Farming is exciting, scary at same time – Nasir Yammama

Daily Trust: The mobile phone service you developed for farmers, ‘Verdant’, began with 50 users. How much further has it grown since then? Nasir Yammama: It’s growing fast. Right now we are making provision for at least 500,000. And the 50 farmers we started with were on the basis of a pilot project, a sort […]

Daily Trust: The mobile phone service you developed for farmers, ‘Verdant’, began with 50 users. How much further has it grown since then?
Nasir Yammama: It’s growing fast. Right now we are making provision for at least 500,000. And the 50 farmers we started with were on the basis of a pilot project, a sort of proof of concept. Now, to our amazement, it’s not only ready for expansion but for adoption. We are already in talks with at least two Nigerian states, so that their governments could assist in bringing it to as many rural farmers as possible.
It was developed for urban, peri-urban and rural farmers. But there are more rural farmers than any other group of farmers in the world, and in Nigeria specifically. So any large numbers we hit would come largely from rural farmers.
DT: How does Verdant help farmers?
Yammama: Verdant is built to be an all-round companion, so it’s meant to assist the farmer from the pre-planting period all the way to the selling of farm produce. Before you plant, you need some information about weather conditions for the whole year to start with. You need to know about things like improved seedlings, which the farmer may not even know is available.
Through Verdant, farmers will not only see the availability of improved seedlings, but where and how to get them. And then when you acquire them, we assist you with extension information on how to plant it and get the best out of it, and how to get things like fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, etc.
Also, through our collaborations with banks and other financial institutions, we could easily link the farmer to agricultural credit and index insurance. 
DT: On which market is the app available?
Yammama: For urban farmers, those who have smart phones and are tech-savvy, it could be downloaded and it will be available widely in a month or two. For the rural farmer, we are trying to condense it to a certain level. From what we have found out through our market research, most farmers do have mobile phones, make phone calls and at least recharge their phones, so they know how to use the SSD, like star-five-five-six for MTN and so on. One could easily do that to get weather information and more via text.
DT: How do rural farmers who do not own smart phones and are interested in using Verdant go about it?
Yammama: If we are collaborating with the government under which the farmer is, of course we will come through that channel. We are a private company, but collaborating with the government offers us unique access, in that the farmers are obliged to listen to us. So we go out there and register the farmers with the promise of giving them these benefits at no or low cost because of government’s involvement.
We register you, take your details and know if the farm is yours or you are renting it, how many people you are supporting and other such issues. We also take your farming history, what you want to grow for the year and such. After taking all that info, including the GPS location and GIS information of your farm, we come back and then you will be able to put in a request because we know exactly where you are and where your farm is. So we use information on your requirements to help you farm better.
If you want to plant maize for this year, we know your soil, we know if it would take this variety of seed, we know the amount of rain that will fall and how that correlates. So we give you the perfect advice. And not only that, we link you up with where you could buy them and if there are any subsidies from the government or any other organisations, we let you know first. Then, through a phone call or a USSD request, you get to access that seedling. When you get it, if you want any advice, any extension information – like a personal extension officer that will come to your farm and advise you – you could get that on your mobile.
We are in collaboration with the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and other organizations, including banks.
DT: The 500,000 users you’re targeting are from which state?
Yammama: For now, Katsina State. We are still trying to sign a memorandum of understanding with the government. We are speaking to two other states and remain open to speak to more.
DT: Why did you decide to focus on agriculture for your first major project?
Yammama: You can see the imminent food crises that we are faced with and I happen to have had contact with agriculture from my childhood. I totally wanted to be a farmer, but I happen to be in technology. So I looked for that point of convergence for both and I found that through mobile service and the proliferation of mobile tech. In Nigeria and Africa especially, I could do a lot to enhance agriculture.
DT: You have obviously travelled wide across the rural areas. What would you say was the most striking experience you have had relating with farmers in those areas?
Yammama: Usually, after introducing myself, the first question I ask every farmer is, do you have a mobile phone? And almost all of them do. The only ones who do not, have probably left theirs at a repair shop. I found that remarkable. Heartwarmingly, a good number of them already know about me and the project before meeting me. These are people who are up to date, they know what’s happening out there, and listen to the news on the radio and are keen to use technology to solve problems.
DT: Out of all the states in Nigeria, apart from Katsina which you are already developing a project for, which other state will you say looks receptive to an idea like Verdant?
Yammama: I would say Kaduna State, because it is the only one that has actually got an executive council at the ready. A little background: When I first I came back to Nigeria after studies, it was tough to leave the West, but I decided that I was going to start-up here. a lot of people told me that I’m crazy, that my ideas won’t work here. They wouldn’t even listen to me or understand what I am trying to do. So, it is good to see and read about the work that Kaduna State is trying to put together.
DT: You are also a farmer. For how long have you been into serious farming and how would you say you are enjoying it?
Yammama: I have had a farm for almost as long as I can remember, but I have not been active until recently. I realised the best market research I could do was not to question farmers about their needs or requirements, but to be a farmer myself so I can understand what the farmer goes through first-hand and then solve any problems that may arise.
So, I went back to Yammama in Malumfashi Local Government Area in Katsina State where I am from, and since then I have been a farmer. And I must say it has been an incredible experience, because a farmer deals with tangible things.
DT: How eager are you to see your first harvest?
Yammama: I am excited. It’s overwhelming to feel the tension and everything a farmer goes through. Maybe because I’m looking at it from the perspective of someone trying to solve a problem. It’s exciting and frightening at the same time.
DT: Other than Verdant, what other tech-based venture do you plan to float?
Yammama: I’m into mobile technology and looking into doing something with mobile money. If I don’t do anything space-related, I will most likely venture into mobile money.
DT: You recently wrapped up an entrepreneurship boot camp at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). What was that all about?
Yammama: MIT is one of the best universities in the world, and they have this boot camp where they get the best global entrepreneurs to come for three weeks, during which they not only get insight to the best practices in entrepreneurship, but they put them together in one room, get them to collaborate and become a family. One that could go and change the world.
MIT is home to one of the best entrepreneurship guns. The 25,600 companies started by the entire pool of MIT alumni have generated approximately $2 trillion in revenue and have created 3.3 million jobs. If MIT were a country, it would be the 11th largest economy in the world-just about the size of the economy of Canada. Whatever they are doing seems to be working, so they are trying to offer it to a wider range of people who may not necessarily be students. That is how I got to be among the 50.
DT: You are still part of a program, which has UK mogul Sir Richard Branson mentoring you. What is the update on that?
Yammama: The British Council, Virgin Atlantic and Zenith Bank have been with me from day one of the Verdant enterprise. Actually, it was my starting point. So apart from the grant I got from Zenith Bank and incredible advice and institutional support being given by the British Council, I received training in South Africa at the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship, where I also gained immense knowledge about the business side of things, accountancy, bookkeeping, skills that I ordinarily would have had to pay for a degree to get.
DT: What was the last time you had lunch with Branson?
Yammama: Last year.
DT: Are you comfortable with the level of tech usage or utilization by Nigerians today?
Yammama: I am, but of course we need to do more. A lot of people don’t know just how much mobile technology is in Nigeria and how much usage is being witnessed, especially in the rural areas. So I find it quite interesting and it is an incredible opportunity for anyone in tech or even just business, to venture in.
DT: You are a very busy person. Do you find time to relax?
Yammama: I do relax. Every time I find myself travelling for work, I relax by reading fiction. I love horse riding, so every time I get the opportunity, I ride.