Okay, so confession time: I’ve always had a love for farming, ever since I was a little girl. Growing up in the city, I never really had the chance to experience farm life firsthand. Every Christmas holiday, when we visited the village, I'd watch my cousins head off to the farm. But for some unknown reason, I was never allowed to join them. Maybe it was because they saw me as this fragile “city girl” who wouldn't last five minutes on the farm. Noticed how I put the city girl in quotes? That's a story for another day.

When I eventually got into secondary school and had the option of selecting subjects, I happily chose Agricultural Science and what joy it was for me when the subject teacher allocated small portions of land to each student for 'agricultural practicals'. I didn't care about the rumours that the teacher was only interested in our harvests, all that I was excited about was the opportunity to finally be on the farm. Each student was given maize and okro seeds to plant and guess what yours truly did with her seeds? I, uh, buried them. Like, waaaay down there. Picture a seed burial ceremony, because that's basically what happened .

Days and weeks passed, and while my classmates’ seeds sprouted and grew, mine remained hidden beneath the soil. I didn’t harvest a single thing, even months after everyone else had harvested their crops (Yes, you can laugh all you want at this point but so you know, I got a big fat 'B' in Agricultural Science in my final exams ). And oh! I forgot to add - since then, I have gone on to support over 35,000 farmers in Nigeria, helping them maximise their yields and profits.

Looking back, I can laugh at my early attempts at farming. But even then, buried seeds and all, I was driven by a desire to understand the complexities of agriculture. This drive has only grown stronger over the years. As I delved deeper into the subject, I became increasingly aware of the complex challenges facing African agriculture. Food waste, inadequate infrastructure, and climate change pose significant threats to food security and rural livelihoods. However, amidst these challenges, I also discovered a wealth of inspiring stories.

My journey from a "city girl" with a buried seed to an agricultural expert who has helped numerous farmers has been filled with learning and growth. And it's this journey that led me to create Nkechi Writes. This blog is the culmination of my passion for African agriculture. It's a platform for me to share my knowledge, explore critical issues, and celebrate the amazing individuals who are transforming African agriculture. It's my way of contributing to a brighter future for the continent and the world, one word at a time.

Want to join me on this journey of exploring and celebrating African agriculture? I'd love to have you along! Like and follow my page to stay updated on new posts and join the conversation.