PADIC-Africa trains community women on Market Gardening to Boost Income
Cross section of Edondon women with the Resource Person after a 2-Day Training on Market Gardening
In a bid to improve on the income generated from farm produce, Panacea for Developmental and Infrastructural Challenges for Africa Initiative (PADIC-Africa) formerly known as Development Concern (DEVCON) has trained about sixty women in Edondon community, Obubra Local Government area of Cross River State on Market Gardening.
The 2-Day training which took place in October 6th to 7th, 2023, titled; “Training for Women Farmers in Edondon Community” was facilitated by PADIC-Africa with support from Global Environment Facility – Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP).
The training is targeted at alternative ways of engaging in subsistence farming in an effort to protect the forest from degradation.
Expressing satisfaction after the training, the Women Leader of Edondon Community, Mrs. Mary David Oyi, said “I have learnt a lot because formally when I plant cassava, pepper, garden eggs and other crops on one piece of farm land and while doing that the farm produce does not yield good result and I don’t make enough money but with this new method of farming on how to arrange my crops, the type of seeds to plant for market gardening, I’m sure of a good harvest for me, my household and also sell in large quantities.
On sustainability, she assured that, “As the women leader of this community I will make sure to send a message to all the women of the community to come and I will address them on how to farm as I have been taught and occasionally remind those who were also part of the training those lessons.”
Another participant Mrs. Christiana John said, “today I have learnt a different farming system from what I practiced before, I have been planting tomatoes and okra but the tomatoes don’t yield well but I’ll try to plant them again using this method I have learnt today and if it grows well I will sell them and support my family with the income.”
Also expressing delight, Sunny Major Utong have this to say, “this training has impacted so much in my life, I have been planting plantain, tomatoes, garden eggs and pepper but they doesn’t grow well, now because of this training I have learnt so much and by next planting season, I am going to plant tomatoes, cucumber, okra and other crops using the new method.”
The Consultant, Mr. John Odey highly commended the women for the turnout and the passion expressed during the training, noting that it shows they are going to make good use of the knowledge gained during the training.
According to him, “We are here to train women on vegetable production and the turnout and their interest was impressive. Most of them are interested in watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes and majority of them wants to go into this venture which will increase and regenerate more income into their pocket.
“They were taught on how to establish nurseries and some of them were doing bad practice before now but with this training, they have gain more knowledge on how to do their nurseries and fertilization and how to do transplanting and how to protect their farm, so that is what we have done today but we’ll be back again for more practical so they can follow up the cap and continue to generate income.
“What I observed is that the women will not forget because I have seen a lot of interest in them, some of them went to the extent of asking how much it is to buy seeds and some of them are happy seeing me in their farms so they are going to practice it well.” Mr. Odey stated.
The training programme has as part of its deliverable the establishment of demonstration garden for the women and providing seedlings for women who will be interested in establishing their own private garden.
Cross section of women during the in-house training
The Resource Person, Mr John Odey addressing the participants at the workshop