₦airaland Forum

My main crux is let intending farmers know what they are venturing into. Except you are processing and you have a ready made market, dont venture into cassava farming.
Starch processors are making cool dough right away. A mini standard processing unit cost not less than N10,000,000, equipment alone.
How many farmers can go close?
Even the starch has quality standard requirement. One cant just fabricates or import machineries that will not give the expected result.

jasper7:
@jethro2. Ma, I think the major reason most of us open threads is to share experiences both good and bad. and the ultimate reason is for people to learn. Let's trash out this matters and see where it leads. We all might learn a thing or 2 at the end...
You said you have many hectares of cassava. and you have given very valid reasons why you can't sell it fresh. Can we look at processing? My questions are as follows?
How long can cassava survive inside ground when mature? Does staying long add or remove value from the cassava?
Are there angles you feel you have not covered in terms of marketing?
sorry o, my questions might sound silly and rookie, I have no idea on cassava farming.
What does it take to process this cassava into garri or something?

Thank you for the valid questions @Jasper7
1. The longevity are determine by the varieties.
The new hybrid has maximum of 2 years.
The older version that was been planted can last between 3-5years.
2. If the cassava is still getting nutrients in terms of rain, the value does not depreciate
But if it has no supplement nutrient then the root begins to feed on the previously stored starch to withstand the drought
3. Marketing: I think i have done a lot could be wrong though.
The major problem is that all Processing factory in Nigeria are private owned. There is no fixed rate or standard. Coupled with a lot of misleading information on the profitability of cassava which are quite the opposite

Mind you, I am not saying one can not make money through cassava but not from cassava planting and supplying to companies.
Even gari processing have its own niche that one must understand.
Lets assume you converts your cassava into gari
Depending on the starch content of the cassava
A 3 tonne cassava will gives you between 500 - 700 kg of gari.
50kg bag in my area is N3500
You can not transport a bag all the way to Abuja.
The distance from Saki area to Lagos is 4-5hours.
The distance from Abuja (Gwagwalada) is not less than 10-12hours
I will just summarise Lagos trip so one can imagine Abuja side.
A 30 tonne, 12 tyres trailer from Saki to Lagos is from N150,000 - N180,000.
Loading is between N15,000-N22,000
Local government fee, Police check points on the road, Eleru payments will also be factor in.

Now back in Abuja
Warehouse payments for goods
Abuja Municipal Council payment
Off loading etc

Except you will be sitting down in the shop to sell using an attendant which you place on salary, I am not seeing how the N6,000 sales can directly be yours.

I will assume that 30tonnes load of gari will be shared among the retailers. Automatically not at N6,000 per bag.

Unforseen circumstances like vehicle breaking down could also be factor in at some point.
Passion and determination are greatly needed to break through

Few years back when i was doing my masters at the University of Abuja. My lecturer gave us a note on thermodynamics to make our own copy.
Lo and behold on the right hand side was written 1978. The same note he got from his lecturer.
My point is most researchers never set foot out of the their office. They produce their write ups based on someone else result from years back.
Things have changed. We are in the jet age. 1978 theory can not be applied in 2015.
What I am saying is an intending farmer should work mostly with practical farmers and not research book. Get into the field to learn. Investigate thoroughly from 3 or more practising farmers.
Most practical farmers dont keep records. They hardly document things. The information exist in their brain. Majority can not even write. They dont have access to internet and they mostly stay in rural settlement.
We have 3 categories of people
1. Those that dont know but claim to know
2. Those that knows but choose to say the opposite
3. Those that actually knows.
Lets be wise

Charcoal is available

jeffmyson:
Just as I initially promised, I finally started a pilot project for tomatoes marketing. We have developed a model which we intend to spread across Nigeria. We have started a trail run in Abuja to better understand how the final system will work. Just this week we have started delivering to wholesale markets at least 5,000 Kgs (100 Basket) of tomatoes daily which we are also able to sell of almost immediately.
There are challenges in the marketing of the commodity, one of which is lack of standardized quality, quantity and price mechanism. From our brief sojorn so far, I have come to realise that the farmers pay for the risks involved in the business as most dealers are not willing to offer better prices for the produce for fear of losing money either during produce transit or flooding of the market with products which may undercut their margins! Imagine right now we currently buy almost 70KG of tomatoes from farmers in Zaria and Kano for around N1,300.
I am sharing my experience so that farmers of the commodity will better understand the marketing aspects and it challenges!
Though the tomatoes we are trading on is for the wholesale mass market.

