₦airaland Forum

2. Africa Has A Ready Market And High Demand For Agricultural Produce

Agribusiness is one of the best business opportunities in the world because food never goes out of fashion. People must eat food everyday!

Currently, Africa’s population is just over one billion people. At its current growth rate, the continent’s population is expected to reach 2.2 billion by 2050. Now and in the future, Africa will always have a lot of mouths to feed.

Africa currently spends billions of dollars every year to import grains, flour and all kinds of finished and semi-finished foods which it can produce locally. There is a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs who can provide cheaper and locally-grown alternatives to the food that Africa imports.

It’s not just the food industry that depends on agribusiness. Several other industries, especially the manufacturing and processing industries, depend on agribusiness for a wide range of raw materials.

As Africa’s economies continue to grow, the demand for raw materials will surely increase and create more interesting opportunities for agribusiness on the continent.

1. Africa Has Abundant And Cheap Agricultural Land.

According to the World Bank, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to nearly 50 percent of the world’s fertile, usable and uncultivated agricultural land. The size: over 200 million hectares! This is why the continent is now widely considered to be the future breadbasket of the world. It is this huge abundance of land resources that gives Africa the strategic potential to feed the world!

Most of Africa’s agricultural land lies in the savannah and tropical rain forest belt, which receives a favourable amount of rainfall and sunlight all year round. As a direct consequence, more than 80 percent of food crops consumed across the world can be produced here.

Interestingly, a large proportion of Africa’s agricultural land is located in the rural areas. That’s why they’re often cheap to buy or lease. On the average, one hectare of land (10,000sqm) can be leased for as low as $50 per year (depending on the location). This makes it one of the best land bargains you can find anywhere in the world!.

In the light of all these facts, how come the rich and wealthy folks are investing in Africa’s agribusiness industry while the majority of Africans are largely ignorant about the amazing potentials of agriculture on the continent

Thats why world’s top business people are investing in African agribusiness.

Did you know that Africa’s agribusiness industry will be worth $1 trillion by 2030! That’s huge! If this projection by the UN comes true, agribusiness will become the ‘new oil’ in Africa!

Did you know that Foreign Direct Investment in African agribusiness was $10 billion in 2010 and is projected to reach $45 billion by 2020?

Agriculture is taking a huge leap in Africa and investors want a piece of the action too.

Did you know that since 2009, investors in the USA, Europe, Middle East and Asia have been buying and leasing millions of hectares of African land for agricultural purposes? Many people may not know it but there’s a trend of serious land grabbing by foreign interests for African land.

Did you know that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, recently invested $1 billion in rice production? Every year, Africa spends billions of dollars on rice imports, and Dangote surely wants a juicy slice of the market.

When most people think of agriculture in Africa, images of poor and overworked farmers with crude tools on a rural farm readily come to mind. Many, especially young Africans, still think that agribusiness is a poor man’s occupation. Nowadays everybody wants a white-collar office job in the city.

Agribusiness is hardly on anyone’s mind.

Did you know that Africa sits on an agribusiness goldmine but most people just dont’t see it here are few exciting facts you need to know about agribusines in Africa…

lyntiffany:
so if am carrying my cylinder at the back sit of my car heading to purchase gas am an accomplice?
People should be certain of the info they are to deliver before what happened in aluu will start happening in all parts of Nigeria, the worst that can happen to any man is angry rabbles descending on you for an offence you din't commit and in this case such can trigger mobs on the street cause of fear of the unknown.

@ op thanks for the info though.

Does are not the type of cylinder used at home moreover you can't carry 2 gas cylinders and petroleum jerry can at the Same time

somyjuls:
good day friends... I actually enjoyed ds writeup and would want more agric posts am a student of uniben and am interested in agricbiz...do get my updated wt more of D's knowledge.. tank u...chisomoranebo@gmail.com..

Ok

From Basket To Plastic Crates, Mile-12 Tomato Dealers Turn New Leaf.

As GEMS4 Connects Sellers To Shoprite, High-end Markets

FROM the political to the commercial, change is the name of the game, and for stakeholders in the fruits and vegetable value chain in popular Mile 12 market in Lagos State, it is daybreak.

Not only would tomato sellers and buyers begin to experience a new system of moving the highly perishable commodity in and around the metropolis using plastic crates, consumers too.

They would access higher quality produce with its nutrients largely intact coupled with a fairly longer shelf life depending on the degree of ripeness at harvest.

This expectation follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Thursday between the Tomato Sellers Association in the market and Growth and Employment in States – Wholesale and Retail Sector (GEMS4) of the DFID, a British government development agency.

