Happy new month everyone.
For the last part of this year which marks the beginning of massive harvest period, I'll be dwelling a lot on marketing of different agricultural produce from Benue state. Marketing as we all know is few of the agribusiness value chains that has different chains within itself. I'll be starting with yam which is a major staple consumed by almost every Nigerian in different forms. About 300000 yam tubers are consumed in Lagos daily according to the NBS. In marketing of yam tubers, one can be involved in two major ways I would classify as Direct marketing and indirect marketing. Direct marketing involves physical and active participation in the marketing process. One who is directly involved can function as a produce aggregator, merchant, wholesaler or retailer. Working as any of these guarantees some profit though it differs. It involves a lot of hardwork and most importantly it entails having good knowledge about markets: supply and target. It requires dedication, tenacity and smartness.
The other option is indirect marketing. Marketers here are virtual marketers, they do not come in contact with produce. They have the biggest commitment in capital. They make money by getting returns on their investments either on monthly basis or after a period of time. It's been practiced for a long time in production but rarely done in marketing. Indirect involvement requires investing with trusted individuals or companies. So, whichever way you want to be involved, there's a place for everyone. You either get down to do the dirty job yourself or have people do it for you. Both ways you're getting more money in your account. For those who are interested in either marketing types, I can help you get trusted people you can deal with here.

eddyline:
I salute your courage sir. truth is when you start reaping the fruits of this struggle, many will only see the success and won't see the risk you took to achieve this. keep following your dreams bro

Starting is always the hardest part. Funny enough, some guys did something similar with groundnut in Taraba state and parted with farmers' produce. There's been so much distrust since the incidence.

Happy new month everyone.
For the last part of this year which is a period of massive harvest, I'll be dwelling a lot on marketing of different agricultural produce from Benue state. Marketing as we all know is few of the agribusiness value chains that has different chains within itself again. I'll be starting with yam which is a major staple consumed by almost every Nigerian in different forms. In marketing of yam tubers, one can be involved in two major ways I would classify as Direct marketing and indirect marketing. Direct marketing involves physical and active participation in the marketing process. One who is directly involved can function as a produce aggregator, merchant, wholesaler and retailer. Working as any of these guarantees some profit though it differs. It involves a lot of hardwork and most importantly it entails having good knowledge about markets: supply and target. It requires dedication, tenacity and smartness.
The other option is indirect marketing. Marketers here are virtual marketers, they do not come in contact with produce. They have the biggest commitment in capital. They make money by getting returns on their investments either on monthly basis or after a period of time. It's been practiced for a long time in production but rarely done in marketing. Indirect involvement requires investing with trusted individuals or companies. So, whichever way you want to be involved, there's a place for everyone. You either get down to do the dirty job yourself or have people do it for you. Both ways you're getting more money in your account. For those who are interested in either marketing types, I can help you get trusted people you can deal with here.

[right][/right] Happy new month everyone.
For the last part of this year which is a period of massive harvest of every crop, I'll be dwelling a lot on marketing of different agricultural produce from Benue state. Marketing as we all know is few of the agribusiness value chains that anyone anywhere can be involved in. I'll be starting with yam which is a major staple consumed by almost every Nigerian in different forms. It's estimated that about 300000 tubers of yams is consumed in Lagos daily. In marketing of yam tubers, one can be involved in two major ways I would classify as Direct marketing and indirect marketing. Direct marketing involves physical and active participation in the marketing process. One who is directly involved can function as a produce aggregator, merchant, wholesaler or retailer. Working as any of these guarantees some profit though it differs. It involves a lot of hardwork and most importantly it entails having good knowledge about markets: supply and target. It requires dedication, tenacity and smartness.
The other option is indirect marketing. Marketers here are virtual marketers, they do not come in contact with produce. They have the biggest commitment in capital. They make money by getting returns on their investments either on monthly basis or after a period of time. It's been practiced for a long time in production but rarely done in marketing. Indirect involvement requires investing with trusted individuals or companies. So, whichever way you want to be involved, there's a place for everyone. You either get down to do the dirty job yourself or have people do it for you. Both ways you're getting more money in your account. For those who are interested in either marketing types, I can help you get trusted people you can deal with here.

OKPAGAFREDRICK:
I have always planned to go into yam, Mellon and bambara nut storage but my fear is how to preserve (store) them till when the price gets high without spoiling. I served at Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State and i have visited Zakibiam market and even their local markets to know the way forward into this business but storage and the cost of transportation still remain my fear. I NEED SOMEONE TO ENLIGHTEN ME ON HOW TO GO ABOUT THESE FEAR.

