CAN YOU SOLVE MY PROBLEM?

On Friday, while I was at work, Kola called me. Kola has been my friend for a while. We met during NYSC, and we've maintained a healthy level of friendship since then. He told me he had just purchased 5 acres of land somewhere in the Southwest, and he needs ideas on what kind of farming to practice. He knew I had a background in agriculture, and I believe that was why he reached out.

I asked him if he would be managing the farm himself due to his busy schedule. "No," he replied. I told him outrightly that if he had no plans to handle it himself, he'd have to find not just an experienced farm manager but one who is also trustworthy, one with integrity. "How do I do that," he asked. I told him I'd call him back later in the day. Working hours are for company business and should not be tampered with; it is not for personal issues.

After the call, I had to sit down and reflect. What problems am I solving?

I learnt years back that you're either a part of the problem or a part of the solution; there is no middle line. I also learnt that for you to create wealth, you either create value, solve a problem, or do a combination of both. 

Wealth is not a reward for praying. It is a reward for value creation and problem-solving.

Narrowing down, what problems are Kola likely to face as an agricultural enthusiast, and which of those problems am I solving with the company I work with? Should he go into crop farming, animal rearing, or a combination of both? 

I had to make a list of 4 of the significant problems you are likely to be encounter as a Nigerian farmer and the solutions we offer at FarmKonnect.

1. The uncertainty associated with the production process:

It is easy for a farmer to craft plans based on current trends. He needs to know the cost. The cost of transport is XYZ naira, the cost of labor is FTY naira and all. Attendance and security guards will cost KLM naira etc. It's not a complicated process, especially if it's not your first time. The overlooked angle is the risk no one factors into the equation; unpredictable climatic conditions, possible disruption of farmland by herdsmen, etc. 

Solution: 

Whether we admit it or not, this climate unpredictability is here to stay, and the year 2020 is an example. Droughts will get more prolonged and more intense. More farmers will lose crops, and there's not much you can do unless you can control the growing conditions. 

I mean, how do you cope with drought in the middle of a farming cycle?

At FarmKonnect, we use a greenhouse system, a structure with walls and roof made chiefly of transparent material, such as glass or nylon, in which plants requiring regulated climatic conditions are grown. With this, the unpredictable climatic condition's problem is eliminated, and crops can flourish under regulated conditions. 

Lack of Mechanization:

It takes a man forty hours on an average to clear, prepare, and plant an acre of land. Picture a hundred acres and how long it'll take even 20 men. Productivity will undoubtedly be affected.

At this day and age, farmers should no longer be relying on crude implements to get their farming done. Asides the apparent waste of time that comes with manual labor, the inefficiency that comes with human fatigue can not be overlooked. 

Solution: 

It is one of our philosophies at FarmKonnect that we need smarter farmers, not more farmers. If two farmers can get the job done in a day using modern-day technologies, why do you need 40 farmers? Our processes are automated using the very best modern approach to ensure the efficiency of delivery. If you'd do Agric, do it big! Agriculture stings; mediocrity kills.

1. Infrastructural deficiencies

Statistically, more than 30% of food is wasted worldwide and up to 40% in Nigeria and West Africa. In 2018, the minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe mentioned that about 30% - 40% of food produced is wasted.

This wastage is due to various reasons ranging from lack of preservation mechanisms and terrible transportation systems. Asides the apparent problems, it also discourages potential investors from participating in the process. Until the products get to the final user, value has not been created.

Solution:

We sell what you farm, and we farm what you don't! 

1. The HUNGER problem

Our motto is "Agriculture is Peace," which speaks a lot about what we believe in and what we want to do. We believe that if hunger is still common among people, National peace will remain a mirage. True is the saying that "a hungry man is an angry man."

Solution:

The key to solving this problem is to strengthen farms. After a recent economic stagnancy due to the recession and coronavirus outbreak, the number of food-insecure families more than doubled. 

Beyond filling our bellies with food, it strengthens our minds with peace. At FarmKonnect, we believe that there will be less violence when there is enough food for all; thus, peace will radiate. With that as a backbone, we herald Agriculture is Peace.

_

Invariably, those who solve the most problems earn the biggest monies!

#FarmKonnect 

To know how you can benefit from the product package that the first Agricultural Real Estate company in Africa is offering, kindly send a direct message.