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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Agriculture / Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming (3008 Views)
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Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 8:27am On Jan 01, 2018 |
HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's the first day in the year 2018 and I have decided to start this thread. Hopefully, it will metamorphose into a blog, which in my opinion, is a bigger enterprise. In the coming days and weeks, I will be writing on my cross over to the world of agriculture. It will be a chronicle of my entire journey. Hopefully, others will be able to learn from it and be motivated enough to begin their own journey. Have a wonderful year ahead! 1 Like |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by benzion72(m): 2:11pm On Jan 01, 2018 |
I welcome you to farming world. My wish for you is in the word of Tai Solarin May your road be rough 1 Like |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 7:09pm On Jan 01, 2018 |
So, as a background: I have a prestigious 8-4 government job and the pay is fair enough. However, I don't feel fulfilled with it. I believe I will be happier if I could earn more money from something I am quite passionate about. I also expect that when I finally port to agric, I will have more control over how I spend my time; something I value a lot! Some might ask: why not run a farm pari passu with your normal job? Well, that's what I intend doing for now. However, when the farm starts to roll in the dollars and I am convinced that it is sustainable, I would then cross over fully. In 3 - 5yrs, this might just happen- all things being equal. 1 Like 2 Shares |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by Hallams(m): 7:28pm On Jan 01, 2018 |
following 1 Like |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 8:04pm On Jan 02, 2018 |
In September of last year, I contracted someone (bashman, right here on nairaland) to plant maize and cassava on two acres. The cassava should be ready for harvest by August, 2018. By February, 2018 (next month), the maize should be ready for harvest. However, my resolve is to henceforth oversee the cultivation by myself because I believe I am likely to get better results since I will be putting in my 100%. I have decided to concentrate on maize farming because of the shorter time it takes compared to cassava. I have done (and I am still doing) a lot of research on maize cultivation. The estimated planting date is March 15, 2018. Rain forecast could alter this but hopefully not beyond two weeks from this date. Now, straight to business: The plan is to plant 3 to 5 acres of maize. I have ordered for a manual push planter and a hand-cranked corn thresher from China. I consulted goodsexpress.com to do that for me. I paid on Jan 1, 2018 and the expected delivery date is Jan 16 – Jan, 23, 2018. I have been speaking to a number of people who can help me get access to land which I could lease. I have also found leads to a few places where I could purchase fertilizers at a reasonable cost. Here’s the math (for 2.5 acres, rough estimates only): Land lease = N5,000 Land clearing = N20,000 Ploughing = N20,000 Harrowing = N20,000 Cost of seeds = N50,000 Planting cost = 0 Fertilizers = N130,000 Fertilizer application = 0 Herbicides = N7,000 Insecticides = N5,000 Spraying cost = 0 TOTAL = N257,000 The planting, the fertilizer application and the spraying costs are N0.00 because I will be carrying it out by myself. I am doing it because those are three critical operations that I do not think I can trust any operator to carry out as efficiently as I require. If I have access to more land, I will pay operators to help plant on the extra land. It is only 2.5 acres (1 hectare) that I want to cultivate by myself. PS: my farmer friend just told me this evening that farmers have started land clearing. This kinda means I'm lagging behind somehow; I've not even got the land I want to use yet! |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by stagger: 8:43pm On Jan 02, 2018 |
Jacko, Are you sure you will have the strength to push that hand planter across 2 hectares? It is a strenous job. I can tell you from personal experience. 2 Likes |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 9:13pm On Jan 02, 2018 |
stagger: It is only 2.5 acres (1 hectare) that I want to cultivate by myself. Thanks for the input |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by MDDarah84(m): 9:19pm On Jan 02, 2018 |
Make I cross my legs...following jealously 1 Like |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by billyG(m): 10:29pm On Jan 02, 2018 |
how many bags of fertilizers cost 130k do u depend on rainfall study weather forecast 1st ooo! 1 Like |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by Hallams(m): 10:54pm On Jan 02, 2018 |
kindly tell us the prices of the planter and thresher.Thanks |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by aboutbiz: 3:14am On Jan 03, 2018 |
stagger: Oga stagger Weldon sir. How are u sir. Please can u share more light in this bcoz I remember that u imported this last year. Thanks. Please how did you pay your seller and which shipping company did you use Haykaybee4real@gmail.com |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 8:16am On Jan 03, 2018 |
billyG: 18 (50kg) bags. Don't forget it's a rough estimate. Yes, for now I will depend on rainfall. The weatherman will be my best friend |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 8:24am On Jan 03, 2018 |
Hallams: The planter is about N29,000 and the thresher is about N5,000. This type of thresher is just a simple, cheap tool that will make work faster than using bare hands. Later on I will buy a bigger, real machine. I really don't know the magic the shipping company wants to do but it might turn out that I will be asked to pay some more money in the end. |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 8:29am On Jan 03, 2018 |
aboutbiz: dear stagger, please feel free to post the details here too. Help a brother. |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by Hallams(m): 8:46am On Jan 03, 2018 |
jackomagnus:thanks 1 Like |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by kheart(m): 9:37am On Jan 03, 2018 |