Under this arrangement, according to Arafat Houssain, GEMS4 coordinator, high-end markets such as hotels, restaurants, supermarket chains and catering service providers would access quality tomatoes delivered in crates.

The fresh produce would have been well sorted, graded and hygienically handled by trained handlers under GHP (Good Handling Practices).

Already, the association has 10 out its members primed to receive and deliver orders up to one metric ton each as pioneers of the new mode of doing the tomato business.

GEMS4, using tomatoes as an entry point into the entry produce market, analysed operations from farm to the traditional markets, thereby identifying the challenges in the supply chain that lead to produce damage and cash losses.

After the trial deliveries from farms around Zaria to Mile 12 market in Lagos, it developed a business plan, which would include a cold chain.

The result showed only five per cent loss using plastic crates as against 45 per cent the traditional raffia baskets, revealed Richard Ogundele, GEMS4 Intervention Manager that has been on ground in the market from conceptualisation in 2012 till date.

As it stands now, bankers are willing to fund the use of plastic crates in this largely lucrative business that has big chains like Shoprite showing interest in the arrangement, while the State government have supported the Mile 12 market sellers with 2,600 crates of the 4.000 crates released state-wide for a start.

The Association led by Alhaji Yahuza Alasan, represented by its secretary, Alhj. Shehu Usman showcased that cleaned sorted, graded and packaged in plastic crates are now available for purchase in Mile 12 market.

This is being made available through a pilot providing access to Returnable Plastic Crates (RPCs) for farmers, traders and dealers of perishable produce. GEMS4 is providing an installment repayment plan that will enable traders purchase the plastic crates.

This had been a challenge for traders in Mile 12 market, who have been struggling to meet market demands of Higher Value Markets and quality conscious buyers.

The stakeholders involved in this pilot are the Tomato Sellers Association (TSA) arm of the Fresh Fruits Vegetable Community Dealers Association of Nigeria (FFVDCAN) with a national membership spread of over 300,000 across Nigeria.

There are about 28 other perishable produce groups under this apex association and it is planned that after this pilot, the model will be extended to them as a scale up to enable RPCs become a part of the supply chain operations of the sector.

GEMS4 is a market development project in Nigeria funded by DFID/UKaid and the World Bank with a mandate to stimulate market system changes that encourage growth and access.

FG Releases 15 New Crop Varieties.

The Federal Government has approved for release 15 new variety of hybrid crops for Nigerian farmers to boost agriculture in the country.

The crops were officially released at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan, during the 22nd meeting of National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds/Fisheries.

Announcing the release, Prof. Soji Olufajo, chairman national Technical Sub – Committee (Crops) said the crops were approved out of a total of 18 varieties submitted to the sub -committee.

Olufajo said the newly released crops were developed by Nigerian and foreign scientists, universities, seed companies and research institutes.

He said the new crop varieties included two elite upland rice variety (Faro 64 and Faro 65), three tomato hybrids (KILELE, CHIBLI and TYLKA) and five maize hybrids varieties (SAMMAZ 43, SAMMAZ 44, SC651, and two Ife maize hybrids).

Olufajo said others are one Aflatoxin resistant maize variety (SAMMAZ 45), two cowpea varieties (SAMPEA 16 and SAMPEA 17) and two wheat varieties (LACRI WHIT-7 and LACRI WHIT – .

On the rice varieties, he said both Faro 64 and Faro 65 were recommended for release based on early maturity, high yield and drought tolerance.

Speaking on the three tomato varieties, Olufajo said KILELE was recommended for release based on high yield, firm fruits and tolerance to Fusarium wilt and late blight.

Dr. Sunday Aladele, Registrar of NACGRAB thanked the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) and International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for support received towards the hosting of the meeting.

The meeting was presided over by the Chairman, National Varieties Release Committee, Chief Oladosu Awoyemi and attended by scientists and developers of the new crop varieties or their representatives.

Dangote At FIIRO, Pledges To Tackle Malnutrition.

The Dangote Group has pledged to partner with the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) to fight the menace of malnutrition in Nigeria.

The group said it wishes to adopt indigenous technology fabricated in the Institute to address health, skills development and poverty alleviation challenges in the country.

This was disclosed during a courtesy visit to the institute by the Dangote Group led Ms. Zouera Youssoufou, Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Foundation.

In her remarks, Director General of the institute, Dr. (Mrs.) Gloria Elemo said she was happy to have the Dangote delegation, stressing “the interest of Dangote in food processing was mutual with that of the Institute.

