• My Journey To Food Security as an English Major — Part 1.

By Onyekachi Francisco Ogbodo

Galatians 6:7-9: Teaches that people reap what they sow, and that those who sow to please the Spirit will reap eternal life

This is the first proceedings from my farm and I wish many will understand the joy of seeing results and that your efforts paid off. March 11, 2024 . I embarked on a quest to grow organic foods and thereby promoting healthy living in our society. It was tough and filled with alot of traumatic discouragements ; I came across a lot of negative reviews on Facebook about growing foods in sack or plastic bags since I don't have a land. I remember meeting the school security, Samson. A very vibrant Hausa guy.

During weekends, he leaves the school where he stays and hunts for construction jobs. I knew he would be in the better position to source out cement bags for me. I paid him sha. Although, he disappointed me but he later got them. That was the first step I took ; filling up those dirty sacks with soil. I remembered I needed to mix the soil with manure( according the video I saw circulating)and I hated anything chemicals or fertiliser( I noticed that most yams I bought last year didn't last up to two weeks before they spoil, what could have been the cause? FERTILISER !!!

That Saturday, very early in the morning, I set out , down to pig farms that's like 40 minutes away from my location. I took a cement bag. Filled up two bags of compost manure of pigs. I came home and emptied the sacks before refilling them. I bought a tuber , did as it was done in the video; I divided the yam into minisett sizes the way you see in the picture, used ashes in place of insecticides, left for some days , before planting.

There was no night in March, April, May and June that passed without me watering it. I did it until raining season. There were other crops that I planted; like vegetables, some did well, while some died from pest attack. I was so sceptical about the yam and its maturity.

Fast forward to this day ; It was more than seven(7) months and I haven't harvested.I personally told my mom to harvest it rather,maybe it'll be better someone broke the news to me. I couldn't believe what I saw. To you, it might be tiny , but it's a massive yield. In fact, that's what I'm eating typing this. Even though, I never wanted it to be eaten. In fact, I almost slept with the tubers on my bed because I was so elated knowing fully well that I'm not entirely useless.

There's no nation that can survive without Agriculture. We need to encourage farming. Teach your kids that farming is not a demeaning job. Teach them that success is not when you're in suit or with a white collar 9-5er pay. Teach them that success is in happiness and good health.

Honestly, there are alot of significant lessons I've learnt as a farmer. And one of them is " Patience". I'm one of the most impatient person you will meet.I thought it was only in the classroom that needed that virtue. Farming taught me that even when you're not seeing results. Keep watering that soil. Something's buried within there. Farming taught me "Hope" too. I remember showing my pupils in my former school the photos of the first stage while many of them were enthusiastic about the outcome, they said I should make sure to share with them when I harvest them. Lol.

This can be an encouragement and motivation to someone out there, who's about to give up. Please don't! The errors and negatives are part of the process and the process makes up the success story.
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Hmm