₦airaland Forum

epainos:
Exactly. I stopped using hybrids, too. Why? I am more exposed to nature and sustainability now than when I started this journey. Now you can see. I love this. And farmers should learn from this guy. There is something I want to still get you to, but I always do my things systematically. You will soon see.

I kinda like you. There was one guy who was quoting rubbish and saying jargon here, and I cautioned him. He fired back that he is a farmer and bla bla bla in thisnsame thread. I left him alone. Lol. A farmer who has to return to his team to tell him the price of a cob of maize..lol. And he was jumping around like he is a pro. I was watching him...the same guy jumped to another thread of one guy doing his maize in another thread...at the end, he was being schooled there. Lol. Some people, eh? But you waited to see what I was trying to do, and here is the start. I'm sure you will learn. Data analysis is the new discovery for innovation and increasing efficiency. Figures are what will make you think out of the box. You don't know how to use figures. You will just be working blindly or counterproductive.


You have found a leverage in production. If you sit down very well and work on marketing and sales, believe me, you may downsize how big your farm is to focus on even tweaking production on a small scale. Not necessarily use expensive equipment, but you will see.

Let's put prices on our Sales

Fresh Corn cobs
21350 cobs @ N100 gives N2,135,000
@ N120 gives N2,562,000
@ N150 gives N3,202,500
Prices are quoted in this thread. We all know. This is retailing. If you want to sell per bag in the market,maybe. But I am advocating for retailing.

Dried Corn Grains
35 bags @ N80k per bag gives N2,800,000 (new maize price you quoted previously)
@ N110k gives N3,850,000 (latest prices you quoted)

All prices are quotes you posted here...so, theybare all your figures.

My comment
Look at these prices above. Dried corn is not stable and will fluctuate eratically in the coming months. It may crash drastically to N70k. However, fresh corn cobs are stable. I don't see it crashing below N120....rather, it will be more expensive no matter what the economy of Nigeria is in the coming months.

Look into this. Let each farmer look into the following:

1. Seeds, nutrients, pests, and diseases management cost.
2. Land cost, labour cost, and other related human capital expenses.
3. Harvest and post harvest expenses
4. Logistics to market and agent fees
5. If not selling via agent, the cost of retailing. For Fresh Corn...gas/firewood/Charcoal, pots, selling points fees, association of hawkers or road side fees, touts and extortion costs,.etc. For dried grains, the cost of shelling, bagging, storage, and logistics to market.

The Big Question
Farmers reading this should think deeply. Pick your pen and calculator and get to the bottom of all your expenses, and see how you can get this done. So, what is your conclusion? Let us have feedback from maize farmers here.

Special Note
How many cycles can you get for dried maize and fresh corn. Lol. Time is money. Before you wait for dried corn to fully get dried, I believe you would have gone two cycles for fresh corn. Farmers, start thinking deeply. Data analysis is the way forward for tweaking and increasing efficiency.

So, what do you all have to say? Which is more profitable?

betabread:
As a farmer, no time 4 roasting or boiling corn 4 sale that time is spent monitoring how d next batch of produce will cone out ........Dried and fresh both have their time and place and a good farmer should always have produce at each season in a cycle........

Most important thing in corn is efficiency, so that at a high price point, ur revenue is turned into profit and not covering cost....

I sold at 36k april this year, and fresh corn went as high as 60k this year 1st week of june.......

Most important thing i see in corn is efficiency, how many bags can one get from a unit of land at minimum cost ....

Favyoma:
I'm not a farmer or anything but how can I go to buy roasted corn and they are telling 500naira for one small corn. How come am seeing 100-120 here. This is annoying honestly

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?

epainos:
God bless you. Farmers are the ones saying its N100 to N120 because they don't know about retailing. They want to justify their weakness.

Now, using your quote for premium retailing of the data the guy projected above,

Fresh Corn cobs
21350 @ N500 gives N10,675,000 lol... Viola...

Just imagine the farmer said some of his planta don't bring good cobs and they are neglected. Lol. Just imagine using a staggering cultivation method so you dont do it all at once and pay attention to your crops. You harvest daily as you sell. Just imagine. Then, you can relax and make a very good soil preparation, use irrigation, and make sure your planting spacing is intact. Why not? Use a planter to get the job done if there is a need.

