₦airaland Forum

Ayemileto:
I'm a first time maize farmer, and my maize farm is finally ready for Harvesting. Someone brought in some market women to harvest and buy today.

The rate at which this women purchased is so ridiculous that if I continue selling like this, I won't make what I spent on the project back, not to talk of profit.

It was actually painful because I didn't discuss price with them before they started harvesting, as I assumed the person who brought them already did the discussion, only for this women to come up with a ridiculous rate after harvesting. They claim there's now excess maize in the market.

Another buyer someone called for me offer even worse prices.

It appears they have a maize seller association, where they fix their buying prices.

I'm currently considering harvesting and taking to the market myself, because I'm sure I should be able to sell at X2 of their buying prices (their buying prices is currently between 40 - 55 Naira per Maize on Average, and I think I should be able to sell at 100 - 120 Naira per Maize at the market)

I can't leave the maize to dry because of the rate of rainfall we're currently experiencing.

Any Clue from experienced farmers?

Selling fresh maize is not profitable

If it's not too late I will advise you dry everything and keep until price begin to make sense

I had same experience last year and I swear I will NEVER sell any of my fresh farm produce anymore because it's always not motivating and most times it's total loss

tellsblinks:
Hello, can I send you a PM
I would love to hear your story on importing.

Please check your Email. Thanks

oh really, I'll check. That was the good ol' PDP days,when you could spend thousands of dollars using your naira ATM bank card. I used to do around 10k USD a year then (that was just 1.5m at the time). It was my savings and I would always find something to invest in so it could keep growing.

All that is not possible anymore, thanks to the calamity called the APC.

Zwooks:
Bag of dried maize ? Are you for real ?

dried maize. But it's over 150k now oo

Ayemileto:
It should be at least 223 per bag on average.

The women used 4 of those big beans bags, and 3 of those 50KG rice bags.

I came up with the 223 figure because the women took 18 for N1,000, and they had 87 stacks after grouping the maize into 18 per stack.

(87x18) divided by 7 will give a little over 223 for each bag.

If we add an extra 50 for the stacks that are more than 18, then it can go up to 230 per bag on average.

You better stop selling the corn for now till you get the right information on how they actually buy those corn.

Na real shortage them wan run you so o. No be that kind bag them dey use buy corn for farm o.

Ayemileto:
I'm a first time maize farmer, and my maize farm is finally ready for Harvesting. Someone brought in some market women to harvest and buy today.

The rate at which this women purchased is so ridiculous that if I continue selling like this, I won't make what I spent on the project back, not to talk of profit.

It was actually painful because I didn't discuss price with them before they started harvesting, as I assumed the person who brought them already did the discussion, only for this women to come up with a ridiculous rate after harvesting. They claim there's now excess maize in the market.

Another buyer someone called for me offer even worse prices.

It appears they have a maize seller association, where they fix their buying prices.

I'm currently considering harvesting and taking to the market myself, because I'm sure I should be able to sell at X2 of their buying prices (their buying prices is currently between 40 - 55 Naira per Maize on Average, and I think I should be able to sell at 100 - 120 Naira per Maize at the market)

I can't leave the maize to dry because of the rate of rainfall we're currently experiencing.

Any Clue from experienced farmers?

add value, selling maize still on the farm will cheapen it's value.

Father4all:
dried maize. But it's over 150k now oo

And we sell it here less than 100k. Omo I am seeing business opportunity o

Ayemileto:
Ogun State

Reach out to @Nig_Farmer on twitter

Never be in a rush to sell your maize ... Not even to those women .

Allow your maize to dry , harvest and dry them well .... And thank me later .

i have 2-acres of maize and nothing on earth will make me sell them as fresh corn by the grace of God . , whoever wanna roast corn should go and plant .

No room for cheating !

Ayemileto:
I'm a first time maize farmer, and my maize farm is finally ready for Harvesting. Someone brought in some market women to harvest and buy today.

The rate at which this women purchased is so ridiculous that if I continue selling like this, I won't make what I spent on the project back, not to talk of profit.

It was actually painful because I didn't discuss price with them before they started harvesting, as I assumed the person who brought them already did the discussion, only for this women to come up with a ridiculous rate after harvesting. They claim there's now excess maize in the market.

Another buyer someone called for me offer even worse prices.

It appears they have a maize seller association, where they fix their buying prices.

I'm currently considering harvesting and taking to the market myself, because I'm sure I should be able to sell at X2 of their buying prices (their buying prices is currently between 40 - 55 Naira per Maize on Average, and I think I should be able to sell at 100 - 120 Naira per Maize at the market)

I can't leave the maize to dry because of the rate of rainfall we're currently experiencing.

