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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Business / Where Are The Farmers? (20318 Views)
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Re: Where Are The Farmers? by occam(m): 9:26pm On Feb 17, 2012 |
Agribusiness in Nigeria is clearly overlooked given the immense opportunity. That said, the risks can be very high at the beginning, so it must be a long term venture. Also, specialization is key given the various aspects of agribusiness: input production (seedlings), animal husbandry, farm production, processing, storage, packaging, export and so on The huge investments in Fixed assets (land, building, farm equipment, milling equipment, generators etc) can be leveraged as collateral for future expansion. 1 Like |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by Fhemmmy: 9:40pm On Feb 17, 2012 |
occam: Nicely put |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by adelegan1: 9:43pm On Feb 17, 2012 |
My friend do not be deceive please do not invest in agriculture you will fail. try and see for yourself if you ask me i will tell you. Im taking from experience most rich nigerian that invest in nigeria agriculture sector are regreting they ever did. Im going to chill off for now and give you details if you really want to be succesfull |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by Fhemmmy: 9:48pm On Feb 17, 2012 |
adelegan1: This is one of the most negative post i have ever seen in my life and yet no real reason given. At least if you know real reason why you saying it or evidence or experience, share with him and let him use that to know if he wanna go ahead of listen to your advice |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by adelegan1: 9:55pm On Feb 17, 2012 |
goshen360:you are very right. I have seen a lot of people regretting they have ever invested in agriculture. I have spend millions of naira on agriculture. if any body tell you he is a successful farmer in Nigeria. ask they where are they getting money to fund their life style and business. do not be deceive my friend. when government tell you to farm it is a pure propaganda. be warned |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by adelegan1: 10:46pm On Feb 17, 2012 |
My friend im going to advise you and other person on this forum why not to invest in agriculture. I believe this will help you and others They are alot of factor affecting agriculture in nigeria and i will list them. (1) Unavailability of labour (2) lack of appropriate techonology (3) poor transportation network (4) unstable price of product (5) theft and non compliance of labour to instruction (6) failure of government and more Now im going to tell you how this will make you fail no matter how smart you are, listen Unavailability of labour; people in the rural area are not willing to farm. if they agree to work for you will have alot to face with them they not follow your instruction and you cant say much to them because they will tell you they are not working anymore. so you dont have choice than to be romancing them with more money. and they will still not do the proper thing and they will be alot of neglegence on their part that will affect your business. if you bring in hire labour or contract laborer from the north they are more dangerous. most of this things you might not see as big deal now until you start you farm. agriculture is labour and capital intensive and you might make back your money talk-less of any profit be warned Lack of appropriate techonogy: only the approriate techonology will help to reduce the cost of labour and cost of production generally. you have to share tractor with hundred of people if you dont have your tractor and you might not have it on time from the government agency to do your job. If you can purchase hand tractor it will help you alot you can google what hand tractor is or see how it work on youtube. you can use it to do everything in the farm from plowing,harrowing,discing,ridging,harvesting,irrigation, transport and alot more. If you have this hand tractor it make agriculture more profitable and reduce cost of labour. the hand tractor is not expensive about $3000 in nigeria. but big and small farmer in nigeria do not have this simple machine that can do more it price if you dont have the appropriate technology please dont invest in agriculture you will cry. poor transport network; after producing you will be responsible for transportation factory the road are bad and cost of transportation is high and the price of produce is not stable see the list go on. i cant just keep writing you might not take my advice but surely eveybody will do their mistake. things might look normal when you start real farm you see the great problem and challenges. If agriculture is so profitable in nigeria why is government not running a state farm I will advise you to into processing of farm product instead of farming ask me how and i will tell you |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by Emperoh(m): 10:53pm On Feb 17, 2012 |
