A few years ago I ventured into Agriculture for 3 main reasons:
1. To create jobs
2. To create wealth
3. Food security
I must admit that this has been my most challenging venture so far. I know nothing good comes easy but I didn’t know farming / Agriculture is this challenging.
My dream is to have one of the biggest and most successful farms in Nigeria. Sounds impossible right?
Well, I share a similar vision with Reliance Industries founder, Dhirubhai Ambani, who died in 2002 and owns the world’s largest oil refinery with an aggregate capacity of 1.24 million barrels per day. The refinery complex is located at Jamnagar in Gujarat, India.
As a young man working as a petrol station attendant in Yemen in the 1950’s, Mr. Ambani dreamed of someday owning his own oil empire, from drilling to refining to marketing. Let me repeat, he was just a filling station attendant but he dreamt of not even having his own filling station but OIL REFINERY. The man gets liver sha. It’s good to dream big.
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Returning to India with $100 in his pocket, Mr. Ambani entered the textile business, then moved into the production of polyester and other chemicals needed for synthetic fabrics, becoming one of India’s wealthiest tycoons.
He started the refinery construction in 1996 and commissioned it in 1999 I think.
At IykBethany Farms ( https://iykbethanygroup.com ) we’ve done the basics. Acquiring lands (almost 400 plots so far), carrying out Due Diligence, surveys, research, Market Analysis, and registering the company with CAC.
PS: Remember that I Design, Print and Brand. Kindly contact IykBethany Printing Houze for all your printing jobs: Please tell your church, pastor, family, and friends, we can deliver jobs to any location in Nigeria.
So back to the farm, I carried out some practicals and experiments as well. I’ve tried to document my journey so far which includes the challenges and mistakes I made, I wouldn’t want anyone to make similar mistakes.
The reason I document some of these things is to inspire people, especially the youth.
Fashion and boutique business changed my life for good. I worked with a construction company, saved some money, and opened a small boutique. I started buying from Onitsha, then Lagos. The Anambra importers I met in Onitsha and Lagos encouraged me to consider buying goods from Asia, and that’s how I started international trade.
I documented everything, my challenges, mistakes, and experiences which I have used to help many people (male/female) to set up their own boutiques. I do these free of charge.
My documentary (mistakes, experiences, and challenges) on international trade encouraged me to write this article On How To Import Goods From Vietnam (Shoes, Clothes, Bags, Fashion Accessories etc).
I had to document it on my blog as well:
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So back to the farm, we’ve harvested maize, cucumbers, and cassava. Plantains and bananas will follow suit in a few months’ time. Next year we will add livestock, Poultry, Fishery etc.
If things work according to plans our delicious and well-packaged plantain chips and plantain flour will be in the market by October 2021 and so is our odorless fufu, garri, starch etc.
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So far it’s been very tough and challenging. I even wanted to quit but I’m not quitting because I’m passionate about this
I’m done with PHASE ONE, now moving to PHASE TWO which is to acquire the necessary skills, training, and expertise in mechanized farming. I can’t be farming with hoes and cutlass in 2020.
My birthday is next month, somebody should use a modern farming machine to do my birthday for me naaa wink wink.
Phase 2 will take me to 3 countries namely Indonesia, Israel, and Vietnam where I will undergo the necessary training.
Everything I know today I learn from the internet, especially YouTube and the agric section of Nairaland, and a few other forums. Even the guy that planted all my bananas and plantains I met on Nairaland. So Nairaland has been a blessing in disguise.
I am happy to share my experience with anyone who is interested to learn. Also, if you are an expert or you know one or two things about farming/agriculture please feel free to share with me, I’m open to new ideas and suggestions.
I will try to share updates from time to time. My WhatsApp for important discussions +44 7472 510168
