₦airaland Forum

25litres of original honey from Saki N17,000. Transport to Sango in Ibadan N1,000 per 25litre. Transport to Iyana Ipaja in Lagos N1500 per 25litre. Money guarantee back if not original.

Pavore9:
Just spoke with the guy in the first video (growing strawberries in bags) and he explained to me that once it is grown, it is replaced after 3 years but the plants must be well maintained and the soil well treated.
He harvests twice a week from each of the bags, there are months when they would be not fruiting because the plants are 'resting'.
He happily invited me to come visit his strawberry farm, which is about a N100 bus fare and 20minutes ride from Central Nairobi.
Looking forward to eating FREE fresh strawberries . Though as person whey im parents raised well, l will buy at least a kilo from him at least for N500, to support his ministry though the guy is now a 'big boy' at least for the free tutorials l will be getting. So expect updates when l finally go there.

Anxiously expecting feedback. Thanks for this

stagger:
Leave that your Saki and travel a bit so u get exposed. Your world view is highly myopic.

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salsera:
@jethro2
Great thread and thanks for sharing.
Very informative and inspiring

Its my pleasure. Glad its beneficial

stagger:
I am even scheduled to attend a Food Safety seminar in University of Ghent from September to December 21st, strictly for agro processors.

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stagger:
Nobody is forcing anything down your throat. You are just childish by making personal attacks. I told you before: stop thinking with your hormones. Save that for your husband at home not here.

Hmnnnnnnnnnnnn. Again and again

stagger:
I had a Professor of Agric as my neighbour as at 1984. Planted a variety of foodstuff including plantain, oil palm, pineapple, etc. Even maize and beans. I have fried gari in my backyard with my two hands, white and yellow.

Hmnnnnnnnmnn. Again

stagger:
I went to a primary school when Agric Science was taught practically and every student had 3 farm ridge allocated to them as far back as 1980/1981.

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samuel25:
@Jethro2. How many tons will you regard the measuring van (jalukere) in your area please. Is it the a ton or more than.

The Jalukere in my side is 2.8tonnes. 12 of it do measure 32tonnes at processing factories.
But in Oyo town area, their jalukere do measure 3 tonnes. 10 of their Jalukere weight the same as ours

securi:
Dear sis, pls leave this issue, you have done well by alerting anyonw considering cassava to be careful to avoid regret later.pls end it that way.if he is not ready to disclose further info no one can force him. Let him do his things while you do yours, you have done the good work of warning ppl to look well before they leep.God bless
you.

Thank you so much sir.
As much as i tried to avoid lesgupnigeria and stagger thread, post or comments, the two always want to force it down my throat to accept their unproven theory.
But like you advice sir. henceforth i remain mute to whatever they ve got to write.
Let the wise be warned.
Thank you sir

stagger:
No businessman will give away his trade secrets.
The fact we have established is that cassava processing pays more than selling raw tubers. That should be the direction we are headed, not trying to find out how Legsupnigeria is making money from selling his raw tubers. I don't know how he does it and personally I am not bothered about it because the market space is huge for other processed products of cassava. I do not know why so many of you here are just fixated on selling raw tubers and finding out how one person is doing it when the general consensus is that you stand to make more money processing cassava than selling raw tubers.
.

When professional talks, they back it up with fact and figures. The fixation comes from lesgupnigeria claiming to have made N1,000,000 from 5 hectares of cassava that he planted.
He also made it a point on several occasion revering to people that has contrary opinion as failures hence the need for the people demanding for truth.
Every one except lesgupnigeria claims cassava planting and selling is profitable.
Don't you think we are not asking for too much?
We all know the truth hence we will let the sleeping dogs lie.

amarawa:
...but another flip side of the story, as I was told by a farmer who is also finding it hard to sell his cassava, is that people who will plant cassava this year will enjoy better price for their harvest because many people will not plant this year because of the low profit. so hopeful by this time next year it will be profitable.
I had such an experience in 2011, when people were making millions from buying and selling ginger, by the following year the price dropped because of glut. I lost 1m in that biz.
so Jethro, instead of us focusing on the low prices of cassava, I think we should be brainstorming on the way out like turning it into chips and bagging it. or any other low cost processing options.

