I remember when i wanted to start my farming business few years ago, i was faced with the decision of whether to start farming crop or animal and if i choose to start either one of them,what type of crop or animal am i going to farm profitably.

It took me quite sometime before i could reach a decision and since then the journey have been so profitable and have had no cause to look back.


This is one of the important decision to be made by intending farmer or agricbusiness investor

Personally,i prefer crop farming reason being that it is easy to manage and the risks involved can be controlled compared to animal farming.

If you cannot give close and strict monitoring to your animals, then animal farming is not for you which is one of the things i don't like doing.

Some crops can generate cash for you for decades after set up with minimum supervision compare to animal.
check more on www.facebook.com/waleagro

Crops such as cassava,plantain, and some other crops are profitable i remember some years back when my mother was rearing Christmas hen and few months to Christmas,we lost everything due to unknown circumstances, we use everything from drugs and medication we could lay our hands on but to no avail.

A friend recently lost millions of naira to birdflu incurable viral disease outbreak, he has to start all over again after many years of toiling
Pig rearing is also affected by pig fever with no known control drugs.
i am not saying animal farming is not profitable but highly risky. I will not want to move 4 steps forward and 6 steps backward in anything i am venturing into.

Which one do agropreneurs think is more profitable?

well bro thanks for creating this thread well in all we do in life we av various challenges oooooo. crop farming and animal farming both av various challenges at hand.

to me i prefer both crop farming and animal farming cos' they are good it depend on how will handle it and the consultant we talk to av read some farmers who venture into cucumber farming and record losses.

to me i prefer both crop farming and animal farming cos' they are good it depend on how will handle it and the consultant we talk to av read some farmers who venture into cucumber farming and record losses. all things come with challenges even human being do av challenges in their lives.

Johnnyessence:
to me i prefer both crop farming and animal farming cos' they are good it depend on how will handle it and the consultant we talk to av read some farmers who venture into cucumber farming and record losses.

How can you "prefer" both?

RichDad1:

How can you "prefer" both?

thank u for ur reply well in agriculture it depends on the farmer how he handle things and please u should know something here agriculture is not a venture that u should be expecting money sharp sharp no agriculture is a venture that brings in profit year in year out. it depend on how u handle both crop production and animal husbandry and please in agriculture it comes with his challenges on its own thanks.

Johnnyessence:
thank u for ur reply well in agriculture it depends on the farmer how he handle things and please u should know something here agriculture is not a venture that u should be expecting money sharp sharp no agriculture is a venture that brings in profit year in year out. it depend on how u handle both crop production and animal husbandry and please in agriculture it comes with his challenges on its own thanks.

Insightful.
However, my assertion in more grammatical. Thanks anyways.

RichDad1:

Insightful.
However, my assertion in more grammatical. Thanks anyways.

uw what is d area of ur specialisation in agriculture.

Johnnyessence:
well bro thanks for creating this thread well in all we do in life we av various challenges oooooo. crop farming and animal farming both av various challenges at hand.

yes,they both have challenges.

Johnnyessence:
to me i prefer both crop farming and animal farming cos' they are good it depend on how will handle it and the consultant we talk to av read some farmers who venture into cucumber farming and record losses.

animal farming also requires most of your time in feeding, checking their welfare per time.
One of my friend who farm catfish even told me that he feeds his fishes around 1am when everyone is still asleep.

@ Johnnyessence if you have limited funds and can only start one at a time, which would you start with?

automania:
@ Johnnyessence if you have limited funds and can only start one at a time, which would you start with?

Start with crop production. Its cheaper and can bring more profit if handled well.

I always advise farmers not to start animal and crop farming simultaneously so as to avoid strain in their financial resources which might result into improper management of both enterprises, and at the end,one might not have much to show for it.

Both of them are profitable, I started my Farm in 2012 and i had the same problem deciding which one to start first, eventually i decided to start Crop Farming first and i went into Cocoa, Plantain and Oil Palm production, and i have just started my animal production early this year, I can tell you the only problem with Crop Farming at the beginning is the gestation period it will take for you to start making money from your investment, but once its start making the money if properly managed , it will bring a big smile to your face. The turn around period for animal farming is quicker compare to crop farming but the risk is bigger as well. Its left for individual to decide what is the best way to start but if i have my way to start all over again, i will start with Animal Farming and use the profit to develop the Crop Farm. Hope this help. Regards

targus:
Both of them are profitable, I started my Farm in 2012 and i had the same problem deciding which one to start first, eventually i decided to start Crop Farming first and i went into Cocoa, Plantain and Oil Palm production, and i have just started my animal production early this year, I can tell you the only problem with Crop Farming at the beginning is the gestation period it will take for you to start making money from your investment, but once its start making the money if properly managed , it will bring a big smile to your face. The turn around period for animal farming is quicker compare to crop farming but the risk is bigger as well. Its left for individual to decide what is the best way to start but if i have my way to start all over again, i will start with Animal Farming and use the profit to develop the Crop Farm. Hope this help. Regards

thanks for your contribution.
God bless you sir.