jackomagnus: Please which site did u use to purchase d planter n thresher. |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 9:54am On Jan 03, 2018 |
kheart: They are available on Alibaba.com but I consulted goodsexpress.com to help me buy and bring them. They are yet to arrive though. |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by bamkem21: 10:24am On Jan 03, 2018 |
jackomagnus:Please ensure you include all cost to have accurate account even when you are doing it yourself The planting will be done by machine, it has a cost! 3 Likes |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by bamkem21: 10:28am On Jan 03, 2018 |
jackomagnus: |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by stagger: 11:22am On Jan 03, 2018 |
billyG: Presently, government's NPK mix(20:10:10) is N5,500 per bag. Urea is between N7,500 and N8,000 per bag. There is also this company in Lagos that sells organic fertilizer that they make from waste collected all around Lagos. It also goes for N5,500 per bag but apparently, you will need a lot of it to plant on 1 hectare when compared with NPK/Urea. Concerning the hand planter, your shipping company will charge you money for shipping from China and customs duty. This is where the bulk of the cost is. This makes it uneconomical to buy one planter. It is usually best if there are three of you, to pool money together and ship via normal shipping (not express) so your costs collectively come down. You should then be able to get the machine at a total cost of N50,000, which is N15,000 less than current market price in Nigeria. This is still good: N15,000 can buy you 2 bags of urea or close to 3 bags of NPK. It can also buy you up to 8 bags of chicken manure. So for those doing agric as a business, you need to consider such options to save cost. 2 Likes |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 11:24am On Jan 03, 2018 |
bamkem21: In the overall accounting, yes, the cost of machines will come in. You know, the same machines will be used for a number of planting seasons. So the cost of the machines will be spread over how many seasons they work for (if you get my point). |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by stagger: 11:26am On Jan 03, 2018 |
jackomagnus: Not to worry. They are simply using fire to burn off the dried weeds and shrubs, taking advantage of the harmattan. But weather patterns are changing. Rain fell in Abuja and environs on December 16 or thereabout. This has never happened in the last 15 years or so. Usually the rains cease here in October/November, never to fall again till April the following year. In any case, get your land quick and start work. 2 Likes |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by stagger: 11:28am On Jan 03, 2018 |
jackomagnus: Not to worry. They are simply using fire to burn off the dried weeds and shrubs, taking advantage of the harmattan. But weather patterns are changing. Rain fell in Abuja and environs on December 16 or thereabout. This has never happened in the last 15 years or so. Usually the rains cease here in October/November, never to fall again till April the following year. In any case, get your land quick and start work. Also pay attention to NIMET rain forecasts. They have been very accurate with the rainfall patterns since I started to follow them a few years back. It will help you plan. 1 Like |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 11:31am On Jan 03, 2018 |
stagger: Thanks for the helpful input. |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by alakara(m): 12:27pm On Jan 03, 2018 |
stagger: @stagger Which site can I use to follow nimet forecast |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by stagger: 12:37pm On Jan 03, 2018 |
alakara: Their forecasts are always on the local news stations. I believe the DG does it himself in a press statement delivered just before the rains start. They also have a page on their website which is dedicated to rainfall predictions: http://www.nimet.gov.ng/seasonal-rainfall-predictions 2 Likes |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by billyG(m): 4:18pm On Jan 03, 2018 |
stagger:If govt. are really serious about agric they needs to subside imported farm implements & machines make then duty-free & what are our university of agric & tech doing sef? |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by stagger: 8:10pm On Jan 03, 2018 |
billyG: Honestly you hit the nail on the head. The hand planter is a machine that can easily be crafted locally. It has a very simple design. But the government will prefer contracts to be awarded for the supply of these stuff. They are then displayed for the media: "govt delivers 1,00 planters to farmers..." is what you will see. Then a member of the government will buy them off and resell at a profit. Those at the helm of affairs in this country are not interested in the common man. |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by aboutbiz: 2:42am On Jan 05, 2018 |
stagger: @Stagger thank you sir. But please can you please elaborate more on the name of the freight forwarder that you use and how did you pay your seller. Thank you sir |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 4:30pm On Mar 15, 2018 |
It's March 15, but I won't be planting today. A few things didn't work as planned: particularly, I haven't been able to acquire a push planter. Most merchants said they expect to have it in stock by end of March. So hopefully, by then I should buy one and the planting would be done on or before April 1. I'll keep you posted. |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 1:24pm On Apr 13, 2018 |
Phew! Unfortunately, I'm out of finances and may not be able to push further at this time. Don't get me wrong: I'm not quitting ...just a brief pause |
Re: Jacko's DIARY- My Cross Over To Farming by jackomagnus(m): 3:25am On Apr 29, 2018 |
The project has resumed! Just yesterday, I commissioned two people to spray the farm. They'd be using Paraquat at 0.75 litres/acre. Earlier, I tried using a brush cutter: it was useless in this case! I had to consult the local farmers and that was their recommendation- either glyphosate or Paraquat. The expectation is that say, four days after spaying, the bush should have dried out (dessication), then we burn them. Then we plant! Pictures coming soon. |
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