TEN AGRICULTURE BUSINESS IDEAS FOR ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS IN 2017
With the downturn of the country’s much relied on oil and gas sector, many people view agriculture as the way out. The Agriculture sector is now taking a prominent position in Nigeria’s economy; making up to 20.49% of the total GDP in the first quarter of 2016 (National Bureau of Statistics ).
Since food is one of the basics of man, agricultural products will always be in high demand locally and internationally. As an entrepreneur or young person looking for something to venture into, you can key into one of these agricultural demands. You can potentially create enormous wealth for yourself by setting up an agro-business. The opportunities are endless in the agricultural sector. This article aims to highlight several agriculture business ideas for beginners.
1. POULTRY FARMING: BROILERS
This is for the production of meat. The exciting thing about this particular breed of birds is that it matures within a short period of time. The ideal time to start raising broilers is in February against the Easter festivities and October for Christmas and new year sales. It is important to note that, broilers can be raised all year round provided you have a ready market for your output.
This is for the production of meat. The exciting thing about this particular breed of birds is that it matures within a short period of time. The ideal time to start raising broilers is in February against the Easter festivities and October for Christmas and new year sales. It is important to note that, broilers can be raised all year round provided you have a ready market for your output.
For first-timers, it is advisable you go for birds that have been raised for four weeks from a reliable farm or outlet. This is because birds that have been kept for four weeks have a greater chance of survival than the day old chicks. Once you become very familiar with the trade, you may also venture into raising and selling broilers at four weeks.
Most of your spending is expected to go on feeds and it is expected that the birds will be raised for a duration of twelve weeks. Vaccination and prompt treatment are advised to be carried out as at when due. A chicken can be sold between N2000 to N3000 at maturity.
2. POULTRY FARMING: LAYERS
Here you are breeding your layer birds with the major aim of producing eggs. This aspect of poultry might require a little more capital and time when compared to broilers, but it will be worthwhile in the end. Layers will overall give you two sources of revenue, which are sales from the egg and selling the bird off once they become spent(when their egg production has tremendously reduced).
Here you are breeding your layer birds with the major aim of producing eggs. This aspect of poultry might require a little more capital and time when compared to broilers, but it will be worthwhile in the end. Layers will overall give you two sources of revenue, which are sales from the egg and selling the bird off once they become spent(when their egg production has tremendously reduced).
It is important to state that while poultry can fetch you 100% returns on, you can equally lose all your birds in a day(yes it can be that bad!) due to bad management practices. To avoid this ugly occurrence, it is important you employ the services of a vet doctor(or anyone vast in raising birds) to do routine checks on your birds.
3. EGG AND CHICKEN DISTRIBUTION
This practically involves trying to bridge the supply gap existing between poultry farmers and consumers. It is a profitable venture which requires a relatively little start-up cash. You can decide to venture into the sales of either chicken or eggs, and can also decide to combine the two. You will buy from poultry farmers and resell to wholesalers and retailers. No special skill is required, but a good marketing ability and a car might come in handy.
This practically involves trying to bridge the supply gap existing between poultry farmers and consumers. It is a profitable venture which requires a relatively little start-up cash. You can decide to venture into the sales of either chicken or eggs, and can also decide to combine the two. You will buy from poultry farmers and resell to wholesalers and retailers. No special skill is required, but a good marketing ability and a car might come in handy.
4. FRESH VEGETABLE
This is a small-scale business that can be started with very little capital. One of the benefits of the fresh vegetable business is that it does not require any cost of maintenance for its smooth running(except when you have gone into large scale production and require pumping machine for irrigation). Fresh leafy vegetables are always on demand so the market should not be a problem.
This is a small-scale business that can be started with very little capital. One of the benefits of the fresh vegetable business is that it does not require any cost of maintenance for its smooth running(except when you have gone into large scale production and require pumping machine for irrigation). Fresh leafy vegetables are always on demand so the market should not be a problem.
To kick-start this business, all you need is a cultivatable piece of land in your compound or around your area. Leafy vegetables including; Waterleaf, Scent Leaf, and Ugu leaf can be planted. Vegetables are majorly propagated by seed and in the case of water leaf, by the stem. The dry season is the best time to get maximum returns from cultivating vegetables provided you can go through the stress of irrigation that most farmers try to avoid.
5. CATFISH FARMING
Catfish fish rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids which aid in controlling the cholesterol levels in humans. The various health benefit of catfish makes it to be in high demand among healthy eaters, particularly those above the age of forty. Fast food joints, restaurants, hotels, food courts, pepper soup joints, market women, ministries, offices, public schools and various tertiary institutions of learning are potential markets for anyone who wishes to venture into catfish farming.
