Back in secondary school, there's that one subject that made every other look like noise to me, that subject is Agricultural Science. During periods for agricultural science, you will definitely find me in class, paying rapt attention, I am always open and curious to learn, its not just about the crops, animals, or tools we were been taught, but the way it made me see the world differently, you know, am always curious how soil could be a source of life, how nature and science could work hand in hand to feed every living being and how something as simple as a seed could thrive, even though dead, rise and stand tall to become something big and huge. It fascinates me.
There was a particular day, our teacher came to class holding a small maize plant. She asked us to describe it, hands were flying in the air as everyone was throwing out their answers..its fresh, its a maize, it grows and all were the answers they were giving, I didn't even care if they were right or wrong, I was lost in thought as I saw something different, I saw more, I saw great possibilities, that maize could become something more...food, seeds or even money. And from that day, I didn’t just study agric to pass, I studied it to understand, agric to me became more than a subject.
Subjects like maths often threaten my sanity, physics also is not for me, those ones I can say I just study them to pass as they were core subjects for science students. But Agricultural Science is different, not that my results are always bad, but no matter what, agric will definitely be the best. I don't really try hard to pass it, agric just made sense to me, it's what I love naturally. When I was asked what I wanted to study in higher institution, there was no hesitation, I had done my research and all and I went for Agricultural Technology.
Studying Agricultural Technology opened my eyes the more. I saw the fusion of tradition and innovation, I saw how science and technology were transforming farming from a generational hustle into a modern solution, through agricultural technology, I learnt how drones can monitor crops, how greenhouse systems can grow food in any season, how biotechnology can create healthier plants, I saw and learnt how it is possible to grow crops without soil "hydroponics" and a lot more.
And I thought....are people not seeing this (but our field of interest will always be different). Agriculture is not just hoes and cutlasses, agriculture is smart, It’s everywhere, agriculture is the future. Go to our villages, our markets, our homes and, agric is everywhere.
Time and words won't be enough to discuss deep about it, but agric is the best, from crop, to animal rearing and all. Till today, agric still holds a special place in my heart, it taught me more than farming, it taught me patience, that growth takes time. Agric shows you how that if you sow today it might take months or years for you to see it results and if you can be patient and faithful enough, you’ll harvest not just beautifully but bountifully.
Agric taught me to care more, you water and tender your plants/animals, you protect them against pests and disease's. Farmers don’t just feed themselves, they feed everyone, they feed the nation. And that's my aim and goal too, I want to pour into people, help them grow, help them have a voice of their own, help them rise and stand tall, help them go through every season of their lives.
Agricultural Science was the foundation, it gave me the mindset, and I kept on building as Agricultural Technology gave me the tools. Till today, I still carry both, I don't fell bad or feel local if anyone should call me a "farmer" am proud of it, you wouldn't have been able to call me that if you are yet to eat, but because you have, you can go ahead to tease me, smiles, it just shows how important I am and how relevant agric is.
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