“The Dangote group has impacted on the lives of Africans, most especially in job creation. The company’s interest in food processing provides a veritable platform for collaboration with FIIRO. The institute is the only one of its kind in Nigeria with special mandate for Research and Development (R&) in food processing and agro-allied industries.”

She said the institute has over 50 technologies ready for commercialisation and fit for the Nigerian market, noting that over 20 institutions have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with FIIRO. Making a case for a strategic partnership between the two organisations, she expressed her wish that the visit would culminate to the Dangote Group signing an MOU and strengthening the collaboration.

According to her, the areas of focus are “Youths and women empowerment at both state and federal levels. The institute can do these by leveraging on its technology transfer and entrepreneurship development programme; and job creation, which the Dangote Group is driving in the country. There is also the area of new product development in commodities, where the country has a competitive advantage. There is also the area of research and development of strategic projects. We are also looking at the enrichment of the Dangote Training School programme, particularly in foundry and welding, among other things.”

In her response, Ms. Youssoufou said that she didn’t realise that in-depth, impactful and indigenous research has advanced so much in the country, commending the staff for keeping the spirit research and development alive. She assured the institute of her support, as they have stirred her interest, especially in the area of nutrition.

EmmaAjayi:
What type of irrigation can we call the picture showing juvenile plantain

Drip irrigation.

Business Opportunity Opens For Paw-Paw Growers.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/07/business-opportunity-opens-for-paw-paw-growers/

Taking the business to the next level.

okamgbafarm:
Dear Sir, Honestly i was move by what i saw and it really motivate me. I will need to learn more from you, In such be my mentor. I have 3 acre of Land and i wish i can do something with it by your training if you wish to grow the youth.Please how can i reach you. My email is anthonyokamgba1976@gmail.com

You can contact me on +2348065220074

Naija Police can work if they want to.

Naija my country

Top Ten Plantain Producing Countries.

1 Uganda
2 Ghana
3 Cameroon
4 Rwanda
5 Colombia
6 Nigeria
7 Peru
8 Côte d'Ivoire
9 Myanmar
10 United Republic of Tanzania

KADUNA IS NOW PRODUCING FUEL FROM SUGARCANE - EL-RUFA’I

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, said the state Ministry of Science and Technology, in collaboration with Science Technology Forum (STF), has successfully produced bio-ethanol fuel grade from sugarcane.

Governor el-Rufa’i made this known while declaring open an international workshop on biofuel production technology, which took place at the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Madina Shehu, el-Rufa’i said the government intends to upgrade that initiative into a full scale commercial outfit.
“In line with this initiative, the state government is on the process of constructing another plant at Unguwan Mu’azu to produce bio-diesel from Jatropha Curcas,” el-Rufa’i said.

The Director General of NARICT, Professor Idris Bugaje, in his remarks, advocated for inclusion of biofuel training at the undergraduate, National Certificate in Education (NCE), National and Higher National Diploma levels in order to address the country’s renewable energy challenges.

The don said it is imperative for the country to give emphasis to research on biofuel in view of the fact that renewable energy plays critical role in national growth and development of countries world over, adding that the sector can create job opportunities to the army of the country’s unemployed youths.

Bugaje urged the federal government to prioritise the completion of the Petroleum Training Institute, Kaduna, which was started by late President Umaru Yar’adua, but abandoned after his death.
He also called for the renaming of the institute to Petroleum and Biofuels Technology Training Institute (PBTTI) in order to expand the mandate of the institute to include biofuel.

Former vice-chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Ango Abdullahi, lamented how Nigeria’s technological breakthroughs and researches are dusting up on the shelves of different tertiary institutions of the country.

Ango said Nigeria needs to find alternative to firewood, otherwise desert encroachment would continue to be one of the predicaments of the country, adding that patriotic leadership can utilise the resources of Nigeria to address her different challenges.

(Source: Daily Trust)

If well mentained Plantains will continue to grow for ten years or more, and will bear fruit every year.

In addition to their long lifetime, plantains are also a very profitable crop in Nigeria now, as there is a high demand for them.

In fact, the demand is so high that people/companies are now paying for plantains before they are even mature, to ensure that they are the ones that get the fruit.

Plantain Plantation – One thing I like about Plantain is that when planted once, it keeps producing year in year out for eternity. Like Rice and Garri, Plantain is widely consumed in Nigeria and you know — any food that is popular in Nigeria is always a huge income earner due to the population of the country.

I really haven’t seen many Farmers in Nigeria taking full advantage of the opportunity in Plantain Farming to create wealth for themselves.

