For years, Lydia Ogunkola farmed a single acre of land in Ogun State, Nigeria, working tirelessly to grow her farming business. Like many other young farmers, Lydia poured her time, energy, and resources into her crops. Despite her hard work, she faced a common challenge of having limited access to stable markets.
Lydia’s only option was to sell her produce in open markets, where prices were unstable and middlemen often took advantage of farmers’ lack of bargaining power.
“Open markets are filled with uncertainty,” Lydia recalled. “You never know what issues you might meet in the market.”
That uncertainty began to vanish when Lydia joined the Fourlas Foods Agriservices farmer hub, one of the 11 innovation hubs established by the HortiNigeria program in Ogun State. These hubs are dynamic clusters of farmers, input suppliers, aggregators, and other value chain actors, which serve as platforms to share information, provide training, and foster collaboration.
“Before, I was farming in isolation. Now, I have a market and a strong network of farmers I can count on.”
Lydia Ogunkola
The innovation hubs allow farmers to gain access to resources such as financial literacy programs, training on good agricultural practices, eco-efficient farming techniques, and market intelligence. By connecting producers with both input and output markets, the hubs reduce isolation and open doors to new opportunities.
Through the Fourlas hub, Lydia not only gained knowledge, she found a community. Lydia no longer had to navigate the uncertainties of farming alone; she was able to work alongside others who understood her challenges and were willing to share solutions.
In 2024, a tremendous opportunity arrived. Lydia was approached to supply peppers to a new market requiring a substantial quantity. Lydia knew she had the backing of her network, and she was ready for the challenge.
With this guaranteed market and the collective support of her peers, Lydia made a bold decision to expand her production area from just 1 acre to 15 acres.
Her decision paid off. Today, Lydia no longer struggles in solitude. With support from her fellow farmers, she has become a confident entrepreneur, earning more profits and making big plans to grow her business.
“Joining the innovation hub changed everything for me,” Lydia said. “Before, I was farming in isolation. Now, I have a market and a strong network of farmers I can count on.”
Lydia’s journey reflects the power of collective action in agriculture. By uniting farmers, fostering knowledge exchange, and improving market access, HortiNigeria is helping farmers not only grow crops, but also build sustainable businesses and brighter futures.
The HortiNigeria program (2021-2025), funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, aims to facilitate the development of a sustainable and inclusive horticulture sector that contributes to food and nutrition security in Nigeria. HortiNigeria is led by IFDC and implemented together with KIT Institute, Wageningen University and Research, and East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation.
