₦airaland Forum

We have this sizes in my village. The variety are locally called 'four corners'.

On the value addition, most of the videos posted here said, ".... a group of farmers started the project". How many young Nigerians will want to put resources together for a venture without one or two person thinking how to swindle others. Greed and selfishness is gradually killing us!!

@pavore9, always bringing inspiring stories.

But I have a general question, what do you think makes the Keyans more serious and successful in their agricultural ventures.

Just sad that SR is based in New York, yet they have refused to improve on their reporting skill, or learn how political media outfits in US help to campaign for good governance and strong institutions. It is a pity that this kind of beer parlour gossip is taken as news.

For almost a week now, I have been trying to use my CC to pay for NIGERIAN PASSPORT, yet it has been declined. Nigeria has been blacklisted by many CC companies. Why can't SR make an investigation into this and save Nigerians home and abroad from undue harassments?

Aside witch-hunting politicians who they don't like or agree with, what is SR's use to the poor Nigerian masses?

jonaboy:
@Op I have been seeing this kind of corn during harvest time in the southern part of kaduna state, but I am yet to see a farm that cultivate purely this variety of corn. So you are not the first person to cultivate it.

Very correct.
As far back as th 80's, we use to see this in our farm in the South. I have also seen many of such seed sold on alibaba and ebay. What will be new and innovative will be finding a product which it can be used for due to it's colour. What is the colour of the starch? What unique property(ies) does it have compared to other varieties?

Crimefacts:
The Consortium for Food Safety in Africa, a network of organizations involved in food safety issues in the continent ended its biannual conference which held on September 11-12, 2015 at a Nairobi Hotel, in Kenya’s capital. The conference which was mainly held by webcast and podcast attracted many activists and environmentalists and country delegates...CONTINUE: http://crimefacts.org/bioterrorism-consortium-warns-of-deliberate-cassava-virus-attack-on-africa/

Can you please copy the news and paste it here? Many persons may read it when it is here than clicking the link.

This is really sad, and we must be properly informed.

TUBLEZ:
My brother, no country can do without importation as in not in this world. Remember apple don't grow here so? And as Nigeria import reach we still export to america, Europe abi no be so? USA ,Europe everybody import bro.

While I believe that no country can do without import, the question is what are you importing? I am a strong believer that apple and some temperate crops can grow in certain areas of Nigeria with relatively low average temperature.Example, Jos and the surrounding can sustain apple. Other regions include Obudu hills (aka Obudu cattle ranch area), and some areas of Kwara state.

The problem is who will spend money in testing and experimenting? If one person invest his/her resources to experiment and confirm my suspicion, you will see everyone running into that area. Our school system and value system have rendered us copy cats who always take the paths of less challenges.

lekjons:
good, if she was kidnapped, the husband'll sell their produce+land to rescue her

idotazz!

So, kidnapping has become part of our culture? Why can't someone live his/her life freely without all these threats of kidnapping or assassination?

I think in addition to whatever partnership or agreement between AKS government or other states, Shoprite should be made to source for their goods (especially their farm produce) within the country. Shoprite has been known to ship in everything (including potatoes that we have in excess) from South Africa. They must support our industries including the Agric sector.

Pavore9:
There are so much possibilities in value addition. Setting a jam making unit within that area makes real sense. l recall sometime ago am organization here in Kenya was offering training on Strawberry jam making which cost only N4,000. They taught the participants how to commercially produce jam that would last 8 months after production without having to add any chemical as preservative, 100% organic as it involved pulping and boiling.

Very true!! during my wedding I made strawberry jam, and used it as take away gift. The ones I kept at home lasted more than a year. One can learn it within few days. And very lucrative. I hope I can coach and support someone in this area, but not really ready to go in yet.

The other option you suggested; freighting the fruiting to Lagos and Port-Harcourt, is a very nice one. But I just spoke with my brother who is logistic supervisor with Arik, he says that cargo is N300/Kg. To me that is expensive, but depending on the price of strawberry in Lagos, it may be a worthy adventure.

@Pavore9, a million thanks for posting this article here. I really love your passion for agro-business and your selfless style of doing things.

I hope some serious minded business youths will catch in on this opportunity. We must start value addition on our farm produce.

This is why I don't like how sentimental Nigerian youths can be. We easily forget events and facts rather dwell sentiment or follow bandwagon.

