The Ogun State chapter of the United Nations International Federation of Medical and Allied Groups (UNIFEMGA) has urged Nigerians to embrace home gardening as a practical response to worsening food insecurity and the rising cost of living.
The call was made on November 26, 2026, during the group’s annual agricultural programme, which focused on the role of individuals in improving food quality, nutrition and household income through backyard and home-based farming.
With the theme, “Role of the Individual in Improving Food Quality, Nutritional Value and Potential Income Generation,” the programme featured a technical session titled, “Home Gardening: A Pathway to Food Security and Economic Empowerment in Nigeria.”
Delivering a keynote presentation, Prof. Adewale Waheed Salau of the Department of Horticulture, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), described home gardening as a proactive strategy for households to regain control over their food sources.
He said cultivating vegetables and fruits at home reduces exposure to food contamination, guarantees access to fresh produce and improves overall food safety, especially in urban communities where market produce is often costly and unreliable.
Also speaking, Prof. Idris Ayinde of FUNAAB’s Department of Agricultural Extension said home gardening was not only a nutrition tool but also an economic lifeline for families struggling with inflation and rising food prices.
According to him, small household gardens can generate surplus produce for sale, helping families supplement income while cushioning the impact of food market volatility.
Participants were also told that growing diverse traditional vegetables and fruits could help bridge micronutrient deficiencies, particularly among children and vulnerable groups, while promoting healthier diets in urban and semi-urban households.
The session further highlighted what speakers described as the “butterfly effect” of home gardening — where small individual actions can stimulate wider community transformation by inspiring youth participation in agribusiness and strengthening household self-sufficiency.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the programme, UNIFEMGA urged residents to adopt home gardening practices and take advantage of available government and NGO support schemes to improve food security and economic resilience at the grassroots.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to promoting sustainable agricultural practices as a pathway to healthier families and more economically empowered communities in Ogun State and beyond
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