Former commercial motorcyclists, factory workers, teachers and traders are embracing mechanised rice farming. Unlike in the past when northerners returned en masse to the northern part of the country before or during the rainy season to cultivate their farmlands, this time, the tides have changed as most of them have decided to remain in the southern part of the country to cultivate farmlands. As dawn breaks over Magboro, a bustling community straddling the Lagos-Ogun border, the familiar roar of commercial motorcycles gives way to the hum of tractors. The sound of factory sirens that once dictated the daily routines of many northern youths has been replaced by the rhythmic movement of harvesters and irrigation pumps across vast stretches of rice fields. Along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, a quiet agricultural revolution is unfolding. Every morning, hundreds of young men who left their homes in far away Borno, Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa and other northern states in search of greener pasture, now make their way to expansive rice plantations instead of navigating the chaotic streets of Lagos as commercial motorcyclists or reporting for shifts at factories. How Kano emerged world’s 9th most populous city Bida-Lapai: The 70km road where motorists spend days For years, Lagos represented hope for thousands of young northerners escaping unemployment, poverty and insecurity. Some found work in manufacturing companies while others survived by riding commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okada. Although these jobs provided temporary relief, many said they offered little opportunity to build a stable future. Today, an increasing number of them are turning to agriculture, describing it as a more rewarding and sustainable source of livelihood. Weekend Trust visited the rice farms in Magboro and found a community where farming has become more than an occupation. ‘Factory work couldn’t change my life’ Among those whose lives have taken a different direction is Ali Adamu, a seasonal migrant from Borno State. Standing beside his rice field with mud-stained boots after hours of work, Ali recalled arriving in Lagos several years ago with high expectations. Like many young northerners, he believed securing a factory job would provide the financial stability he much-desired to enable him support his family back home. Reality, however, proved different. He noted: “When I first came to Lagos, I worked in an aluminium factory. The work was difficult. We worked for long hours daily, yet my monthly salary was less than N60,000. I had to wait until the end of the month before receiving my salary; and even then, it was never enough.” According to him, the income barely covered feeding and transportation. “There was hardly anything left to save. Sometimes I had to call my relatives or friends for financial support before the next salary came,” he said. However, everything changed after he joined the rice farming project in Magboro. “Today, I cultivate my own portion of farmland. Apart from working on my farm, I also work as a labourer on other farms and earn money almost daily. We are also fed while working. At harvest, I have enough rice to feed my family and still have surplus to sell. My life has changed completely.” Adamu admitted that farming required patience, commitment and hard work, but insisted that the rewards far outweighed what he earned when employed in a factory. “People think farming is only for villagers, but agriculture is business. Here, we have peace of mind. Unlike in some communities in Borno where farmers live in fear of attacks, we can cultivate our crops without constant anxiety. That is one of the reasons many of us now come to the South during the rainy season,” he said. ‘Agriculture is serious business’ Another farmer, Mustapha Bello, noted that many Nigerians still underestimated agriculture. According to him, the notion that farming is meant for poor villagers only discourages many educated youths from exploring its enormous opportunities. “People still believe that farming is only for those who have nothing else to do. That is not true. Agriculture is one of the most profitable businesses when it is properly organised,” he said. Mustapha explained that the Magboro project had expanded significantly since it started more than three years ago. He said, “This season alone, we planted over 1,000 bags of rice seeds, and by the grace of God, we expect one of our biggest harvests within the next three months.” According to him, the current farming season represents the largest cultivation since the project began. “We farm during the rainy and dry seasons. Yearly, the number of participants increases because people are seeing the results,” he noted. According to him, the project’s success became possible after a community leader and Sarkin Noma of Ogun State, Alhaji Muhammed Bello Besse transformed what was once a small initiative into a mechanised farming e
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