The future of food security may be growing right in our backyards. This was the central message of a recent outreach for vegetable farmers, organized by RadioIITA in collaboration with the IITA Forest Center, during which farmers received practical training on the propagation, cultivation, and benefits of indigenous vegetables.
The training brought together vegetable farmers eager to learn practical techniques for producing a variety of locally valued vegetables, including worowo (African spinach), yanrin, igbagba, spinach, okra, uziza, ugwu, soko, ginger, and coriander. Through interactive sessions and hands-on demonstrations, farmers learned effective propagation methods, nursery management techniques, crop maintenance practices, and strategies for achieving higher productivity while maintaining environmental sustainability.
Beyond production techniques, the training highlighted the remarkable nutritional and medicinal properties of indigenous vegetables, many of which have long been part of local diets and traditional healthcare practices. Participants gained a deeper understanding of how these vegetables contribute essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other health-promoting compounds that support household nutrition and well-being.
Participants expressed excitement about the knowledge gained during the training and the opportunities it presents for improving their farming enterprises. The Head of the Oyo State Women Farmers Association, Agbaje Abimbola, who attended the outreach, commended IITA-CGIAR and RadioIITA for their continued efforts in supporting farmers through knowledge-sharing initiatives. She noted that such programs provide valuable opportunities for farmers, especially women, to acquire skills that can enhance agricultural productivity and improve family welfare.
For many participants, the practical aspect of the training was particularly impactful. Omolaoye Marvelous, one of the participants, expressed satisfaction with the knowledge gained during the program. He appreciated the emphasis on organic farming methods and encouraged fellow farmers to adopt organic practices in vegetable production.
“I am pleased with the way we were trained on the use of organic farming methods for vegetable cultivation,” he said. “I have been growing vegetables for years, but this training opened my eyes to better propagation methods and the immense value of indigenous vegetables. I now understand how to improve my yields and generate more income from crops that are already familiar to our communities.”
Speaking during the event, Olukunle Olasupo, IITA Forest Center Field Supervisor, explained that the outreach forms part of a broader initiative aimed at encouraging households to cultivate indigenous vegetables in their backyards.
“We are encouraging people to grow local vegetables in their homes and communities,” he explained. “For the past three years, we have been promoting the use of good-quality seeds, organic production methods, and indigenous plant propagation. Our goal is to ensure food security, improve nutrition, and preserve our local biodiversity.”
He expressed optimism that more households across Southwest Nigeria would embrace backyard vegetable gardening in the coming years, not only for family consumption but also as a source of income through commercial production.
Beyond the economic benefits, the initiative seeks to promote biodiversity, environmental conservation, and the revival of indigenous flora and fauna within urban and peri-urban communities. By encouraging the cultivation of native vegetable species, the program helps create greener, healthier, and more sustainable communities.
As farmers return to their fields with enhanced skills and renewed confidence, the training is expected to contribute to increased production of indigenous vegetables, improved household nutrition, and greater economic opportunities for farming families. Such efforts remain critical in advancing resilient food systems while preserving the rich diversity of indigenous crops for future generations.
Contributed by Victoria Idowu and Folake Oduntan
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