How I Improve My Agribusiness With Dillali

In this interview, Hauwa M Bako, who is the founder of HB. Green Acres Farms,  an integrated farm that specializes in the production of healthy food and livestock in Nigeria, tells us about her journey and the future of the agribusiness in Nigeria.  She also shares her experience in managing her business finances with Dillali.

Tell us about your business.

HB Green Acres Farms is an integrated farm that specializes in the production of healthy food and livestock and we employ the adequate use of both organic and inorganic resources in the right proportions to achieve this.

We center our services around providing healthy, highly nourishing, food and livestock to promote a healthy lifestyle and alleviate starvation and malnutrition among the low-income earners.

HB Green Acres Farm is located in Kaduna State, a city in Nigeria.

Tell us a little about how you started.

“Every solution comes with a problem. Ours was simple: feeding healthy for the average man was difficult. We were driven by a passion for the healthy living of our people and we drove at providing an affordable alternative for them.” Hauwa Bako Mohammed; CEO HB Green Acres Farms.

HB Green Acres was founded based on the brewing passion for seeing the low-income earners feed healthily in spite of their financial limitations.

“We started by seeking affordable alternatives for the nourishing foods that cost high.”- Hauwa says. This led to the discovery of several alternatives out of which Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) was chosen for its richness and range.

How long have you been in agriculture and how would you describe the journey so far?

Despite the challenges in the economy, HB Green Acres Farms has thrived for 3 years, producing healthy food and livestock for consumption.

“3 years.

As expected the experience has not been free of challenges. However, it’s been fulfilling.

You know there is satisfaction that comes with getting positive results despite the challenges. So far, the journey has been worth it.”

How did you secure capital to start the business? Did you get any loans or support from the government?

It all started with my personal savings. I invested in the rearing of profitable livestock. At the end of every season, we would invest the proceeds from the sales of the livestock into the growth of food. It has been in that circle.

We didn’t take any loan from the government. However, seeing that our venture is expanding, access to loans or grants would go a long way in speeding up the achievement of more feats.

Yes, we are open to sponsorship and investors.

When did you realize you needed some help with organizing your business activities?

“In the beginning, it was quite easy to handle the business activities with little or no help but when it began to require more planning, strategizing, and analytical skills.

That was when I knew without a doubt that I needed help to perform more effectively.”

For her business finances which include sending quotes, invoices, recording sales, and managing customers, Hauwa uses Dillali. This takes care of the manual calculations and improves record keeping which is essential to every business.

“It is simple and easy to use,  I can focus on more productive ways to grow my business while dillali takes care of financial management for me”.

What do you regard as the biggest challenge you face as a business?

At first, it was hard to get the Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP). It isn’t a popular species of potatoes.

People ate more of the sweet white potatoes, hence, it took me a while to get a reliable contact who can supply the ones needed to plant.

Where do you see your business and the agricultural industry in the next 5 years?

The target is to inspire interest in self-developmental and non-economical moves in the country by empowering at least 10,000 people, especially women and youths.

We look forward to achieving this by giving them the proper orientation and training on how to cultivate and monetize Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) as it is in demand and potentially would be more demanded in many years to come.

We believe that this would contribute immensely to the overall lifestyle of the citizens.

Agriculture is becoming the major ray of hope for the resuscitation of Nigeria's economy. If agriculture is invested in by more individuals, I believe that the country will be in better shape than it currently is.

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