LIVELIHOOD FROM VEGETABLE TRADING

There is an increasing awareness of growing and preparing adequate meals filled with fresh fruits and vegetables which is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, with their role in preventing malnutrition, other deficiencies and reduces the risk of chronic diseases in vulnerable households which also leads to great profit for both local farmers and sellers across Jos North LGA. These fruits and vegetables help to improve the nutritional status and general wellbeing of the household and serves as a means of livelihood for vulnerable caregivers and their household.

“Before the cash transfer scheme, I having been struggling with my business, finding it hard to meet the demand of my customers and support my kids feeding and school“ said Mrs Ladi Dahol a mother of 10 kids and a caregiver in the Mashiah Foundation/STEER project who was selected for the STEER cash transfer scheme in November 2017. After receiving the first tranche of her payment, Mrs Ladi decides to invest part of the N10, 000 ($ 27.39) she received into her vegetables business. “From the money I collected I used N 4000 ($ 10.95) to invest into my business and N3000 ($ 8.21) to complete my kids’ school fees and the remaining I used it to support my household feeding.”

“To be successful you need a strong interest and a good knowledge of fresh fruit and vegetables – so that you know what is in season, the shelf life of different produce, ripening times, how to identify freshness and quality.” She said. She currently makes about N3500 ($9.58) as profit after the sales of her products. She has also joined her VSLA group where she can access addition funds for her business and support her family.

Growing awareness of the physical value of a diet filled with produce is good news for anyone interested in starting a small business venture as a produce trader, whether you grow the fruits and vegetables yourself or not. Traders plant and harvest the produce or purchase in bulk from local farmers and make a profit selling at local markets and fairs. Even a small, backyard garden can get one started as a trader.

Mrs Ladi Dahol is one of the 188 most vulnerable caregivers selected for the cash transfer scheme and has made improvement in their enterprise and household. Thanks to STEER, USAID and Save the children for the intervention.