By Damilola Fatunmise
To encourage more young women to take up small-to-medium farming as a worthy and financially rewarding vocation, and still be able to show their sense of elegance, glamour, swag and efizi, a beauty pageant has been created by the Farm Junction Foundation (FJF), under the aegis of Farm Junction Limited.
The groundbreaking initiative, to be known as Most Beautiful Farmer (MBF) Lagos, is aimed at empowering Nigerian female farmers, and seeks to celebrate the beauty and dedication of farmers while providing them with essential skills to thrive in the agricultural sector.
The MBF Lagos project combines technical training with a pageantry model to make farming more appealing to the younger generation.
Participants will undergo intensive training in agricultural practices, communication, marketing, and distribution. The programme will culminate in a grand finale on World Food Day 2024.
“We are excited to launch this innovative project that highlights the importance of farmers in Nigeria,” said Dumebi Oluwole, Project Coordinator for MBF Lagos. “By equipping farmers with the necessary tools, we hope to inspire more young people to embrace agriculture.”
Farm Junction will provide significant prizes to the participants, including a brand new truck for the winner and seed funding worth over N5 million.
The company will also monitor the participants’ progress to ensure that the skills acquired are applied to improve their agricultural output and distribution.
“Our mission at Farm Junction is to connect farmers directly to consumers and stabilize prices,” said Yinka Omogoye, chief executive of Demiller Industries and Farm Junction Ltd. “The MBF Lagos project aligns with this mission and our commitment to empowering the farming community.”