The Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) has successfully wrapped up its Greenshare: Sharing Through Community Farming Project in the Abule-Ori community, leaving behind a legacy of knowledge, skills, and empowerment.
Launched in July 2025 with support from Consumers International, the project engaged 29 families who cultivated beans, maize, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, and cassava on land provided by the community.
The goal, according to convener Professor Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, was to tackle rising food prices and insecurity by promoting eco-friendly farming and consumer awareness.
“With food inflation hovering around 40% in Nigeria, Greenshare was designed to empower households to grow their own food organically,” Prof. Ndukwe-Okafor explained. “We trained participants in composting, organic fertilizer production, and natural pest control methods using neem leaves. Our vision is for families to continue these practices at home, reducing their dependence on expensive markets.”
Community Impact
Participants described the project as transformative.
Innocent Emereonye, a group leader, said:
“This project has been an eye-opener. It’s not just about planting; we learned practical techniques that made our crops flourish. The results are amazing.”
Adeleye Adeniyi, from Group B, highlighted the training on turning food waste into local fertilizer: “This is knowledge that will stay with me forever.”
Florence Mustapha shared her excitement: “Before now, I had no idea how to grow cucumbers. Today, I can plant, harvest, and even sell them. This initiative has truly empowered me.”
Project facilitator Kasali Semin stressed the sustainability of the methods:
“We replaced NPK fertilizers with compost and chemical pesticides with neem-based solutions. The participants were eager to learn and are already practicing these methods at home.”
Local leaders also attested to the project’s value. Adejumo Ismaila, Chairman of Koli Area CDC, said: “I planted cucumbers beside my house and quickly began harvesting. It has already reduced my household expenses.”
Sustaining the Gains
With multiple harvests already recorded, CADEF ensured that participants left with both skills and seeds to continue eco-farming independently.
Prof. Ndukwe-Okafor summed up the message: “Even in times of inflation, Nigerians can grow food at home—whether on balconies, by the roadside, or in containers, using organic methods. An informed consumer is an empowered consumer, and that is exactly what Greenshare has delivered.”
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