By Linus Akomolafe and Fakomi Olajumoke
Patience is indeed a virtue when operating a horticulture business in Lagos State. Officials from the Land Use Charge agency or Lagos State Internal Revenue Service ( LSIRS), can slam you with fines that are beyond your capital or even destroy the flowers on the farmland.
When IkejaBird visited Elder Shedrach Okaigwe’s farm which is a few metres stretch along Toyin Street, Ikeja, he said, “This business is called endurance business. Most times we come here to take care of flowers and only get a few customers.”
With Lagos State having a total land mass of 358,862 hectares which is about 0.4 percent of the total land area of Nigeria, and several laws restricting commercial activities to create space, it is almost impossible for one to own a piece of farm for horticulture at the epicenter of Lagos.
EARLY LIFE OF ELDER SHEDRACH
Elder Shedrach worked in a corporate organisation before he was retrenched in 1983 and began tending flowers in Lagos.
He explained that after he lost his job in 1983, his brothers advised him to join them in the business. After one year training he set up his own flower business.
“Formerly, I was at Olainde Street, before car dealers began to give me problems which made me relocate here and I have been in this business for more than 35 years, growing and selling different types of flowers to companies and individuals,” he said.
The farm is managed by his six children. He said used to have employees. But due to the economic downturn, he couldn’t pay his workers, so he relieved them of their duties.
HORTICULTURE FARM AND CHALLENGES
Elder Shedrach called horticulture an endurance business.
“You have to endure because we don’t sell every day. We come here daily to maintain the garden; put water, weed it and wait for customers. In terms of plants we have varieties; we have the one we call indoors which can be sent into offices. We also have outdoor like the golden palms. They can be in a garden for beautification.”
Speaking on the challenges faced in the expansion of the business, he noted that funds and patronage has been a major setback.
“Sales are very poor and there is no money to develop this business. It could be done in a plot of land and not along the road. It is ideal for me to get my own land, develop it and put on some expensive plants. We can’t put them here because they will be stolen. But If you have your plot of land, you can put on more exotic plants and generate more money.”
He added that in terms of patronage, things have been getting worse and that the time he started the business, it was a lot better.
“There was a time we had issues with Ikeja local government. They were troubling us for a permit but they have relaxed and have stopped disturbing us. It was tough for us those periods, they broke our things and removed the houses but now those regimes have gone. The authorities that are there now love flowers.”
Before we take on a client, we visit the house and take measurements of the site, then ask him what he wants. If he doesn’t know we will show him what we have that is suitable for his environment. To beautify a garden doesn’t require one species. We mix and put them in different places then maintain them for a while.”
In Nigeria, horticulture is one business that a lot of people undermine. As little as the business may seem, it can boost the nation’s economy.