Yam and mellon (unpeeld) are easy to store, don't know much about bambara nut. All that's required is a space well aerated to prevent build up of moisture. It's a really good thing you're trying to do, so I'll advise you face your fears.

damola1:
Approach a micro finance. You will pay I think 30% over a 6 months period. And that comes to 650k

What are the requirements of obtaining loan from any you know.

foxychev:
Accepted Identification documents for company registration:

International Passport
Drivers License
National ID or NIMC slip
Permanent Voters Card
Birth Certificate or Age Declaration

You also need 2 passport photos for a Business Name.

Ask a question here if you encounter issues.

How much does it cost to register a business name now and how long will it take?

Olayimikami:
I'm happy you could try your hands on something new.

Since you are new however, will give you some advice otherwise your gain will all be paper profit

Variety is what assures you of profit not the size of the yam, always buy good variety that have longer shelf life.

Maintenance of the yam purchased is very important otherwise you lose a sizeable amount

Yam prices will be low all through now till february so you are likely to have more experienced competitor on the prowl, I inclusive

Transportation cost shouldnt exceed 1500 per 100. It even drops lower to 1000 once sales peak. Try to get a bargain as 2500/100 is rather high though location dependent

Nice attempt though, i wish you swift sales.

Can u name varieties that are more preferred in the south especially Lagos, ph and warri.

No one has mentioned any korean movie. I think say una like them.

I've watched countless number of movies but I have this special movie I can watch everyday. It's a 2013 movie titled "The great Gasby" starring Leonardo DiCaprio. I've watched it full length over 50 times already. Share that movie you can watch forever.

[quote author=saliubello post=59860554]5. Be an agro processing machinery Fabricator

You are an Engineer in your field or in fact you are an Agricultural Engineering graduate and you are busy looking for white collar jobs.

Why go and till the land and be frustrated?
Why go and start a farm and be tossed around endlessly by labourers that you will still pay at end of the day?

Why not use your skill to solve problems in your immediate surrounding and make good money for yourself ??

Simple tools for peeling cassava,

For weeding on ridges,

For land preparation,

For weeding in paddies,

Nice thread.

GabdelandAgro:
pm me on WhatsApp 09095500809

if u can't, drop ur email

Just checked my mentions now. Are u still available or gotten someone to help you already?

The best value chain you can invest in is marketing. Produce like yam will be a good place to start. Be careful who you deal with anyway.

Yam harvest here in Benue will be massive in November and December. I've met few farmers here already. Planning to visit logo local government first week of next month. Even residents know yams can be so cheap during these periods.

mikolo80:
Invest in storage or processing if you want to help them .then mechanisation so they can double production to cover the 7 lean cow months and teach them to save instead of buying everything they see during the fat cow months

Well! Storage and processing cost a whole lot, I don't have the capital for that. They sure know they would suffer when they don't save but they still do it.

Hello nlanders, I live in a rural community where 90% of the people are farmers. This is only my second year but I know a lot about the people and their lifestyles already. In my time here, I've observed these people make a lot of money during harvest period from October to January. They sell their produce and leave little for consumption and planting in the next farming season. The months of February and march are also good even though spendings would have reduced considerably. However, when the next farming season kicks off in April and May, these people become so broke that some of them struggle to pay labourers and could hardly afford basic inputs. Then the months of June and July are always the toughest, foods become so expensive and they have to continue their farm works. In a chat with some of the locals, the reason for this seasonality in income level is due to lack of storage facilities. Some however pointed to the fact that it's due to their non involvement in irrigation farming. These two reasons are valid but they shouldn't be enough reasons to cause the kind of hardship they experience. For a while now, I've been thinking of ways to help these people. Their generosity is incomparable. So, I'm planning a program which will involve investment of stocks. This is how it works
During harvest, every interested farmer commits a portion of their produce as investment. The value of investment will be the current market price of the produce. So, my plan is to transport these produce to urban centers where I'll sell them at reasonable prices and the money will be reinvested into marketing of other produce. After six months, which will be the start of a new farming season, they get 100% returns on their investments. I've conducted couple of researches and considered the bright side. I believe this plan will work but it will depend on the kind of produce being invested. So, I've concluded I'll be starting with yam tubers since it's the major staple cultivated here. That way, I can make 2 or 3 trips in a month and get between 15-20% ROI on each trip. I was at the LG secretariat today to discuss this with the supervisor of agric department but he wasn't available. So, I'll be meeting him tomorrow. The problem however is, how do you see this opportunity? Do you think it will be worth the stress? From my projections, the 100% will be made in maximum of three months and the income generated in the remaining months will become mine. The intention is to help farmers but there is an economic side to it. Please kindly drop your suggestions and what you feel the risk factor might be. Thanks.