^^^^^ So how did the successful ones make? The Zimbabwe farmers in Tsonga TKB I have been guessing what you have been up to. . . but can't put a finger to it Now i know. . . . . kudos to you on Stakersden. Proven your mettle as a good strategist and manager. I love your Agribusiness idea but i am a bit scared you want to hit on it and then profit in a short while. I haven't seen anyone who made it in Agric in a short term unless with a huge financial backing That said, don't you think you should concentrate a lot of your research and inquest on the business side of Agriculture especially rice with a view to know the various aspect to it. This to me is where the success of the venture will lie. I do hook up with you one of these days to share you ideas on how the Stakersden thingy worked for you. I am about venturing on my own after Grad school but men, the fears i bone chilling Will give u a ring All the same, pls keep it going. . . . but comot your mind on the fact that you will hammer in another 5-7 years. meanwhile, we'll be on standby waiting for your first fruits to hit market |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by chreldb(m): 10:59pm On Feb 17, 2012 |
Fhemmmy: He is not been negative he is only taking out of anger and experience. Truth be told most of the big farmers that declare profit see it as a means to launder their stolen oil money.$ anyone in Nigeria who claims to be an entreprneur who is extremy succeful has an affiliation with the oil sector. All of them that claim to be invwsting in agric are all liars. Anyways a word is enough for thge wise. Let ne nbo talk to much. @ op if u are serious reply my post when u see it, |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by adelegan1: 11:19pm On Feb 17, 2012 |
Who have ear let them hear. I dey you the truth as brother |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by netotse(m): 11:23pm On Feb 17, 2012 |
@tkb nice one o, For the past couple of years meself don dey dream of getting involved in farming. I think concentrating on rice for your initial project will make more sense. It'll be easier for you to carve out a niche for yourself that it would be if you were into plantain. The dude with the negative post raised some points I think you shouldn't gloss over(I still think they shouldn't deter you though) You need to sort out your labour (and community) issues early on, they can be a big headache. If your farm was up north you'd have less community issues but more labour issues (your workers fit thief your fertilizer go use for their farm. . .lol) If you're down south, you'll prolly have community issues as well as labour issues. You need to know the correct people to talk to if/when you have community issues down south. you will also need to choose your partners carefully, influence (especially local influence) should be an important factor. I'm with DK as per the scale sturvs, (remember you need to be small enough to react to issues really fast) Plus, how do you plan to utilize technology? Have you identified the areas it could help and those it could constitute an unnecessary burden? you don give me homework. . .make I go read up on rice farming. . .I dey come. . .lol |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by adelegan1: 11:50pm On Feb 17, 2012 |
If you need land in akure with irrigation facility let me know. We have 500 hectare to lease. You can lease any number of hectare you need. It 10000 naira to lease one hectare for one year. The farm have a house and dam for irrigation the water do not get dry during the dry season. It is a ploghable land with elephant grass on it. If you are ready contact me on adelegan1111@gmail.com i wish you good luck. |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by Goshen360(m): 12:09am On Feb 18, 2012 |
Anybody can give different reasons not to go into agriculture or farming business. As far as am concerned, I AM A LIVING PROOF THAT GRASSCUTTER FARMING CAN WORK, IT WORKED AND STILL WORKING IN NIGERIA AND WEST AFRICA AS A WHOLE. OURS IS A VERY BIG FARM IN BADAGRY, LAGOS STATE AND STILL EXPANDING. Just in case anyone cares to visit the farm site for proof, the contact is 08033297269, 08035386860, 08022656570. My Dad answers the call. Just tell him you saw the contact on the internet and will love to visit the farm and know about the business. Thank y'all. |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by omar0001: 12:24am On Feb 18, 2012 |
I'm a farmer I have a small 3 acre plantain farm. If anyone needs to set up a plantain farm, we can send you a quotation. Thanks Omar (omar0001@yahoo.com) |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by sholatech(m): 12:26am On Feb 18, 2012 |
Very interesting and educative thread! There is no business you want to go to that at least one person will discourage you due to past experience.if we all listen to this, no-one will have the entrepreneurial spirit. I agree that its highly challenging to run an agric-business in Nigeria, but I can tell you I know of small scale farmers that generate stable cash-flow and profits. The market demand is huge and we still import bulk of our agric products, wheat, rice, irish potatoes, fish and even tomatoes-yes, tomatoes! Now, I handled two year back some project mgt and financial planning consultancy service for a start-up maize growing entity in Ghana covering 20,000 acres. What I can advise in summary is this: 1. While you can work around your yields per hectare/acre, you will have challenge with Revenue Assurance during harvest period 2. Your financial planning must recognise that farm clearing and planning in itself is dynamic-it can even make or mar the business at incubation stage 3. Will advice you interact with Dutch, Thai and Isreali agric specialists. They have sound knowledge on farm planning, farm growth and sustainability 4. Most Nigerians don't understand financial planning for commercial agric production. When the zimbabwe farmers entered kwara and brought out spreadsheets to present to banks for finances, most of the bank officials were lost in wonderland as they did not understand jack 5. You will not have any problem selling ALL your products after harvest, but most of our crops from villages hardly reach the markets because of poor road insfrastructure, non-availability of preservation techniques and the industry is largely informal till date. Maybe only 2 farms have institutionalised operations! |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by Fhemmmy: 12:26am On Feb 18, 2012 |