Does that price above not justify the effort? Of course, I know that no matter how bad it is, I can make huge cobs with lots of grains. Why not cut a cob into 3 or 2 to sell at 250 for one. Or if I decided to sell at 300 for a cob and I cut it into 3, that's N100 for one. Each of the 3 parts will still have more grains than the ones with scanty grains.

Farm with sense.

Thank you, bro. God bless you.

betabread:
If only I could meet u in person, I will watch u try this and see how you summount the obstacles you will face

If u prevail and make fantastic profits I will copy you

Zwooks:
Does the writing appear like that of a real farmer to you or someone who thinks straight ?

Starve the nuisance of attention. You are listening to a person that says you harvest 21,000 cobs as they ripe and sell daily. As if it's that simple the entire maize wouldn't harden

Zwooks:
Does the writing appear like that of a real farmer to you or someone who thinks straight ?

Starve the nuisance of attention. You are listening to a person that says you harvest 21,000 cobs as they ripe and sell daily. As if it's that simple the entire maize wouldn't harden

epainos:
Exactly. I stopped using hybrids, too. Why? I am more exposed to nature and sustainability now than when I started this journey. Now you can see. I love this. And farmers should learn from this guy. There is something I want to still get you to, but I always do my things systematically. You will soon see.

I kinda like you. There was one guy who was quoting rubbish and saying jargon here, and I cautioned him. He fired back that he is a farmer and bla bla bla in thisnsame thread. I left him alone. Lol. A farmer who has to return to his team to tell him the price of a cob of maize..lol. And he was jumping around like he is a pro. I was watching him...the same guy jumped to another thread of one guy doing his maize in another thread...at the end, he was being schooled there. Lol. Some people, eh? But you waited to see what I was trying to do, and here is the start. I'm sure you will learn. Data analysis is the new discovery for innovation and increasing efficiency. Figures are what will make you think out of the box. You don't know how to use figures. You will just be working blindly or counterproductive.


You have found a leverage in production. If you sit down very well and work on marketing and sales, believe me, you may downsize how big your farm is to focus on even tweaking production on a small scale. Not necessarily use expensive equipment, but you will see.

Let's put prices on our Sales

Fresh Corn cobs
21350 cobs @ N100 gives N2,135,000
@ N120 gives N2,562,000
@ N150 gives N3,202,500
Prices are quoted in this thread. We all know. This is retailing. If you want to sell per bag in the market,maybe. But I am advocating for retailing.

Dried Corn Grains
35 bags @ N80k per bag gives N2,800,000 (new maize price you quoted previously)
@ N110k gives N3,850,000 (latest prices you quoted)

All prices are quotes you posted here...so, theybare all your figures.

My comment
Look at these prices above. Dried corn is not stable and will fluctuate eratically in the coming months. It may crash drastically to N70k. However, fresh corn cobs are stable. I don't see it crashing below N120....rather, it will be more expensive no matter what the economy of Nigeria is in the coming months.

Look into this. Let each farmer look into the following:

1. Seeds, nutrients, pests, and diseases management cost.
2. Land cost, labour cost, and other related human capital expenses.
3. Harvest and post harvest expenses
4. Logistics to market and agent fees
5. If not selling via agent, the cost of retailing. For Fresh Corn...gas/firewood/Charcoal, pots, selling points fees, association of hawkers or road side fees, touts and extortion costs,.etc. For dried grains, the cost of shelling, bagging, storage, and logistics to market.

The Big Question
Farmers reading this should think deeply. Pick your pen and calculator and get to the bottom of all your expenses, and see how you can get this done. So, what is your conclusion? Let us have feedback from maize farmers here.

Special Note
How many cycles can you get for dried maize and fresh corn. Lol. Time is money. Before you wait for dried corn to fully get dried, I believe you would have gone two cycles for fresh corn. Farmers, start thinking deeply. Data analysis is the way forward for tweaking and increasing efficiency.

