The Past

Sincerely, the best way to learn, is to just start. Some of us can read our way out of an idea - the more knowledge we acquire about the process the more scary the task becomes. I didn't want this to be the narrative for my cucumber farm; a vision that could only be seen on a screen. 

I dived straight into it, with my incorrect budget I went straight to work. First I made my plans known to the owner of the estate, and his local staff so that they could help connect me with product suppliers, local tested farmers, etc. I became a farming nerd, reading and watching all I could find about cucumber farming in Nigeria. I trusted the team setting up the farm, and grew with frustration every time they would surprise me with a new step they hadn't previously mentioned. In fact, at one point I halted all activity and demanded that they revisited and re-costed the steps. I seeked out farmers already in business, and sought their opinion on various matters.

I learnt how to hire daily aboki staff on the spot, and I saw them leave never to return after two-days of work. I researched how to use a knapsack, and taught my farmer the technique, praying that it would stick. I learnt how to negotiate with local villagers, so that we could cut down Bamboo sticks from fields that did not belong to them. I identified a buyer at Mile 12, and experienced having to source buyers from the local market when our harvest was no longer worth a truck drivers time. I became friends with a Nigerian police officer and security men. I learnt who to trust, and who to keep an eye on. 

I learnt first-hand the pros and cons in farming, I saw my land transform from a beautiful bush of lush green to a field containing more than 4,000 fully grown cucumber plants. I developed a maintenance schedule and detailed budget, so that our pilot phase could be a true scaleable template. I experienced lost, when the entire field was wiped out by a fungal infection. I now understand the importance of forming a small team that can represent you, when you are occupied with the day job. I demoted my PA when she expressed a limited interest in the farming duties, and hired a trusted friend's cousin and put him through the training to become a in-training agronomist. I learnt to treat my employees needs as a priority; to form a unity that would allow us to continue working together, a unity that has made by budding agronomist fully committed to the vision. I learnt that farming is a hit and miss, and that practical experience was more valuable than desk learning. I learnt what to do right the next time. 

To see some of my learnings, visit the Bunsen Agriculture instagram page using the link below.