Labin Tayilbu Basil, a Ghanaian farmer based in the Zongo community of the Savannah Region, has been actively engaged in rice, maize, and cassava farming for the past five years. He shared his inspiring journey on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Gh and Business Link Show with DJ Nyaami.
Labin began farming during the COVID-19 lockdown. At the time, he was working with a travel and tour company and also lecturing at the Global School of Aviation Management in Kumasi. With the pandemic bringing everything to a halt, he decided to fall back on his roots in agriculture—being born and raised in a farming community. He initially started with just GH¢300 and focused on cultivating local rice.
“Farming is profitable if you pay close attention to it,” he said. “From my rice farm alone, I can feed 200 people for a whole year.”
Though farming has its challenges, Labin believes it is far better than many office jobs, which he described as draining.
“Back in the office, I could spend over GH¢100 daily just on transportation and food,” he explained.
Now, he runs a farming operation that has the potential to supply senior high schools with rice and maize. He manages 20 acres of farmland, doing much of the work himself, though he also hires women and a few men to assist during peak seasons like harvesting.
One of his major setbacks came when a fire destroyed 88% of his rice farm. “I lost billions worth of rice,” he lamented. He suspects foul play and says it significantly slowed down his plans, especially to buy a tractor, which is essential for scaling up operations. “A second-hand tractor now costs GH¢180,000, and a new one goes for GH¢250,000. Even if you have the money, getting one isn’t easy.”
Despite the losses, Labin remains optimistic and committed. “I once vowed never to return to teach at the aviation school again. Farming is my calling,” he declared. He also criticized society’s tendency to look down on farming. “People think when you return to the village to farm, you’re a failure. But in three years, I’ve proved them wrong.”
Labin has plans to distribute food across Africa and hopes to work with partners to achieve this vision. He’s also passionate about philanthropy and regularly supports others through charity. His nickname, Culture, reflects his grounded approach to life and work.
He ended with a strong statement:
“If I get the right support and a tractor, I can feed the whole country. I’m still strong and determined. I need partners to help scale this.”
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