In the beautiful farmlands of South West Nigeria, Kamilat Balogun, an entrepreneur at heart, has tended to her farm in Akinyele, Oyo State, with hope and determination since 2022, dreaming of transforming her farm into a thriving horticultural business. Despite her efforts and knowledge of traditional farming practices, Kamilat faced the all-too-common challenges of limited access to finance and the constant threat of unpredictable weather patterns that could instantly wipe out her hard-earned progress.
Kamilat’s farming journey took a turn when she learned from the HortiNigeria business champion of WeFarm Hub in Oyo State about a workshop the program would be holding in Abeokuta, Ogun State in September 2023. The workshop focused on empowering entrepreneurial farmers such as herself by providing training on financial linkages and insights into various financial products and services that are available.
During the workshop, Kamilat discovered how to navigate the financial system, gained an understanding of various types of insurance, and networked with representatives of financial service providers to support and expand her agricultural endeavors.
“When I obtain my dream of financial freedom, I will definitely give credit to HortiNigeria for unlocking the financial opportunities for me within the Nigerian horticulture sector”
Kamilat Balogun, Entrepreneurial Farmer
The segment of the workshop dedicated to crop insurance was especially enlightening. Kamilat learned about the different types of insurance products designed to mitigate farming risks associated with climate variability, pests, and other unforeseen challenges. Kamilat’s experience at the HortiNigeria workshop transformed insurance from a vague concept into a tangible financial tool for risk management.
According to Kamilat, “Even though I am an educated person, I never really understood the concept of insuring my farm. Now I know the benefits of insurance, and if any unforeseen challenges occur, I will have my cultivating capital back and won’t lose all my investment.”
Empowered by the training, Kamilat returned to her farm with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism. She has applied for crop insurance through one of the financial institutions she met with at the workshop.
With the insurance policy covering her crops, Kamilat says she appreciates this protection against the impacts of nature. This combination of financial support and security will allow her to focus on adopting more innovations and expandings, leading to a significant increase in productivity.
HortiNigeria (2021-2025) is implemented through a consortium led by IFDC that includes East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT), Wageningen University and Research (WUR), and KIT Royal Tropical Institute and is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria.
