In the UK, it’s known as small holding; in the US, it takes the shape of urban agriculture or  family farms. In Egypt, it involves planting vegetables on rooftops. Backyard farming, the  practice of using residential spaces to grow food and raise animals, is a global phenomenon.  However, in Nigeria, where the Global Hunger Index ranks hunger as “serious,” with 26.5 million people projected to face hunger, backyard farming is not just a hobby—it’s a necessity for survival.  The Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI), with its mission to address hunger and food insecurity, has embraced backyard farming through its innovative Family Farming program. 

LFBI’s Family Farming program aims to reduce the gap between food production and  consumption by empowering low-income households to grow their own food. The program  focuses on vegetables, snails, and poultry farming—staples of the local diet. Beneficiaries,  particularly women, are screened to ensure their urban dwellings can accommodate small-scale farming. They receive seeds for edible vegetables, chickens, and snails to start their backyard  farms. This approach not only maximizes scarce urban spaces but also reduces reliance on  commercial agriculture and food imports. 

What makes LFBI’s Family Farming program unique is its emphasis on self-reliance and  community empowerment. By training beneficiaries in sustainable farming practices, the  program transforms them from mere consumers into active players in the food production  chain. These backyard farmers use innovative techniques and indigenous methods to grow  food without the need for costly artificial solutions or large expanses of land. This  demystifies the notion that agriculture requires significant expertise, machinery, or resources,  making it accessible to more people. 

The impact of LFBI’s program extends beyond individual households. By creating alternative  food sources, it strengthens community resilience and reduces food insecurity. Families can  now feed themselves and even generate income by selling surplus produce. This social return  on investment is a testament to the program’s success in addressing hunger while fostering  economic empowerment. 

Backyard farming, as championed by LFBI, is more than a solution to hunger—it’s a  transformative movement reshaping agriculture in Africa. By turning small spaces into  productive farms, LFBI is not only addressing immediate food needs but also building a  sustainable future for communities. Through initiatives like the Family Farming program,  backyard farmers are proving that even the smallest plots of land can yield hope, abundance,  and change.

Article written by John-Bryant Okere