Everyone is 'afraid' of Buhari and start acting like Buhari is a god. This same Buhari that destroyed democracy through coup de etat, yet has no decency to apologize to Nigerians. In 2000, OBJ set up Oputa panel to investigate the abnormalities and human abuses of the Military era. When Buhari was invited, he refused to appear. Yet this is the man who by hook and crook has found himself as a democratically elected president, and we are all ready licking his steps and mis-steps. This man never helped to strengthen our institutions, yet wants to acts as a god!!

I am for good governance, but I hate hypocrisy!!

SAMBARRY:
Indeed. Tell me why the civil rights activist and those passionate about nigeria are either mocked or assassinated but the obvious political criminals are celebrated. Bode George, ibori comes to my mind, tinubu, alameigsha etc. They've looted this country dry but same nigerians tend to kiss their ass and celebrate them after giving them small 10 naira change compared to the billions they've amassed

Because simple virtues like integrity, temperance, honour etc are lacking in our society. How did it start? Nigerians are very competitive and like comparison. as such, we want to look superior and important than the next person. We start lying to obtain favour or evade punishment when caught in a wrong act. We pay to get favour just to get ahead of others. That is how it started, now it is looking as if it is normal. I stated in my post you quoted that we are driven by greed. The question we should all ask ourselves is, have ever followed laid down rules? Do we encourage others to same. We think only politicians are celebrated for doing wrong. Check your immediate neighbourhood. The behaviours of the politicians are a reflection of our entire society!! After all, they are members of our families, villages and even our places of worship.

Summary: Nigeria is not what it should be. Running away will not fix it. We need to confront it, no matter how little the efforts.

Timbuktou:
I find it funny when disaporans talk smack. They have contributed nothing to the foreign development they so arrogantly brag about, and they have done nothing to develop their own home. You all are a bunch of status quo elements. You are only good enough for servicing. When the time for change comes nobody, whether abroad or at home, will look to you. Your presence/absence will not be felt.

Somebody talked about the difference in attitude of you same Nigerians across different time zones but the irony eludes you.

Another person came up with a cinema story in a state of about four cinemas to 15 million people and the stampede at a highly-anticipated movie premiere/recent movie showing is a shock?! . One wonders who is more responsible for the pregnancy, the parent or the public? .


To the OP: yes, dual citizenship for the child is a good plan, it's called insurance. However, you can go about your plan without trying to justify your disdain for Nigeria. Yes, it is a jungle out here but, we will find our way and get our act together. What I expected to see after your bitching OP was to highlight moves you have made to correct some of the problems in our society, have you made any? I would like to hear them and learn from this superior wisdom and way of life you attempt to portray. Tenk.

No, they can not give you such plans or efforts on their part. I said in my first post here, that such people who run to give their wards dual citizen are the bane of our society. With their kids' future 'secured' in 'obodo onyibo' they mess up the common man, they want to be worship because they have travelled out and come back. Like anything in Nigeria, giving birth abroad is trending and is seen as a classy gesture. I wish they read the history to see how these places they are running to were built.

Onegai:
Please where are these "Moral Values" in Nigerian society, I'd like to see them?

Police Brutality?
Lack of Honesty and Decency amongst our youth to even attempt to write exams without cheating or coercing a lecturer?
Breakdown of every institution known to Man?
Accepted Violence and Rape against minors and genders?
Widespread corruption amongst the masses?
Moral decadence dresses up in finery and attending church every Sunday hypocritically?
Parenting skills reduced to verbally and physically assaulting your child?

I could go on...

How they show Africa as being a backward village with war and famine is how they show the western world wih crazy antics . Bad news sells and peoole don't want to hear "Mike bought a home and Judy graduated" on the news, they want to see "Joe shot up a school in a drive-by" same way "Africa is a country and they are constantly starving and fighting brutal wars or committing crime". I personally have met kinder and more honest people outside Nigeria. Heck, the average Nigerian person attempted to elbow and push my pregnancy out of the way because they were rushing to enter the cinema hall to watch FF7, meanwhile in the US, everyone courteously held doors open and enquired about my health (total strangers every time! ).

Abegl bone that Nigerian Values silliness...

Madam, while these maybe true in most places, the question is are these acts enacted by the state or these are individual behaviours based on greed and indiscipline? What we see as a good society in the western world is a contribution of individuals. How many of us are ready to do the right thing even when no one is watching.

I can boldly say most Nigerians living abroad take simple Nigerian rules for granted. On many occasions I have witnessed the unruly behaviours of Nigerians coming in from diaspora at our international airports. Example, Jan. 2014 at the Schiphol airport, Amsterdam, everyone lined up quietly to board the 6 hours flight to Lagos. As soon as we landed, and we exited the the plane, you could see the aggression, and indiscipline of same people who were 'saints' in diaspora. They cut corners, shunted the line and cursed the very air the breathed. I was not surprised, after all I have had similar experiences in my previous trips.