Hello nlanders, I live in a rural community where 90% of the people are farmers. This is only my second year but I know a lot about the people and their lifestyles already. In my time here, I've observed these people make a lot of money during harvest period from October to January. They sell their produce and leave little for consumption and planting in the next farming season. The months of February and march are also good even though spendings would have reduced considerably. However, when the next farming season kicks off in April and May, these people become so broke that some of them struggle to pay labourers and could hardly afford basic inputs. Then the months of June and July are always the toughest, foods become so expensive and they have to continue their farm works. In a chat with some of the locals, the reason for this seasonality in income level is due to lack of storage facilities. Some however pointed to the fact that it's due to their non involvement in irrigation farming. These two reasons are valid but they shouldn't be enough reasons to cause the kind of hardship they experience. For a while now, I've been thinking of ways to help these people. Their generosity is incomparable. So, I'm planning a program which will involve investment of stocks. This is how it works
During harvest, every interested farmer commits a portion of their produce as investment. The value of investment will be the current market price of the produce. So, my plan is to transport these produce to urban centers where I'll sell them at reasonable prices and the money will be reinvested into marketing of other produce. After six months, which will be the start of a new farming season, they get 100% returns on their investments. I've conducted couple of researches and considered the bright side. I believe this plan will work but it will depend on the kind of produce being invested. So, I've concluded I'll be starting with yam tubers since it's the major staple cultivated here. That way, I can make 2 or 3 trips in a month and get between 15-20% ROI on each trip. I was at the LG secretariat today to discuss this with the supervisor of agric department but he wasn't available. So, I'll be meeting him tomorrow. The problem however is, how do you see this opportunity? Do you think it will be worth the stress? From my projections, the 100% will be made in maximum of three months and the income generated in the remaining months will become mine. The intention is to help farmers but there is an economic side to it. Please kindly drop your suggestions and what you feel the risk factor might be. Thanks.

Nice one. However, there is a scheme that reward farmers 100% of their investment in 6 months.

nurey:
congratulations bro, you will do well by envisioning setting up a small processing plant in those villages and make yam flour and chips if possible but never discard the fresh market one too. So you turn excess into processed products and sell fresh during scarce or balanced season.

You will be providing jobs for the locals, development will pave way in the region, improved living condition as outsiders will troop in to do business there by spending on accommodation, transportation, feeding etc. If you are lucky and recognized as a bringer of hope and made a Councillor of those community you can even do more for them, but not too much so they can retain there culture and ways of life

Well said, rural development and agriculture go hand in hand. Pretty soon, we will be setting up a processing plant. I've started discussing that with the locals.

Two weeks no go do, make am 2 months. Na wen allawee no enter you go see una true color.

One discussion I've never heard on the agriculture section is provision of extension services. People talk about organising trainings, seminars, workshops and demonstrations for existing and prospective farmers. I strongly believe we need to start focusing on how to make the existing structure work. This might involve modifications and elimination of some practices but all in all extension is ever going to be key to agricultural development. I do need people who might be interested to express their interest in this value chain. You can make money from it as well but it requires strong determination and hardwork.

It was less than a year ago, as a young graduate who had just finished NYSC, I told my folks I wanted to go into farming. The reactions were terrible especially that of my mum, she looked so disappointed. I knew deep down she felt so ashamed of me and all her thoughts would be how can you decide to go into farming with your second class upper honors in Electrical and Electronics Engineering? They all knew I was an intelligent kid; I literally beat over 200 applicants to get placement as an intern in a leading telco in 2014. Even before NYSC, I had a good job with a decent salary. It was obvious getting a job after service wasn’t going to be difficult as I had made enough connections in my past workplaces. However, telling them that wasn’t the big shocker, it was when I revealed my proposed location that made them shout I needed deliverance. They must have thought I’d been caught by some village people. It was a really difficult decision to make, I had only been in Benue state once, knew just someone and there was crisis in some parts of the state at the time. I was young and broke, all I had was the idea of changing the lives of some rural farmers and it kept resounding in my mind all through the dark period of the situation with my folks. My mum almost cried her eyes out. Watching me leave was a sad day for her, no amount of persuasion and emotional displays were enough to stop me. Deep down, I was so scared of what if it didn’t work out, what if something go wrong, could this be me? I struggled to hold back tears as it was obvious the wave I got from my dad was an indication of the thought that we might never meet again. Everyone was scared of what could happen, even I was more scared but there was no way I would rescind my decision. Getting to my proposed location wasn’t easy but I had made up my mind I was going to succeed no matter what happens. I had read over a hundred books, articles and publications on different value chains in agriculture and I couldn’t be totally wrong on deciding to leave my comfort zone. The first challenge I encountered was the language barrier; few people could communicate in pidgin and English. I still wasn’t deterred, rather I used that as a strength, I made them realize I was eager to learn their language as soon as possible and I needed each person to teach me something every time we meet. Fast forward to harvest time, I went into marketing of yam with literally no income, only thing I had was the farmers’ loyalty and trust. I took yams from them and transported it to the south east and south where I sold at reasonable prices. I started making profit in no time and the farmers were happy because they got more than they would have with previous marketers. After two months, I introduced some of my friends to the business and they invested little to test the waters and they were glad they did. In four months, I had made enough money to start my dream of setting up mechanized communal farms and providing extension services to the villagers. I was introduced to farmers in a neighboring village who wanted me to also market their produce but I couldn’t do that last year because the volume would be too much to handle. I’m preparing hard to include more villages this year however. Now, I’m a big yam marketer and I’m happy I took that hard decision. My mum is a happy mum now knowing that I’m okay and safe. The moral of telling my story is to let everyone know nothing is as easy as it sounds, there is probability of failure even after proper planning. I faced so many challenges I couldn’t mention here, at a point I wanted to go back home but I couldn’t bear the thoughts of leaving my new friends. They always see a happy person in me even when I’m scared deep down. So, rather than wait forever to start that which you had always liked, just do something especially when you have nothing to lose. I utilized the power of broke and thank God it worked. The season for harvest of almost every major crops has started gradually, there is another person who can become empowered again. Just to let you know, I’m in the process of registering a business name probably before the year runs out. Take that decision, the worst you’ll get is experience and not regret.

