While many young people are not considering agriculture, Ayomide Adefuwa Clephas, Project Director at Malum Agro Services, is running straight into it with intention, technology, and structure.

In this exclusive interview with the AgroCentric editorial team, Ayomide shares how boredom during a university shutdown birthed a career in contract farming. From that first two-hectare trial, he now manages over 80 hectares across states and is building a farming system that puts young people at the centre of fundamental agricultural transformation. 

Ayomide also discusses the turning points, setbacks, and systems that have shaped his journey from a student of Agricultural Extension at the University of Ilorin to managing over 80 hectares of farmland and mentoring the next generation.

Let’s begin with a quick introduction: Tell us about yourself and your role at Malum Agro Services.

My name is Ayomide Adefuwa Clephas, and I’m the Project Director at Malum Agro Services. We offer full-service contract farming for individuals and agri-investors who want to run large-scale crop production, from 10 hectares and above. That includes land prep, crop management, harvest, post-harvest, and research-based pilot projects.

Did you always plan to go into agriculture because of your background?

Not exactly. I studied Agricultural Extension at the University of Ilorin [UniIlorin], but what I am doing now wasn’t a straight path from school. I just wanted to do something meaningful, and along the way, I discovered this was it. Purpose came through action. That first year changed everything.

Tell us more about how Malum Agro Services began and what inspired this business venture.

Funny story. During one ASUU strike, I started a 2-hectare test farm out of boredom. One day, I took an Uber to the farm, and the driver ended up following me around. A week later, he invited me to Ibadan to consult on his 8-hectare farm. That moment flipped the switch for me. Afterwards, my level adviser told me, “Treat this like a business, not just a degree.” That advice was gold. I realised I had something of value, and value is what people pay for.

Who are your primary beneficiaries? For example, regarding the services that you offer, who is your target audience? What do they benefit from you in detail?

Malum Agro Services provides comprehensive contract farming solutions, enabling individuals and investors to manage large-scale crop production starting from 10 hectares efficiently. Our core services encompass land preparation, crop management, harvesting, post-harvest support, and research and development. Through pilot projects, we test improved crop varieties before scaling them to larger farms, ensuring innovation and reliability.

We serve agripreneurs, investors, and individuals who lack the time for the daily demands of farm management. Our audience also includes developmental partners, NGOs, and rural youths. By centring our work around people, we prioritise integrating rural youth and empowering communities through shared knowledge. As my background in Agricultural Extension has taught me, knowledge holds little value unless it reaches those who need it most.

What’s unique about how Malum Agro Services operates?

We focus on systems and structure. That is our edge. Before any project starts, we assess the land using geospatial tools and soil testing. We create an operational timeline, plan input sourcing, and ensure market traceability, for example, getting cassava stem cuttings from IITA. We treat it as a business, not just a farm.

10 hectares as the minimum. Why? Does that mean smaller projects are off the table?

To embark on a contract farming project for individuals or investors, we begin with a baseline of 10 hectares. Why 10 hectares? It’s the starting point for viable commercial agriculture, and this scale ensures economic feasibility and operational efficiency. 

However, we work with smaller areas for our pilot projects across various locations. These smaller initiatives are designated as pilot projects because they allow us to experiment and refine our approach. If a pilot project proves successful and captures our interest or that of the individual or investor, we can consider scaling it up to a larger operation. The key is to perfect the model and nail it before expanding the scale.

Please share an overview of your system and your typical approach to a project.  A brief rundown from start to finish.

Let’s consider a farm project as an example when we talk about a system. We begin by assessing the land using geospatial technology for pinpointing and geotagging. Next, we conduct soil testing to examine the soil’s macronutrient components and structure. This helps determine the best land preparation practices.

We also establish an operation timeline outlining the activities required throughout the project. In agriculture, timing is critical; weeds won’t wait, so you must act promptly. For instance, after planting maize, you apply fertiliser within two to three weeks, depending on the soil, using precise agronomic practices. This is what we mean by structure.

Before starting a project, you must know your market, as where you’re selling is crucial. We factor all these elements into our structure before entering the field, ensuring confidence in our approach. We avoid guesswork by sourcing all inputs carefully and prioritising traceability. For example, we source STEM cuttings directly from IITA in a cassava project, as traceability enables us to achieve our goals effectively.

Is technology part of your work?

I am not chasing buzzwords, but we use technology where it matters, particularly with drones. Our DJI P4 spectral drone enables us to map the farm effectively. Additionally, we employ drones for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) before and after ploughing. 

Deploying a drone in the field helps us identify any encroachment or other issues that need our attention. Our project bridge structure integrates technology to achieve tangible outcomes. To us, innovation means practical solutions that deliver real-time results in the field.

Do you have a standing team?

We have a small in-house team, but we scout local youth in each new location. We work with community leaders like the Baale to engage young people, train them, and involve them in operations. That’s our way of transferring knowledge and creating jobs.

What are some of the challenges you face as a young agripreneur in Nigeria? 

The key challenges I face as a young entrepreneur in the agribusiness include earning people’s trust and gaining stakeholders’ confidence. Many perceive me as inexperienced, yet clients demand value for their money and assurance that I can deliver.

So, how do we address this? We must prove ourselves twice as much. We recognise that agriculture is capital-intensive and demanding. To tackle this, we have built a structured approach that provides clarity to both the people working in the field and the clients or organisations funding us. This structure ensures transparency in our operations. Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, a farm is like a family; if you are not present, the land will expose you. Therefore, we prioritise being consistently present.

It has been a challenging journey. We have faced setbacks and shed tears over certain obstacles. We have received many rejections, and while we are starting to get some affirmations, consistency remains key. Over time, we just need to stay committed and keep pushing forward.

What’s the long-term vision for Malum Agro Services?

We want to lead a new kind of agriculture in Nigeria: structured, research-driven, and youth-led. We plan to scale into processing, turn crops into products, and connect research to rural opportunities. We don’t just want to grow food; we want to grow futures.

That’s powerful. What does “grow futures” mean to you?

It means investing in people. Without farmers, there is no future. Our population is exploding. We need more farmers. And more farmers need to see agriculture as a real future, not a fallback. I always say, “How do you sell a bright future to a hungry man?” We need to change that.

Are you partnering with any institutions?

Not formally, yet. But we work with students from the University of Ilorin. We bring final-year students onto our farm projects and give them stipends. One of them even manages a pilot farm. It’s our way of turning theory into practical learning. Agriculture needs more of that.

What’s your advice to an Agricultural Extension undergraduate who wants to do what you do?

Let me put it this way: before I got into agribusiness, I visited farms just to get a feel for how things worked. I remember conversing once with the owner of Lekki Farms, which also runs a slaughterhouse. She said something that stuck with me: “The first year will test you. That’s when you’ll know whether you’re truly in it or ready to give up.”

She also said, “Agriculture is not oil money.” And she’s right, it’s not some overnight success fantasy. But if you stick with it and commit to the process, it can be rewarding in the long run. So, your dreams are valid for anyone thinking about going into agriculture or agribusiness. Truly. Go for it. But understand this: you must show up every day like it matters, because it does.

There are so many opportunities in the agricultural ecosystem, from farm managers to project directors, drone pilots, and agritech specialists, you name it. You just need to find your niche and tap into it.

Thank you, Ayomide. 

You can connect with Ayomide on LinkedIn and access free agribusiness consultation from Malum AgroService.