TOP 7 AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS IDEAS IN NIGERIA

 






1. AGRO MARKETING

Ask an average farmer what their major challenge is? 95% of the answer you will get is MARKETING. There will be huge opportunities in 2017 for supply of various agricultural produces especially with the introduction of the nationwide introduction of the primary school feeding programme; government will be in need of individuals or companies that will ensure continuous supply of food produce for the successful implementation of the programme. They will encourage local sourcing of these food produce and don’t forget that industrial companies especially food related industries will also require supply of these farm produce.

What You Can Do: most of these farm produce are sourced from the rural areas. People in the rural areas concentrate mostly on their farming activities; they have less time to engage in the actual marketing particularly to end users. You can take advantage of the opportunity provided by this channel in purchasing the produce (prices are usually cheap) from different markets patronized by these farmer and supplying the government or industries.

Most industries also rely on suppliers to locate, buy and transport these agricultural materials to them and they buy from them (of course at a much higher price). You too can be part of this opportunity by locating a manufacturing company and start supplying them with raw materials based on their specification and quality.

2. AGRO PROCESSING BUSINESS

Agro processing is basically the conversion of primary agricultural products directly into other commodities for market. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), up to a third of farm produce are never consumed by humans but instead gets spoilt or is eaten by insects, rats and other pests. This is mainly because the produce is not utilised before it begins to decay or get eaten by pests while in the process of storage.

In Nigeria, productions of agricultural produce are not really the issue, lack of market and processing facilities contributes largely to the losses in the sector. See the following statistics

2. Tomatoes has domestic demand of 2.3 million tonnes annually, national production is estimated at 1.8 million tonnes, with wastage of over 750,300 tonnes. Yet the import bill for tomato paste is about of N16 billion to make up for the short fall in local production and processing.
3. Horticultural crop especially citrus (oranges) has national production of 3.48 million tonnes, contributing about 29.71 per cent of the world’s production and 81.98 per cent of Africa’s total output, however, about 1.53 million tonnes of the product is lost annually as waste.
4. Nigeria is the largest producer of pineapples in Africa, producing 903,000 metric tonnes, South Africa produces about 100,000, but we import pineapple juice from South Africa. Nigeria is the largest producer of mangoes, 620,000 metric tonnes, South Africa produces about 50,000, but we import the juice from there.

This figure can be reduced significantly if agro processing is prioritised. Moreover processing farm produce adds more value to the produce, increases its shelf life, enhances its qualities, increases its versatility and most importantly increases the selling price. Almost all farm produce can be processed into another product which leaves us with an enormous amount of choice plus the demand for processed product is far greater than that of the raw material used in making the product. The Bank of Industry (BOI) has a special fund that could be access by companies or co-operatives that wish to setup agro processing industry.      

        

 3. FOOD CROP FARMING

This involves the actual production of crops that are consumed by the people. There will definitely be increase in consumption of some food crop like beans/cowpea and of course rice will remain a major staple food on Nigerians table. Beans will also be a major food that will serve for the primary school feeding programme.

Other food crops that could be considered includes

Tomatoes and Pepper

Cassava

Rice

Maize

Vegetables

Water Melon

Yam

Plantain etc

5. POULTRY PRODUCTION

As we all know the poultry industry is one of the largest in the agriculture sector of the country. Almost all poultry farmers rear their chickens for egg or meat.

Egg Production: The poultry market especially egg production is not saturated yet, we also have it on good authority that egg will form a major food that will be served in the government planned primary school feeding programme, this will definitely leads to increase demand in the market and probably leads to its scarcity at a point if the current supply is not increased.

Meat Production: The demand for chicken meat popularly called ‘chicken’ is far greater than the supply in this country as tonnes of frozen chickens are being imported into the country every day. So this creates a great opportunity for people willing to go into the business. The poultry business generates a large market all year round. The most commonly reared chicken for meat is broilers. They mature in 12 week and are ready for market.

6. LIVESTOCK REARING

This is another highly profitable business on the never ending list of agric businesses you can do. As we all know Nigerians require lots of meats for their ceremonies, festive periods and even for just regular meals. So this means that lots of meats are demanded every time everywhere in Nigeria. Cattle fattening implies buying cattle (preferably ram, goat and cow because their demands are higher) when they are very little, feed them till they become old (and more importantly fat) and then sell them at a good price. As simple as the business entails, all that is required is just an enclosed piece of land with a little shed. This business is also a must-do because it requires no skill, very little time but the profit is very huge. All you have to do is buy some young cattle, put them in the enclosed land, feed them till they grow old enough to attract a good price and then sell them off. You can sell directly to people to your area or you can sell to anther marketer if you have quite a good number of cattle.

7. FISH FARMING

Catfish Farm is one agric business that guarantees you millions of Naira annually, if you are armed with the right knowledge of practice. Area of catfish farming you can venture into includes -

Fingerling production(hatching and selling of fries, sales of fingerling, post fingerling or juvenile fish)
Processing of cat fish,(smoked cat fish), packaging and sales of smoked cat fish

Agriculture these days is becoming a great business revelation for entrepreneurs and even though lots and lots are investing these days. the market is becoming wider and more lucrative. if you are a farmer, tell us what we are missing and what you feel should be done to help farmers and their yearly productivity