wonder360:


I really don't know where to start from

Start somewhere, first thing would be to decide the produce you want to deal in. Thereafter, conduct research on where it can be sourced, target market and price. You need to take extra care while sourcing, with the amount you have, it's not advisable you travel long distance to source for produce. You can have a reliable person deliver to you or you go to nearby producing regions. Most important part is be sure there's a market before you put your money into any business.

Before contacting you privately, I need to know your location and price .

There are so many agribusiness you can venture into with that. However at this time of the year, I would advise you go into marketing; buy from production areas and sell in urban centres. There are many crops you can start with but yam and sweet potato can be better produce to start with.

[quote author=Seekinbiz post=59310153]

So many suggestions on agriculture and produce. It's like its lucrative. Please can you help me with your former contacts or ideas on how to go into it.[/q
Many people would only tell you it's lucrative without explaining the rigors involved. It can be very lucrative if properly planned and I would advise you don't put the whole money at once, test the waters with something and you can decide what to do next. While I was into it, I dealt in non perishable produce and sourced majorly from the north. Harvest is just starting for crops like melon and groundnuts but I wouldn't advise a newbie to start with those produce. Sweet potatoes and yam would be a good place to satrt but you might have to wait a little longer because those produce are still easily available in the south at this time. It's when it gets exhausted here that the ones from the north becomes gold.

Seekinbiz:


Thanks boss. I actually thought of setting up a poultry with layers but the fear of reaction from my neighbours due to the smell of their waste discouraged me.

Also I wouldn't want to travel far from Lagos to get any produce if I'm to go into storage and marketing. Sorry if I may sound choosy. But do you know of any such ventures you can suggest?

It's not healthy to have poultry in residential areas. Concerning distance, there are handful of produce you can get from people who source them directly from production areas. All you need is the right connection and good knowledge of the produce and market. It was a business I was running for my aunty sometimes ago but thanks to materialism, she ruined the whole thing. You need to be careful though cos as with every venture, it has its attendant risks.

Seekinbiz:
Hello good people I have #2M and want to go into business full time since I'm currently not engaged. Please I need honest and sincere advice on good businesses with return on investment.

I would appreciate every suggestion but I'm not interested in online stuff like betting or trading. I reside in Lagos and have a compound of my own with a 3 bedroom BQ apartment. So I would appreciate any business suggestion that I can do at home.

Any mini plant or production company that I can run at home. Also I have a pickup truck (hilux) for logistics for the business.

I don't mind being an agent to a big manufacturer or supplier as far as it's a fast consumer goods product with good turn over.

Also I am willing to pay for training on the job as far as the person has practical experience to pass across (please I don't want ebooks or 1001 laws of success. I will pay to get practical knowledge).

You can drop your suggestions here or PM me so that we can talk...

I wouldn't have dropped this since you specified you needed something you can do from home. However, I feel it does no harm bringing something to your notice. You can venture into any value chain in agriculture:production, storage, marketing. The harvest season for most crops is near. since you have a space of your own and a truck you can use for logistics and assuming you reside in Lagos, getting a market wouldn't be a problem if you find the right produce.

GabdelandAgro:
are u in benue? I need someone around zaki biam

I'm in katsina ala, about 30minutes drive to zaki biam.

[quote author=opeaceo post=59186116]

Here they go again! A very beautiful thread to debate on, you couldn't resist the evil urge in you to turn it upside down.

To the topic, if the duties on imported rice stands at 60%, why is the imported rice cheaper than the locally produced ones? Nigeria we hail thee.
Cost of production is the major factor. The countries we import from subsidise inputs for their farmers and every process from production to processing is fully mechanized. One major problem with rice production here is post harvest losses, large quantities of grains are lost due to manure harvesting and hulling.