So, what do you all have to say? Which is more profitable?

betabread:
If only I could meet u in person, I will watch u try this and see how you summount the obstacles you will face

If u prevail and make fantastic profits I will copy you

betabread:
Dont quickly call anybody Names

My goal is to farm maize intensively without fertilizers and its doable, he might just drop d lead

What he is proposing is already being done with cassava, some people in conjuction with their wives or an array of fufu sellers do this, one bike load of cassava daily

Not 4 me though, i love bulk money Let us just share experiences and become better

Zwooks:
I planted my three farms differently. I planted the first without riges the cobs were small, the second that was planted on ridges just started to fruit, I will update you on the size of its cobs in due time


Do you have buyers for your dried maize now ?

epainos:
Sure there are always obstacles, and they are not easily beaten. Determination and consistency do the job. At least you can see it on paper. Two people have commented that N500 is the price of a good cob of fresh corn, and they were wondering why we used N120. Lol. You have read where I wrote that sellers even cut into 2 or 3 parts to sell N100, N200, N150 worth of corn.

Again you will go far in life if you stay humble, and ready to learn. Mark my words. Why? You at least want to see how a new method is done, but this is not enough. The other guy will find it hard to succeed.



Farming without fertilizer is done only via biology. You cultivate either with the knowledge of chemistry or biology. And since I am in sustainability presently, biology is the way forward. I am talking about modern techniques being explored. So many papers are coming out from the United States, and since genetics is on a higher ground, things are moving very fast.
Leave him alone, and let him continue with the insults. Lol. They don't affect me in anyway. Points and evidences are what we work with. I knew he doesn't know much from his posts. And he doesn't want to learn. He feels he knows so much and wants to position himself as a consultant. Lol.


What he is proposing is already being done with cassava, some people in conjuction with their wives or an array of fufu sellers do this, one bike load of cassava daily

Not 4 me though, i love bulk money Let us just share experiences and become better

Bro, sit back and think about the whole thing. I learned from Indians nd Chinese around the world. Most local retail shops in Europe are owned by these guys. Indians are known for retailing herbs and spices. One day, I was walking in the street of Moscow and I entered this Indian shop of my friend, and I sat with his wife...she opened my eyes to the huge profit in retailing. I was like wow. Also, if you go to London, you will see Chinese and Indians in the retail businesses. I have a Chinese friend who retails, and if you see his shop. Lol. You won't understand. Sir, he bought his house in greater London. Lol. Perhaps, you need to understand the meaning of "Greater London" to understand the value of properties there. Try Google. The power of retailing is huge.

Let me tell you something. If I was selling cassva and I had 1000 ha and less of land, I would find a way to sell the finished goods myself. I would not contract it out to an agent. Go learn marketing and sales...and see how you will.triple your profit.

Under my rule, I will use agents only if I have a commercial farm. A commercial farm to me is cultivating 1,000 ha every week. Then, I can distribute to many states. This is when I will not try selling to direct consumers.

Read through my posts, and you will notice that 1 plot to even 100 plots of land, I call garden.

Poverty in Nigeria makes people think that their small business is big. No, not of course. You are doing an acre or less, and you say you want bulk money. The total sales from even an acre is not bulk money. Is it? Maybe to you...not me. If I have this way of thought, and I still promote retailing....then, it means, there is something special about it.

Anyway, I think it's about the standard of life. I'm not trying to be proud here, but I think poverty has lowered the level of the standard here.

You don't even need to see me before you do this. All you need to do is to get out and carry out your marketing research. Put your data on paper and use your data.

But if your farm is around Atan in Ogun State, you may have the opportunity to meet me probably in November this year because I might open a garden of 6 to 30 plots of land. I am presently looking at agbara, badagry, Atan.....maybe down to idiroko for such purpose. I have a project at hand, and I need to set up a new garden around that area.

Where are you based?


If the highlighted part in yellow is truly you...then, what I have written above is for someone else, and not for you. I don't share my experience and ideas with mere observers. When someone wants to learn, I am ready to teach. But when you just want me to talk solely for sharing my experience, you are on your own. Also, waiting to see someone's success before leaping out will always make you number two. I endeavour to lead.

