Abisola Ijalana is the Head Photographer and CEO of M12 Photography, based in Lagos, Nigeria. She is also a farmer and runs M12 Farms. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. She is an alumna of the British Council Creative Enterprise Programme and the Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) Mentoring Training Programme. In this interview with GERALDINE AKUTU, she shares her love for farming and photography.

What spurred your interest in agricultural farming?
Running a farming/agricultural business is something I have always loved from my childhood. So farming was natural calling for me when I needed to venture into another business aside my photography. Food is a necessary for human survival. It is not just for us to have food to eat, but the food must be healthy and hygienic. Starting M12 Farms is borne out of my desire to provide the Nigerian population with healthy, hygienic and fresh crops and fruits. It is also to heed the call of the Federal Government for Nigerians especially youths to embrace farming. My venturing into farming/ agriculture is part of my contribution to Nigeria’s economic development.
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What are your thoughts around being a woman in this male dominated industry?
For me, I will say there are quite a good number of women who are involved in farming in one way or the other. Even in olden times women go to the farms as part of their efforts in feeding their families and selling some of the farm produce to earn money. For aspects of farm work that required physical labour the men were more dominant, but the women also played their farming roles effectively. Beyond the cultivation of crops/ fruits from farm lands, women are also involved in other aspects of farming such as pig farming, fish farming, snail farming. Women are also involved in other aspects of the agricultural value chain farm products processing, packaging and marketing.

What are some of the things you do at M12 Farms?
Some of the farm’s services include cultivation of crops and fruits, farming training, farming advisory services, marketing of produce crops and fruits.

Insecurity is a major challenge farmers face. Have you ever faced issues with insecurity?
Insecurity is one of the major challenges farmers have had to face in Nigeria, with different reports of farmers unable to go to their farms due to the fear of being attacked by gun men. There have been reports actual attacks, killings, kidnappings and so forth. For me there has not been any experience of attacks on the farmland, though I once ran into gunmen on my way leaving my farm.
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You are also a photographer, how do you manage balance between farm work, photography and other activities?
I will say, it has not been easy taking on the different activities. I try as much as possible to multitask. Most of my photography engagements are scheduled, so each week, each month I have an idea of my photography jobs commitments. I mostly utilize my off days from photography shoots to visit the farm physically, but generally I am always in touch with the activities at the farm on a daily basis, as I have a supervisor and workers on the farm, so I get updates on what is happening at the farm regularly and there are daily forms of communication.

Can you share an interesting moment in your profession?
As photographers we all look forward to capturing interesting and timeless images. I have had a lot of interesting moments in my career as a photographer. One of the moments I cherish was when I had a photo session for sextuplets (six Babies)

How would you describe your photography style?
I am a newborn and child photographer

Any advice for young female photographers aspiring to go into farming?
My advice to them will be if they are considering going into farming as another business aside from their photography work, it will be a good decision, but they must be sure they have passion for farming and be ready for the sacrifices that comes with running a farming business. Farming involves dedication, commitment and an appetite for taking risks. They should be prepared for the realities that the financial rewards of farming are not as immediate as many business persons will want, but it is rewarding in the long run.
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