By Lanre Shodimu
Farmlife Media has been instrumental in showcasing agropreneurs who have continued to make giant strides in the agricultural sector, highlighting their contributions to food production, employment creation, innovation and the overall development of Nigeria’s agricultural economy.
In continuation of its Top 100 Agropreneurs in Nigeria series, Farmlife Media recently visited Hon. Balogun Olawale, an astute agropreneur and the founder of Alaye-Oro Farm Ventures, where he combines fish farming with crop production, particularly cassava and maize cultivation.
Located at Odo Isalegbodo, Ilase, Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, Alaye-Oro Farm Ventures is steadily expanding its agricultural operations, with fish farming serving as one of its major areas of focus.
During the Farmlife Media visit, Hon. Balogun took the team around his farm, providing insights into his journey into agriculture, his fish production processes, the challenges and opportunities in the sector, as well as his plans to expand the enterprise.
A Decade in Fish Farming
Hon. Balogun disclosed that he ventured into fish farming about 10 years ago, driven by his belief that agriculture offers young Nigerians a viable pathway to food security and economic empowerment.
According to him, the motivation to venture into agriculture was influenced by the need to contribute to food production and reduce poverty.
“Farming generally is something that, especially we youth, we have to do because of food,” he explained.
For Balogun, the philosophy is straightforward: when people have access to food and productive livelihoods, the burden of poverty can be significantly reduced.
Managing a Growing Fish-Farming Enterprise
During the farm tour, Balogun revealed the scale of his fish-farming operation, explaining that the farm has numerous ponds used for different stages and categories of fish production.
The farm maintains broodstock and raises fish for various purposes, including the production of fingerlings and fish for subsequent sale.
He also identified the major fish varieties cultivated at the farm as Egyptian catfish, hybrid catfish, Clarias and Heterobranchus.
The entrepreneur explained that the farm’s breeding operation involves selecting suitable broodstock, injecting the fish for breeding, collecting the eggs and allowing them to hatch before transferring the young fish into ponds.
After about two weeks, the fish undergo their first sorting process, allowing the farmers to separate them according to size and category.
Fingerlings are subsequently sold to customers, providing an important component of the farm’s business model.
Water: A Critical Resource
Water remains one of the most important resources in fish farming, and Alaye-Oro Farm Ventures benefits from access to a natural water source.
Balogun explained that the farm’s water comes from the Igiawun River, which serves as an important source for the fish-farming operation.
The farm is also situated close to the Nigeria-Benin border, giving the location a distinctive geographical advantage and creating potential opportunities for agricultural trade.
Creating Jobs Through Agriculture
Beyond producing food, Balogun’s agricultural enterprise is also creating employment opportunities.
He currently has six workers involved in the farm’s operations. Two of the workers are paid monthly, while the others are supported through arrangements that include daily feeding and accommodation.
According to him, supporting the workers is part of the responsibility that comes with running an agricultural enterprise.
Expansion on the Horizon
Despite the progress already recorded, Hon. Balogun is looking to expand his agricultural operations.
He disclosed that work had commenced on another site measuring approximately one and a half acres, where additional fish ponds are being excavated.
The planned expansion is expected to increase the farm’s fish production capacity and create room for further growth.
From Fish Farming to Cassava Production
The Farmlife Media team also visited the cassava section of the farm, where approximately two acres of land have been devoted to cassava cultivation.
The cassava plantation reflects Balogun’s strategy of diversifying his agricultural activities rather than depending solely on fish farming.
The farm also has a significant maize plantation, which he said covers more than two acres.
With fish farming, cassava and maize production operating under the same enterprise, Alaye-Oro Farm Ventures demonstrates the potential of an integrated and diversified approach to agribusiness.
Building an Agricultural Legacy
For Hon. Balogun Olawale, agriculture is not merely a means of livelihood; it is an avenue for contributing to food security, creating employment and empowering people through productive enterprise.
His decade-long journey in fish farming, combined with his investments in cassava and maize production, reflects the determination of a growing number of Nigerian agropreneurs who are taking advantage of opportunities within the agricultural value chain.
As Farmlife Media continues its Top 100 Agropreneurs in Nigeria series, the story of Hon. Balogun Olawale and Alaye-Oro Farm Ventures provides another example of the individuals working to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector from the grassroots.
With further expansion already underway, Balogun’s enterprise is poised to increase its production capacity and deepen its contribution to food production and agricultural development in Ogun State and beyond.