I think I have overstayed in this thread. Time to check out, and not return.

Readers can see the reasons farmers are poor. If I had not come in, the narrative that dried corn is more profitable would have been pushed out here. And from my data, for the past 15 years, fresh corn has been consistently more profitable than dried corn in Nigeria. So, how these guys want to change the narrative beats my imagination. How can you say dried corn is more profitable? That which you waste time on the farm to dry and fresh corn would have doubled harvest just cos of the process of drying. Time is money. And if you choose to use a drying machine, think about the cost in a nation without electricity. Lol.

The Bible says that you should count your costs before embarking on a project, less you don't finish it. .

1. Farmers should stop farming blindly.
2. Writing a business plan for every project is necessary
3. The following figures are needed for all projects: 1, start up cost; 2, Expenses; 3, and Cost of Production. Then, project out: 1, Estimated Sales; 2, Estimated Profit or Loss; 3, Estimated Cash Flow; 4, Estimated Balance Sheet, and 4, Estimated Business Ratios. Learn how to write a business plan.
4. Research marketing for retailing.

Good luck to everyone

betabread:
Hmmmmmm

I get u but let me tell u dat if I source my seeds locally I usually get 100% germination with excellent vigor especially when I carefully select and replant my seeds .............. I dont plant seeds older than 3 months

Whats the use buying expensive seeds, treating and getting poor germination + the transport involved......

Waste starts when u band fertilizer with planter to dead seeds

I really dont want to rant but if i must buy hybrid it must be by an extremely local breeding company that I know when d seeds are harvested

Ayemileto:
How do I know the seed I'm getting from the market is the local one, and not a 2nd (or nth) generation hybrid?

betabread:
Dont quickly call anybody Names

My goal is to farm maize intensively without fertilizers and its doable, he might just drop d lead

What he is proposing is already being done with cassava, some people in conjuction with their wives or an array of fufu sellers do this, one bike load of cassava daily

Not 4 me though, i love bulk money

Let us just share experiences and become better

betabread:
Most important thing in maize is that the seed is not more than 3 months old, with this in mind its better u save ur seeds or source from someone that just finish harvesting his farm.......

I know this habit should be kicked against but that is the only way to know what u are planting, yield is way less than hybrids but u make up 4 it with populaton

As for hybrids , if i must plant them I must live close to the breeding company so that i can know the batch to determine the date it was planted and harvested before packaging...

Its paimful to use your money to buy problems thinking you are buying aolutions

Zwooks:
As for me, I only buy hybrids. Sadly I didn't read up on the yield of C510 before buying it. Would be growing local maize and 719 next. The yield is the real deal

Zwooks:
Everyone knows you can't get the 22,000 cobs on theoretical basis without the use of heavy fertilizer regime. And as much without using NPK, a farmer must change spacing from 75/25 to something with more space

betabread:
Sc510 is not bad...Its just dat the xteristics does not suit fresh market corn, its cobs are medium size but it makea up in grain quality and tolerance to very high population

What u throw away after eating sc510 fresh is small compared to local corn..........dat was the beginining of me knowing dat corn pass corn

Its better one knows the market he is selling to and tailor products to that market,d market i sell to wants big cobs, how u get the big cobs dont matter

If i can get a hybrid dat will give me very big cobs, color yellow; Original hybrids all tolerate big population and is cheap, fresh corn business becomes better

epainos:
Sure there are always obstacles, and they are not easily beaten. Determination and consistency do the job. At least you can see it on paper. Two people have commented that N500 is the price of a good cob of fresh corn, and they were wondering why we used N120. Lol. You have read where I wrote that sellers even cut into 2 or 3 parts to sell N100, N200, N150 worth of corn.

Again you will go far in life if you stay humble, and ready to learn. Mark my words. Why? You at least want to see how a new method is done, but this is not enough. The other guy will find it hard to succeed.



