It is no longer news that human labour availability has been declining at a fast pace recently. In cases where it is available, it could be quite expensive. It's just May and labor has made 2019 farming a frustration already. Acquired farmland for maize cultivation somewhere in Ekiti state in January, fast forward to May, it's become difficult to get laborers to work on the farm. The ones willing to take up the job are charging 35000 just to till a farmland of about 1 hectare and they want to get 50% advance before starting the job. That's quite too much considering the inefficiency of human labor and the delay that could arise in the course of operation. Contacted the local government agric department to request for tractor hire but the few tractors in their care are not functional. I'm considering my options going forward because there are still activities such as planting, fertilizer application, spraying, weeding and harvesting that will require human labor. So bothered the cost of production will be too high and will greatly impact my profit if there will be any. Amidst the whole situation, my over aching mind has been thinking if there could ever be a solution that replaces this human labour at a lower cost and does not involve use of tractor. Ultimately, it isn't cost efficient for a tractor to travel over 20 kilometers to plough one hectare of land. Many small holder farmers can't even afford to pay for the services offered by tractor. Nairaland millennial farmers, what's the situation in your area? How do you cope with labor availability and wages especially with small land holdings?

Hi
I'm also a farmer in Ekiti State (Ido Osi LGA). I'm in the same shoes, too. You'd be lucky to get labourers to till an hectare of land for you at the rate of N35,000 here.

I don't know of other places but the cost of labour in Ekiti State is too high.

Mechanized farming is the way to go. Get your self a weeder and a cutter, get someone to help you operate it and pay him a token. Labor is an issue even here in ogun state. They will spend 2 months weeding just 1 acre of land

Abdullahi4u7:
Hi
I'm also a farmer in Ekiti State (Ido Osi LGA). I'm in the same shoes, too. You'd be lucky to get labourers to till an hectare of land for you at the rate of N35,000 here.

I don't know of other places but the cost of labour in Ekiti State is too high.

Too high my brother. My farm is located in Ilasa, Ekiti east.

ifedola28:
Mechanized farming is the way to go. Get your self a weeder and a cutter, get someone to help you operate it and pay him a token. Labor is an issue even here in ogun state. They will spend 2 months weeding just 1 acre of land

Sure! However, the use of tractor might not be economically viable for people with land holdings of less than 3 hectares unless for clusters. Heard of power tillers? They might be a great alternative to tractor.

If you can get two male bull and attach a plugh behind it will do the magic . It a common practice in the north

Labor is a very big problem o. I make use of Tractors anyway.

hoyze24:

Sure! However, the use of tractor might not be economically viable for people with land holdings of less than 3 hectares unless for clusters. Heard of power tillers? They might be a great alternative to tractor.

Power tilers is not for tedious purposes. Mostly used for vegetable farming.

Best is to get permanent workers from Benue

Asquare84:
If you can get two male bull and attach a plugh behind it will do the magic . It a common practice in the north

Yep. I concur. Animals can just do the job without complaining. In Michigan which is an agrarian state in the US, bulls are still used to plow the land.

hoyze24:
It is no longer news that human labour availability has been declining at a fast pace recently. In cases where it is available, it could be quite expensive. It's just May and labor has made 2019 farming a frustration already. Acquired farmland for maize cultivation somewhere in Ekiti state in January, fast forward to May, it's become difficult to get laborers to work on the farm. The ones willing to take up the job are charging 35000 just to till a farmland of about 1 hectare and they want to get 50% advance before starting the job. That's quite too much considering the inefficiency of human labor and the delay that could arise in the course of operation. Contacted the local government agric department to request for tractor hire but the few tractors in their care are not functional. I'm considering my options going forward because there are still activities such as planting, fertilizer application, spraying, weeding and harvesting that will require human labor. So bothered the cost of production will be too high and will greatly impact my profit if there will be any. Amidst the whole situation, my over aching mind has been thinking if there could ever be a solution that replaces this human labour at a lower cost and does not involve use of tractor. Ultimately, it isn't cost efficient for a tractor to travel over 20 kilometers to plough one hectare of land. Many small holder farmers can't even afford to pay for the services offered by tractor. Nairaland millennial farmers, what's the situation in your area? How do you cope with labor availability and wages especially with small land holdings?

Since your location is at Ilasa, I think at Ayedun or Ikole there is cheap labour for those people from the middle belt who will just collect 90,000 for a full year. All you need do is just get an accommodation for them on the farm

hoyze24:

Too high my brother. My farm is located in Ilasa, Ekiti east.

I know Ilasa quite well. It's along Omuo road.
Have you got any other alternative?

These are issues facing farmers. It is not easy. Annually paid workers are ok, but eventually they get so comfortable and do more damage. Many farmers prefer casual workers because the damage they cause is more than 10 times what casual workers are asking you.

There is no good mechanised farming in the south. But let us learn from the north. Bro, this year might have gone. Just leave it if you see that the obstacles are too much. The better option is to go to north and bring workers and guys who know about using bull to plough. You may need to to get your bulls. And collaborate with other farmers. I have implemented it for many people, and it is working well. They also serve as security if you can invest in having a cattle ranch on your farm. And these people are always loyal. In asditional, build an accommodation for them to kuve with their wives on farm. Nothing special.

Using labor and doing maize manually is just not good. Also, invest in hand planters, fertilizer applicators, learn how to control weed with herbicides.


The other alternative is to quit the location and move your farm closer to where there are functional tractors you can rent.

Good luck and may God the Almighty reward your effort with good harvests. You will not work in vain in Jesus' name. Amen!

nicepoker101:
Power tilers is not for tedious purposes. Mostly used for vegetable farming.

Power tillers can go a great length in increasing machinery penetration in Nigeria, They are not as strong, fast and efficient as tractors but are nice options for small holders with land holdings between 0-5 hectares.

Abdullahi4u7:
I know Ilasa quite well. It's along Omuo road.
Have you got any other alternative?

Nothing for now. Back in Lagos.

aycorporat:

Since your location is at Ilasa, I think at Ayedun or Ikole there is cheap labour for those people from the middle belt who will just collect 90,000 for a full year. All you need do is just get an accommodation for them on the farm

I thought of this but considering the size of my farm and the duration of farming (less than 5 months), it's not economical to feed and accommodate about two people for just a hectare of land.

hoyze24:

Power tillers can go a great length in increasing machinery penetration in Nigeria, They are not as strong, fast and efficient as tractors but are nice options for small holders with land holdings between 0-5 hectares.

5 hectares? That's 12.355 acres with power tillers?

stagger:


Yep. I concur. Animals can just do the job without complaining. In Michigan which is an agrarian state in the US, bulls are still used to plow the land.

Great alternative. However, what i feel might not work so well in the Nigerian space is the seasonality of farming and the limited use the animals are put to. For instance, most farmers employ draught animals for only land preparation which takes only a short period of time. In turn, these bulls have to be well fed to ensure they do not lose their muscles and this isn't done only when they are needed for work, it's a daily routine. The cost of keeping the animals might outweigh the value of their works. In that case, keeping them might not be that attractive. I'd appreciate your opinion about this because i need a solution this farming season.

nicepoker101:
5 hectares? That's 12.355 acres with power tillers?

They come with different power specs. There are power tillers of 15Hp. Those will do well. As regards speed, the work doesnt have to be completed in a day, power tillers should plough 5 hectares in 3 days.

hoyze24:

They come with different power specs. There are power tillers of 15Hp. Those will do well. As regards speed, the work doesnt have to be completed in a day, power tillers should plough 5 hectares in 3 days.

OK.