Hard Conversations: The Bitter Pill That Heals

 Today, we finally came together in full as the pioneer staff of Above Agro Ltd.

Before stepping into the year ahead, we deliberately chose to confront the dusty, uncomfortable areas, those places where performance fell short, and improvement is non-negotiable.

From last year’s farming operations, several truths became impossible to ignore:

1. The need to be extremely frugal with cash

2. The importance of having cash readily available at all times

3. A clearer understanding of our strengths and weaknesses

4. Ruthless prioritization

5. Discipline in sticking to the plan

6. And more

It was a heated session.
Emotions ran high.
Sensitive areas were touched areas that genuinely hurt.

Farming, by nature, can be deeply demoralizing. You can do everything right and still end up in the dark. Pests, volatile commodity prices, and weather uncertainties are constant adversaries. You are always wrestling with forces beyond your control.

As a business, we must learn how to marry traditional beliefs with sound business principles. You will often work with people who do not fully understand the work you are trying to build. And we all come from very different backgrounds.

One hard lesson I have learned personally is this: owning two or three plots of land is entirely different from managing hectares of farmland.

Alone, I can achieve strong results. But working with others has exposed a painful reality my pace is significantly higher than that of the team. This gap has caused worry, tension, and operational strain on the farm.

I am surrounded by people with good intentions. People with well-thought-out plans and detailed processes. Yet I have come to realize that good intentions are not enough to produce the results I am aiming for.

Sometimes, we punch above our weight.
I often ask myself: why shouldn’t we be able to manage five hectares of plantain with confidence?

I catch myself believing that the system that allows a single farmer in the UK to manage 10+ hectares can simply be replicated here. Reality has been far less forgiving.

This meeting, in truth, was about me.

My team laid everything bare no cushioning, no excuses.

And through those difficult conversations, one thing became clear: I am surrounded by people of good intent, but intent without capacity, alignment, and execution will always fall short.

The flaws identified especially mine

I will work on, deliberately and religiously.

We will see where I stand in three months.

March 2026.
Reckoning calls.