Farming without fertilizer is done only via biology. You cultivate either with the knowledge of chemistry or biology. And since I am in sustainability presently, biology is the way forward. I am talking about modern techniques being explored. So many papers are coming out from the United States, and since genetics is on a higher ground, things are moving very fast.
Leave him alone, and let him continue with the insults. Lol. They don't affect me in anyway. Points and evidences are what we work with. I knew he doesn't know much from his posts. And he doesn't want to learn. He feels he knows so much and wants to position himself as a consultant. Lol.


What he is proposing is already being done with cassava, some people in conjuction with their wives or an array of fufu sellers do this, one bike load of cassava daily

Not 4 me though, i love bulk money Let us just share experiences and become better

Bro, sit back and think about the whole thing. I learned from Indians nd Chinese around the world. Most local retail shops in Europe are owned by these guys. Indians are known for retailing herbs and spices. One day, I was walking in the street of Moscow and I entered this Indian shop of my friend, and I sat with his wife...she opened my eyes to the huge profit in retailing. I was like wow. Also, if you go to London, you will see Chinese and Indians in the retail businesses. I have a Chinese friend who retails, and if you see his shop. Lol. You won't understand. Sir, he bought his house in greater London. Lol. Perhaps, you need to understand the meaning of "Greater London" to understand the value of properties there. Try Google. The power of retailing is huge.

Let me tell you something. If I was selling cassva and I had 1000 ha and less of land, I would find a way to sell the finished goods myself. I would not contract it out to an agent. Go learn marketing and sales...and see how you will.triple your profit.

Under my rule, I will use agents only if I have a commercial farm. A commercial farm to me is cultivating 1,000 ha every week. Then, I can distribute to many states. This is when I will not try selling to direct consumers.

Read through my posts, and you will notice that 1 plot to even 100 plots of land, I call garden.

Poverty in Nigeria makes people think that their small business is big. No, not of course. You are doing an acre or less, and you say you want bulk money. The total sales from even an acre is not bulk money. Is it? Maybe to you...not me. If I have this way of thought, and I still promote retailing....then, it means, there is something special about it.

Anyway, I think it's about the standard of life. I'm not trying to be proud here, but I think poverty has lowered the level of the standard here.

You don't even need to see me before you do this. All you need to do is to get out and carry out your marketing research. Put your data on paper and use your data.

But if your farm is around Atan in Ogun State, you may have the opportunity to meet me probably in November this year because I might open a garden of 6 to 30 plots of land. I am presently looking at agbara, badagry, Atan.....maybe down to idiroko for such purpose. I have a project at hand, and I need to set up a new garden around that area.

Where are you based?


If the highlighted part in yellow is truly you...then, what I have written above is for someone else, and not for you. I don't share my experience and ideas with mere observers. When someone wants to learn, I am ready to teach. But when you just want me to talk solely for sharing my experience, you are on your own. Also, waiting to see someone's success before leaping out will always make you number two. I endeavour to lead.

I think I have overstayed in this thread. Time to check out, and not return.

Readers can see the reasons farmers are poor. If I had not come in, the narrative that dried corn is more profitable would have been pushed out here. And from my data, for the past 15 years, fresh corn has been consistently more profitable than dried corn in Nigeria. So, how these guys want to change the narrative beats my imagination. How can you say dried corn is more profitable? That which you waste time on the farm to dry and fresh corn would have doubled harvest just cos of the process of drying. Time is money. And if you choose to use a drying machine, think about the cost in a nation without electricity. Lol.

The Bible says that you should count your costs before embarking on a project, less you don't finish it. .

1. Farmers should stop farming blindly.
2. Writing a business plan for every project is necessary
3. The following figures are needed for all projects: 1, start up cost; 2, Expenses; 3, and Cost of Production. Then, project out: 1, Estimated Sales; 2, Estimated Profit or Loss; 3, Estimated Cash Flow; 4, Estimated Balance Sheet, and 4, Estimated Business Ratios. Learn how to write a business plan.
4. Research marketing for retailing.

Good luck to everyone

Kehfie:
Thanks for providing these insights

epainos:
You are welcome, madam.

It is very encouraging when one meets farmers whonare open minded, and can think deeply. The agricultural sector in Nigeria is thought to be managed by shallowed thinkers. Yes, this is how it was. But with the emergence of technology, especially statistics and data, smart minds have moved in.

