Well, I know this will interest virtually every farmer. I think, marketing seems to be the greatest challenge fresh food farmers face.

Believe or not, not every food must go through processing. Most are better sold fresh. In fact, fresh vegetables seems to be the more expensive of the both.

Is the solution to the problem, processing? I think not! Fresh food is needed in the market, badly! But between the farmgate and the end-user market. There seems to be a burnt down bridge.

Can you imagine that the marketers make over 100% profit from selling fresh food, buying cheap and selling at maximum profits, yet there is still scarcity in the market.

Please, this is for experienced and practical farmers, with all the marketing gurus in the house. Let's talk on how to solve this now!

The rain is coming and farming will soon commence in large scale. Let's have a system of marketing our goods.

On a personal note. I have hardly had a problem with marketing. Maybe because I studied business or just natural talent. I have a sweet tongue that way. Marketing words just rolls off my tongue naturally.

I am of the school of thought that if a farmer puts in as much effort as he does in farm work at marketing, he'll double his profit margin. But this is not very accurate because farm work will suffer therefore reducing productivity.

But, incoporating a marketing company whose sole aim is selling consumer goods to the retailers directly is not such a bad idea. I don't see why a farmer cannot be the farmer and the wholesaler at the same time.

I mean, what does it take to be a wholesaler? Finding retailers who you supply goods to at a reasonable price. That's all o. Nothing more. But they make you feel it is rocket science.

How do we reach this retailers? We need to step out from our farms a bit. Visit the markets. Reach people, talk with them. Introduce our products. And for this, you need to employ hands. As many hands as possible. Marketers, the same way the banks do.

Do you know that banks pay over a billion naira monthly to marketers. Whose only job is to source new account holders. Basically, you need an account, and the banks know that even without reaching out to you, you'll visit and open accounts in their banks. So.. why spend so much on something you'll still get in the long run?

The answer is simple. MARKET WAITS FOR NO ONE! If you understand this basic principle of marketing as a farmer, you are good to go.

Farmergiant Nigeria limited invites all interested person who wish to market our Products to call 08099515923 or email ; farmergiant@gmail.com , visit our website for product details. www.farmergiant.net

Farmafric:
Farmergiant Nigeria limited invites all interested person who wish to market our Products to call 08099515923 or email ; farmergiant@gmail.com , visit our website for product details. www.farmergiant.net

Can you list your products and price and not redirecting people to your website. Thanks

jasper7:

Can you list your products and price and not redirecting people to your website. Thanks

Interesting topic you just brought to front burner. Following with keen interest

Nice one. I think we as farmers should create a forum where we can all put prices per kilo, location for farm produce.
Will it be possible to have a Farmers Market with cold stores that all fresh vegetables and fruits can be dropped for customer to pick especially in the South West (Lagos) because of its large population.
Most enlightened people needs quality farm produce.
Like Jasper suggest, this might require aggressive marketing. For instance interested participants on this forum can markets every products in their neighbour hood and earn some percentage.
Products that meets quality will only be accepted.
Just suggesting

Nairaland has a lot of farmers, that daily complain of market. Same Nairaland also has a lot of unemployed people that keeps writing test upon test in search of jobs.
We can create a brand with a set Quality, price per kilo and some standards.
For instance, If all tomatoe farmers would adapt to the same variety, quality and standard, then they can collectively sell to restaurants, hotels, shops and supermarkets.

Am learning you guys keep it coming

jethro2:
Nice one. I think we as farmers should create a forum where we can all put prices per kilo, location for farm produce.
Will it be possible to have a Farmers Market with cold stores that all fresh vegetables and fruits can be dropped for customer to pick especially in the South West (Lagos) because of its large population.
Most enlightened people needs quality farm produce.
Like Jasper suggest, this might require aggressive marketing. For instance interested participants on this forum can markets every products in their neighbour hood and earn some percentage.
Products that meets quality will only be accepted.
Just suggesting

I think consistent production is key to market. Like I always say. No matter how much you produce in Nigeria, there's always people to buy. After that, we talk of export.

jasper7:

I think consistent production is key to market. Like I always say. No matter how much you produce in Nigeria, there's always people to buy. After that, we talk of export.

Following with much interest.....

Most of our farmers are smallholders bt when they are in groups with uniformity of produce quality they stand a better chance especially wit highend buyers e.g if a supermarket wants weekly supply of 3500Kg of capsicum, how many farmers can meet up?

l know people complain that most of the highend clients attach strigent measures. l have no issues wit that if it based on quality because personally l won't b comfortable selling contaminated vegetables to my costumers, l must be sure of ur practices.

jasper7:

I think consistent production is key to market. Like I always say. No matter how much you produce in Nigeria, there's always people to buy. After that, we talk of export.