March 2015, I went to an academic conference in one of the cities in Texas state (US), and was invited to a neighbourhood populated by mostly Nigerians. What I saw that day made me believe that we are our problem. We are indiscipline personified and always looking for short-cuts.

I repeat, we must make efforts to fix what is wrong with us. Running to 'obodo onyibo' is just a way of covering the wound rather than treating it. I sometime wonder if we know the sacrifices these people made, to make their society what it is today.

Nigerians and free 'food'!

People running to give birth in Western countries are the ones spoiling Nigeria. Once their kids have dual citizenship, the parents start destroying the institutions, and make a mess of the system, after all 'My kids can go back to 'obodo onyibo'. Can't we fix this country??

Sweep your compound, I sweep mine, our village will be clean!!

soe:
The Op has a point and I get what he is driving at....

But bringing this to reality...you need to understand that the courses u listed as useless and should be scrapped are actually what universities re there for in the first place.

The second list of courses u put there are very vital also, but they re actually what COLLEGES are established for. And by colleges, I don't mean secondary schools....

Now, what colleges do is that they train you on how best to do things and when, universities teach you the theory behind why things re done that way and how to improve it.

What we should push for is a system where everyone is made to do some years in colleges before moving to the uni if still interested.


Truth be told...colleges make you an entrepreneur, universities make u a consultant....so in Nigeria today...we have 99% consultants and 1% performers....so who will employ who? Food for thought.

Best post!!!

The problem in our country is everyone wants to be a university graduate. But we fail to understand that 75% of people we have as expatriate in naija are college graduates(equivalent of polytechnics). Every state government is fighting how to convert a polytechnic or other colleges into a university. This causes inflation, where we all have big big degrees, but can not help the economy. We don't produce anything.

@Op, If you can execute it, you will surely be happy. Aside the initial housing materials, it is the best practice. The are couple of youtube videos of similar stuff done in Aussie.

Joive:
Thanks alot mercy. The whole operation has become more challenging. I've been documenting every detail ( observations, surprises and more), I've also taken a lot of picture which I'll post very soon.
Since June, when the maize began to tazzle ( flower). A totally different challenges has began after I successfully dealt with my previous challenges. some of these new challenges are scary/threatening and has the capacity to jeopardize this project. They require extreme treatment.
1. Aphids attacked my maize en-mass: These heartless, stupid and wicked flies lay worms on the tazzle of many Maize plants and the worms in-turn bore and eats into the main stem/stalk of the maize, they continue to dwell there until the maize dies off. The tazzle normally die-off within 2 days after worms bore into the maize.
What's in for the Aphids?: These heartless-stupid flies sucks the Alcoholic and sugar-rich liquid content deposited by the worms ( generally classified as stem borers). Being an Agricultural pest is destructive enough, much less an Alcoholic pest. I wouldn't expect a better behavior from an Alcoholic pest. The Aphids continues to lay worms in as much maize stalk as they can far more than they can feed on.

MY Responds: I contacted sygenta and place a special order for After a, a systemic insecticide. You've got two major types of Insecticides: 1 Contact: This will only kill pests if it touches them. it cannot kill pest that has already found their way into the internal parts of the crop. 2. Systemic insecticide: This type of insecticides get absorbed by the plant and remain there in a very low quantity sufficient to kill pests attacking it from within or outside it.
I Applied Actera and after 2 days the worms were all dead and dead Aphids littered the some leaves.

2. Monkeys Attacked ( Even when the maize was yet to produce silk), they'll break the stalk and chew it.

MY Responds: I contacted some local hunters to watch the farm in the morning and Evenings. 3 days into the watch, the shot 3 big red monkeys ( 3rd week of June) and then no Monkey has crossed my farm again. Well, I'll keep watching out for them.

Am also working on marketing/ Sales. I've done a little survey on pricing and i must say, it's interesting. I met with roadside maize sellers and told them I have a supply source for them. they were very interested, here in Edo State wholesale prices range from N10 to N20 depending on the size of the cob, Retail is N30 to N50. They usually demand for a sample. My plan is to have sales reps across the country who are able to organize and maintain a trustworthy business relationship with them, I recommend not less than 50 costumers who are able to buy atleast 1 bag of maize (120 cobs) every 5 days. Sales reps will earn 10% of total sales accrue from his/her customers not later than 10 days after payment is received. Marketing Firms are also welcome. Independent/standalone sales reps can constitute a field marketing team in need be. All what our sales reps are required to do is: - Capture contact details of maize buyers, offer them our contact card ( which will have your contact number) and ensure they call you when ever they need supplies ( Maize). Of course, you should not wait for their calls, call them instead. You should be proactive. We will shoulder certain responsibilities and this will be made known to interested persons only. If you are interested call me on: 08131030440 or send me a Message right here on nairaland.

