Regenerative Agriculture and medicinal plants for Nigerian soil and markets
Our first Farmer Training Days took place in Ibadan, Nigeria in March 2023, thanks to a grant from the International Award “Francis of Assisi and Carlo Acutis for an economy of fraternity”.
In designing the training, we followed a process of seeing the farmer’s reality, co-designing the course with local partners – including our key local partner on the ground “Paw Herbals” – and delivering a transformative experience for farmer leaders.
For the farmer training, twelve (12) farmers were selected to be part of the first cohort to participate in an initial induction online call, three full days of in-farm training, continued engagement through online calls and long term community through various communication channels.
These farmers are: Festus Alonge, Kehinde Sotonwa, Samson Afolabi, David Ojebola, Paul Ibimiluyi, Ikenna Akunne, Adebola Adeyemi, Olapade oluwafemi Paul, Olaide Olawuwo, Emmanuel Folorunsho, Christopher Esedebe and Olugbenga Ajibola.
During the three days of in-farm training, farmers learn tools on medicinal plants, herbs, honey and mushroom production, and entrepreneurship concepts to manage their farms and businesses.
The core of the training, fostering community, was represented by the candle; farmers had moments of sharing and getting to know each other as a community.
After the on-farm training days, the farmers continue to run their farms, creating new projects, beekeeping projects between them and replicating the knowledge they have learnt in their local villages. To date, the project has impacted nearly 400 people in Nigeria.
