Already, there are thousands of opportunities within Nigeria’s agric sector and people who have decided to look into that direction are smiling to the banks frequently with wholesome profits from their various farming businesses.
For instance, during the recent recession, agriculture was one of the sectors that experienced tremendous growth, which shows that if you’re looking for a sector to invest in 2018, you should not think twice before considering agriculture.
Therefore, for beginners, there are some areas of investments in the sector, which costs are generally low, and the returns on investment are indisputable and decent. It is advisable for intending farmers to seek experts’ advise and undergo training before going into any farming business in Nigeria.
Mushroom farming: The cultivation of mushroom is one of the most money-spinning agricultural jobs in Nigeria but people are yet to explore the potential despite the country’s conducive climate for high volume of mushroom production.
Mushroom is an essential vegetable, which regularly grows in the forest with medicinal value. It is rich in protein, Vitamin B, and minerals, phosphorus and also has a large global demand.
Mushroom is cultivated and sold commercially in over 60 countries like the US, France and Poland, among others. Setting up a mushroom farm requires little space and can be started with between N10,000 and N40,000 depending on how big you want your mushroom farm to be. Some mushroom farmers are making up to N4 million annually.
Quail farming: Quail farming can be a lucrative business like other farming ventures, such as chicken, turkey or duck farming in Nigeria. But rearing of quail is still an uncommon business in the country because the bird is one of the smallest poultry birds.
Ironically, just few people are into the business of the ‘little wonder bird’, as many people call it, and making cool cash. These sets of people are also enjoying both the nutritional and health values derived from consuming the meat and the eggs of the bird. It is on record that some farmers are making between N700,000 and N1.3 million every year from raising quail birds for meat, eggs and hatchery production.
Due to its nutritional values and health benefits, experts predicted that quail would soon take over the chicken poultry business. Starting quail farming requires a little capital of N20,000. The low cost of investment in rearing quail and the high rate of returns are some of the reasons you should venture into quail farming in 2018.
Grasscutter farming: Grasscutter farming is another lucrative livestock breeding business that an intending farmer or investor who is looking towards making money should consider going into in 2018.
This is the time to invest in this emerging niche, as the demand for the animal is everywhere. For now, demand for breeding colonies and table size are not being met and it will remain so for a while.
The switch to white meat by many people, especially rich men, is increasing the demand for grasscutter significantly. Even hotels, restaurants, pepper soup joints are in search of steady supply of grasscutter but unfortunately, the supply is still very short and unavailable.
Investigations have revealed that with N50,000, one can start the business. All potential farmers need is some practical training on how to handle them. 500 grasscutters can earn you between N2 million and N2.75 million as a market-ready grasscutter is sold for between N4,000 and N5,500.
Butternut squash farming: This is the right time for potential farmers to invest in butternut squash farming in Nigeria. The crop is still not common in the country and people are already demanding for it because of its numerous health benefits. The few people who are planting the crop in the Southwest cannot satisfy local demands let alone international market.
Presently in Nigeria, people can only get butternut squash from shoprite and some other big shopping malls across the country even as the supply is below demand as it is not always available on demand in those shopping malls.
Once a farmer gets a land, he needs a little capital of N70,000 to start the business.
Maggot farming: With the high cost of animal feed growing, maggots farming is beginning to become a thriving business, as experts say that African entrepreneurs have huge opportunity to make millions from it.
In South Africa today, they longer use fishmeal to prepare feed for livestock because they have estimated that if they continue to catch fish from the sea, by 2020 or 2025, fishes may go into extinction as demand for livestock keep increasing.
But in Nigeria, the new business opportunity is yet to be explored as people still doubting it. But there is money in maggots farming and needs a little capital of N35,000 to N40,000 to start after receiving training from an expert.
Heliculture farming (snail farming: Commercial snail farming has become an alternative for livestock farmers as it offers them new business opportunities. Snail farming is thriving at the moment in Africa because it was neglected and overlooked.
Snail breeding can yield quick money if the farmer understands the nitty-gritty of the modern techniques and type of species that are in high demand in Europe, USA and other developed countries.
However, the rising consciousness of the elite to choose healthy diets has made snails popular features of expensive meals in hotels, bars, restaurants and shopping malls.
In terms of cost and time, snail farming is a low risk business and profitable. Unlike many other livestock businesses, snail farming requires very little startup capital of about N60,000 or N100,000 depending on the size of your farm. N100,000 snails, after a year or two, sold at the rate of N50 each (highly reduced price) will give you about N5 million.
Vegetables farming: The fresh vegetable business is a small-scale business that you can start with little or no capital base. Vegetable farming requires no cost of maintenance to run the business. Also, there is always demand for fresh leafy vegetables such as waterleaf, scent leaf, pumpkin (ugu) leaf, green leaf, cucumber and watermelon, among others. To start this business, you need a small space in your compound or nearby farm where you can cultivate the vegetables. It takes between four to six weeks or less for the vegetables to mature for harvest.
Cassava farming: One of the cash crops you must consider in 2018 is cassava because the demand for cassava products in Nigeria is on the rise. After getting a land, you need about N45,000 N55,000 to get quality cassava stems for planting. By-products such as garri, fufu and bread, are the daily staple foods of almost every Nigerian and 95 per cent of Nigerian households consume one of these meals everyday.
The numerous uses of cassava for meals, industrial starch and even for alcohol has made its demand far exceed its supply and as such, many local farmers are reaping good profits from growing this crop, which has overtime made it one of the most profitable agricultural business ideas any intending farmer can start.
