₦airaland Forum

Nice....Jasper has set the pace....please include your consultation charges in the write up as well, transparency goes a long way, that way you don't have to address a bazzillion emails from individuals.... Those plantain trees look very healthy...nice job.

LMAO .... You are too funny. Please continue with your narrative. It's good to see a farmer with humor. The bit about monkeys harvesting....lol didn't even know we still had monkeys in Nigeria. Last we heard they all left Idanre hills

Hahahahahahaah....we were just talking about this on another thread. I'm so glad you mentioned this. This culture of laziness tire me.



Impressive work you have done, this is more of what people would like to see. Extra grease to your elbow ....
Would you be consulting on this anytime soon?

jasper7:
NUMBER 2: LABOUR. From personal experience. My first farm was a small one (about one plot). So, I handled it myself, only hired labour when making the beds. I made 100K in 2 months. I was shocked! That spurred me to look for more land. But when I increased to 4plots, I hired workers (2 workers). I was expecting to make at least 400k or 350. But to my greatest surprise, I made 250k. And had to pay their salaries of 80k. (20k each for 2 months). I was distraught, I began to check for what went wrong and discovered 2 things about Labour in Nigeria.

1. An average Nigerian youth wants to be richer than Dangote but is not ready to work. Very lazy to the bones.

2. If it's not their fathers business, they are ready to collapse and destroy whatever you are building.

Jethro, please what's your email address?

jethro2:
I am sorry for not attending to post questions and all. I have been on a tight schedule. I will find time to do so before the day runs out.

Yeah packaging looks too busy IMO. Remember the goal is to show more of your product and less of graphics. At least until your products become a brand, it's best to keep it simple. Seeing so many of them put together just make it look all to busy even the more. Good initiative.

You mean like Ebola *tongue in cheek*

manny4life:
I have never been a fan of Hybrid let alone GMO food, Organic all the way. If you use the U.S. as a case study, the level of sickness, and the types of diseases seen in this country could ONLY be found here and no where else. There are reasons why some countries banned this products. We should say NO to these types of development.

I'll tell you this much, I'm not well versed in maize production or crossbreeding so I can't really speak to that.
But I know from oil palm hybrid seedling research the popular specie being grown in Nigeria was made from crossbreeding, it's an Hybrid. Now it's someone's research, but what I'd like to see is investigations and result that would prove to me there's GMO somewhere down the line. Anyway if you insist the maize are GMOs , there has to be a way of testing that. Please always come with proof.

http://www.fao.org/DOCrEP/005/Y4355E/y4355e03.htm

To me there's nothing wrong with crossbreeding , it has been done for years , from rabbits to dogs to cows, to humans indirectly.
I have seen people choose their partners because they have a lot of hair or are really tall, in hopes their offsprings would have those traits
If you put a tall man plus a short woman in the hopes of having tall kids, their kids might end up being tall...those kids are hybrids not GMOs. Selective breeding comes to mind.

ayo84:
www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/nigeria/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=110339


they are deceiving you ....
... Monsanto is a leader in both conventional hybrid maize as well as hybrid genetically-modified maize.

what do you get.. when you cross breed gmo maize with local natural maize, you get a hybrid...

But it's being reported he is using HYBRIDS not GMOs.
Let me find a simple way to explain the difference between both

Hybrids can be kind of likened to having a white male mate with black female to produce a mixed race baby - inter-breeding/crossbreeding

GMOs on the other hand could be likened to having a white male mate with a black horse/dog..... To produce God knows what.

Two different things, until you can prove these seeds are GMOs please quit with the propaganda. I will not support GMOs too, but would not get on a blind campaign against something that can potentially benefit Nigerians.

I totally understand where you are coming from. And it's not just the youths, even older villagers who don't leave their houses for village will be demanding millions for weeding. Villager wey never see 100K for im life.......The problem with the youths is the over-exposure, this yahoo-yahoo/internet thing makes them think hard-work is underrated..Plus most of them were raised to believe going to school is a sure path to a brighter future, neglecting the fact that education without hard-work is useless....bata e a dun ko-ko-ka? well, iyen to ba shishe....

world1:
My brother the youth are not ready to do farm work.... Even does that study agriculture or other related courses. Can you imagine I have 10 student here that came for IT/SWESS the only thing they know how to do is chat on 2go and bbm talking about sport and politics that can't benefit them. when its time for us to traveled for farm setup project where they will learn practical methodologies they we start making different excuses.
Well everybody will carry his/her cross and carrying mine now.

Do you understand that if a farmer cannot keep up with his business because of high costs, within a short while he will not be able to pay the youths? Who will bear the cost? will you pay 100 naira more on garri because the farmer is trying to help the youths long term? If I had my way, I would love to employ all of Nigeria's unemployed, but where is the money? It's the same reason big retail giants in America turn to China. If Nigerians would accept a comparable pay, I promise you their employment is automatic.

e4e5d4d5:
As Nigerians and Africans we must support our own people, how do you contribute to youth employment or educating the youth on Agriculture if your plan is to import workers from Asia. Sometimes you have to overlook the short term benefits and consider the long term benefits of your actions.

Go to Asia, Europe and America and see whether there is any place that recruits millions of Nigerians or Africans for any reason.

Yes, IITA is a research institution, but they do practical farming and have farms. Just like NIFOR is a research institute but they do sell oil palm seedlings. I know people who have bought from a contact in IITA. I have bought from NIHORT.

I'm not disturbing Sedulus's business, I'm just letting the OP know he/she has other options. Just like Sedulus has a right to run wild with his pricing, so does the OP need to know there are other sellers out there with better prices. No one has a monopoly of anything, we should all have options in this world. I also hate to see someone willing to start out get discouraged because of exorbitant prices. Maybe when he/she is richer, they can come and buy your suckers or sedulus's for 150 or whatever price you choose to sell it at.
Another thing you can do , don't just take my word for it, pay a visit to IITA/NIHORT. You'd be glad you did.

world1:
Like I said earlier its not about sucker but spacing I don't want sedulus to think we are disturbing his business here and moreover I didnt advertise anything here.
TAEpiphany i want to ask you a simple question Have you ever bought sucker from IITA office at Ibadan before? Because every time we talk about suckers everybody keep saying IITA this IITA that. IITA is a research institution not a commercial centre.

There is no magic. You can't plant 2000 suckers on an acre period. When it starts growing how do you accommodate the other suckers springing up? Prune them?
Lol, anything goes in Nigeria, you can sell suckers for 300. But this is someone who is a starter, I wouldn't encourage him to buy any 150 naira sucker.

@OP if you are in Ibadan, go to IITA/Nihort or source other local farmers who wouldn't rip you off. A lot of people are ready to grab your money and make a dash with it. That your friend has given you money today, don't mean money will come easy another time if you are not wise with this one.

world1:
TAEpiphany.
Am not really concerned abouy the price of his suckers because I sell mine for N150 and that is my farm gate price.
What am talking about is the spacing I want to know whether his 3x3 is feet or metre.
This is what I do daily so I want to learn about his 2000/acre magic.

Lol, I wanted to say the same thing. I can't with some of these people and a 120Naira for suckers? ....mtcheww......

world1:
Mr sedulus..
2000 suckers on 1acres is not possible. I stand to be corrected. What do you mean by 3x3 metre of feet?
Please clarify this post of yours

I'm glad you are planning to go into agriculture, very soon you will realize the challenges farmers face and why they resort into options like these. Why do you think people import farm hands from Togo/neighboring countries? Because they are more affordable. Approach Nigerian farm hands and see how they charge you triple what those people charge. Pray tell, how will you make profit as a farmer? If this company can provide farm hands at cheaper rate, with some professionalism, trust me, I will patronize them. I wish to employ Nigerians, but if I do, I won't have a business.
Funds\money is not easy to come by, and Agriculture can be very unpredictable. It's not automatic, even if you access the funds there is no guaranteed success, not many people will be willing to gamble with their money. The govt can afford to, but banks, or private lenders want to be sure they will at least re-coup their investment.
Would you give your 1000 naira just because someone tells you agric is profitable on paper? You would want some sort of assurance that your money will not go down the drain. Accessing funds has to be stringent, that would make you appreciate the real value of money.Pay your dues, if you have 10,000 naira, plant ugu at your backyard, do that and make 100,000 naira off it, you will see even your neighbors will offer you money in return for a small profit. Forget all these articles you read online that all is smooth sailing, if it were so, why can't they do it themselves? I'm not trying to discourage you, just trying to make you have the mindset, that before success, a lot of work goes in.Keep the dream alive, start small if you can. Approach local associations, save if you can and the sky is your limit. Good luck buddy.

ProffT01:
Thanks to God you said some. I'm a youth and a mechanical engineering graduate. I've being reading up articles on agriculture and on the transformation agendas to see how I'll benefit from that. I also know some who are willing to forget their result and pick farming. The issues are the stringent measures attached to accessing the funds and assistance.
Thanks.

Have you thought maybe it's because those "millions of people" don't want to work blue collar jobs, and even when they do, they demand ridiculous prices that can make a farmer go in debt? Some even do shoddy jobs....I tire for Nigeria sometimes, the youths wan hammer but don't want to work. They 'd rather sit at home dreaming of "hammering" even though they have no idea/plan on how to get there. I guess being an area boy pays better that earning a decent living...

