The FIRST HARVEST CEREMONY of Captain Hosa Okunbo technology driven Wells Hosa Greenhouse farm in Edo State.
“for me people are seeing tomatoes, I’m seeing more than tomatoes, I’m seeing jobs for the youth, I’m seeing empowerment for our people, I’m seeing food security, I’m seeing exports and foreign exchange to support our GDP so its more than tomatoes first harvest but its something that we can replicate around this country ” these were the words of Billionaire business guru Captain Hosa Okunbo on 6th September, 2018 at the first harvest ceremony of his technology driven Wells Hosa Greenhouse farm in Edo State.
Narrating the humble beginnings, Captain Hosa as he’s fondly called by numerous admirer said that as a little boy growing up in Benin city several decades ago, the distinct image of farming being at the time the common means of livelihood was a significant picture that was grafted into my mind at that younger age but thank God today, Wells Hosa Greenhouse is a project born out of that mental picture.
Its a pioneer project, presently the largest of its kind in west Africa which incorporates various system Integrated by irrigation, fertilisation and pest control. It stands on 27 hectares of land and has the housing capacity for 28 hydroponic greenhouses, each of 5,440 square meters estimated production value of 4,200 tons per year and its projected revenue of 6million dollars per year with 500 direct employment while indirectly employing thousands of youth and women.
An elated captain hosa also use the opportunity to pay a courtesy visit and present the first tomatoes harvest to His Royal Majesty, the Oba Of Benin for his royal Blessings. The Managing Director, Mr. Bright Okunbo confirmed the readiness to start business with local And international markets.
Story and pictures by Ifetayo Adeniyi Moses