Aritetsoma Opuro is a farmer from Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State. She embarked on her farming journey while studying at the University of Benin, Edo State where her passion for organic farming took root.
Despite initially pursuing a career in teaching, she took a leap of faith in 2022, resigning to devote herself fully to farming. Today, she manages Ajomags, a flourishing farm specializing in a diverse range of vegetable crops.
In this interview with our robust and versatile Woman Editor, RITA OYIBOKA, she discusses her enduring journey into specialized farming, the challenges of farming in Nigerian environment, and advocates for more youth involvement in ensuring food security in the country.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Aritetsoma Opuro, and I’m a farmer from Warri South, Delta State, currently residing and farming in Abeokuta, Ogun State. I’ve always been drawn to backyard farming and the joy of growing my food organically.
My farming journey began in 2016, during my university days at the University of Benin, Edo State. I started by planting crops around my house and since then, my love for farming has only grown stronger. Farming runs in my family – we’ve been operating a successful plantain plantation and fish farming business for years.
After completing my National Youth service, I initially went into teaching but soon realized that my true calling was farming. So, in 2022, I took the bold step of resigning from teaching to pursue a full-time farming.
In 2023, I saw an opportunity to enhance my skills and applied for the Soiless Farm Lab programme, designed to empower young Nigerian farmers. I was thrilled to be admitted and gained valuable knowledge from the training.
After the training, what was your next step?
After training, we were empowered each with four greenhouses to start our individual farming.
Today, I’m proud to run my farm, where I cultivate a diverse range of crops, including bell peppers, habanero peppers, chili peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, kale, Amarathus, and Pumpkin Vegetable (Ugu). I’m committed to sustainable and organic farming practices and my produce is in high demand, I must tell you. I supply fresh vegetables to restaurants, retail supermarkets like Shoprite and FoodCo and individual wholesalers. We also get special orders for celery, parsley, arugula, mint and basil.
How has it been going into farming as a young woman?
At first, farming was a steep learning curve for me. With a background in English and Literature, I had to start from scratch to understand the basic science behind growing crops. Building greenhouses was a difficult task, too. I had to clear the land, till the soil, source materials, learn to operate heavy machinery like drilling machines and dig irrigation channels. But the real challenge was cultivating the crops themselves. It takes immense patience to nurture seeds into healthy and thriving plants. However, seeing successful female farmers in the industry motivates me to keep pushing forward amidst varying challenges in the sector.
What is the most hectic part of having a vegetable farm?
Apart from building the greenhouses, it should be protecting the vegetables from pests because even in the greenhouse, some kind of pests can find their way into the mesh. Another hard part is nutrition and meeting customer demand.
Have you gone for any more training since then?
Yes. I have been trained and gotten certification from Soilless Farm Lab Nigeria, Prime Agro Seeds Limited Nigeria, Profyta and Green Valley, Netherlands, Rijk Zwaan Africa, Farm Square, and Haifa Group.
Many people say that the youths no longer want to go into farming, why do you think that is so?
Farming is a challenging yet rewarding profession that demands dedication, perseverance and a long-term perspective. It’s essential to understand that farming is a journey, not a quick fix.
Planting a tomato seed, for example, requires a 21-day waiting period for germination, followed by another three months for the plant to mature and bear fruit. And even then, selling the produce doesn’t guarantee a full return on investment and efforts with the first harvest.
Many young people are hesitant to embrace farming due to the delayed gratification. They seek instant success and quick profits, unaware of the blood, sweat, and tears that farmers invest in their craft. Farming requires a commitment to nurturing the land, caring for crops and adapting to unpredictable weather conditions.
Have there been any times when the farming venture got so hard that you thought about quitting?
“As a farmer, I’ve often questioned whether the struggles are worth it. One notable instance was when we experimented with a new tomato variety called Shanty. We planted it in the rainy season, unaware that it was better suited for dry conditions. After three months of nurturing, the entire greenhouse wilted and the tomatoes broke, rendering them unsellable. It was heartbreaking, especially since the market was demanding tomato supplies”.
However, we learned a valuable lesson about variety selection and seasonality. We salvaged what we could, consuming some and sharing the rest with those in need. This experience taught us to be more mindful of planting suitable varieties for the respective seasons.
Pests and diseases are also constant challenges. Whiteflies on tomatoes and wilt on bell peppers are persistent threats. Despite applying pesticides, they seem to hide and re-emerge after spraying, forcing us to be vigilant and consistent in our control measures. It can be overwhelming, but we’ve found solace in biological solutions like planting basil around the greenhouse to naturally curb pest populations.
You mentioned planting a special variety of tomatoes and that calls to mind the Genetically Modified (GM) crops currently being studied in Nigeria, what are your thoughts on it?
As a farmer, I’m concerned about Genetically Modified (GMO) crops. While for instance, modifying a tomato to be sweeter by introducing orange components may seem appealing, it’s crucial to consider the potential consequences. Worse still introducing non-crop species like lizard genes for example into tomatoes so that like the lizard when the tomato falls or is rained upon, it will not crack or break, raises serious safety concerns for human consumption. Such modifications are outside the crop family and could have unforeseen effects on human health.
In contrast, hybrid crops, which involve cross-breeding within the same crop family, are a more acceptable option. For instance, combining the strength of cherry tomatoes with the desirable traits of Roma tomatoes would create a hybrid tomato, still within the tomato family. This approach ensures genetic modifications are contained within the same crop family, minimizing potential risks.
The push for GMOs in Nigeria stems from the need to maximize produce with a limited number of farmers. However, I believe encouraging youth to take up farming and providing them with resources to start, along with supporting local seed production companies to develop more hybrid and indigenous seeds, is a better solution.
What are your aspirations in your farming endeavour?
I have a vision to establish a farm in Delta State. The conditions for farming seem more favourable in the state that people don’t know; so it will be a good next step, God willing we hope to go into.
What is your biggest farming project so far?
Setting up a pumpkin farm for a company. They met me and some of my colleagues to revive a pumpkin farm and we did. Today, the farm is thriving with vegetables in the entire farm.
Who are your Role Models in the industry?
My biggest motivator and role model is Mr Chibuike Emmanuel. Likewise, my brother, Mr Amaju Pessu introduced me to hydroponic and aquaponic farming which has enabled me to plant crops all year round. Lylah Othman is a female farmer I admire very well. Also, my sister, Rita Oviawe. When I came to the farm school, I struggled a lot financially and she was my backbone. They are so much more out there.
Do you intend on going into other forms of farming in the future?
As time goes by, I will. Farming is interconnected. If I have a poultry farm, I can use the chicken waste rich in nitrogen as manure for my vegetable farm, especially the lettuce and Ugu. Likewise, if I had a fish farm, the water drained from the pool would greatly benefit my vegetables. These will save me the cost of fertilizers. As I grow, I will venture into those areas.
What is a farming secret you incorporate?
For me, I talk to my plants. I tell them how to grow and give me back my profit so that my labour will not be in vain. I also play music to my plant. I pray for them too.
How do you unwind after a long day at the farm?
Most times, I listen to music, dance, play games and relax.
What is your advice to new and intending farmers?
First of all, you should make up your mind that you want to farm. I have met many who start with so much zeal but when they see the level of work entailed in farming, they give up.
Farming is not a day job, it is a process. Even simply watching the plants grow teaches you a lot. Meanwhile, it is wise to have mentors that you can learn from and are accountable to.
People message me online to teach them how to start farming and they don’t seem motivated or have a land to farm on, they just want 10 quick tips to become a big-time farmer overnight but it does not work like that.
