STARTING OUT
Though Farm Cafe was registered in Year 2014, it was in February 29, 2016 it began operations.
I was actually directed by the organisers of the Youth Enterprise With Innovation (YOUWIN) programme to go ahead and register a business. I had entered the competition in hope of getting grant of millions of naira to float and begin operations.
So I went to the Corporate Affairs Commission to submit possible names for the business. I was later informed when I went back that none of the names I submitted was available.
It was the Commission that actually suggested the business name 'Farm Cafe' in a letter. I was asked to accept or reject.
The name Farm Cafe of course sounded real cool but I was wondering if it actually captured what I planned to do then-production of crops mainly vegetables and livestock and also Information services on agriculture. The last part was a sort of giving back to society.
I accepted the name and completed the registration. I presented to YOUWIN that I had registered the business to start with the grant.
Days later, when I was informed that I wouldn't be given the grant, I was almost shattered- how was I going to start the business without considerable funds? Mainly, I needed farmland which I had gone to negotiate for around Ibeju-Lekki axis area.
Everything was set except that I didn't get the funds.
NEXT STEPS
I was working in mainstream media in this our Nigeria then. Not daunted by the disappointment of not getting the funds, I used my vacation periods to attend trainings - one of which was techpreneurship at Fate Foundation sponsored by Microsoft Nigeria and Diamond Bank.
Towards the end of 2015 after I left work in mainstream media - I started developing my abilities in tech- I didn't have a tech background but I wanted to fill the information gap I had noticed in the Agricultural Sector - I studied General Agriculture with some focus on Extension. The form of extension or information services I had in mind for Farm Cafe can best be achieved though tech.
During the tech training I had discussed with and contracted one of the very techy entrepreneurs. We mapped out strategies for the operations.
I launched the business with funding from family and personal savings - Due to the limited funds, I could only start on very small, in fact micro-scale.
In February 29, 2016, I floated and announced the operations - it was designed to do Business to Business Connections, provide information and marketing support to farmers, agro-processors and other businesses in agriculture or related businesses.
THE CHALLENGES
There have been many shocks - for example - some people won't just do what they agreed on with the person they have been connected with. But they would attempt to ride on Farm Cafe integrity in collecting money upfront for services or goods.
After some instances of this and other issues,I realised that this Agribusiness brokerage services would be having too many disputes that Farm Cafe at such small level didn't have the framework to keep handling.
Farm Cafe was also intended to give some agribusinesses some boost by building their brands. Farmers didn't have to wait till the day of harvest to start selling- Farm Cafe can help them circulate the information that they would be harvesting in some weeks or days and connect them to offtakers.
But most didn't want to include budget for marketing . So they would rather harvest and see how much they can sell.
It is when they encounter problems of low sales and possibility of their harvests getting spoilt that they would contact Farm Cafe - Well, I don't want to be marketing produce that may no longer be in desirable state. So on and on the challenges went.
ENCOURAGEMENT
I have had lots of support from the international community in terms of sponsored trainings which I appreciate so much and have written about.
RESEARCHES
I have delved into researches though on mini-scale to find out more uses for agricultural commodities in health and beauty.
In the course of all these, I discovered that a lot of foods are produced, processed or preserved with toxic elements which are mostly responsible for sicknesses including terminal diseases.
I have discovered that food produced in healthy ways eaten by people and also animals for human consumption are more potent than most medical drugs in not just curing but healing people.
FULFILMENT
So while I have not made the huge money I envisaged, I feel very fulfilled in knowing and sharing information on how people can stay healthy and avoid sudden deaths caused by seemingly healthy but actually toxic foods.
I still offer the initial services with more great plans for the future but Farm Cafe is now more focused on information services to preserve and beautify human lives with good health by shedding light on the root causes of most ill-health - food and drink.
APPRECIATION
I thank God who has sustained me, my family for their constant encouragement, the individuals and organisations within and outside Nigeria that have supported my endeavours over the years.
#FarmCafe #FarmCafeis8
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