DDEE FARMS

Contrary to popular belief, high tomato prices don't necessarily mean farmers are profiting. When prices surge, it often indicates a underlying issue, such as disease outbreaks, low yields, or other challenges. For instance, if a crate of tomatoes sells for ₦50,000, it doesn't mean the farmer receives the full amount. Logistics and transportation costs can take up to 8%, middlemen take their cut (around 10%), and market levies are also deducted. After paying workers and other expenses, the farmer might be left with around ₦35,000, which isn't even profit yet! They still need to deduct input costs and other expenses. So, what's left as profit? Farmers often rely on selling large quantities of crates to make up for the thin margins.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking at the Ife Conference organized by the Nigeria Association of Agricultural Students OAU chaprer, where I emphasized the importance of youth involvement in agriculture. It's crucial that we prioritize food production and encourage young people to take an active role in this sector. Interestingly, many students pursuing agriculture-related courses didn't initially choose this field, indicating a lack of interest. However, there are numerous opportunities in agriculture, spanning primary production, processing, inputs, markets, logistics, mechanization, research, and more. We must inspire and engage youth to explore these opportunities, fostering a passion-driven approach to agriculture rather than just studying for the sake of it. By doing so, we can unlock the sector's full potential and ensure a sustainable food future."

Our "Growing Your Own Food" training program, in partnership with Lagos State Education District 4(check previous post to watch the video), is not only inspiring young minds but also contributing to achieving three crucial SDGs: 1. *Zero Hunger (SDG 2)*: By learning to grow their own food, these girls are taking the first step towards ensuring food security for themselves and their communities. 2. *No Poverty (SDG 1)*: Agriculture provides a viable career path, empowering these girls to break the poverty cycle and improve their socio-economic status. 3. *Gender Equality (SDG 5)*: By promoting women in farming, we're addressing gender disparities and encouraging girls to pursue careers in agriculture, challenging traditional gender roles. We're proud to be making a positive impact on the lives of these young girls and contributing to a more sustainable future! #SDGs #WomenInFarming #Sustainability" UN Women United Nations UN SDSN Youth - Nigeria

DDEE FARMS, in partnership with Lagos State Education District 4, launched an empowering initiative to train 1,000 girls in sustainable farming practices. The two-day program, titled "Growing Your Own Food," aimed to inspire young minds to explore agriculture and develop a passion for farming. The first day's session was held at the esteemed Lagos City College, with neighboring schools such as Wesley Girls High School and Aje Comprehensive School etc. Each day, 250 girls enthusiastically attended the training, learning valuable skills and knowledge to cultivate their own food and foster a lifelong appreciation for farming. The girls were super excited to get their hands dirty and learn about farming! Their faces lit up with joy and excitement as they realized they could now grow some of the basic food they eat. The training not only ignited their interest in farming but also inspired many to consider it as a viable career path. On the second day, the training was hosted at New Era Junior High School, with 250 girls in attendance. Other neighboring schools such as Ideal Girls Senior and Junior High School, Obele Junior and Senior High School, and others joined in, making the event a resounding success. We have more girls willing to venture into farming when the time is ripe, and we couldn't be prouder of their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn! Stay tuned for more updates on this initiative, as we continue to inspire and empower the next generation of female farmers! #WomenInFarming #SustainableAgriculture #GirlPower"

Earlier today, I had the pleasure of joining the Morning Brief Show on Channels Television to reflect on the past year in Nigeria's agricultural sector under the current administration. We discussed progress, challenges, and future prospects for farming and agriculture in the country.

We kicked off the week with an exciting appearance on Channels TV's Morning Brief Show! We discussed the current state of Nigeria's agricultural sector, assessing the government's performance over the past year. We examined their promises, achievements, and areas for improvement, providing a comprehensive review of their efforts to drive growth and development in the sector. #agriculture

A week ago, we had the privilege of partnering with JAKIN NGO to host a transformative training session for over 100 widows. We taught them the art of sac farming, enabling them to grow their own food from the comfort of their homes. To further support their journey, we provided vegetable seeds to help them get started. Our mission is to eradicate hunger and ensure food security, and we believe that empowering women is key to achieving this goal. By teaching women how to grow their own food, we're not only feeding individuals but entire communities. We're grateful for the opportunity to give back and make a positive impact in the lives of these remarkable women. Our thanks go out to our facilitators for their dedication and support, and to at JAKIN NGO for their partnership. If you're interested in our vegetable production training for women and girls, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. #empowerment #foodsecurity #widows #women"

We celebrated World Farmers Day yesterday and no buzz about it 😔! We need to do better when it comes to Farmers, they do a lot! Here are 10 points highlighting the importance of farmers in a society: 1. Food Security: Farmers provide food for the population, ensuring a steady supply of fresh produce, meat, and dairy products. 2. Economic Growth: Agriculture contributes significantly to a country's GDP, creating employment opportunities and stimulating local economies. 3. Environmental Stewardship: Farmers play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance, conserving natural resources, and promoting sustainable practices. 4. Rural Development: Farmers are the backbone of rural communities, supporting local businesses and services. 5. Food Sovereignty: Farmers help maintain food independence, reducing reliance on imports and ensuring national food security. 6. Innovation and Technology: Farmers drive agricultural innovation, adopting new techniques and technologies to improve yields and efficiency. 7. Biodiversity Preservation: Farmers help preserve crop and animal diversity, protecting genetic resources for future generations. 8. Climate Change Mitigation: Farmers implement sustainable practices, reducing carbon emissions and promoting carbon sequestration. 9. Social Fabric: Farmers are often the foundation of community social structures, supporting local events and cultural heritage. 10. National Security: A strong agricultural sector ensures food availability, reducing reliance on foreign aid and enhancing national security.

Our Goal is to ensure you have food to eat especially Fruits and Vegetables 😋. Kind reminder to our Farmers, DDEE FARMS is available to offtake their fruits and vegetables. It's a Great week for you.

While Men Slept we supplied our Dearest Women in Kuto Fruits Market in Ogun state with a truck of Pineapples. At DDEE FARMS We prioritize our market women in giving them our products to sell to make an income for themselves and their family, we understand that most of the women are the breadwinners of their family, some are widows who have children they are training in school and other extended family members You know this video was done around 3:30am and 99% of people there are women selling in the market. They were waiting to receive their markets they would sell that day. These women work very hard and one of the best things we could do is to help them have access to good produce that won't get bad in time and good quality so they can sell to their customers at a good price and make good profits on it. I love my markets women, we have some women we work with in Oje markets in Ibadan, Ketu market in Lagos. #fruits #kuto #markets #abeokuta #ibadan #ketu #pineapples #women #womensupportingwomen