
The initiative formed part of CADEF’s activities for Green Action Week 2026, which carried the theme, Sharing Community. It focused on showing participants how simple gardening methods could support household food production.
The programme adopted a community-based approach. It began with 25 participants, who were encouraged to share the knowledge they acquired with other people. Through this approach, the organisation reported reaching 125 Nigerians.
The training introduced participants to practical ways of growing crops with materials that are often available in homes. These included sacks, empty cooking oil kegs, discarded paint buckets, window boxes and other suitable containers.
This method is particularly useful in urban communities where many residents have limited access to farmland.
People living in rented apartments or houses with small compounds may not have enough space for conventional farming. However, suitable containers can provide an alternative for growing selected crops.
Participants also learnt about crops that can be cultivated in small spaces, including okra, cucumber, sweet potato, tomato and groundnut.
The training was designed to make gardening less intimidating for beginners. Rather than presenting farming as an activity reserved for people with large plots of land, it showed how households could start with the space and materials available to them.
Backyard Gardens Can Support Household Food Needs
Backyard farming gives families an opportunity to produce some of the food they consume. Although it cannot replace commercial agriculture, it can help households supplement their regular food purchases.
For example, a family that grows vegetables at home may not need to buy every portion from the market. The quantity harvested may be small, but it can still provide some relief, particularly when household expenses are high.
However, growing food successfully requires regular care. Plants need suitable soil, adequate sunlight and water. They also require attention to prevent pests and other problems from damaging the crops.
The choice of crops is important as well. Participants need to consider the available space, local growing conditions and the time required for each crop to mature. Starting with a few manageable plants can help beginners gain experience before expanding their gardens.
In addition, households need to understand that backyard farming is not an immediate answer to food insecurity. Results depend on the resources available and the effort invested in maintaining the garden.
Nevertheless, the practice can provide more than food. It can help families develop practical skills, understand where their food comes from and encourage children to take an interest in agriculture.
CADEF Highlights the Economic Value of Small-Scale Farming
CADEF’s Executive Director, Professor Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, explained that backyard farming could support families dealing with rising food costs.
She acknowledged that small-scale food production would not solve Nigeria’s wider food inflation challenges. However, she maintained that it could help households produce part of their food and reduce some of their expenses.
She also shared the example of a young man who used about 100 sacks to grow yam. He reportedly kept part of the harvest for his family and sold the surplus, using the proceeds to contribute to his children’s school fees.
The example shows how small-scale farming can serve both household and economic purposes. When a farmer produces more than the family needs, selling the extra produce may provide an additional source of income.
However, such outcomes depend on the quantity harvested, the cost of production and the demand for the crops. Not every household will earn money from backyard farming, but the activity can still offer practical benefits through food production.
For people who have never farmed before, the opportunity to learn simple techniques may also create an interest in larger agricultural activities in the future.
Food Inflation Makes Local Solutions Important
The programme comes amid continuing concerns about food affordability in Nigeria. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that food inflation stood at 19.59 per cent year-on-year in September 2026.
Food inflation affects households differently, but its impact is often felt in everyday decisions. Families may reduce the quantity of food they buy, change their meal plans or choose cheaper alternatives to manage their budgets.
These adjustments can become difficult when households are already working with limited incomes. They may also affect the variety of food available to families.
This is why community initiatives that promote food production, agricultural knowledge and responsible consumption are important. They cannot address every cause of rising food prices, but they can introduce practical ways for residents to respond to some of the challenges.
Beyond growing food, households can also reduce waste by planning meals, storing food properly and buying quantities they can reasonably consume. These simple practices can help families make better use of their resources.
Lagos State Government Commends the Initiative
The Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems also commended CADEF’s efforts to promote sustainable food production and responsible consumption.
The ministry’s Deputy Director of Agriculture, Olufunke Obafemi, highlighted the importance of sustainable agricultural practices, reducing food loss and waste, and encouraging responsible consumption.
These issues are closely connected to food security. Producing food is important, but proper handling, storage and distribution also matter. Food that is wasted after harvest cannot meet the needs of households that require it.
At the household level, residents can contribute by handling food carefully, avoiding unnecessary purchases and finding appropriate ways to preserve what they buy or harvest.
Backyard farming can also encourage people to appreciate the work involved in producing food.
When residents take part in planting and caring for crops, they gain a better understanding of the resources and effort required to bring food to the table.
Community Participation Will Be Key to Sustaining the Initiative
For the training to have a lasting impact, participants will need to put their knowledge into practice and share useful lessons with others.
Residents can begin with a few containers and crops that suit their available space. They can also exchange planting materials, discuss challenges and support neighbours who want to start their own gardens.
Community associations, schools, religious organisations and other local groups can help extend this knowledge. They can organise practical sessions and encourage more residents to explore small-scale food production.
Relevant authorities and organisations can also contribute through continued training, access to suitable planting materials and public education on basic farming methods.
CADEF’s Green Living Initiative demonstrates how community-based training can introduce practical responses to everyday challenges.
By reaching 125 Nigerians and encouraging participants to share what they have learnt, the programme has promoted an approach that can spread beyond the original training sessions.
Backyard farming will not replace the need for stronger agricultural policies, improved food distribution or wider efforts to make food affordable.
However, it can give households another way to support their food needs while building useful skills.
Ultimately, the value of the initiative lies not only in the crops participants may harvest but also in the knowledge they can pass on.
With consistent practice and continued community support, small gardens can become a useful part of efforts to promote food awareness, reduce waste and strengthen household resilience