Projections
If a sales rep is able to maintain 50 costumer, he'll earn as follows:
Assuming we are selling a Cob for N20
1 bag (120 cobs) - 120 x N20 = N2400
Assuming all your 50 Costumers are able to place order every 5 days
N2400 X 50 - N120, 000 ( total sales in 5 days), Your entitlement is 10% of N120,000 = N12000.
therefore, total sales for 1 month ( for months with 30 days) = 30/5= 6 ( Minimum orders per month).
Total Sales per Month = 6 x N120,000 = N720, 000. Your entitlement is 10% = N72,000 per month.

---- This is Just a summary, I'll post picture next time -----

Thank you all.

Guy, I salute your resilience. You are the kind of person we need more on Agric section of this forum, not some fraudulent internet farmers.
Your marketing strategy is cool, though the workability depends on your farms location. Be aggressive in sourcing for markets, and you will smile home soon.

kudos!!

The summary of what the OP wrote is : Let us join hand and fix the few things that are wrong in Naija, and our country is the best for people of our kind.


The grass is always greener at the other side, till you arrive!!

@Pavore9, @Farmtech, I hope you guys are not acting like the Nigeria Police - arresting the person that invited them to stop a fight.

My post that called your attention to the childish ranting of some posters here ended up being hidden. Which of the rules did it contravene?

Whizpeter:
I wonder the kinda odour that room will be emitting with the poor ventilation... :>

Typical ......!

ogb5:
How many hectares do you need. Can you come to Delta state?

I need 20 hectares. Delta state is not on my radar for now as it will require my relocation from present base.

I like the vibrancy of the agric. section. I also cherish the dynamism of some serious minded youths to get their hands dirty and feed the country while putting the money into their pocket (bank account).

Almost all the farmlands advertise here are in the South-West, even when I know other regions do farm also. I am very much interested in having a permanent farm estate. I know there is massive land in Akwa Ibom, Cross-River, Rivers, and Ebonyi States. Are there Nairalanders from these states in this Agric section that can link me up to a good land for sale?

Considering the road mishaps people in that section of the country go through to get food and the cost of these food items, one would expect many youths to catch in and invest in massive farming of crop that can do well in these places. I know they exist, but their presence are not felt here.

Ok, enough with my blabbing. I need a farmland in either Akwa Ibom, Cross River or Ebonyi States

Cool arrangement. I wish I dey ground to add my own. Safe trip @world1

@OP, can you comment on the specific gravity of your molasses?

sheyi86:
pix

sheyi86:
my cucumber @ 6th day

This pix are not showing.

Joive:
@Stagger, How would you rate the demand for fresh maize across Nigeria? High, Moderate, Moderately-Low or Low and how many persons out of 10 do you think will eat maize whenever the opportunity arises. I really need to hear from people and the general public on this. Judging by the fact that Fresh maize is mostly consumed boiled or roasted ( it is usually not processed into something else). Ironically, though a maize farmer, I don't consume maize that much. I eat 1 cob per week. So, am thinking " Who's gonna eat all these maize if I decide to sell them fresh?" ( about 532,000 cobs obtainable per ha).

Though I am still testing the waters, one thing you can do next time if you continue with maize is plant one (or 2) hectare(s) per week if you intend to sell fresh corn. That way, one hectare matures in a week and you concentrate on marketing one or two hectare(s).

BTW, I like your diary !!

ujoinme:
Ibom Specialist Hospital.

@ujoinme, @rozayx5, I have observe with kind interest how you guys are causing headaches and sleepless nights for some folks on this forum. Is this deliberate? Have you guys forgotten that some people have been wired to think that Nigerian start and ends with them? Anything good done by others or for the benefit of others is useless. Please spare these guys!!

Why are you guys partial in doing this? Why have you guys refuse to post

a) All the massive structures and facilities installed at AKS polytechnic at Ikot Osurua (Ikot Ekpene LGA)?
b) All the new structures and facilities at COE Afaha Nsit (Etinan LGA)
c) The entire Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, which only existed in concept when Akpabio took office in 2007
d) How about the 45 staff of the new university that have been sponsored from masters to their PhDs in UK, US and Canada?
.
.
Or the cottage hospital in each of the senatorial districts.