Any Clue from experienced farmers?

Zwooks:
And we sell it here less than 100k. Omo I am seeing business opportunity o

my God. Where is your state?

Ayemileto:
I'm a first time maize farmer, and my maize farm is finally ready for Harvesting. Someone brought in some market women to harvest and buy today.

The rate at which this women purchased is so ridiculous that if I continue selling like this, I won't make what I spent on the project back, not to talk of profit.

It was actually painful because I didn't discuss price with them before they started harvesting, as I assumed the person who brought them already did the discussion, only for this women to come up with a ridiculous rate after harvesting. They claim there's now excess maize in the market.

Another buyer someone called for me offer even worse prices.

It appears they have a maize seller association, where they fix their buying prices.

I'm currently considering harvesting and taking to the market myself, because I'm sure I should be able to sell at X2 of their buying prices (their buying prices is currently between 40 - 55 Naira per Maize on Average, and I think I should be able to sell at 100 - 120 Naira per Maize at the market)

I can't leave the maize to dry because of the rate of rainfall we're currently experiencing.

Any Clue from experienced farmers?

In Enugu state, it is 7 for 2k

Father4all:
my God. Where is your state?

I dey inside thick farm settlement nested inside forest o

Ayemileto:
Ogun State

Where in ogun state
My dad sells corn to market women too, tho he faced the same problem when started but now it’s better
If you are closer to me, I can give you few tips on how to get good sells

Depend on the size of maize you planted and location,if you have a maize farm of 2 acre don't sell to the locals direct,go to the market get a bus and move the product to the market directly,I sold a maize of 1 acre myself for 100 each or 6 pieces 500,wise up those market woman will ripe you off,but if you have a smaller farm negotiate tight with them,and one more information make sure you pluck the corn that day and take it to the market that day,it makes the corn sweeter and the locals will queue to buy them at the market,the market is where you can meet alot of buyers that's gonna pay well.

Ayemileto U better be very careful with all these market women...Some of them cheat like no tomorrow...If u aren't really in need of money, Don't sell more than 30% of ur harvest, Store the rest & sell am when demand is high.

Most of the buyers at this time are greedy folks who won't hesitate to buy at annoying price especially if you seem desperate.

Don't ask me

Ask the agbadorians

If you know how to store, dry, peel the maize and just store your maize...
The prize will go high later

Peacefultosin:
You should not make loss if you sell a cob of maize for at least N50. I am not saying you should not charge higher so that you can raise your income/profit from the farm.

I think you need to check the elements of your costs and amount inccured on each to know where you need to apply cost reduction techniques.

Like someone rightly said, eliminating the activities of middlemen in transactions will give you more income and consequently higher profit but necessary value addition (with its consequences) will be taken care of by you.

Lastly, you should think of intercropping the maize with other crop(s) on the same piece of land so that the cost will be distributed on all crops planted on the land.

An intelligent way to survive the market 👌

Zwooks:
I have over 60,000 cobs presently with another 300,000 in view

I know the entire maths and expenses involved.


I bagged some maize yesterday and I know the exact amount that can come out from an hectare. So, as you see, I know the maths



When you get sincere with the qty that can come out from your land size, you will see the honest truth



Anyways let's hear marketing options on how to sell maize at quality prices

You're doing well my broda. Weldone. Farmers are kings anywhere in the world. Revenues are huge but we don't have a supportive givernment,sadly. Farming should be next to oil in revenue generation

You can't really get much now, of you sell it fresh allow it to dry, then you can make much

Ayemileto:
I'm a first time maize farmer, and my maize farm is finally ready for Harvesting. Someone brought in some market women to harvest and buy today.

The rate at which this women purchased is so ridiculous that if I continue selling like this, I won't make what I spent on the project back, not to talk of profit.

It was actually painful because I didn't discuss price with them before they started harvesting, as I assumed the person who brought them already did the discussion, only for this women to come up with a ridiculous rate after harvesting. They claim there's now excess maize in the market.

Another buyer someone called for me offer even worse prices.

It appears they have a maize seller association, where they fix their buying prices.

I'm currently considering harvesting and taking to the market myself, because I'm sure I should be able to sell at X2 of their buying prices (their buying prices is currently between 40 - 55 Naira per Maize on Average, and I think I should be able to sell at 100 - 120 Naira per Maize at the market)

I can't leave the maize to dry because of the rate of rainfall we're currently experiencing.

