HortiNigeria, a nonprofit organisation, has strengthened the capacity of female vegetable producers in Kano, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo States as part of its gender-based mainstream initiative to boost food security.
The project, which focuses on horticultural practices to expand market opportunities and reduce losses for female farmers and youth across the four intervention states, has recorded an 83 per cent reduction in post-harvest losses in these areas.
At a special event tagged “Mata Adon Gona”, meaning “Women Beautify the Farm”, held in Kano, HortiNigeria showcased the impact of its interventions on women empowerment in Kano and Kaduna States.
Olubukola Funsho Sanni, a Youth and Gender Specialist at IFDC, emphasised that the programme’s success lies not in the number of women supported alone, but in the transformation of livelihoods.
Sanni noted that HortiNigeria—implemented by the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) and consortium partners, and funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands—has significantly improved the incomes of smallholder female farmers since the intervention began in Nigeria.
She highlighted that women farmers in Kano now produce high-grade hybrid seedlings, negotiate land access, and link directly with processors and marketers, thanks to HortiNigeria’s support.
Thomas Tichar, a Youth and Gender Advisor from Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands, affirmed that beneficiaries have been equipped with agronomic training.
Tichar, a research partner in the project, explained that HortiNigeria’s intervention has fostered mindset shifts and improved teamwork among female farmers. He added that the project has contributed to increased market participation, household income, and family support.
In a keynote address, the Technical Advisor to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr Nurudeen Zauro, highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to bridging gender gaps in agriculture through the Aso Accord and initiatives like #ShesIncluded, which aim to close the 9% gender gap in financial access.
Dr Zauro, represented by the Director of Sustainability and Inclusion, applauded HortiNigeria for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the national target of a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
“HortiNigeria has shown that when women are equipped with tools, training, and finance, they don’t just grow crops—they grow communities, incomes, and hope.
“HortiNigeria has trained 44,822 youth and 20,329 women in modern horticultural techniques, supported 898 MSMEs, mobilised €4.1 million in capital, and achieved 205% income growth among smallholder farmers.
“Innovations such as solar-powered cooling hubs, cold chain systems, and plastic crates have led to an 83% reduction in post-harvest losses, which was previously a major challenge in the vegetable value chain.
“This is not just a showcase—it’s a call to action. Let us empower women not just as farm labourers, but as leaders shaping the destiny of agriculture in Nigeria,” the Presidential Advisor declared.
On her part, the Kano State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Amina Sani Abdullahi, commended the initiative and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to inclusive agricultural development.
She added that the state is working to expand access to land, finance, and training for women farmers, especially in rural areas, in line with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s broader agenda for inclusive growth.
The Commissioner called for stronger public-private partnerships, scaling of proven innovations, and alignment with continental initiatives such as the AfDB and World Bank’s Mission 300, to ensure Nigeria leads in driving food, energy, and financial security across Africa.
