Family agro tours fire up youthful passion in agribusiness

Many current or potential investors in agribusiness are concerned that their children may not be interested in the business for the purpose of succession, even when a lot of family wealth has been invested in it. But many youngsters still do not consider agribusinesses, particularly farming, exciting and rewarding enough except they get to see practically, first-hand how agribusinesses can be big business, sophisticated and financially rewarding.

In realisation of this, Hadur Travel and Tours, a travelling agency pioneering agro-tourism, has extended its agricultural tourism to entire families, rather than just adult investors. This was started at its July study tour of Songhai Farm in Port Novo, Benin Republic, which included a family of five with the youngest a boy of eight years.

The tour, which also included other adults, was intended at bringing a deeper understanding of how a large-scale or small-scale agribusiness venture can be run in a sophisticated and highly profitable way to the agro-tourists. There were also opportunities for networking and forming of synergies as everyone benefited from each other’s wealth of experience and ideas, even from the youngsters. The rich exposure on the farm fired up as it has always done in every visitor/trainer the desire to tap from agricultural wealth.

To spice up the learning experience, Godfery Nzemujo, the Nigerian Catholic priest who founded the centre, gave words of encouragement on the theme, ‘We can change Africa.’

Ubur Martin Ainge, a farmer, one of Hadur Travel’s agro-tourist, said “this farm is a well thought-out concept directed at a critical sector (agric) for Nigeria’s development. It has definitely reshaped positively my vision as an agricultural entrepreneur.”

Akin Jimoh Iwalola, a human nutritionist, said: “Songhai is an excellent experience and a testimony to good things that can happen in Africa, if we are committed and put our heart into things.”

Akin Jimoh, a journalist, added his own views, saying, “coming to a farm with my children is an excellent dimension of ‘being with nature’ as a family. From little interest in farming, the whole family is inspired in key issues in family, climate change, environment, renewable energy, among others. Though we cannot do all we have learnt, but it would be worthwhile to at least initiate something even at very small scale and then scale-up.”

According to Olufunke Taiwo, chief executive, Hadur Travel and Tours, the remarkable success of the recent family agro tour embedded in the normal agro-tourism of the firm is a pointer to families that want to create wealth through agriculture and desire to carry along their children.

The tour to Songhai Farm Centre gave practising and potential farmers insights into how to generate additional income from their wastes, generate electricity, do integrated farming, learn about marketing of their products and lots more, to increase their income and make their business sustainable.

“So, we have introduced new packages to the agro-tours, starting with family agro-tours in August, September investors’ study tour, students packages as well as a weekend package for busy executives with agribusiness in view,” she said.