We went on a field trip yesterday 14th March 2022 because we are studying water, food and farming in Global Perspectives. We visited a large farm at Zinvie, which is owned by Groupe Veto Services SA. It took us one hour to reach there. When we are arrived, we discovered that Groupe Veto Services is an agro-based industry. We were taken to the warehouse where corn, soya beans, groundnuts and other raw materials for animal feed are stored. I was shocked to see that even pebbles are part of animal feed. We were told it gives animals calcium. We were taken to the cassava farm and poultry farm. We found out that the animals are irritated by noise. We were told to keep quiet.

Visiting a farm is like visiting nature. It is a wonderful experience. We saw a lot of transformations in the farm. Hens lay eggs. They hatch their eggs to day old chicks. The chicks grow into adult hens and after sometime, begin to lay eggs. Sometimes, they are eaten as chicken. Cassava stems are planted in the ground. They grow and after sometime develop roots called tubers. Peanuts are planted. They grow and during harvest, you get much more than you planted. The peanuts are also transformed to make peanut cakes and oil.

We visited the fish farm and the rabbit farm too. We fed the fishes. We discovered that nothing is wasted at the farm. Everything is reused or recycled. Animal dung is used as natural fertilizer for the crops.

Groupe Veto Services is a major supplier of fresh food in Benin. Cassava from the farm is processed to make fufu and gari, which are the major foods eaten in this country.

We were very excited when Mr Codjia (Lea's father) gave us one carton of eggs each and packets of pens. We loved the experience!

By Lea, Rhianna and Sephora, Year 4