Nigeria is renowned for its agricultural richness and significant role in the economy; 70.8 million hectares are used for growing crops, yet many challenges and factors inhibit the growth of the farming industry and stifle the sector, contributing to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Some of these factors include soil degradation, global warming, and micro-irrigation. The others are lack of up-to-date technology, low redistribution and high-cost production, and financial deficit. Nigerians face a staggering food insecurity problem, with a predicted 26.5 million people expected to experience acute hunger this year, a substantial increase from 18.6 million people last year.

Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture

Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture (EIYA), under the company Soilless Farm Lab, engages Nigerian youth and women in modern farming techniques to sustainably stabilize food production. Its main objective is to tackle poverty and hunger by making food affordable, growing it consistently, and ensuring it is accessible to everyone.

Soilless farming is a technique used for plants to absorb nutrients through irrigation without using soil. Soilless farming brings forth many benefits, such as reduced food loss, low pesticide utilization, consuming only 10% of the water needed in traditional farming, and saving land space.

Three Benefits of the EIYA Project

Soilless Lab Farm believes in the importance of apprentices knowing how to construct the foundation for hydroponic farming – which involves the growth of plants without soil. This allows the interns in prospects to have the skill of setting their soilless farms. However, the primary goal is to teach them how crucial it is to build a solid foundational structure for plants to thrive. Apprentices explore various adaptive plant-rearing techniques, such as yield mapping and predictive analytics, to gain insights into how plants respond to different environments and conditions. This comprehensive approach not only provides practical skills but also deepens their understanding of plant growth dynamics in controlled settings.

Many Nigerian farmers lack knowledge of the business aspects of farming. As of 2020, a staggering number of Nigerian farmers are considered smallholder farmers (SHFs), with 80% of farmers and 90% of agricultural produce deriving from SHFs. Therefore, the EIYA project presents a significant opportunity for aspiring female farmers to gain expertise in crucial areas such as customer care, market viability assessment, and profitability expansion.

Another benefit of the EIYA project is that it sponsors up to 4,000 apprentices each year and provides them with set-up kits. Each group of 50 participants has access to three hydroponics plots. During the three-month training, participants receive stipends and free accommodation. While women are the primary focus, all youth aged 18-29 are welcome to join. Once the first crop is produced, apprentices are connected to off-takers to sell their produce. EIYA has created 14,534 job opportunities, established 120 start-up companies, and skilled 13,265 Nigerian youth in hydroponics to date.

Final Remark

The EIYA Project is not only a place to learn and expand Nigeria’s agriculture industry but also to tackle food insecurity among citizens living below the poverty line. As Ogbole, the food wizard, aptly puts it, “Food production should not be seasonal because hunger is not.”

– Lydie Udofia

Lydie is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr