₦airaland Forum

I’m looking for farm labourers for my 9 acres of land, but their demand surprised me.
Instead of the usual payment, they’re asking for a motorcycle as yearly compensation.
I’m honestly confused.
Is this how farm labour is done now, or am I dealing with the wrong people?
Farmers and those with experience, I need your feedback please

Yes it's done that way in some places...

Sure it happens. Some places even negotiate for cars ( mostly small trucks for transporting goods) even though the terms are longer -like 5 years or so.


It's mostly done by some migrants - Ghanians, togolese, nijerians etc!

Yes, you’re right. I heard they came from Cotonou,and most likely won’t even stay up to a year. After a year, I’ll probably start looking for another labourer. It doesn’t really make sense though.

2Minuteswoman:
Yes, you’re right. I heard they came from Cotonou,and most likely won’t even stay up to a year. After a year, I’ll probably start looking for another labourer. It doesn’t really make sense though.

If I may ask, Madam, what is your profession? Do you have a job besides farming ? Can't you manage your farm by yourself? Is your farm far from where you live? 9 acres is not a small piece of land o. Some of us are still trying to buy 1 acre of farm land . God help us. Amen.

2Minuteswoman:
I’m looking for farm labourers for my 9 acres of land, but their demand surprised me.
Instead of the usual payment, they’re asking for a motorcycle as yearly compensation.
I’m honestly confused.
Is this how farm labour is done now, or am I dealing with the wrong people?
Farmers and those with experience, I need your feedback please

You've started a good work. Initially it use to be like that even with Nigerian in the middle belt when farmers were smiling to the bank but now most of the farm produce are selling below farmers' expectation, so getting workers to be given bike will be done at a very high risk. Please don't try it.
I can help you get workers from middle at a good price. Check my signature for details and contact

Redman44:
If I may ask, Madam, what is your profession? Do you have a job besides farming ? Can't you manage your farm by yourself? Is your farm far from where you live? 9 acres is not a small piece of land o. Some of us are still trying to buy 1 acre of farm land . God help us. Amen.

I reside far from the farm.

kpas4kpas2:
You've started a good work. Initially it use to be like that even with Nigerian in the middle belt when farmers were smiling to the bank but now most of the farm produce are selling below farmers' expectation, so getting workers to be given bike will be done at a very high risk. Please don't try it.
I can help you get workers from middle at a good price. Check my signature for details and contact

Where do you reside
My farm is located in Abeokuta
What's your offer?

2Minuteswoman:
Where do you reside
My farm is located in Abeokuta
What's your offer?

I'm in Abuja.
I can help source for workers from middle belt @350k .
Check my signature

kpas4kpas2:
I'm in Abuja.
I can help source for workers from middle belt @350k .
Check my signature

That's a very fair price if they will stay.

2Minuteswoman:
Yes, you’re right. I heard they came from Cotonou,and most likely won’t even stay up to a year. After a year, I’ll probably start looking for another labourer. It doesn’t really make sense though.

Its not very true...the foreigners are more reliable and responsible than the naija guys from d middle belt. They normally work from Feb to like 1st week of Dec. Once they can wait and work for about 3 months, they will definitely wait to the end for their bike(Boxer). They started this practice ever since bike was been sold for 100 to 200k , but since the devaluation of naira, bikes jump to 1M plus. That will be like 120k per month for the 10 months per head excluding feeding and accommodation. So, it all depends on your ROI...if your net returns will be in 8digits or plus (10M, 20M,100M), you can try them out. I may agree with the poster that said the the current demand for bike seems unrealistic for most farmers going by the current rates of farm produce.
Majority of those middle belt/northen workers are crooks, they can ruin your investment except you are on ground 24/7 to giv them close monitoring...i know someone who install cameras in his farm to curtail their excesses and even caught one that wanted to run away and he quickly called the neighbours to stop him. If you are not going to be on ground often and you can afford the Cotonou guys, go for them...they are more reliable. Wish you the very best madam.

Vester48:
That's a very fair price if they will stay.

I was about typing this....MY FEAR THO,

Thanks

Mrdellychy:
Its not very true...the foreigners are more reliable and responsible than the naija guys from d middle belt. They normally work from Feb to like 1st week of Dec. Once they can wait and work for about 3 months, they will definitely wait to the end for their bike(Boxer). They started this practice ever since bike was been sold for 100 to 200k , but since the devaluation of naira, bikes jump to 1M plus. That will be like 120k per month for the 10 months per head excluding feeding and accommodation. So, it all depends on your ROI...if your net returns will be in 8digits or plus (10M, 20M,100M), you can try them out. I may agree with the poster that said the the current demand for bike seems unrealistic for most farmers going by the current rates of farm produce.
Majority of those middle belt/northen workers are crooks, they can ruin your investment except you are on ground 24/7 to giv them close monitoring...i know someone who install cameras in his farm to curtail their excesses and even caught one that wanted to run away and he quickly called the neighbours to stop him. If you are not going to be on ground often and you can afford the Cotonou guys, go for them...they are more reliable. Wish you the very best madam.

I understand what you’re saying, and I agree the Cotonou guys are more disciplined. That’s not even the issue. My concern is that most of them don’t stay beyond one season. By the following year, they’re usually back in their country, and I don’t want to be restarting labour every year.
The Middle Belt option wasn’t really an option for me at all. From what I’ve seen, and from people close to me, the level of monitoring required is just too much. If you’re not on ground almost all the time, it becomes risky.
The issue for me is continuity...