ProffT01:
Why supporting the import of farm hands while you have Millions unemployed willing to be employed?

STATEMENT OF JOB

Under the leadership of the farm owners, the farm assistant can oversee as many as 10 people at the height of the season. A positive attitude and strong work ethic are a must. Employee performs manual, skilled and supervisory work associated with the operation and maintenance of a 30-acre crops farm in IBADAN. Work requires good initiative and judgment.

DUTIES OF THE JOB

You must have a good understanding of the rhythm of farm work. This includes:

• Hiring farm hands as needed
• Providing feedback to farm Management on a regular basis
• Assisting with weed management and other farm maintenance operations
• Assisting with harvest and post-harvest operations
• Assisting with marketing of crops to various markets
• Making recommendations to improve farm
• Responsibility for cost control

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Candidates/incumbents must meet the minimum qualifications/Equivalency as detailed below

Education:

SSCE/GCE
Degree in any Agriculture related course
Current Agriculture student (preferably 300L and above)

Experience:

Experience in farming. OR the willingness to learn
Ability to read and write

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to perform physical activities, such as, but not limited to, lifting heavy items (up to 50 lbs. unassisted), bending, standing, climbing or walking.
Must be able to operate a variety of hand tools safely.

COMPENSATION/RENUMERATION:

Employee will be paid on an hourly basis.

Please submit your resume/CV/application to TAEpiphany@gmail.com

But there's an ad here on the banner that clearly says kidney solutions, why can't you contact them? abi Naira land dey do fake ads?
It's private and that's what they specialize in, at least from their website.

http://www.kidney-solutions.com/

http://www.kidney-solutions.com/contact-us/

Oga, how much are these lawn machines, and how much do they save you when compared to manual weeding by laborers?

world1:
Yes the tractor couldn't enter the farm beacuse of water. We want to export the plantain so am doing organic setup here. The weeding we be done with lawn machine.

But Op, I think you are being a little defensive and almost 'rude' . Regardless of the amount the guy wants to spend he has the right to ask questions and feel comfortable before venturing into any transactions. You kind of remind me of those market women who get irritated/nasty once you begin to ask them questions when trying to buy something.

You are not doing this dude a favor, neither is he you. You are both trying to commit to a transaction, you offering your services, him offering his money, values is exchanged. Please keep that in mind as you grow in this business. Customer service does not stop at MTN or Airtel, it's in every facet of business, including markets. He is a customer, if he is pissed there are ways to politely address his concerns rather than telling him not to derail the thread. If he has legit reasons I applaud him for being able to bring it to public, so others can be cautious, something most Nigerians , having been oppressed so much would rather leave to God. If we are planning to compete internationally, these are things we need to pay attention to.
A smart business man would find ways to polish his brand if it seems that a little misunderstanding is trying to smear it.
He asked where is your office, no answer. If you don't have one yet, isn't better to say it's work in progress? If you do, the place no open to public anymore or an private boys club? Remember the guy is anonymous, you are the one with the business and everything to lose.

If workload is overwhelming get someone to read your emails and at least send a temporary reply if they are not able to answer the questions or handle the request. Don't keep potential customers hanging for a week. Granted you are a start-up but little things like this can nip your business in the bud.

If you had handled this properly you could have been 250k-500k richer, this adds to your overall worth. Look at retail giants or farms every kobo adds to the bottom line. No amount is too small even if you are Dangote, if the deal doesnt become yours, that's opportunity lost, and you would be none the richer. Please learn as you go. My unsolicited opinion.

Awesome, makes better sense now. Thanks for the clarification!!!

Tbliss12:
Sir let me explain;
A full loaded truck has 6courches(or truck space) each spaces do occupy like 1500-1800tubers of yams meaning a full truck will hav 1500*6 number of yams on board.

Now a courch or space is always being charged like 30,000 to 35,000naira or more than depending on the driver, so with this the price of one single yams for transportation is being calculated. So if yours is 200tubers in a courch u get ur transport charge by mutiplying the the amount gotten for transportation of one yam with your number of yams.

After this you then pay uploading fee into the truck from benue and then offloading fee when it gets to your destination like 600 to 1000naira each so all these leads to the 4k ooooo

So most times the size of your yams is not really a determining factors
That 4k is just the maximum transport price for every 100tubers.

OP, is cost of transportaion 4K flat regardless of the tubers of yam you purchase, which means if I buy 4000 tubers, I still pay 4k for transport or 4K per 100 tubers?

If the former, how are they able to make the cost of transportation that low?