Any Clue from experienced farmers?

Ayemileto:
Well, you're in a very far distance from reality. Like I said, I don't see how I will break even at that price.

And even if I would break even at that price, there's nothing wrong with wanting more money for my produce.

They resell at a rate of 3 maize for 500, but thinks is OK to buy 9/10 maize for 500 on the farm. Literally, they are selling at 3 times or more what they buy on the farm.

And even the 9/10 maize they pick on the farm, they still take more than that even when monitored. They know you can't count everything, so they'll sometimes take far more than 10.

The entire thing they harvested filled like 7 bags yesterday, and everything they paid is 87K, which is not even up to 1/4 of my expenses.

The money I spent on Labour (Clearing, Packing, Weeding, Planting, Spraying of Herbicides etc) is around 400k, maize seeds for an Hectare came at a rate of 45k including delivery.

If I keep selling at this rate, then I'll need about 42 bags to break even, and around 92 bags to make a 120% profit (as you claimed). Do you think a 1 hectare farm can produce up to 92 bags? I'm really curious and will like to learn from you

Don't mind these kids. They think farming is easy. Yet none of them have ever practiced farming.
It's very hard to break even as a farmer in Nigeria.
I think the best advice is to take them to the market yourself and sell both wholesale and retail.

Ayemileto:
Well, like I said in my opening post, this is my first time. So, I'm clueless on how much quantity to expect, and you don't expect me to be selling like I'm doing giveaways with this kind of uncertainty.

I hope you took enough lessons before venturing into this. Never assume knowledge when it comes to farming. NEVER.

You're actually doing giveaway to them. They sell each for ₦200 and ₦300 depending on the size when cooked or roasted.
I'll advise you to let it dry. You'll sell x4 of what you're being offered right now.
The supply is much now so wait for when it's scarce and sell.

Which part of ogun state. Please state your exact location.

Samu246yg:
:

Nigerfine3:
The rain will not stop the maize from drying if it is still not harvested. Selling after drying and shelling is the better option

Very good advice.

Them dey run you street. Harvest and take to the market yourself or allow to dry. The cheapest maize in the market now na 250 naira. Which one is one maize for 44 naira? That's robbery.

Maryam1234:
Selling fresh maize is not profitable

If it's not too late I will advise you dry everything and keep until price begin to make sense

I had same experience last year and I swear I will NEVER sell any of my fresh farm produce anymore because it's always not motivating and most times it's total loss

I just planted my maize today, targeting dry one. Hope it is not too late

I do sell mine for #100 at 1 cub of corn,, today I sold 200 corn for #20,000. Location Osgobo

It’s funny how you invested so much money and hard work and then cluelessly sold your harvest!

That’s not smart at all, you should have done your homework’s properly.

For every beginner, people will take advantage and you may not make profit like you want but you won't lose aswell because you must have gotten experience after the first time.
Now let me give u an advise based on my own experience. An hectare of land is a good start but the number of bags is determined by your farm management and how you took care of the farm while growing.
I will also advise you ask farmers around you how much they sell, make friends with other farmers, learn from them, visit their farms aswell..
The good thing is you won't need to buy seeds for the next season because u already have seeds from your farm. Also visit the Market close to you, walk around the market and know the current price a bag is sold for. If you want it dried it is fine aswell. Look for a poultry around you they also buy at good prices aswell.
Congratulations and weldone..
The first time is always a learning process not a money making time.
Am sure next season you will be better

Ayemileto:
Yes, you're right. I already noted the things that shot up my cost and will address them.

I also intend to plant Cassava/Potato/Beans with the corn the next time I'm planting.

18 cobs @#1000? Gush those women are wicked! Or could it be that's how your area sells? Here in Portharcourt we count on the average, 10 cobs for #1000. Some cobs are counted even less than 10 if they are very big in size. The roasting women here sell between 200-300 per cob. Hardly would u see #100 roasted corn in my area. You can see very small ones for #150.

Pls on no account should u sell a cob for #40 abeg. Haba. Personally, I believe selling corn dry is more profitable than fresh. Na the roasting women dey gain when sold fresh.

Ayemileto:
It should be at least 223 per bag on average.

The women used 4 of those big beans bags, and 3 of those 50KG rice bags.

I came up with the 223 figure because the women took 18 for N1,000, and they had 87 stacks after grouping the maize into 18 per stack.

(87x18) divided by 7 will give a little over 223 for each bag.

If we add an extra 50 for the stacks that are more than 18, then it can go up to 230 per bag on average.