Believe me or not, planting cassava is like gambling. I would rather invest in a sure prospect than gambling away my hard earned money.
Not all of us has the flare for the game

Ibrahym:
Good thread. I have learnt a lot from the contributions so far.
Jethro, from your OP, you ventured into the business on the premise that cassava cost per tonne was about N18,000.
But the rates in your area is like N5,000 to say N10,000 per tonne depending on the variety, quality, etc
Would you say:
(a) The initial forecast of N18,000 was just wrong
(b) It was reasonable, but you did not factor that over-supply of Cassava in recent times forced a reduction in price
(c) It was reasonable, but you did not factor that practices of buyers delaying purchase now frustrates sellers to reduce prices
(vice versa, this is common in the rice value chain as paddy rice sellers try to hoard and delay sales to when there is scarcity in the market).
(d) It was reasonable, but you did not factor that selling price depends (i) the seller's cassava quality and bargaining power plus (ii) the type of buyer and what they use cassava for, e.g. garri, starch, etc.
Generally, I think for anyone going into business, you have to carry out thorough research based on your location, ensuring you have potential off-takers (buyers) and a fall back plan.
Ultimately, as others have also said, one will also have to invest in the Cassava value chain, i.e. start processing into starch, gari, ethanol, etc
Only then can you be the master of your own game and business.
I understand it is capital intensive, but one must find a way: either by starting small, getting loans, using cooperative, etc.

I am so very sure all your itemised questions has been attended to on the forum.
And I am glad you arrive at a logical conclusion.

COLEACP Supports Nigerian Fresh Produce To Access EU Market

Stanley Ihedigbo

Nigeria looks set to join the West African fresh producers by setting new domestic and internationally accepted export standards.
COLEACP, a Brussels-based inter-professional network promoting horticultural trade between Europe and the member countries in the Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific, commenced work with the fresh producers in Nigeria about two years ago to support the work on horticultural production and trade, under the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda.
According to statement made available to The UNION Agribusiness by the Executive Secretary of Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers and Exporters Association of Nigeria (AFGEAN), Mr Akintunde Sawyerr.
Country Manager for Nigeria at COLEACP, Benedicte Werner, gave the indications in a recent disclosure.
“We reiterate our willingness to do more in Nigeria with additional funding, based on the action plan we submitted to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development in Nigeria, Werner said .
COLEACP, an organisation that is making its presence increasingly felt in Nigeria, has established a number of strategic relationships towards preparing Nigerian horticultural investors for export trade.
According to Werner, “COLEACP-PIP currently manages 22 memoranda of agreement (MoA) for individual support projects in the horticultural industry. The beneficiaries are three farmer cooperatives, five export companies, and 12 consultancy firms.
Similarly, COLEACP is establishing a MoA with the Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers & Exporters Association of Nigeria (AFGEAN), as well as with the Department of Horticulture of the Federal University of Agriculture of Abeokuta.”
Two of AFGEAN leaders, Alhaji Tajuddeen Aminu Dantata (President) and Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr (Executive Secretary), have indicated that AFGEAN will continue to support its members, who are predominantly small sale farmers in the sector.
Specifically, Werner indicated, “COLEACP-PIP has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IFDC 2scale project and is currently discussing with DFID – GEMS 4 project. In addition, since the first COLEACP mission to Nigeria in July 2013, applications for support have been received from other potential beneficiaries and are under evaluation; these include export companies, the Fresh Fruit Vegetable Dealers Association of Nigeria as well as from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).”
She pointed out that, April 2014, an awareness-raising workshop on food safety management and market requirements – co-organised with AFGEAN and Sence Agric (leading entity) – was planned for more than 30 participants from private sector organisations (farmers, future farmers, processors) as well as SON and NAFDAC.
In a training of trainers’ session, planned for 28th of April to 10th of May at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, in collaboration with the IFDC 2scale project, 12 service providers have been trained, after going through a selection process on the COLEACP-Learning platform. The trainers were from Kenya and Zambia.”

Just discovered the website is probably down. Full name is Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers And Exporters Association of Nigeria. Keep in touch

senato123:
Hi Jethro,nice work all along,please need to tap from u on a standard market. Our young company passe part out nig ltd is a solely standard agribiz based. We recently acquired a 20acre in southwest for an integarated farm. I need to discuss wt u on dis. Please send ur contat no. To gentlet2005@yahoo.com. Well done.

The standard market is unsaturated. There is a body coming up with a certification that gives you direct access to the standard market. Watch out for AFGEAN CERT for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Will be out soon. I will be posting the guidelines on registration to access the market as soon as it comes.
My mail is adesola_yinka@yahoo.com.
visit www.afgean.com to know more

Pavore9:
@jeffmyson, u truly have a insider information on price distribution, it is left 4 farmers to utilize it. They should break into markets that provides higher returns, what should stop a tomato farmer in Oyo from taking his produce to the Niger Delta.

