An agricultural expert, Prof. Mabel Ifeoma Onwuka has charged Nigerian women to embrace home-garden to cope with the increasing cost of living.
The Director, Centre for Gender Youth and Child Development (CGYCD), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) who stated this during the 2024 Abia Women August Delegates Conference (AWADEC) in Umuahia, Abia State, expressed worries over the wave of hunger and starvation facing most families and households hence, the need to take proactive steps.
Prof. Mabel Ifeoma Onwuka Director, Centre for Gender Youth and Child Development (CGYCD), MOUAU.
In her lecture entitled; ‘Abia Women: Rise to win, utilizing growth opportunities amidst current economic challenges’, Prof. Onwuka stated that food crisis looms in Nigeria, enjoining Nigerians, especially women to grow some of the crops they consume.
The founder, Hope for Farmers Women and Girls Initiatives (HOFWGI), also noted that growing one’s crops is a way of saving money and also enjoying fresh crops produced at home.
She added that the smallest backyard space can produce good amount of vegetables, fruits, herbs among others at the least expense.
Prof. Onwuka described home garden as a small piece of land near, within or adjacent to a building where human settles, stating that Nigerians can grow food in and around their homes.
She further revealed that home-gardens are not done on soil alone but can be done in water solution called hydroponics and in air called aeroponics.
Having a home garden can help reduce the wastes in household, through their conversion into organic fertilizer.
In her words: “Crops like yam, pepper, tomatoes, telferia spp (fluted pumpkin) among others could be planted at homes using tyres, containers, sack and poly bags to utilize the space available at the balconies, kitchen counter, small yards among others”.
She encouraged urban and peri-urban households without farming space to plant in their balconies with containers.
Prof. Onwuka added that they can also build shelves to put the containers, using them as aesthetic to beautify the environment, insisting that home-garden also promotes nutritional security and the consumption of healthy food crops they consume among others.
Earlier in her remark, the wife of Abia State governor, Mrs Precillia Otti, had announced that the state will key into the “Every Home a Garden” competition, a pet project of the wife of the President, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, adding that the enhanced star prize of N25 million is irresistible.
In her words: “The competition is to encourage women, especially mothers, to start gardening, using the little spaces in our backyards to produce vegetables for domestic consumption and more.”
“Thankfully, we can start from our backyards and then begin to look afield. We can also do much by taking advantage of the state of improved public infrastructure across the state to explore new business opportunities.
“The agriculture-related initiatives are tied to the theme of the event: ‘Utilising Growth Opportunities Amid Current Economic Challenges.’ and also speaks to the challenge of hunger and starvation facing individuals and families”
“As women, many of us have first-hand knowledge of these difficulties as the cost of food items hit rooftops, making life unbearable for millions of our compatriots,” the first lady added.
The governor, Dr Alex Otti while declaring the conference open, assured women in the state that they will continue to occupy a pride of place in the New Abia, and congratulated them on the occasion.
“I am glad to report that in the New Abia, we are steadily shattering the glass ceilings that kept women away from very important seats at the decision-making table,” he explained
“We are very mindful and appreciative of the important roles you play to keep our families and society together. Please do not relent as we are counting on you. Remember that we are here because of you”.
Participants to the annual conference were drawn from the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Abia state and suburbs.
