Some women in Bauchi say backyard farming has helped them reduce household spending on groceries and boost their incomes.
A cross-section of the women, who spoke in separate interviews with reporters on Monday in Bauchi, said the practice is more beneficial during the rainy season when crops grow easily around homes.
Ms. Esther Garba, a student, said she practises backyard farming to keep herself busy and provide vegetables for her family without visiting the market.
Garba said she cultivates spinach, tomatoes, maize, and beans in her backyard.
“When preparing soup, I get the vegetables from my backyard. I don’t have to go to the market to buy them,” she said.
A housewife, Mrs. Chungfi Yusuf, said she embraced backyard farming to prevent her surroundings from becoming bushy and to save money on groceries.
Yusuf said she cultivates okra and soybeans, which she uses in preparing soups and producing milk.
She added that the practice has made food items more readily available for household use.
Ms. Jennifer Musa, a resident of Kagadama community, described backyard farming as beneficial, saying she has been cultivating vegetables around her home for the past three years.
Musa said the practice enables her to access fresh vegetables while also keeping her environment green.
“I love nature and I like seeing my environment green. Apart from using the vegetables at home, I also sell some to earn money,” she said.
She advised women to embrace backyard farming to enhance food availability, reduce household expenses, and promote a clean environment.
An extension agent, Sarah Yakubu, said backyard gardening directly improves women’s economic stability by reducing household food expenses and creating independent streams of income.
She said the practice enables women to utilise small plots of land for crop cultivation and other agricultural activities.
“Through backyard farming, women can save money on groceries, sell surplus produce, and generate income,” she said.