Think about it. The ONLY area the world power has not got hold of is the food supply. And they are getting it right. Yes... they are. Seeds are almost out of the production of the common farmer. Gone are the days farmers produce their seeds.

Nigeria is a typical example of how food production is taken out of the reach of the common man. One day, my father sat down with me, and he wondered how Nigerians don't farm again. Obasanjo gave us Operation Feed the Nation during his time. Lol.

The irony part is that we are having an explosive population. Should farmers not increase? Guess what? Billionaires have started using tech to reduce man power on farms....genetics to create seeds and breeds. Hmmm!

If farmers who are small scales start seeing themselves as big shots, especially in Africa...it is funny. These farmers should retail their products, but they don't want to do it. Rather, they willing want to give the profit there to an agent who does not know anything about farming. Why won't the farmer be poor? He is going to work himself to madness in the bush. He thinks he is efficient, but not.

Also, here is the narrative here. The optimal production is getting 25cm by 70cm spacing and it has been documented by various papers and manufacturers. But poor farmers always find a way to justify why they can not meet up. Oh...we cannot buy planters, we can not do this...we can not do that. But even though they don't buy planters and they planted just 1/16th of a plot of land per week, they can easily get that population easily. Why? They move systematically and consistently. But these ones think they are efficient by cultivating bigger land. So, they don't have planters, and they want to cover 2 acres in a day. Come on! Is that smartness or foolishness? And the so called guy trying to be a consultant here wrote bold that "everyone knows it is not possible to get 20 by 70" spacing. Damn, that nonsense. He and his inefficient team are the ones who can not achieve such because they are blind and poor in the way they think. And they will NEVER get it right. Period.

These set of farmers are the ones who allowed us in this mess. Small minds that think they are big shots. They are unproductive, yet they want to position themselves as commercial farmers. Instead of them to keep the retailing area of the business and making all the money for themselves. They are their worst enemies.

I don't work with any person because I know there are many dull people in this area in Nigeria. I am not being proud here but stating the facts. When I meet a rich mind in thoughts, I align with such.

May God bring people with rich thoughts into this area in Nigeria. Honestly, it is frustrating having to engage people of such mind set everytime. Make dem go to school and learn... they won't.

I'm sorry if this touches anyone, but seriously....I pray intelligent people dominate this industry in Nigeria. We need a change.

Again, it is very encouraging to know that we still have people who can see the real issues when facts and figures are laid on the table.

betabread:
I understand ur point of view but please hear practicing farmers out......

Agriculture is gold when u get it right but you will have to provide all infrastructure by yourself, imagine getting tractors, planters harvester and many other implements by yourself, when are you going to make the profit

I can still put it to u dat the way we farm in Nigeria is way cheaper than modern Agrìcultural methods because there are no infrastrcture......The best infrastructure avaialable is the yearly pay laborers

Example Once You buy a tractor or planter, u get locked into some hidden cost that only becomes apparent during operations like mechanic, spares and training of operators. DO U REALLY Want to bear this head ache....., people that provide tractor service 4 example want to only plough, many dont have harrows and just a handful have ridgers....

Where will u get roadside tractor mechanic to service your stuff....

Dat is just for example

Infrastructure is very expensive and u better know what you are doing else u get a pile of junk metal

I farm close to an ultramodern crop farm divided into paddocks that bought all new John deere machines from tractors down to combined harvesters, now the place lies in ruins, they only cultivate cassava as i speak with u with mostly manual labor.......
The machines are all decaying to scrap, they now go out to rent tractors way less powerful than what they have

Try and hear practicing farmers out, we face real problems that are solved to the best of current available infrastricture

betabread:
I understand ur point of view but please hear practicing farmers out......

Agriculture is gold when u get it right but you will have to provide all infrastructure by yourself, imagine getting tractors, planters harvester and many other implements by yourself, when are you going to make the profit.

I can still put it to u dat the way we farm in Nigeria is way cheaper than modern Agrìcultural methods because there are no infrastrcture......The best infrastructure avaialable is the yearly pay laborers.

