It Takes a Village to feed a community: The story of Talatu and Alhaji Ibrahim Umar

Their story, shaped by hard work, community spirit, and the support of One Acre Fund, highlights the extraordinary power of collective action in creating lasting change. 

This year, as part of our “It Takes a Village” campaign, we celebrate stories like theirs. The campaign underscores how joining forces—whether through local support or global partnerships—makes a difference at scale for smallholder farmers and their communities. 

Farming Challenges and a Lifeline  

Before joining One Acre Fund, farming in Pyata was beset with challenges. Yields were low, pests like striga - a parasitic weed native to Africa - devastated crops, and many farmers lacked access to quality seeds and fertilizers. The future looked bleak. "We barely grew enough to support our household, let alone share with others," Talatu explains. 

Five years ago, One Acre Fund introduced its programs to Pyata. While many farmers were initially hesitant, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar, who farms 10 acres of land to support his two wives and eleven children, decided to take a chance. The support provided by One Acre Fund—including improved seeds, fertilizers, and training in modern farming techniques—helped him start to overcome his challenges.

Three years later, inspired by the successes on her family’s farm and those of their neighbors, Talatu joined the program herself. With access to training and resources, she began applying modern farming techniques and diversifying their family’s farming efforts, growing maize, yams, and vegetables. Alhaji Ibrahim and Talatu have turned farming into a true family endeavor, both contributing to the shared goal of improving their livelihood and supporting their community. 

Feeding the Family and the Community  

The results were great; the harvest increased and the family achieved something they never thought possible: food security. 

But the impact extends far beyond their household. As the Village Head, Alhaji Ibrahim often finds his home filled with neighbors seeking help during difficult times. Thanks to their improved harvests, the family now has surplus food to share. "Whenever people in the community don’t have enough to eat, they come to us. We’re able to support them so no one goes hungry," Talatu explains.  

This generosity has strengthened the bonds within Pyata.  The surplus maize and vegetables they produce ensure that the most vulnerable in the community have access to food. What's more, Alhaji Ibrahim dreams of expanding his farm and building a storage facility to preserve their produce, ensuring they can continue to support the community in times of need. It’s a powerful reminder that, at the heart of every thriving community, lies the strength of people working together to overcome challenges.

Diversifying for Resilience  

At One Acre Fund, we encourage planting plots with a diverse selection of produce. Alhaji Ibrahim and Talatu have embraced this approach by expanding their farm to include a wider variety of crops, such as legumes and vegetables, which contribute to a balanced diet for their family and neighbors. The extra income from their improved harvests has allowed them to diversify their farm activities. They’ve started rearing goats and, following advice given by One Acre Fund field officers, they’re also planting trees in an effort to boost the soil health on their farm. 

This diversification not only enhances their resilience to both climate shocks and market fluctuations but also creates new opportunities. Growing a wide variety of produce means the family is less impacted by the failure of one crop or by its changing value at market. 

A Vision for the Future  

The Ibrahim family’s story embodies the spirit of the “It Takes a Village” campaign. With the support of One Acre Fund, they’ve transformed their lives and become pillars of their community. Their journey highlights how collective action—whether through a village working together or global donors supporting programs like ours—can drive meaningful change.  

For Alhaji Ibrahim, the future is filled with hope.

The "It Takes a Village" campaign is a call to action for everyone who believes in supporting smallholder farmers. By working together—farmers, field officers, supporters, and donors—we can help more families achieve food security, improve their livelihoods, and build stronger communities.  

Join us in supporting farmers like Alhaji Ibrahim and Talatu. Together, we can create a world where everyone has food security and every community thrives. Because it truly takes a village to make a difference.