Yes. I perfectly agreed with you. Most of us farmers are smallholder farmers that produce one acre and two acres. In order to produce consistently and meet constant demande, there is the need to be together in a group, sorts every farmer per crops, per acre, per production capacity from planting to harvesting.
The Platform Will be able to identify not only the quantity but also the quality of good produce.
Différent farmers having one acre each of cucumber can collectivelly supply at harvest while the next batch Will ne getting ready and the subsequent ones
For a Start, all cucumber farmers on the Platform must adhère to the sale Good Agricultural Practise by undergoing practical trainings on our Platform to enjoy the market patronage

Pavore9:
Most of our farmers are smallholders bt when they are in groups with uniformity of produce quality they stand a better chance especially wit highend buyers e.g if a supermarket wants weekly supply of 3500Kg of capsicum, how many farmers can meet up?

That's exactly what we need. We need to kick start it as a group.

Pavore9:
l know people complain that most of the highend clients attach strigent measures. l have no issues wit that if it based on quality because personally l won't b comfortable selling contaminated vegetables to my costumers, l must be sure of ur practices.

Exactly. Most high end users import most of their fresh vegetables and fruits. Maize, Soya beans, sorghum, groundnut etc are brought in from other countries.
I was fortunate to meet some of them at a conference and she said "farmers products in Nigeria does not meet standard

We have been analyzing the problems from different angle. Now we need solutions, way forward and interested farmers should move. Let people bring in ideas and we can all make it work. There is power in unity

Pavore9:
l know people complain that most of the highend clients attach strigent measures. l have no issues wit that if it based on quality because personally l won't b comfortable selling contaminated vegetables to my costumers, l must be sure of ur practices.

On point, with good quality practices on the farm,good quality produce are produced from the farm.
Quality produce are what restaurants,supermalls, processing companies look for when buying from farmers

jethro2:
Nairaland has a lot of farmers, that daily complain of market. Same Nairaland also has a lot of unemployed people that keeps writing test upon test in search of jobs.
We can create a brand with a set Quality, price per kilo and some standards.
For instance, If all tomatoe farmers would adapt to the same variety, quality and standard, then they can collectively sell to restaurants, hotels, shops and supermarkets.

Good one.
Nice innovative idea.

Pavore9:
l know people complain that most of the highend clients attach strigent measures. l have no issues wit that if it based on quality because personally l won't b comfortable selling contaminated vegetables to my costumers, l must be sure of ur practices.

Meeting up with their quality involves more cost in production. Yes we can make it. I hate sub standard production. It irritates me. Due process must be followed during production. That's it.

jethro2:
We have been analyzing the problems from different angle. Now we need solutions, way forward and interested farmers should move. Let people bring in ideas and we can all make it work. There is power in unity

Very true... time to draw out a plan is now.

jasper7:

Meeting up with their quality involves more cost in production. Yes we can make it. I hate sub standard production. It irritates me. Due process must be followed during production. That's it.

But one do get a better price. Take for instance lf l can produce premium vegetable like broccoli or butternut squash in Nigeria (which is very possible) applying best practices, it will still be far cheaper than Shoprite and other big stores importing it from South Africa.

Following keenly......

jethro2:
We have been analyzing the problems from different angle. Now we need solutions, way forward and interested farmers should move. Let people bring in ideas and we can all make it work. There is power in unity

Let me give an idea which has worked very well for others in another sector.

l know you have access to produce in the rural areas and Lagos is the market focus. Make out rime to visit www.vconnect.com and search for catering companies, restaurants in different areas of Lagos. They maybe over a thousand take out time to copy out the mobile phones of these contacts and do a bulksms to them offering to supply them fresh farm produce of good quality at a price that cuts off the middlemen in Mile 12.

Alternatively you can get in touch with vconnec, they can bulksms on your behalf without you bothering yourself to search. For example you can tell them you want them to send to catering companies/restaurants in specific areas e.g lkeja, Surulere, Yaba etc. l recall t costs about N3 per sms.

Be courageous and cast your net, then await the catch.

Pavore9:


Let me give an idea which has worked very well for others in another sector.

l know you have access to produce in the rural areas and Lagos is the market focus. Make out rime to visit www.vconnect.com and search for catering companies, restaurants in different areas of Lagos. They maybe over a thousand take out time to copy out the mobile phones of these contacts and do a bulksms to them offering to supply them fresh farm produce of good quality at a price that cuts off the middlemen in Mile 12.

Alternatively you can get in touch with vconnec, they can bulksms on your behalf without you bothering yourself to search. For example you can tell them you want them to send to catering companies/restaurants in specific areas e.g lkeja, Surulere, Yaba etc. l recall t costs about N3 per sms.

Be courageous and cast your net, then await the catch.

Brilliant idea. Added that to my notepad. We need more rural farmers with up to standardize products. For me, greatest challenge is the continuity.

jasper7:

Brilliant idea. Added that to my notepad. We need more rural farmers with up to standardize products. For me, greatest challenge is the continuity.

l believe when the crowding option where farmers of similar produce aggregate their harvest (same quality across board) as an entity they can negotiate a good price.