My Oga. No Stopping. Eastern part:here we come.

jeffmyson:
That is more or less why I said that Lagos is getting oversupply of commodities thereby creating glut and significant price reductions.
When you are in the system, you will then knows how it works..insider informations

Perfectly correct. One needs to expand their tentacles. There are lot to be explore

Pavore9:
@boscowjay, "murrayford" posting on your every thread is just not adding up, some threads have only just you "two" posting!

Soloxam:
Bros me self the think ooooo, meanwhile Murray Ford just register this evening, with all these commendation I fear ooooo...........

Pavore9:
l also saw the registration date, l just tire!

This is becoming interesting.

jeffmyson:
The fact is there are no trading standards in the country, which is very bad as it really affects the farmers and the consumers. Farmers receive poor revenues for the products and the middlemen sale bad quality mixed with good quality to the final consumers who pay for it.
Can you imagine in the whole of Nigeria, there is no organised trading company focused on fresh produce in Nigeria with packing houses! The biggest problem farmers face is the marketing of their commodity and most times they end up dumping the goods at the lowest rates in frustration.
Let me give you an instance, a basket of tomatoes which we sold in Abuja for around N3,000 (we actually bought at N1,300 from farmers) is sold for N8,000 in Warri and around N10,000 in Uyo, N13,000 in Bayelsa. So you see, the farmers have no organised company to sell their produce to and end up selling in frustration to the middlemen.
That is where we need agri-businesses to come in, set up packing houses at point of origin, clean and package the produce and effectively distribute them across the country and return bigger value to farmers and consumers.

2jeffmyson. Do you know you just handed me a good working info at the bolded.
Thank you for that. Intense research work commences immediately

stagger:
My friend, instead of wasting time on another person's story, why not take some of your own money and take the risk of developing your own unique strategy for profiting from cassava? Is Saki the only place cassava is planted in this country, or are gari and lafun only eaten in Lagos? Take your own risk and have a story to tell.
A glass can be half full or half empty. Even if he posts everything some people will not be convinced.

We are all on the thread to learn. please give the guy some breathing space. Its not about saki or lagos i believe.
There is a saying that we should learn from other peoples experience and i still believe there is freedom of opinion and writing online.
Thank you

Pavore9:
l can help but sending things down to Nigeria is the issue, if u have anyone visiting Kenya soonest, do let me know, so we arrange.

Thank you so much. I will work around that.

I have chosen to ignore any one that quotes me on this topic. You are all entitle to your opinion as I am to mine.
"He who wears the shoes know where it pinches"
Its just a matter of time. "Aye gbogbo yin"

jeffmyson:
Very true!
Almost all the dams built by FADAMA and the world Bank Assistance projects are in the north.
The north are heavily favoured in Agriculture than the south and that because the South have always looked away from Agriculture.
Hopefully with more Youths like yourself and I choosing Agri business, thing will change soonest.
Cheers!

Its not been easy. When you rightly know what to do and there are lot of mitigating factors affecting you.
1. Seeds are not readily available to the farmers.
2. Dams are not accessible. The government officials in charge have turned it to personal business.
3. The standard market is not organise. Imagine there is no certification body for fruits and vegetables on the country.
4. The techniques are not available. Tractor mounting implements are not easy to come by.
I believe we will get there in due course. We need individual investors to come in.

Pavore9:
lf anyone truly have the market and at a good price, there are many farmers out there who are willing to supply. Personally l can't just wrap my head around selling it @ N8,000 per tonne when l can sell a tonne of Capsicum at the cheapest for N400K!

Please can you assist with the purchase of some vegetable seed in Kenya?

if i keep claiming something is profitable while majority says its not, then i should be willing to convince them of my so claimed profitability of that commodity.
Every true cassava farmer knows that there is nothing for cassava. The starch processors are probably the one making money.
Gari processors has
I receive calls daily from nairaland of people who has planted cassava and need outlet for sale.
Off course i gave them link to companies explaining the deals.
1. This company don't make payment until after 3 to 4 weeks of supply. You have sweat for a whole year then you have to be pursuing companies again to be able to get your fund.

None has ever come back to say they made good profit. Its been complaint and complaint. Even some prefer to find a way through converting to gari and then find market for it.
Imagine something you never bargained for.
A lot of nairalander have cassava they are struggling to sell off. Be it one acre or 20hectares.
And like i keep hammering cassava is a no no if you want your investment back

Chukslar:
Jethro2,
1) On the Average what is your estimated investment cost/Hectare
2) I am aware of some cassava species that take between 7-9 Months before harvest are what is your opinion on those species?
3) What is your take on Yellow Root cassava and its profitability?
4) what is your estimated harvest / Hectare(Practically)?