You are doing a great job. The open market price fluctuates which thereby made it a calculated market. The northerners has been planting with with irrigation and will soon be running out of stocks.
To maximise open market one needs to understudy it.
The best vegetable market so far in Nigeria is the Standard market which we are under utilising.
Keep the spirit alive and weldone

The beneficiary of this government agricultural programmes are mainly political farmers and corporate farmers that has little link or no link to farm at all.
Majority of smallholders farmers that constitute the main producers of food crops never gets any form of assistance from the government.

Adex001:
@Jethro2. Thanks so much for your help always. I have prepared my land tao plant the tomatoes.. Am having difficulties getting the seeds for nursery..... Any help towards that..? Am no more scared of failing... Thanks in anticipation..

Technisem seed is available in Ibadan. Please discuss with Soloxam

waka2:
oga jethro,thank you.

Its my pleasure sir

eoronsaye:
Hi All
I have 100 acres of cassava I will be harvesting in October and plan on converting this over to garri and using the by products for animal feed and starch. I am aware there is alot of potential in Cassava farming but how big is this potential really. This is the first time I have ever done cassava farming so those of you who have any knowledge around cassava farming and garri, your comments will be extremely welcomed.
I will appreciate it if you can please tell me how lucrative this market is.
Is there a high demand for garri during any particular time of the year
What is the going rate for a basin of garri
When I harvest cassava around October and convert this to Garri, what will the price be for a basin of garri in October, November and December period.
How long can Garri be stored for as I can keep it in storage and then sell when the price peak.
I look forward to receiving all your comments.
Many thanks

Please don't tell me you did not do the marketing before planting that large expanse of cassava farm. I don't want to imagine or believe that.

X3MLY:
Hi peeps!
discovered this beautiful thread today and following already!
but no posts since 12th...werrin hapin?
jasper? Kalusam? Jethro? Hope d manual work neva power una down ooo!
I dont mind coming over to help wit manual labour...just keep d posts coming!!!

Sincerely we need more hands as it is. We will surely appreciate a helping hand.
Pictures will still follow. Every team member is weigh down by labour

Wow. Welcome sir. Eku ise

waka2:
@jethro,how many time must i plough the ground,

Do one ploughing, one harrowing and one ridging.

waka2:
,how many time a week must i wet my tomatos.

The more you wet the bigger your tomatoes. You are advised to wet everyday. On the nursery morning and night for 21days in the field every evening

waka2:
how many time for weeding b4 harvesting started

Weeding times depend on the type of grass in your area. It could be 3 to 4 times or could be more.

Queendo:
God bless u for d info

And you too my sister

CONVERT TO GARRI AND MAKE MONEY.
I read a lot of post that says one can make a lot by processing cassava into garri.
I completely disagree with this.
Why?
After farming, the expected major business in the rural area is gari making.
That's what makes gari a poor mans food. Its easily accessible.
I have processed cassava to gari before on commercial basis I still have the fryer, grater etc.
"Labourers could mess you up"
"Water supply could just seize"

"But its not mechanised"
Some people will say
The last time i was at IITA to make enquiries about the gari fryer, one of their staff said and i quote:
"One will be very fortunate to get a gari fryer that will produce the same quality as the manual frying. Even there is a manual frying section beside the advertised machineries.