Example Once You buy a tractor or planter, u get locked into some hidden cost that only becomes apparent during operations like mechanic, spares and training of operators. DO U REALLY Want to bear this head ache....., people that provide tractor service 4 example want to only plough, many dont have harrows and just a handful have ridgers....

Where will u get roadside tractor mechanic to service your stuff....

Dat is just for example

Infrastructure is very expensive and u better know what you are doing else u get a pile of junk metal

I farm close to an ultramodern crop farm divided into paddocks that bought all new John deere machines from tractors down to combined harvesters, now the place lies in ruins, they only cultivate cassava as i speak with u with mostly manual labor.......
The machines are all decaying to scrap, they now go out to rent tractors way less powerful than what they have

Try and hear practicing farmers out, we face real problems that are solved to the best of current available infrastricture

ActiveFarms:
What would you attribute the breakdown of the farm machineries to ?

epainos:
I don't want to override this group and hijack the content for my benefit, and it is the reason I want to limit myself. "Practising farmers" is just a term. I would have preferred you to use "Successful Farmers". So, you have listed challenges. To be successful, you must navigate these hurdles or jump over them. Meaning, you face them...battled with them...or you simply avoid them. So, there is a pattern for you to be successful.


Exactly my point here, sir. A farmer who can not afford these things you have mentioned here should see himself as a small-scale farmer. No do above yourself. And when you are a small-scale farmer, use what works. A small-scale farmer should not expand land area farming because it will cost him more. The right strategy is to work on making consistent little cash. This is the proven strategy.

I am also a small-scale farmer. In fact, most greenhouses are small-scale farmers too, but that doesn't mean they are not making millions.

As a small-scale farmer, you avoid those high costs. So, how do you make money? You move into a higher level on the value chain of production. Meaning that you move closer to the consumers. Either you process your produce into a raw material closer to the final consumer or sell directly to the consumer. The idea is that the closer you get to the consumers, the more profit you have. If you don't move closer, some other people will fill in the gap and make more money. Therefore, you spend less time on the farm because you cultivate less area of land, you pay less to workers, and you even have more time to focus on your business.


Nope. You farm that way because you have not seen the reason to change. When you see another style work well, you will abandon the old style.

For me, the main reason I am not active presently is security because I will have to secure everything. Everyone has challenges he faces. Setting up CCTV, election of fence and gate, solar street light, etc. are additional expenses for me. And then, do you think I will set up such inside a bush? Nope. I would rather have it where there are houses already. Meaning that I am going to buy a plot at an extremely high price. And I am not complaining. I am just working towards it. You may not see the reason why I have to do this. But I can easily do all that I am saying here in my compound while it will be hard for you in your open 20 acres in the bush.

My point is that you have to understand the challenges at hand and then formulate a strategy to overcome it. If I didn't have the means to do this, believe me, I would still profer a solution.

The issue is that you don't plan from farm to market, but you start from market to farm. If you understand this sentence, you have made it already. All of you plan from farm to market, which is wrong. The OP of this thread rushed into a farm and then got hooked with the market, which is the first assignment he was supposed to solve.

Your market determines how you farm. Period. Fix marketing first.


If my market demands me to produce like 20 tons per week, I may consider using a tractor. The means, I will cultivate around 3 acres every week. So, my tractor will keep working. But if my market is lower than that, why should I ever bother to go for it? I will stay small.

I already know that tractor mechanics are not reliable, so why should I look for their service. Of course, I will not try to face the problem but avoid it. So, if I don't have my own tractor and have a reliable engineer to work on it, I will not go big. It is very simple. I would rather avoid the problem.


This is why you need to count the cost of your production before starting. This is where writing a business plan is a necessity. If you decide to use high cost equipment, make sure you use it and produce massive yield so that it is going to be worth its purchase.


There are many foolish people like this. They did not write a good plan before starting. That's just it. Period.



This sounds like justifying your inefficiency. This is what you are doing. I am not saying there aren't challenges, but you want to justify your weakness.

Did I write here that you should use huge equipment? Lol. You came up with it. You mentioned planter first na. Did I mention using a tractor first also? Lol.