@adelegan1 . . You have some point there, however, with every obstacle is a way to walk around it or even thru it, a champ never gives up but look for way to make it better. All those challenges listed by you are real BUT they are not enough to stop a dream, farming in Nigeria is one of the business that you could get involved in and you could sleep at night with both eyes closed, but again, does not mean you dont have to do your homework well . . . The most important thing is planning and making sure you leave no stone unturn. In any business your profit might not start coming in till after some trials, but giving up should not be an option but to find a solution to every challenges. |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by nyxus(m): 12:29am On Feb 18, 2012 |
Have you done the feasibility study? A lot of factors play into your plan, are you aware of them? Integrated pest management, middlemen elimination, innovative packaging for effective marketing. I am a graduate of Agricultural Economics and Extension services finished NYSC oct 2011 currently unemployed, I can be part of your think team. oniayomidejohnson@gmail.com |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by Fhemmmy: 12:34am On Feb 18, 2012 |
nyxus: What part of Nigeria are you at? |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by moremi2008(m): 4:13am On Feb 18, 2012 |
I still can't imagine a scenario under which large-scale commercial rice farming can be successful as an entrepreneurial endeavor without large government subsidies and large financing. You just can't compete with the costs and quality of rice from Asia. They have been growing rice for centuries and have this thing down to nuclear science. Do you have access to a HUGE supply of labor that you'll require to farm rice? Or are you planning on buying large, expensive machinery that can cost millions of dollars? Besides, how do you intend to process yields properly? Rice needs to be milled and polished. Or is your plan to target the local rice market where some dirt and husk is permissible? Please thread cautiously; don't allow your researcher friends form IITA mislead you with assurances based on lab experience. Rice farming is too labor-intensive/capital intensive to be handled on a small scale and without sound government subsidies and you don't want to build your business on the feeble assurances of a government that will be gone in a few years. Plantain farming is potentially lucrative if you can figure out a way to get your goods to the market in excellent condition and if you can secure your yield from thieves. Please before you start any serious investing, talk to other farmers that have tried and failed (I am sure there are many and they aren't all stu-pid/incompetent. Don't rely on the well-publicized success stories of Obasanjo Farms (that farm is just a hobby; Baba made all his money from thief-thief). Good luck! |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by AreaFada2: 4:28am On Feb 18, 2012 |
@goshen360, Livestock farming is good. Relatives doing it small scale are earning as much as they earn in their mid-level banking and insurance jobs annually. It all began more or less as a hobby. Poultry, grass-cutter and fishery also don't require acres of land. Please Goshen, I would like some tips on grass-cuttery. Unfortunately I am too far away to visit your Badagry farm. Email: pithasmen@yahoo.com A relative had large scale oil palm, plantain, rice farms and poultry in the 80s (palm farm still functional) but there were lots of hardworking Ghanian labourers living on the farm then. Labour is big challenge these days. I also remember the menace of weaver birds then hammering the rice field. lol. |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by ojubi(m): 5:58am On Feb 18, 2012 |
I live in porthacourt. I ve 4 plots of land in igwuruta, which i want to start grass cutter and goat farming with. About goats i hardly see people farm commecial quantity down south. What re the challenges pls? Also thanks for this tread for plantian farming is now included into my business plan. So what are the challenges am going to face on goat farming? |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by tkb417(m): 6:53am On Feb 18, 2012 |
thanks had to attend to other ventures oh and my Oga sent plenty emails that i had to attend to ol boi see as men come dey scare me well ill attend to the points before i started stakersden, i had these 2nd gueses about the challenges of going into 'tete' biz. even my mum advised me not to do it that its against our religious beliefs; uncles, friends and even govts regulations suddenly licensing grew from 500k to 15million cos they have seen people are going into that area of biz but thank God for my 5 year experience in corporate world, i did a plan with a distinct biz model and errm, the cashflow isnt bad one thing is, stakersden can finance this biz without me putting a dime in my 'pension' money nyways good points. i have my pen here and my pad and im gonna attend to all the issues raised here thanks a lot |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by tkb417(m): 6:55am On Feb 18, 2012 |