Plantain is highly priced in Nigeria and is always in high demand all year round. Fry it, Boil it, Roast it — it will never get angry with you, that’s how liberal Plantain is. I can tell you Millions of Naira is currently lying fallow untapped in this sector of Farming in Nigeria.

Farming in Nigeria has taken a dramatic turn to better directions in recent years, creating jobs and opportunities for Entrepreneurs who dare to go into Farming Business. Millionaires are made every year through Farming in Nigeria and there is simply no end to the prospects of creating more wealth in Nigerian Farms in the coming years.

There are good reasons why Farming in Nigeria is currently doing well, and understanding these reasons will help any serious Entrepreneur (no matter where he comes from) to think seriously about setting up Farms in Nigeria.

chaktty:
I'm still in need of help from farmers out there.

We have sugarloaf variety for N50 delivered to your farm so contact:
Mr Biola Oluwole
Plant/Crop Department.
Highhill Agri-Business Academy
+234803 223 3748
+234802 595 9495
+234701 015 9343

Neduzze5:
For the Pawpaw seeds. I still have not gotten it.

Can you please call me because i can't understand.

Agriculture holds the key to broad-based economic growth, poverty reduction and food security.
Join the team today.

As an intending or a practicing farmer we should understand the kind of farming we are getting into.

For example if a farmer has no experience in flower farming, but interested in it, my advises for such farmer is to take a short courses in floriculture.

Such courses equip one with basic knowledge in the area of interest. Basic agronomy skills are necessary for any medium to large-scale farmer.

4. You Have The Determination Of a Winner

The reason why failures fail is because they aren’t determined enough. When you lose determination in this life it becomes quite hard to concentrate on what you are best at. You really can’t achieve anything big without determination.

Determination gives us positive energy which is required to enable us move on despite fatigue and obstacles – as we press on to the finishing line.

So no matter what the challenge is, keep your head high up and be determined to succeed in your ventures. And sure enough; you will.

sheyi86:
thank u sir 4 dis write up it really reinforce and ginger my decision 2 quit my casual job as a poultry attendant wit low salary 2 fully engage in farming bcoz dat has been my desire.thanks once again.

My brother,
I believe you would have learnt and master the business by now if yes Bravo that means you can stand on you own but if no please learn some more and save to start.

New Hope Liuhe Co., Ltd. produces and sells meat products and animal feed products in China and internationally.

It offers feed for broilers, meat ducks, swine, hens, aquatic products they also process and export poultry meat products, pork meat, smoked duck breast and roasted duck leg, snack food, egg products, yak meat, cordy ceps and silverweed cinquefoil pork, meat sauce, ham slices, and other food products and milk products. They as well breeds hens, ducks, and swine.

The company offers ham sausages under the Meihao brand, poultry feed and pig feed under the Liuhe brand, poultry feed and aquatic feed under the brand names of Guoxiong and Jiahao while they sell chilled fresh pork under the Qianxihe brand.

They are also involved in the provision of loans for farmers.

The company was formerly known as Sichuan New Hope Agribusiness Co. Ltd.

New Hope Liuhe Co., Ltd. was founded in 1998 and is based in Chengdu, China.

The company is no 1,505 in the Forbes global 2000 with Market Cap $7.4 Billion As of May 2015.
http://www.newhopeagri.com

Good news for livestock farmers.

New Hope Liuhe Company Limited (NHLCL), an agribusiness company from China, has expressed its desire to invest in the sector’s development in Nigeria

Dang ZhiMin, vice president at NHLCL, led the company delegation to Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. ZhiMin made assurances to invest in various sectors like manufacturing, processing and selling of animal feed, raw material additives, dairy products and more. He said that the company’s investment in its selected areas of interest would also help the local economy and provide employment.

The Chinese delegation was accompanied by a representative from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Zhao Xin, general manager of investment and development at NHLCL, said that the company, in collaboration with the foundation, is ready to invest in Nigeria. Describing the country as one of the biggest markets in the continent, he asked the government to support their plans.

The executive secretary of NIPC, Uju Hassan-Baba assured the potential investors of government assistance and an investment environment conducive to their investment, saying, “Those who are investing in the agricultural sector in Nigeria, especially a company like yours, is assured of abundant resources and huge fortunes.”

Hassan-Baba said that encouragement, promotion and coordination of investments in Nigeria were part of the commission’s mandate. She told the delegation members that Nigeria offered a ready-made market for products, with more than 170mn consumers in the country and also served as a gateway to other markets in West Africa.