Again...Read this paragraph...I will not repeat myself again.

An Example

Farmer A works on 3 acres. He produces dried corn. 3 months to mature, and then 1.5 months to dry. It takes longer many times. So, he could do 2 cycles per year. He needs to rest also. Yes, most of you always do a maximum of twice per year. He makes 2 bags per half a plot (your yield), so that 3 acres give 72 bags. At N85k per bag, that's N6.12 million sales. Annual sales will be N12.24 million. Shikena. Expenses and cost of production are still going to be removed.

Farmer B goes first to market and finds that he can set up a selling point and sell 100 cobs daily. Are you saying you can not arrange this? Look at it. I am spelling it out for you since it seems simple issues don't get clear easily to most of you. He needs to cultivate 600 plants per week. Tell me, if you plant every Mondays, will you not be able to space every well 600 plants? Look at it very well. One help is enough to assist and make it consistent all through the year. The cycle is just 75 days. I will not work out the rest for you...I can work everything out. It is called a business plan. I will set it in front of you. You will follow it. I will tell you the max and area you need. Of course, you may not need more than that. Look at this plan...a plot is enough for six cycles. Yes. Do you really need up to six cycles for this plan? Do you need a planter for this? Think deep na. Of course not. I am not going to work it out for you. My point here is that you work less on a farm, use less land area, and also pay less to workers. But you move focus to retailing. What is the business here with the huge tractors you have brought in again? Always finding excuses. Think deep.

If farmer B can be consistent, sales per week is N180k @ N300 per cob. Of course. He can cut into three parts and sell at N100 if the buyers want N100 worth of corn. And per annum is N8.6 million sales. This is for a selling point using a small piece of land. Very small. What stops him from having 5 points of sales and them increasing its production on the farm in consistent with his sales point. This is working from the market to the farm and not vice versa. But you all work from farm to market, and then you come here to NL crying for help.

Which option gives more profit? Which option gives more rest of mind? Which option is more efficient? Which option uses less expensive equipment?

The ball is in your court. If you choose not to investigate what I am teaching you...I am sure I am going to receive nothing less than 10 emails from silent readers who will thank me for these posts.

With what I have written here, do I sound like a non Practising farmer? Those acres you are farming, I can analyse them for you. I can set up your farm from A to Z. Do you want to talk about big farms? I don't want to start boasting here. Practising farmers ...bla bla bla. I call them inefficient farmers. Period. Working a large piece of land, buying expensive equipment are nothing. What makes you successful is first having a working business plan, then a good marketing plan. If you don't have these two items and you jump into a farm, you will crash.

Good luck to you!

betabread:
How can i get this 3"

Alamu5891:
leaving corn to dry is the best option if you have a storage facility forget about boiling corn or roasting corn they have a very big disadvantages , how are you going to do the remaining corn after daily sales as everybody love fresh corn or you’re 100% sure you’ll sell off everything everyday. If you can’t allow the corn to dry market women is the next option. Here in ibadan where my farm is I’m currently selling my maize equivalent to #70 per porn buyers around the OP farm are greedy

epainos:
Why are you bringing equipment to this discussion? Only you as a small scale farmer who claimed to not have access to fund. Ha ba! 3 inches of filter again. That huge thing. Where does this come in? We aren't talking about equipment....but you keep bringing the discussion up....planter, tractor, and now a huge filter. ha ba na. Do you want to start testing my ability? And why do you need 3 inches when you are not into something big? You talked about the high cost of equipment, and I showed you how you can even lower your cost, yet, you just want to keep increasing your expenses. You claimed that you would rather expand by using more land. And then, you are using a more sophisticated irrigation system. Lol. You will soon dig many boreholes for your small production. And then, you will pay more for fuel. All in the name that you cannot retail the little products you have.

I think you have made up your mind on what exactly you want to do. My posts aren't for you...and I am now sure that we have different ways of brainstorming issues. I respect your opinion and view... but I want to draw the curtain here.

I wish you well while you expand your land area....while you buy a more sophisticated irrigation system....more petrol...and you should be ready to tackle theft and herdsmen.

Take care bro!