Catfish fish rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids which aid in controlling the cholesterol levels in humans. The various health benefit of catfish makes it to be in high demand among healthy eaters, particularly those above the age of forty. Fast food joints, restaurants, hotels, food courts, pepper soup joints, market women, ministries, offices, public schools and various tertiary institutions of learning are potential markets for anyone who wishes to venture into catfish farming.
Before starting your fish farm, it is advisable that you visit a couple of fish farms around and see things at first hand.
6. CATFISH SMOKING
One of the easiest cottage agricultural businesses you can start is the catfish smoking business.
There are a lot of catfish farmers all around today, so sourcing for fresh catfish to smoke should not be much of a stress. You do not necessarily have to be into catfish farming to make a lot of money by smoking fish.
One of the easiest cottage agricultural businesses you can start is the catfish smoking business.
There are a lot of catfish farmers all around today, so sourcing for fresh catfish to smoke should not be much of a stress. You do not necessarily have to be into catfish farming to make a lot of money by smoking fish.
Well-processed smoked fish is a great source of income source for those already involved in it. If you have the smoking kiln, you can also smoke on a commercial scale for people and earn cool cash. A kilogram of fish is processed and smoked between N100 – N150 depending on the part of the country.
7. SNAIL FARMING
This is a business often neglected by many. The giant African snail is the breed of snail that is ideal for farming. The suitable species for snail farming in Nigeria are, Achatina Fulica, Achatina Achatina, and Archachatina Marginata. Achatina Achatina is the more prolific of them all, it can lay up to 200-400 eggs per batch 2-3 times every year.
This is a business often neglected by many. The giant African snail is the breed of snail that is ideal for farming. The suitable species for snail farming in Nigeria are, Achatina Fulica, Achatina Achatina, and Archachatina Marginata. Achatina Achatina is the more prolific of them all, it can lay up to 200-400 eggs per batch 2-3 times every year.
You can source the snail for your farm by hand picking, open market, and from reliable snails farm. Snail farming can be quite slow initially, but you will reap the benefit if you are patient.
8. PLANTAIN AND BANANA PLANTATION
There is a high demand for plantain and banana(ripe and unripe) within and outside the country. Any unused land at your disposal can be converted into a banana or plantain farm.
There is a high demand for plantain and banana(ripe and unripe) within and outside the country. Any unused land at your disposal can be converted into a banana or plantain farm.
9. STARTING A BLOG ON AGRO NICHE
A great number people are now willing to embrace various agricultural businesses. They, however, need an accurate and reliable source of information to help them get started. To breach this information gap, you can start an Agricultural blog.
A great number people are now willing to embrace various agricultural businesses. They, however, need an accurate and reliable source of information to help them get started. To breach this information gap, you can start an Agricultural blog.
For example, you can create a poultry blog to educate poultry farmers and intending poultry farmers on the modern ways to run their poultry farming business. You can generate income from your blog through adverts. You can also become an online consultant. It is expected that you have an extensive knowledge in agriculture before venturing into this type of business.
10. CHARCOAL SUPPLY
Many industries make use of charcoals in large quantities. Charcoal can be bought in large quantities from nearby villages and supplied to smoked fish farms, bakeries and all other industries that use coal as their source of heat. A bag of charcoal can be purchased at N1,000 from these villages and resold for N1,500 or more in the city.
Many industries make use of charcoals in large quantities. Charcoal can be bought in large quantities from nearby villages and supplied to smoked fish farms, bakeries and all other industries that use coal as their source of heat. A bag of charcoal can be purchased at N1,000 from these villages and resold for N1,500 or more in the city.
The investment opportunities in agriculture are not limited to just the above list. You will surely find out more with a little research of your own. Your capital is not the only requirement to succeed in the agricultural business. It is extremely important that you study and really understand the aspect you are aiming to invest in. Ensure that you also seek for help and advice from experts in your field of endeavor from time to time.
Adeniran Adekunle is a member of His-Eminence farms.
For further help and advice, you can contact him via mail on adeniranadekunleo@gmail.com
Or His-eminence farms; hiseminencefarmsng@gmail.com
Or DM @dayqunlay1 on Twitter.
For further help and advice, you can contact him via mail on adeniranadekunleo@gmail.com
Or His-eminence farms; hiseminencefarmsng@gmail.com
Or DM @dayqunlay1 on Twitter.