Marketing of garri is another issue on its own.
"What are you offering that is not in existence"?
"Who are your target market"?
"How do you intend to displace the existing sellers"?
"What extra value are you adding"?
"Have you factor in your transportation cost"?
"Are you renting a shop to sell or you will get distributors/marketers"?
"Storage facilities or no arrangement for that"
Yes, you will make lot of money from processing into garri.
It depends on how much work you are willing to put in to achieve that.
Nothing comes easy.
Most write up online make one feels you automatically becomes rich when you process cassava into garri
Please figure it out

The processors want to maximise their profit thereby extorting farmers.
"Why don't you set up a processing unit"?
"Fabricate the machine and produce starch"
"convert to garri and make money"
"Process into chips and export"
"Cassava flour has been mandated to be used in bakeries"
These are some of the questions that could be popping up in ones mind.
I will take them one by one in my own way

"WHY DONT YOU SET UP A PROCESSING UNIT
The demand for cassava starch is high but it comes with standard specification.
A starch processor i was privilege to meet said the machineries alone cost not less than N10,000,000.
This is excluding building, other facilities and even water supply through borehole. The factory have over 5 boreholes placed in strategic locations.

FABRICATE THE MACHINES WITH N500,000
The quality of starch produced by using recommended standard machineries quite differs from what the locally fabricated machines could dish out.
Don't forget we have got a specific quality to meet

There are several starch processors such as Psaltry International in Ado Awaye area of Oyo State, Thai Farm in Ososa, Ogun State, Green Tech in Agbara Ogun State, Matna in Akure, Ehka Agro in Lagos now closed, a distilleries in Sango Otta etc.
All the factories are privately owned and therefore at liberty to fix their price.
Farmers are usually at their mercy.
The demand for starch by FCMG is so high that Heinekein is currently partnering with Psaltry to expand their production.

bispope:
How much for 1 bag of soya beans?

Sorry. We finish selling our soya beans

waka2:
Daily,i can't help myself bt must visit here to learn 4rm jethro, pavore,jasper,soloxam,lesgup stagger and some other guys.you guys are wondaful you dnt know the giants you are breeding now bt believe u will see the impact in nearest future, ur teachings arguments differences are all wonderful GOD bless you all. well done.

My Oga you are welcome

Please start small to minimise loss. Subsequently one can expand. Practical farming is different from online farming.
The bed needs to be properly prepared using
a. Poultry waste
b. Rice bran or shaft or
c. Saw dust
Tomatoes are planted in the evening when the sun has gone down.
The nursery needs water every morning and evening.
In the morning before sun rise and in the evening after sunset

If your target is to make money in the open market for tomato in the south west, the time to start is now.
Tomato takes 2 to 3 months depending on the variety. One needs to starts the nursery from now till next month.
The seed stays in the nursery 3weeks. The time is now to start nursery.
Dont forget to source good seeds. Hybrid preferably.
Things needed for your nursery
1. Seed
2. Manure inform of poultry waste
3. Nursery bed or seed tray
4 Constant source of water
5. Dedication and consistency

Pavore9:
l did mention horticulture on the first page, living in Nairobi and seeing what is going on, l swore never to have anything to do with cassava farming, let those who are in love with it continue! Coming to flowers, Kenya and Kenyans are reaping it big from flower export as every night different airlines air-freights flowers to Europe for sale the next morning as 70% of roses sold in European Supermarkets are from Kenya. Most
painful is that Nigerians import those same flowers from Europe!
Anyone that tells me that their weather favours flower growing more than Nigeria is high on fermented plantain root (l have drank it ). Our weather distribution is vast just like Kenya's. Their Northern part is just like ours dry and dusty though there are places as cold like Scotland.l could liken Nairobi's weather to that of the Middle-belt. We just lack the will and capacity to be involved in it.
l would rather do vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, carrots, French beans, Eggplants etc as these crop accrue more income at a shorter time frame than the traditional cassava we are used to though there are also profit in it but the market structure does not favour the farmer who spent many months on the farm but individuals who are involved after it leaves the farm.
This links can give anyone an idea of what l am talking about.
http://www.royalseed.biz/seeds---domestic.php
http://www.royalseed.biz/seeds---export.php
Click on the picture of the desired crop and read the details.