am loving this tread from a to z.. I will never keep off from agric business. despite am an accounting student I love to do this. also I don't want to start carrying file from one street to the other inside sun.. kudos to you all. as a learner in this group, my thesis continues..... thanks

Crop farmng is more lucrative.... Simple...

Lesgupnigeria:
I always advise farmers not to start animal and crop farming simultaneously so as to avoid strain in their financial resources which might result into improper management of both enterprises, and at the end,one might not have much to show for it.

Lol. I'm doing both though by proxy. Both are challenging and animal farming is way riskier

For example, we just lost dozens of turkeys meant for Xmas market whereas the chickens are doing just fyn. Apart from a few seedlings that didn't grow, crop farm has been quite good.

christian11:
Crop farmng is more lucrative.... Simple...

targus:
Both of them are profitable, I started my Farm in 2012 and i had the same problem deciding which one to start first, eventually i decided to start Crop Farming first and i went into Cocoa, Plantain and Oil Palm production, and i have just started my animal production early this year, I can tell you the only problem with Crop Farming at the beginning is the gestation period it will take for you to start making money from your investment, but once its start making the money if properly managed , it will bring a big smile to your face. The turn around period for animal farming is quicker compare to crop farming but the risk is bigger as well.Its left for individual to decide what is the best way to start but if i have my way to start all over again, i will start with Animal Farming and use the profit to develop the Crop Farm. Hope this help. Regards

Same can be said for either of them, because it all depends on the kind of crop or Animal one chooses to farm. When you talk of animal farming most of us think of poultry or fish farming, which is a very common mistake. Take cattle or pig or goat farming for instance, they are easier to manage, and their "gestation" period is longer than most crop farming, but once you successfully grow a large herd, the profit margin is way more and continuous. The fact of the matter is, it would be wrong to claim one having precedence over the other in terms of profit, because there are so many factors at play, and at the end, what is most important is comparing your life situation vis-a-vis many factors at play.

I went into crop farming only to have everything wiped out by villagers. Then I went into Animal farming only to have all my animals stolen. Indeed, I've seen the worst of both you can say, but I have learned from all that, and have sticked to Animal farming instead.

automania:
@ Johnnyessence if you have limited funds and can only start one at a time, which would you start with?

sorry to reply u late bro happy sunday to u well for limited funds it's good and better to start up with animal farming cos' in crop farming u got to av enough funds. like if u want to venture into fish farming which is under animal farming it's doesn't require money much but u need to be there all the time. like me that venture into catfish farming when i was in school in my undergraduate days i didn't spend much when i want to start but when it got to middle of the farming i realised that u ought to supervised it very well. in the long run i was consulting alot of people in agriculture forum on nairaland especially my mentor and one of the consultant that ginger me to start something small which is bro robonski that create the thread '' hidden truth in catfish business in agriculture''. i thank God during the rearing process of the fish, infact during the harvest period the fish was very big to the extent of weighing them 1.5kg ,2kg and 2.5kg. thank God all through cos' it's not easy for me that time cos' am in my final year in school but i was determined that i will start with my savings in school but to God be the glory i learnt alot of things in it.now av pulse in rearing them now av purchase the land that will rear them but i first start with hybrid suckers of plantain planting on the acres i purchased. to me if u are a busy fellow it's preferable to start up with crop farming.after some huge profit in crop farming u can now venture in animal farming too. i will surely do the two but av startup with one now that av left school.

Ops. So sorry


Same can be said for either of them, because it all depends on the kind of crop or Animal one chooses to farm. When you talk of animal farming most of us think of poultry or fish farming, which is a very common mistake. Take cattle or pig or goat farming for instance, they are easier to manage, and their "gestation" period is longer than most crop farming, but once you successfully grow a large herd, the profit margin is way more and continuous. The fact of the matter is, it would be wrong to claim one having precedence over the other in terms of profit, because there are so many factors at play, and at the end, what is most important is comparing your life situation vis-a-vis many factors at play.