As much as I don't like fanfare when a government official perform his/her job ( It is what they swore to oath to do), I hate to see the hatred, negativity, 'pull them down syndrome' and outright ignorance that this kind of thread generate on this forum.

Whether some people accept it or not, Akwa Ibom state has been on a journey since 1999. By the time she arrives, some people will learn to criticise constructively.

stagger:
What if those people decide to burn your "farmer's market" to the ground? Such things have happened.

I know it is possible, especially in our beloved country where crime is glorified and criminals honoured. But, whatever I intend to do will have the backing of the law, LGA where it is situated. The facilities I hope to install there will make it more attractive such that the people will help protect it.

Nothing is impossible except you never try!!

The curriculum vitae should highlight the following:
• Full Name (Surname first in capital letters);
• Place and Date of Birth
• Nationality
• State of Origin & Local Government Area;
• Permanent Home Address;
• Present Postal Address/GSM Numbers/E-mail Address;
• Marital Status;
• Number and Ages of Children (if any);
• Educational Institutions Attended with Dates;
• Academic Qualifications Obtained with Dates;
• Professional Qualifications Obtained with Dates;
• Working Experience including full details of former and present post(s);
• Full details of teaching and research experience and service to the Nation and immediate community where applicable;
• List of Publications where applicable;
• Honours/Distinctions;
• Extra-Curricular Activities;
• Position applied for;
• Names and Addresses of three referees.

I have asked this question before, but did not get any answer.
What has the bold items got to do in an employee performance in a university setting? Why do Nigerian universities keep asking for these during job application?

gatiano:
First of all, The argument was over whether the Akwa Ibom government built it or Akpabio was just being honoured to inaugurate the opening.

That mall is a large retail center. It is in the retailing sector of the economy of that local government.
How many small retailing outlets are there in that local area (small shops, tailor, utility thing etc)? Probably 1000 or more, who have 1 or 2 saleboy or salegirls each. How many will tropical mall employ?

Before reaching the retailing end, There is the manufacturer-distributor-wholesalers(most wholesaler need warehouses or stores)- retailers who would probably depend on the 2nd stage distributors to bring goods or they would use paid transport themselves.

This big retail mall, will definitely by from the manufacturer. It is good when they buy from the local ones, It may and is actually cheaper to bring most goods from china/india (1.3 billion people working for a bed space) and indonesia etc.

Do you see how many businesses will go out, from the pictures above, there are also warehouses there a lot of them.

and

If the mall is divided into compactment for people to rent, It will be the same, only on a minimized level.

For me o
Akwa Ibom is a very fertile land (i won't waste a plot of it never)- Farming (manufacturing and creating a lot of agric employment), do not forget processing of the foods etc
That place has a lot of ranches, Fulani and Hausa jeolous that place die. Cow, goat, ram and diary products (manufacturing)
Akwa Ibom is a river area. Good and nice ferry transportation across the entire south. plus fishing industries with it processing and conserving fishes and fish products etc. Then all of these will have small wholesalers, small warehouse owners, small distributors(even one car), small retailers and infact small manufacturers.

Nigeria is no compactable for large and big business owners, even in the oil industries, that is why we have a lot of bunkerings which eventually causes oil spillages across the whole delta.
Nigeria is not a place for few or tens of billionaires, It is a place of millions of millionaires, together, we can be the highest living standard. That is my view.

Thanks for your response and civility while doing so.
You see, man is an insatiable being( according to my secondary sch. economics). Many people in Nigeria want the government to replicate things seen in the Western world, and you and me know that we are 'class sensitive'. Hence, people will prefer to shop in a large fancy mall with high price tag than patronize 'Ette Akpan Supermarket' or 'Okon Lagos Boutique' which are relatively cheap. We need change in our value system or call it re-orientation country-wide.

On the economic aspect, it will not kill the small scale business. I have had a chance to live outside Nigeria some yrs back. I see real big grocery chains like walmart and the likes, yet small business still strive in those cities. People patronize anyone base on their taste and satisfaction. Also, we are still courting big industrial investors, to create the desired industrial jobs. With these mall present in our cities, these industrialist can be assured of meeting world class service delivery and therefore confident in investing in the country.

On the other hand, these big malls can create jobs in the agricultural sector as you mentioned. The malls should be made to source for all their fruits and vegetables within the state, thereby creating jobs. The next administration should look in those this you mentioned so we can have food sustainability. What will be very bad and painful will be if the managers of this mall repeat what shoprite is doing presently in Nigeria - importing all their foodstuff, fruits and vegetables from South Africa. I think our government should kick against this.