Across the Agege community, Lagos, something profound is taking root. Women and youth who once faced food insecurity are now harvesting fresh vegetables from small backyard plots. Mothers who previously struggled to feed their families twice a day, and youth who were unemployed and underemployed are raising poultry and snails, earning extra income, and putting nutritious meals on the table directly from their own efforts.

This is the reality created by the Lagos Food Bank Initiative’s Family Farming Program.

Launched to protect and expand the economic capacity of women and youth, the program empowers resilient families, to establish small-scale, sustainable food systems right in their backyards. Beneficiaries receive practical training and starter inputs in vegetable farming, poultry and snail rearing. They learn how to grow affordable, nutrient-rich foods using limited urban space, while also gaining skills to turn their harvests into modest income to run their households.

When a woman begins to feed her family from her own small farm, something deeper happens. She gains confidence, dignity, and a renewed sense of control over her household’s future. The benefits ripple outward as better nutrition for her children, reduced food expenses, and extra income that can pay school fees or cover medical needs. 

The impact is visible in both numbers and lived experiences. Fatimah, a local photographer and beneficiary of the Family Farming Program, reported significant expansion in her poultry business and now earns additional income from sales, improving her household nutrition and stability. This growth has also enabled her to invest in photography equipment, strengthening her creative work and livelihood. 

The impact of the Family Farming Program continues to advance, with more families being screened and trained each year, however, its expansion depends on the generosity and partnership of others. Be part of this sustainable impact. Support the mission through volunteering, donations, or partnerships. Visit the Lagos Food Bank website or reach out to learn how you can help scale this impactful community food system. 

Every backyard that turns into a small farm is a step away from hunger and toward self-reliance.