Thanks for your Input

2Minuteswoman:
I understand what you’re saying, and I agree the Cotonou guys are more disciplined. That’s not even the issue. My concern is that most of them don’t stay beyond one season. By the following year, they’re usually back in their country, and I don’t want to be restarting labour every year .
The Middle Belt option wasn’t really an option for me at all. From what I’ve seen, and from people close to me, the level of monitoring required is just too much. If you’re not on ground almost all the time, it becomes risky.
The issue for me is continuity...

Thanks for your Input

I am just getting your point. If it's that one, just forget it...you can't get. Abi you no wan make man pikin labour hard, cash out for December and travel go village go show off for Christmas/yuletide?

Some people still find a way around this issue, but not everyone is lucky. If you grow green pepper, December is your cash out month, so, I was regular in the market last December. There is this guy (not from the north) who kept bringing fresh big bell yellow, red, green peppers back to back daily. I was shocked. I decided to check it. I was told he had a reliable manager who is an elderly man. I said "hmmmm". He held on to the man and I heard he satisfies his manager. Open field bell pepper, offloading over a ton daily consistently for over 15 days I was frequent there.

Anyone blessed with a faithful person who manages his/her farm shouldn't take it for granted. That one person will find workers and manage them. Owners sourcing for workers is a waste of time as far as I am concerned.

Until you find an efficient manager, don't commit too much in the venture. Test this person very well. This is why farming is not a fast way to make money. But if you can cross this stage, you will start making money back to back that you will be shocked too.

One way of testing people who can qualify to manage your farm is to find a land in a residential area. These days, I invest in land. I buy land in estates where I know developments will be rapid. I buy from reputable developers known for quality jobs. A friend got 15 plots for N35million per plot and we fenced the whole land. I am presently thinking of trying out many kinds of people I can use as a manager in a bigger farm on this 15 plots to see how they will perform. Since it's in an estate, we plan having a small bungalow there so we wont have any wahala. Sure...greenhouse bell pepper and nethouse habanero and chilli will make lots of return. But let's see how it goes. In 10 years, my friend will sell a plot for 15 times its present worth the way I am seeing it. And if he decides to keep all and build blocks of apartments there, that will be huge too.

Why did I tell the story above? Don't waste your time too much in open field farming in the bush when you don't have workers. You will only get frustrated and loss may be high. But in reality, the venture is profitable. In my case, I go to farm myself to monitor my project for only 2 months in a year. I outsource my nursery (send it to someone I know who is reliable and I pay him). I monitor transplanting and have someone reliable there to manage it for another 2 months. As soon as harvest time comes, I move to farm to take over fully. And I spend the remaining 2 months there full time. That's it. The farm is closed till next year by the grace of God.

Grace is needed to have a continuous production. My advice is that this person should find a reliable manager first because he will be her key to success. It may take you time to find.

Goodluck!!!

2Minuteswoman:
I was about typing this....MY FEAR THO,

Thanks

THEY WILL RUN AWAY AFTER YOU MUST HAVE INVESTED ALOT IN BRINGING THEM !!!

Are you the one that want to bring them from their country?

What work will they be doing on the farm?

How many are they?

9 acres isn't even much like that

There are many Cotonou people already residing in nigeria that do job or labour monthly

Do your calculations Sha

Zocalite:
Are you the one that want to bring them from their country?

What work will they be doing on the farm?

How many are they?

9 acres isn't even much like that

There are many Cotonou people already residing in nigeria that do job or labour monthly

Do your calculations Sha

it's not by size o. I dont know your yardstick for grading 9 acres as "not much". Must people buy 100s of acres before hitting it big? Smart people are making millions from just 1 plot of land planting just veggies. Even 9 acres of cash crops such as palm, plantain or cocoa can not still be considered to be a small farm.

Mrdellychy:
it's not by size o. I dont know your yardstick for grading 9 acres as "not much". Must people buy 100s of acres before hitting it big? Smart people are making millions from just 1 plot of land planting just veggies. Even 9 acres of cash crops such as palm, plantain or cocoa can not still be considered to be a small farm.

What's dis one saying

Ask, read, follow before jumping into a convo

Yeah, sure, I will, reason why I was making inquiries from prospective farmers

Zocalite:
Are you the one that want to bring them from their country?

What work will they be doing on the farm?

How many are they?

9 acres isn't even much like that

There are many Cotonou people already residing in nigeria that do job or labour monthly

Do your calculations Sha

2Minuteswoman:
Where do you reside
My farm is located in Abeokuta
What's your offer?

Ma'am, run from that scammer. He has scammed me. I created a thread detailing his activities, the mod has moved the thread to crime section for a wider view.
This is the link to the thread below.
https://www.nairaland.com/8655112/kpas4kpas2-alaku-alfred-akpas-notorious#139120688

kpas4kpas2:
I'm in Abuja.
I can help source for workers from middle belt @350k .
Check my signature

Alaku Alfred Akpas, for the pain/loss you caused me this year, tears of sorrow shall not depart from your household forever. I pronounce curse of sorrow over you and your generations born and unborn.