@adelegan1 bros, i just copied, saved and printed your points ill insert in my risk analysis i dey look for how to mitigate them now. if i can, cool, if i cant then ill scale down to an appreciable level just as Dayo, Emp and Netotse advised thanks bro |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by tkb417(m): 6:56am On Feb 18, 2012 |
@Dayo whenever you have chance today, lets chat abeg you didnt tell me about all these oh Badguy U don dey hammer for yankee oh |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by tkb417(m): 6:58am On Feb 18, 2012 |
goshen360:okay bro ill do that this evening |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by tkb417(m): 6:59am On Feb 18, 2012 |
oyb:u no go talk? abeg make i hear ur own point oh i dey document everythn on this thread |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by tkb417(m): 7:03am On Feb 18, 2012 |
chreld_b:God bless you I think the points above echoes what everyone has been saying 1) do a pilot scheme 2) reduce the scale 3) learn from those doing it 4) have a sound financial model and be sure of financing without dabbling into personal cash 5) do not trust govt policies 6) zero technology to meet up with foreign standard 7) think of export and some more cool. thanks |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by tkb417(m): 7:04am On Feb 18, 2012 |
occam:Thanks bro |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by tkb417(m): 7:10am On Feb 18, 2012 |
moremi2008:Thanks 1) there is market for our local rice side by side with the more better ones from abroad. I know the prices vary yeah, but every grain of rice no matter the quality in this country is taken up in the market. even our local ofada which isnt pure is more expensive than the imported rice 2) im doing about 80 hectares in Kura, Kano with some people already and its a success already. There is a facility (for NCRI) in zaria that we use for thrashing, cleaning, sorting before bagging. Let me tell you, local production of rice is ongoing in Nigeria and the challenge is how to scale up to reduce imports. the veetees of this world are foreigners and they grow rice too in the same way, the same technology, the same processes im gonna use. The kura experience is times 4 of what i wanna do solo 3) Is Obasanjo into rice? i know those who grow rice and ive rolled with them, dined with them and i speak to them daily. Even the foreign ones 4) Labour actually is the least of my problem as rice isnt grown in the city. Nice points and im working at addressing the risks highlighted on ths thread |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by tkb417(m): 7:13am On Feb 18, 2012 |
okay this question Guys have been advising me not to do a large scale farm do you consider 20 hectares to be large scale The costs of planting, land preparation, labour, harvesting, storing, cleaning and sorting, bagging and taking to the market is about N12-N15million for 80 hectares! so how big is 20 hectares? |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by occam(m): 7:27am On Feb 18, 2012 |
adelegan1: Some of the problems you listed aren’t peculiar to agriculture alone but are experienced in other industries in Nigeria. Agribusiness (I deliberately use this term) encompasses seed supply, farming, food marketing, packaging and exporting. Sadly, most people only understand the farming aspect and spend all their energy and time cultivating large hectares of land without proper planning and strategy on getting the food to consumers. Like any other business, understanding consumer needs is the first step to success. A detailed marketing analysis will help identify key segments (direct consumers, food industry, Poultry farms, industrial users and exporters) and size of each potential segment. For instance, maize is consumed as popcorn, cereal, ogi, eko, used for feeding animals etc. So these are your products; not maize. Farming is only the means to an end and not your end goal. Don’t simply start rice; maize; cassava farming etc rather develop a detailed business plan on how to serve potential customers and which aspect of the agribusiness you want to start with. As your business grows you can integrate vertically or horizontally. Agribusiness can be capital intensive and not for the faint hearted. However, it can be very lucrative; albeit a long term venture. [b]@OP I'll be very wary of rice production because of Nigerians' fondness for polished, imported rice. Ensure you develop a solid plan with risk assessment before you invest your capital. [/b] |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by tkb417(m): 7:27am On Feb 18, 2012 |
@Fhemmy i see you. Thanks bro i dey hustle so i go fit buy x-6 |
Re: Where Are The Farmers? by tkb417(m): 7:30am On Feb 18, 2012 |
occam:hehe i don jam another learned colleague Thanks. This venture isnt a short term thing. I want to start with the hope of becoming big many years after so, its not a wuru wuru to the answer scheme. There is a detailed market analysis already and ill re-jig with some of the points/issues raised here Thats the essence of this thread. To hear from outsiders |
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