From Rice Fields to Rising Incomes in Nigeria

Women are the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, making up an estimated 60 percent of the workforce. Yet many lack access to land, tools, training, and markets - barriers that limit their ability to build sustainable livelihoods. In states like Nasarawa, where agriculture is central and many farmers are women, targeted support can have a powerful impact.

At Giving Joy, we often say that small grants can spark big change. Our partnership with Janet Akolo Andaku in Nigeria brings this to life. A development practitioner and environmental scientist, Janet understands these challenges firsthand. Through her social enterprise, Kejand Riscare Innovations, she is helping women and youth transition from subsistence farming to income-generating agribusiness.

With support from a $500 Giving Joy microgrant, Janet (in photo) provided essential rice processing tools and training in business skills and climate-smart agriculture to women-led cooperatives.

Initially designed to support 20 women, the project quickly expanded. Between January and March 2026, it reached more than 300 beneficiaries. Participants launched 20 small businesses, created 45 direct and 70 indirect jobs, and increased incomes by an average of 30 percent. Household food production also rose by 25 percent, strengthening food security.

What began as a small intervention is now driving meaningful change. Women are producing higher-quality rice, increasing their earnings, and strengthening their communities. This is the impact Giving Joy strives for - targeted support that creates lasting, scalable results.