Horticulture is the way to go.
Thank you sir for the link

julibos:
Hi Jethro
I must say I really love the way you pass on your experience to those reading, I find your style very expressive and engaging….keep up the good work. I can see you are multitalented, not just in farming but in teaching and writing as well. And I really think what we lack in Nigeria is exposure to some form of technicalities that will make our pursuit seamless and also 100% cooperation and sincerity from the government seems what we get is half measures, for instance someone mentioned Horticulture on the first page, I heard recently during the valentine period that the flower business is a big one, but we do not have many doing it here or let’s say we don’t have enough people like Jethro sharing their pros and cons experienced in the course of their venture. Leant in Kenya a stem of rose is around 40naira for one but here its 1200naira for same flower. Imagine the difference, this is because production for this is low here, hence we bring in from other countries…..more people like Jethro should please share more ,I guess naijas out there too should offer help in the area of expertise…..ride on Jethro….sofry sofry on stagger o. looking at his post there is a point there, but I guess it comes out as though there’s little or no acknowledgement or appreciation for your effort or experience but I doubt if he meant to hurt anyone with his insight. Anyway long story, I love what you are doing and feel really inspired, so many are bored at routine desk job…loool. This is the way to go.

Thank you sir.

Queendo:
Is dis my tomatoes boss am following and learning frm d prof in Agric. U are indeed inspiring millions of people. God bless u.

Thank you ma

sheyi86:
i appreciate wot jethro has stated so far which is d truth of d matter. Wot legsup stated in 1 guy thread abt cassava isnt true likewise stagger, do u kno hw many processing units we av in SW alone hwever 2 even process cassava into product is it even easy? I and my collegues processed cassava int 4 products as our project i.e flour garri fufu and starch and we sold them by ourself we only made profit frm fufu wen i calculated d amount we spent on gari processing i discovered dat we made loss.jethro is a practical farmer.And how many cassava farmer has made it frm even cassava processing. Jethro ride on joor i dey follow reality.

Thank you sir

mercylicious:
hehehe.
spreads mat n sipping my zobo drink.
Jethro, u are my friend, bt take it easy wit stagger. dont make anyone ur permanent enemy. ur outburst was uncalled for. both of u are saying d same thing- process ur cassava.

I appreciate you sister. Thank you

Fhemmmy:
Great and will surely talk to you soon, while learning on your thread . . . Thanks.

You are welcome sir

JAkpayen:
@jethro2
stagger is telling you the basic facts. If you really want to make money from cassava, try processing it further into flour. Either you acquire a cassava processing equipment or partner with a processing company. I tell you that a ton of cassava flour is sold @ N80,000

Sincerely I am not disputing his opinion. My point is one could pass information with some decorum.
Acquiring cassava flour processing plant is not a child's play.

30 - 40 tonnes yield of cassava from an hectare.
Yes its attainable but highly difficult for the following reasons.
Most research where the results are quoted from are done under controlled environment.
1. They don't wait for rain. They use irrigation
2. Every possible treatment for integrated soil fertility is applied.
3. Pest and diseases are control to the barest minimum.
4. The cuttings/stem used are the highly resistance type.
5. Multiplier effects is used to decide the yield.
Multiplier effect is such that the research is carried out on a plot of land. The result is then multiplied to get the yield for an hectare.
6. Two plots of land can not give you the same yield despite using the same treatment all through.
7. One needs to follow through all the procedures recommended. This is not an easy feat to achieve on an expanse of land

Fhemmmy:
I am interested in this aspect so much..... would like to talk you, please send me your contact, thanks And not sure if possible to tell how much was used to cultivate each hectare of land of cassava till ready to sell

My contact no is 08064688501.
Yes. Its possible to give the cost in my area. There will definitely be some difference which could be more or less.

The farmers in my area keep planting cassava because there is are no alternative crop.
The federal government has no one single processing plant that utilizes cassava.
The cassava processors don't pay until after 3 to 4 weeks of supply.
The suppliers bear the transport cost.
As per the yield of 30 to 40 tonnes, we will discuss it when i get back from morning farm

stagger:
I can see you are too childish to learn anything from this thread or this forum. You love picking quarrels with anyone and everyone. Who was deriding anyone here? Did you even read the posts well at all to see what point was being made? You see what you want to see and believe what you want to believe.
Your hormones do your thinking for you, not your brain. I am out of here.

I will pretend i did not understand the gibberish you wrote.
But one important thing is I am grateful the Nairaland Methuselah left my thread.
Thank you