Oga mi
I am not an advocate for cassava planting. In one of my post I said"I WILL NEVER ADVISE MY ENEMY TO CULTIVATE CASSAVA"
99% of farmers in Nigeria cultivates cassava annually with no market outlet for it.
I would rather advise a would be investor to sight their processing factory in a cassava farmer concentrated area.
I even volunteer in one of my thread to give free land to investors that would site a starch processing factory in Saki East LGA of Oyo State.

My take as an agric person is " to tell the whole world something is profitable you should be able to prove it with facts and figures.
When i mean facts and figures, what i expect is
1. I planted so so amount of cassava on so ao hectares of land.
2. I harvested after so so months and from an hectare i got so so quantity
3. I supplied to so so company at the rate of so so
4. My cost of production is ------------
5. My sales after harvesting is -------------
6. Transport cost for 3 tones from Saki to Lagos is ..........
7. The yield for my variety is .............
8. Cost of loading ................

If you plant and sell cassava profitably one should be able to back it up by estimating the above points.
But if all i get for your profitability theory is rantings and rambling with no authentic prove, how do you convince me to put in my money on rants.
I keep telling people I am a practical farmer. I work with facts and figures.
What I will not believe is a small processor utilising 10tonnes per day decides to pay more to purchase cassava because you had some kind of relationship with them.
Does that mean they have a special market where they sell?
As far as I am concerned, Nobody on nairaland has been able to prove the profitability of cassava planting and selling.
Like I earlier said I opened this thread because there has been so many misleading stories about casssava on nairaland.
A lot like me fell for the stories and got our fingers burned.
Currently a tonne of cassava sells between N5,000-N8,000 tonnes in Saki area of Oyo State.
The big companies in Lagos state and Ogun State buys between N10,000 -N11,000 per tonnes.
And one wants me to believe you sell at N15,000 to smaller companies because of your relationship
Please change the story and say something else that ordinary farmers can believe

amarawa:
Nice thread. But what people are saying about cassava seems to me as things applicable to other areas of agric. Effective market research and adding value to ur product are the key, so why are we singling cassava out.
I think one of the problems farmers in Nigeria has is lack of support from government in many areas. I was at Shoprite where I saw watermelons labelled made in South Africa, yet at Orange market few km away water melon is rotten because of low market. The fruits should have been processed if the farmers can afford the machine.
Even the 10m starch plant Jethro mentioned is a child's play. An industrial starch plant machine cost about 1m dollars from Denmark and China.
Let us continue to partner and collaborate, I'm sure we will get there.

Perfectly correct. It affects every aspect of agriculture.
Waiting for government will amount to doing nothing because we can as well wait forever.
Groups with like minds and passion can come together to liberate themselves.
The clause is how many are trustworthy?

EJaja:
Can you kindly through more light into the above quoted subject matter.
What are the set of Equipments required for a standard acceptable starch plant.
Which of the Country is this machine coming from and whats the production output.
Would this 10. 000, 0000 Naira Starch facility meetup the starch standard required by industries in Nigeria.

You might have to do more research or get a consultant to find the break down for you. I am just an ordinary farmer that knows not all the details

Mordyb:
I am not aware of a market for flowers as the only thing available are those road side gardens in Abuja who only make money from horticultural contracts which is hard to find.
pls enlightenment is needed dearly

There is a big market for horticulture exports. This requires some standard, consistency in supply and fixed price. An individual farmer can not do this alone.
It has to be group of farmers that are producing the same quality and can also plan their planting seasons to coordinate.
There is presently a consultant fro Europe that is on Nigeria to carry out some survey on the horticultural values that we have.
I am not sure he has gotten anything tangible

jeffmyson:
Thanks for your kind word jethro! I really appreciate!
However the way this guys run the show seems a little organised in terms of the farming aspects. For example 90% of the tomatoes in the market are coming out of Zaria with little supply from elsewhere like Kano. However the crop is almost finished and within 2 to 3 weeks the market will move towards Kano which is expecting harvest shortly and they will have more than enough supply to keep the market running for another 2 months before everyone will return to Zaria! Keeping the cycle going!
However when the rains come! Almost all the farmers abandon the tomatoes and grow grains which give them more money. That's why tomatoes are most expensive during raining season!

Northerners got more supports in agriculture from their government. They have access to irrigation dams and improved seed.
The government there invest massively on agriculture. The more reason majority of food supply comes from the north.
International NGOs also concentrates their assistance in the north.
We are just trying to get ourselves organise in the South West.
We hope to get there sooner than later