Here in Kenya, diary farmers are in co-operatives which negotiates the prices of their milk with milk processing plants. their are some co-operatives that collectively aggregates 40,000 litres of milk before 6.30a.m every morning which milk processing plants come and pck up and a designated centre and in the evening they come pick another 15,000 litres. The milk processing companies buy from them for between N65-N80 per litre, then we the final consumer get it at the milk dispensing machine for N130.

Consistency and quality is the keyword.

Pavore9:


l believe when the crowding option where farmers of similar produce aggregate their harvest (same quality across board) as an entity they can negotiate a good price.

Here in Kenya, diary farmers are in co-operatives which negotiates the prices of their milk with milk processing plants. their are some co-operatives that collectively aggregates 40,000 litres of milk before 6.30a.m every morning which milk processing plants come and up and a designated centre and in the evening they come pick another 15,000 litres. The milk processing companies buy from them for between N65-N80 per litre, then we the final consumer get it at the milk dispensing machine for N130.

Consistency and quality is the keyword.

Good, quality and consistency. 2 major keys to success. I see ur point sir. Brilliant one once again

jasper7:

Good, quality and consistency. 2 major keys to success. I see ur point sir. Brilliant one once again

So you guys on ground should start working on that, to get a getter deal as Nigeria has got the market.

This is area specific. A farmer shud organise other farmers close to him and approach highend buyers in that location.

FarmTech:
This is area specific. A farmer shud organise other farmers close to him and approach highend buyers in that location.

You are so right because there are some produce that don't survive distance.

jasper7:

Meeting up with their quality involves more cost in production. Yes we can make it. I hate sub standard production. It irritates me. Due process must be followed during production. That's it.

jasper7:

Brilliant idea. Added that to my notepad. We need more rural farmers with up to standardize products. For me, greatest challenge is the continuity.

Pavore9:

l believe when the crowding option where farmers of similar produce aggregate their harvest (same quality across board) as an entity they can negotiate a good price.
Here in Kenya, diary farmers are in co-operatives which negotiates the prices of their milk with milk processing plants. their are some co-operatives that collectively aggregates 40,000 litres of milk before 6.30a.m every morning which milk processing plants come and pck up and a designated centre and in the evening they come pick another 15,000 litres. The milk processing companies buy from them for between N65-N80 per litre, then we the final consumer get it at the milk dispensing machine for N130.
Consistency and quality is the keyword.

From the above quoted
Continuity , quality, standard is the way forward.
1. Continuity requires having a network of farmers that are planting the same crops be it fruits, vegetable or grains.
2. Quality and standard means adhering and planting using the same good agricultural practice.

First step
We need practical farmers. We have a lot of internet farmers and paper farmers. For this project to take off, we need real practical farmers that are willing to get their hands dirty.
Imagining having 200 farmers that have an acre or 2 acre each of farmers planting the same crop and following the same methods and procedures.
The products will be the same all through.

2nd step
All participating farmers must adhere strictly to the group rules and regulations.
We have a lot of greedy and selfish youth. Laying down the ground rules and strict compliance must be ensured

3rd Step
Packaging and creating a niche will make the products readily accepted. We need to create a brand.

Its never going to be an easy step forward, but its a step some of us are willing to take and sacrifice for.
Lets keep the suggestions rolling.

jethro2:

From the above quoted
Continuity , quality, standard is the way forward.
1. Continuity requires having a network of farmers that are planting the same crops be it fruits, vegetable or grains.
2. Quality and standard means adhering and planting using the same good agricultural practice.

First step
We need practical farmers. We have a lot of internet farmers and paper farmers. For this project to take off, we need real practical farmers that are willing to get their hands dirty.
Imagining having 200 farmers that have an acre or 2 acre each of farmers planting the same crop and following the same methods and procedures.
The products will be the same all through.

2nd step
All participating farmers must adhere strictly to the group rules and regulations.
We have a lot of greedy and selfish youth. Laying down the ground rules and strict compliance must be ensured

3rd Step
Packaging and creating a niche will make the products readily accepted. We need to create a brand.

Its never going to be an easy step forward, but its a step some of us are willing to take and sacrifice for.
Lets keep the suggestions rolling.

Another good one. Let's get the ball rolling and get something tired. Branding won't be easy but we can do it. Sacrifices will need to be made for this to succeed

1st step.
1. Where are the fresh vegetable farmers?
Vegetables such as
Cucumbers = group A
Tomatoes = group B
Sweet pepper =group C
Chilli pepper = group D
Ugu = group E. E T C
2. How many farmers are in each group
3. How many acres did each farmer has
4. Which town and what state are the farmers?
5. Are the farmers are willing to adopt the recommended seed
6. Is the farmer ready to undergo trainings that adhere to good agricultural practises
These are the first step in the right direction.
I will suggest putting up a fresh fruits and vegetable thread according to groups, locality/state, no of acres etc. More groups could be added
Emphasis should be made on real/practical farmers and not internet farmers