I went into crop farming only to have everything wiped out by villagers. Then I went into Animal farming only to have all my animals stolen. Indeed, I've seen the worst of both you can say, but I have learned from all that, and have sticked to Animal farming instead.[/quote]

Having experienced both, I prefer crop farming bc start-up capital is lower and roi high. I am basing this on layers/broiler vs cucumber farming. But the best form of farming is integrated farming where u combine crop and animal farming. You may even add biogas digester. U feed manure to digester to produce a flammable gas called biogas. You can use this for cooking or to power a dual fuel engine. The processed manure from the digester has more fertilizing power than raw or composted manure. U use that for your crops. By products from crops can be fed to ruminants. Chicken manure is also a very good protein source for ruminants. Integrated farming is what I'm aiming for.
http://www.farmersjoint.com/blog/livestock-farming/feeding-poultry-litter-to-ruminants/

http://www.google.com.ng/search?q=site:farmersjoint.com+biogas

FarmTech:
Having experienced both, I prefer crop farming bc start-up capital is lower and roi high. I am basing this on layers/broiler vs cucumber farming. But the best form of farming is integrated farming where u combine crop and animal farming. You may even add biogas digester. U feed manure to digester to produce a flammable gas called biogas. You can use this for cooking or to power a dual fuel engine. The processed manure from the digester has more fertilizing power than raw or composted manure. U use that for your crops. By products from crops can be fed to ruminants. Chicken manure is also a very good protein source for ruminants. Integrated farming is what I'm aiming for.
http://www.farmersjoint.com/blog/livestock-farming/feeding-poultry-litter-to-ruminants/

http://www.google.com.ng/search?q=site:farmersjoint.com+biogas

Excellent comment; however, I must add that it seems producing animal feed and fish fingerlings/juveniles/supplying of raw materials for production of animal rearing business are the aspects profit are. Fish farmers are complaining bitterly and many have closed up their businesses as a result of high production cost (too expensive feed). I do not understsnd why anyone thinks a business where feed is over 70% of the cost of production is profitable. You set up and every time you produce fish, you must spend 70% of the cost of production on feed. Logistics is there and others. So, if you are lucky, you get just 10% profit in 6 months. Gush! Except you move towards making your feed. 3 years ago, you only need to buy the raw materials but these days, fish farmers are beginning to cultivate corn, legumes etc themselves just to make cheaper feed. Is that wise? Mixed farming done with poor intention. Lol. Instead of using animal to grow crops, they are using crops to grow animal. Let them reverse it and they will see their foolishness. It's how the Nigerian economy is that dictates what to do and how to do it.

Look at crops. If you can get it right and you buy quality assest, you are on the right track. You may have challenges but when your cost of production is just low after set up. Except that crazy seed companies are increasing prices and reducing quality of seeds. I suspect some of them sell hybrid F2 instead of F1.

To set up crop farming with good and quality irrigation system might be tough. Also, to buy greenhouses might be expensive but as soon as you start producing, your expenses are low. It means you can bounce back easily if you hit any rock.

Another issue. Cucumber is just 45 days before you start making sales but you need to spend, spend and spend for months before you get one kobo from animal. God forbid your village people decide to act at the injury time. You know the story yourself.

I am going to be very straight forward. If you are new to Agric and you are small scale producer, consider using dung from animal or waste water from your fish to produce quality vegetables or fruits. Sit down, write a very good financial plan and work it out in a very good and reasonable ratio. You can do it yourself. Just pen down in a way you understand it and do not consult business plan consultants who are going to confuse you more.

Small scale farmers do not have the advantage of bulk purchases of raw materials which give commercial farmers the competitive advantage when it comes to rearing animal.

NOTE: This post is for small scale producers.

fluentinfor:


Excellent comment; however, I must add that it seems producing animal feed and fish fingerlings/juveniles/supplying of raw materials for production of animal rearing business are the aspects profit are. Fish farmers are complaining bitterly and many have closed up their businesses as a result of high production cost (too expensive feed). I do not understsnd why anyone thinks a business where feed is over 70% of the cost of production is profitable. You set up and every time you produce fish, you must spend 70% of the cost of production on feed. Logistics is there and others. So, if you are lucky, you get just 10% profit in 6 months. Gush! Except you move towards making your feed. 3 years ago, you only need to buy the raw materials but these days, fish farmers are beginning to cultivate corn, legumes etc themselves just to make cheaper feed. Is that wise? Mixed farming done with poor intention. Lol. Instead of using animal to grow crops, they are using crops to grow animal. Let them reverse it and they will see their foolishness. It's how the Nigerian economy is that dictates what to do and how to do it.

Look at crops. If you can get it right and you buy quality assest, you are on the right track. You may have challenges but when your cost of production is just low after set up. Except that crazy seed companies are increasing prices and reducing quality of seeds. I suspect some of them sell hybrid F2 instead of F1.

