Mrs. Angela Obi is a holder of National Certificate in Education, NCE, with which she taught for 25 years. Born in Lagos State where she attended primary and secondary schools at the Agege area of the state, she practiced farming on the side during the period of her public work life. A vegetable farmer, Obi did not get into farming by accident. She was born into the family of farmers and she knows the benefit of being a farmer, which includes that you will not be in want of daily earnings.
At the Oke Aro area of Ogun State where she practices farming now she stands out among fellow farmers, as someone who takes delight in tendering to her vegetables, using different methods to overcome the challenges associated with farming in these days when farmers have to contend with factors like climate change.
In this interview with Idowu Michael, our correspondent, she talks about the joy of farming and why she would not contemplate retiring from it.
What led you into farming?
I am from family of farmers,I was brought up by parents who are farmers,who employed workers to help them on their farms back then, though, when we were younger, myself and siblings, did not know much, but then, eating fresh farm produces was one of the attractions, and we eat what we wanted,not what is available.
Again, nobody dictates to you when to go to work or stop work, when to rest or not,you move at your own pace,no threat of sacking, you work for yourself and you reap the benefits solely for yourself and family, unlike working for others.
Were you into any other profession before you opted for farming?
Yes, I was into teaching, while I had one leg in farming, I was doing farming by the side, after school, I would retire to some land giving to me freely for farming. I knew that one day, I will go into it fully.
When did you start fully?
I started fully in the year 2025, but before then,I was cut between teaching and farming,I mean I had acquired a lot of land, which I was using. Again, I realised that, in teaching, before the end of the month,I would have been in debt, with that I could not eat well ,not to talk of taking care of my family.
But in farming, you may not have much, in terms of money,but then, your pocket won’t be empty. And you will eat well, especially, those of us who are into vegetable farming.
Your income is on daily basis, when you plan your planting well.
You said you started fully in year 2025?
Yes, but then, COVID 19 afforded me the opportunity of gaining my footing in farming. It was during that time that the decision I took in 2025 was incubated.
Immediately, I started on vegetables, pumpkin, Ewedu ,Tete, Soko etc.which I still cultivate up til today.
How easy is Vegetable Farming?
It is not that easy,one, it’s not always easy to come across good and high yielding seeds and seedlings, when you do, they are costly for an average farmer like us.
Again,the vagaries of weather, like you saw me the other time, I was fetching water to irrigate my vegetable beds, this is tasking, and comes with a lot of stress.
If we have the capital, the best thing would have been boreholes, for ease of irrigation,but then, here we are, using buckets and bare hands to irrigate, with this type of system, how many acres of land will you be able to cultivate?
Are you into Cooperative?
Yes, two of them, but they are not farmers cooperatives.
Do you intend joining farmers cooperatives?
Yes, but then, what we have now is an Association (of farmers), I mean some of us who are into farming around this place (coming together as a group of people involved in farming),not Cooperative. But we are planning to have one.
We have realised that, when we come together,we can help each other, and government, may also listen to us as a group.
What do you think government can do for Vegetable farmers?
There are lots of things they can do for us, we have a lot of people, young,old, who are interested in farming, especially , vegetables, government can come to our aid through so many channels.
As vegetable farmers we need loans,grants, subsidies, they should try to come closer with all these, to help us.
If they do this,at the end of the day, things will be easier for farmers ,so also consumers, prices will come down and people will be able to eat well.
Vegetables are known to be prone to diseases, how do you manage them?
Exactly,vegetables are prone to diseases, especially green leaf(Tete) and Ewedu.
What we do is to monitor our vegetables on daily basis for insects and diseases, immediately we noticed any sign of attack,we apply the needed chemicals.
Some weeks back, I planted some “Tete” seedlings, but they were attacked by diseases, to the point of destroying everything. What I did was to re -till the soil and apply chemicals before replanting.
Is that method scientific, applying chemical to the soil before planting?
No, but then, I thought, I should just do something different, to see , whether things will work out, working in vain may push you into doing experiments.
For how many years did you teach before falling totally in love with farming?
I started teaching in year 2000, and I stopped last year, 2025, making 25 years of teaching.
Since you came into farming fully, do you have any regrets?
Nothing like regrets,I have been enjoying every bit of the journey. How do I quantify the fresh vegetables I and my family eat every day, thinking about having not to borrow money before month ends, which was the in-thing when I was teaching, and having money in my pocket every blessed day.
My brother ,no regrets. Let me tell you,my children are even happier now.
Nothing like regrets,I have been enjoying every bit of the journey. How do I quantify the fresh vegetables I and my family eat every day….
There are chemicals,if you apply them to vegetables,within two weeks they are ready for table,but then, you ask yourself,how safe are these types of vegetables? But some farmers don’t care,and a lot of consumers don’t know this.
I know too well, that when the time comes, the children may come up with the idea of, “Mummy,we don’t want you farm again”,I will tell them,Iet me have my garden around my house.
