Sacrifice Is Required In Order To Succeed- Abdulsalam Isah Kolo
Abdulsalam Isah Kolo is an enterprenuer who is into Agribusiness. As an expert in the field, he consults and currently manages a start-up Agribusiness Company called Doko Green Wealth. He shares his experience in the field of Agriculture with Takemygist
TMG> Tell us more about yourself and your business:
Isah Kolo》I come from Doko which is under Lavun Local Government, Niger state.
TMG> What motivated you go into agriculture?
Isah Kolo》As a student of computer science, I became motivated to go into Agriculture when I was volunteering in Africa Youth Empowerment In Agricultural and Industrial Development Initiatives. Work in this organization, handling different rural activities under agriculture and seeing the huge and lucrative opportunities yet untapped really drew my attention to own a farm that'll create jobs and wealth. Lots of farmers at the rural areas have the interest to farm but have no access to the basic social amenities to actualize their dreams and as someone with network and contact, I felt going formally into this sector would bring lots of ease to the method of farming to the rural Farmers.
TMG> Farming seems tedious; and not really an area you find well-educated people going into before. Now what caught the interest of your company towards this idea that educated ones are also going into agriculture?
Isah Kolo》There is a huge misconception about what Agriculture is, especially in Nigeria. We feel Agriculture is a skill to be left in the hands of those who cannot write nor read alone (illiterates) but unfortunately, it's not true. It should rather be seen as a profession and business every individual should have a stake in regardless of their profession.
Due to this, we see Agriculture, especially crop production still being practiced as it's done in the olden days of our grandparents which we feel there is need to raise the interest of Youths and those at the civil service level to express interest in Agriculture and participate in it no matter how little. And to the Glory of God we're making it fun and opening the eyes of many to see that no job pays one like Agriculture because they've tested and seen it for themselves.
TMG> Would you consider your farm as successful in this year's farming season?
Isah Kolo》Farming is a very serious business and as such, no matter how little I invest in it, I will always consider it to be a huge success to us.
TMG> What do you produce from your farm? And do you sell them or are they for personal consumption?
Isah Kolo》We produce soyabean and maize on a commercial basis and collaborate with those into commodity exchange where we already have our ready- made market waiting for our supply all year round.
TMG> What sort of workforce do you have under your employ? Or if you're alone, how do you cope?
Isah Kolo》In mass production of crops you cannot do it personally alone; it calls for multiple hands to be on deck. We have casual workers for every step we take.
TMG> What are your present challenges and how do you intend to solve them?
Isah Kolo》Our present challenges are lack of proper farm implements; high cost of fertilizer and necessary hardwires like Tractor, Power tiller etc. So, we're partnering individuals with resources to invest in these gaps to ease the process for us and others, so as not to discourage people already in this field and those intending to.
TMG> What do you suggest would make things easier for women and youths to be successful in farming?
Isah Kolo》For Youths and women to pick interest in Agriculture, Government must continue to give Youths incentives in order to motivate them and provide them with necessary mechanisms such as Agric interest-free loans, security,good road network and mentorship at every stage (coaching)
TMG> What do you see in this government of change in agricultural policies? Are they encouraging farmers or youths to go back to agriculture?
Isah Kolo》To be fair to this administration, I don't think in 30 years of my existence I have seen any Government that is serious in terms of Agriculture as this Government. This administration has done more than enough to motivate the Youths to go into Agriculture and this can be seen even with the level of farm enterprises registered by CAC. However, as usual, dishonesty in implementation from those saddled with the affairs of reaching down to the rural farmers always comes to play in a very negative and dangerous way.
TMG> Have you had any financial support or loans since you began?
Isah Kolo》It's on record; no Government institution has ever supported us financially. We get our funds from Investors and individuals with an interest in Agriculture.
TMG> What sort of distribution or marketing methods do you use in your farm?
Isah Kolo》Already as aggregators, before we embark on a particular crop production we must ensure to have an off-taker who is already standby to buy what we produce, be it fish or crop.
TMG> What advice would you give farmers in the rural areas on how to improve in farming?
Isah Kolo》Rural Farmers need to be well-guided on how to use the modern farm implements; discouraged from all sorts of loans especially the exploitative ones and need periodic training to maximize their yield.
TMG> Which areas do you need to improve on in your company?
Isah Kolo》As a startup company, we need capacity building on Agricteach and smart farming; this is the 21st century and we need to always move with the trend.
TMG> What do you feel is the next step in developing your farming business?
Isah Kolo》We're not stopping at primary productivity. We're gradually stepping into processing so that we can export beyond Africa.
TMG> Have you ever lost during sales and what did you learn?
Isah Kolo》As lucrative as Agriculture might sound, it's also very risky. We've lost millions in poor production and also in sales due to crash in commodity and insecurity. Too much competition without standard.
TMG> How do you keep up to date on your target market?
Isah Kolo》To be updated, we keep making use of internet to survey and spy on those doing better than us to add to what we know and keep innovating further.
TMG> What keeps encouraging you?
Isah Kolo》Seeing those that used to hate anything to do with farming yesterday taking the frontline of the business today and producing what the increasing population consume.
TMG> What is your ultimate career aspiration?
Isah Kolo》To be my own Boss, work at my own "O" clock and have financial freedom, also impact knowledge on fellow Youths.
TMG> What kinds of sacrifices have you had to make to be successful?
Isah Kolo》Sacrifice is required to succeed. As it is, my family hardly see me, I hardly spare money for my personal use. They are all channelled into building a brand and company. I don't have social activities and Im the most boring kind of person without friends courtesy of the field I choose.
TMG> Tell us something you would like to learn or improve upon?
Isah Kolo》I want to improve on digital marketing, coaching and pitching to investors.
TMG> Who are your role models and people that inspire you to move on in the world?
Isah Kolo》My Role models are many in different aspects of life, be it socio-economic or political:
The likes of Late Maitama Sule, whom I promised to be patriotic until my last breath.
Dr. Bisi Akin Alabi, former SA to Oyo state Governor Sen. Ajimobi on Education, Science and technology and the likes of Barr. Aisha Galadima, Chairperson Niger state Law Reform commission etc.
TMG > As a young person that's interested in Agriculture, what ways can you advise government to engage and encourage youths into agriculture?
Isah Kolo》Government should invest in security of farmers and farmlands, give grants to youths with initiatives that can generate wealth and create jobs because they can't provide employment to all. And also, invest in training civil servants to pick interest in Agriculture and also provide them with land to practice what they have learned.
TMG> Do you socialise and when?
Isah Kolo》I don't have time for anything social other than when in programs.
Regards
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