It’s been a while since I provided an update on what has been going on at our farm. From fencing to digging wells to installing a bore hole to meeting agric extension agents. A lot has been happening which has been money and time-consuming. Below are pictures from the farm…..
Majority of the contract staff on the farm speak hausa, so I decided to bring the gentleman in green to be a translator. He is also a farmer and he speaks hausa and english…he helped with price negotiations and explaining exactly what we want and expect from the workers.
Fencing…this caused major issues and wasn’t cheap… So that’s me and my biggest investor in the middle of this picture and the one below NOT ARGUING but discussing passionately …haha… love my mama!
This trip amongst other things was to review the progress on the fencing. Well from the expression on our faces you can tell that expectations were clearly not met. From taking too long to having crooked lines. Worst part is they were trying to justify why the lines were crooked. Well bottom line is that they either fix the issue or have their payments withheld. The police got involved during the fencing, our neighbours said we had destroyed some of their crops, well all is resolved now. So we are moving forward…
The gentleman in white is the extension agent for the agbowa farm settlement. Still digging for water…thought we would have hit water by now…but alas we haven’t 🙁
That’s me in action haha…actually we went to a close by farm to check out their irrigation method and farm-house.
On our way back we saw this really cool shed/house. Would like one of those on the farm, maybe as where the first stage of field packaging happens. Don’t even step to this guy…he spoke with so much passion, he is the proud builder of this shed/house 🙂 . He said it would be used as a canteen….
Ok so you can tell who Sandbox Creations is…the guy with the cleanest shirt…hahaha. Sandbox creations is why we have better pictures on this blog 🙂
Just a round-up of all the pictures from our farm visits.
A lot has been going on, although slower than expected. The fuel scarcity and contractors not honouring their time lines, hasn’t helped much. We are still digging for water after almost a week of digging…that means more money 🙁 . Sometimes I get a little nervous about a lot of things, you know that saying… everything takes longer and cost more than expected is becoming a reality (definitely not cool). But I’m still keeping the faith…what’s a girl to do 🙂
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
10 Comments
Adekunle Adeniji-Adele
March 10, 2014Thanks for the update on everything that’s been going on. It’s really advanced a lot and beginning to take shape.It’s been a long journey to get here and what would you actually advice someone that might not be as passionate with farming as you seem to be but wants to pursue it more as a business.
Kofo Durosinmi-Etti
March 10, 2014Hi Dekunle, you are welcome, thanks for taking time out to read the post. I think we should always pursue what we are passionate about, it makes the process easier especially when things get tough. If farming isn’t something you enoy, there are other aspects of the agric value chain you might enjoy. For example processing, packaging, marketing and providing farm inputs. However if you really want to own a commercialised farm and not have to do all the hard work, you might have to hire a consultant like me in a couple of years 🙂 . Even with a consultant you still have to understand the basic principles. When you identify an area you want to key into…hit us up @ ngaf, maybe we would be able to help or point you in the right direction 🙂 .
demola
March 10, 2014the lord is your strenght.keep it up
Kofo Durosinmi-Etti
March 10, 2014Thanks!
olumide
March 10, 2014I guess you have really been occupied with work on the farm, the pictures show it, well done!!!
Kofo Durosinmi-Etti
March 10, 2014Thanks Olumide! Hope your farm is coming along as well
Amarachi Utah
March 11, 2014Your posts are an excellent roadmap for anyone looking to do this in Nigeria. It is all taking shape so nicely. Well done!
Kofo Durosinmi-Etti
March 11, 2014Thanks…that’s good to know… 🙂
yemi odetola-brown
March 26, 2014Love it. Great work Kofo,I am so proud of you!!
Kofo Durosinmi-Etti
March 26, 2014Thanks a mill Yemi! Much appreciated.