To set up crop farming with good and quality irrigation system might be tough. Also, to buy greenhouses might be expensive but as soon as you start producing, your expenses are low. It means you can bounce back easily if you hit any rock.

Another issue. Cucumber is just 45 days before you start making sales but you need to spend, spend and spend for months before you get one kobo from animal. God forbid your village people decide to act at the injury time. You know the story yourself.

I am going to be very straight forward. If you are new to Agric and you are small scale producer, consider using dung from animal or waste water from your fish to produce quality vegetables or fruits. Sit down, write a very good financial plan and work it out in a very good and reasonable ratio. You can do it yourself. Just pen down in a way you understand it and do not consult business plan consultants who are going to confuse you more.

Small scale farmers do not have the advantage of bulk purchases of raw materials which give commercial farmers the competitive advantage when it comes to rearing animal.

NOTE: This post is for small scale producers.

I agree with u. To make reasonable profit from animal farming (wrt poultry, fishery) u need to do it large scale. An interesting aspect of animal farming is ruminants/, where feed is almost free, what many farmers don't know is that u can grow ur own grass with or without irrigation and turn them into silage. That way rainy or dry season feed will be available.

pluslady:
Ops. So sorry


Same can be said for either of them, because it all depends on the kind of crop or Animal one chooses to farm. When you talk of animal farming most of us think of poultry or fish farming, which is a very common mistake. Take cattle or pig or goat farming for instance, they are easier to manage, and their "gestation" period is longer than most crop farming, but once you successfully grow a large herd, the profit margin is way more and continuous. The fact of the matter is, it would be wrong to claim one having precedence over the other in terms of profit, because there are so many factors at play, and at the end, what is most important is comparing your life situation vis-a-vis many factors at play.

I went into crop farming only to have everything wiped out by villagers. Then I went into Animal farming only to have all my animals stolen. Indeed, I've seen the worst of both you can say, but I have learned from all that, and have sticked to Animal farming instead.

Although both crop and animal have their various challenges,but don't you think there are many more challenges to be faced in animal farming than crop for it to be successful?

Personally for me, this year has been one of the most challenging. Why?

1. I checked with my colleagues and from what i have seen so far, theft within farms is extremely high. Workers steal more this year. Why? I checked the salary of workers and it ranges from N15,000 - N30,000. Let us apply inflation to this figure and we see that the real value is like slashing it into 2 places. N30,000 of today worths N15,000 of three years ago. So, workers have become desperate.

2. Theft from outside: Neigbours and any random person are potential thieves on farms. It is true.

3. Manufacturers of Agricultural raw materials have become experts in cheating their customers. The content of the product is lower than what is written on the pack. Urea is 46 - 0 - 0. You will be lucky to get 15 - 0 - 0. This is how bad it is and no one is checking it.

Why i still favor crops. Sure, if you have your cash, you can endure just 2 months, enter bush and monitor a cucumber farm. You can endure one month and stay fully on ground to monitor tomato nursery and return 2 weeks before harvest to monitor it for another one month to make sure you get over 80% of your harvest

It seems farming in Nigeria needs the presence of the owner. It is what i have realised this year. This recession has turned everyone to opportunists.

To monitor an animal farm needs special grace but due to short term nature of crop farming especially vegetables, I favor it.

What is the hope of farm owners who cannot stay 24/7 on farms?

Ideas and solutions will be appreciated.

FarmTech:
Having experienced both, I prefer crop farming bc start-up capital is lower and roi high. I am basing this on layers/broiler vs cucumber farming. But the best form of farming is integrated farming where u combine crop and animal farming. You may even add biogas digester. U feed manure to digester to produce a flammable gas called biogas. You can use this for cooking or to power a dual fuel engine. The processed manure from the digester has more fertilizing power than raw or composted manure. U use that for your crops. By products from crops can be fed to ruminants. Chicken manure is also a very good protein source for ruminants. Integrated farming is what I'm aiming for.
http://www.farmersjoint.com/blog/livestock-farming/feeding-poultry-litter-to-ruminants/

http://www.google.com.ng/search?q=site:farmersjoint.com+biogas

You have nice agric forum.

Although there are some animal farming with less risky when compared with others,I guess integrating the less riskier ones with crop farming is far better than cultivating either crop or animal alone?right

Lesgupnigeria:


You have nice agric forum.

Although there are some animal farming with less risky when compared with others,I guess integrating the less riskier ones with crop farming is far better than cultivating either crop or animal alone?right

Tnks.
Yes, and I'm seriously considering that.