How to Start a Smallholder Farm

Over 70% of farms in Africa are smallholder farms. They collectively contribute huge amount of agricultural produce. Despite a host of challenges with proper farming techniques and management they can succeed.

Production is only a piece of the puzzle because they need proper marketing. It is important to judiciously manage natural resources. Conserving the soils natural nutrients and waste water is very important.

Challenges of Smallholder Farms

The challenges of smallholder farms are many. They lack proper funding, overused fields, poor seed stock and illiteracy.

Smallholder farms employ labor intensive technique, poor skill acquisition. Another major challenge is lack of innovation. The farmers are generally stuck in their old ways of doing things.

•         Lack proper funding

•         Overused fields

•         Poor seed stock

•         Illiteracy

•         Labor intensive technique

•         Poor skill acquisition

•         Lack of innovation, motivation

•         Stuck in their old ways of doing things

Government Intervention

The majority of smallholder farms are run by very poor individuals. They do not have enough capital to grow or produce large scale. African governments are not doing enough to encourage or boost smallholder farms.

Ways government can improve their lot is through public private partnership. They should also reduce the complexity in the agricultural sector.

Skill Acquisition

Smallholder farmers need to acquire the appropriate skill. To earn considerable income, sustainability they need hands on training. There are many agricultural, research institutions willing to pass-on knowledge.

They also offer improved seeds, organic fertilizer and modern tools. The farmer could seek an established mentor, read books, and attend seminars or workshops.

•         Hands on training

•         Improved seeds

•         Organic fertilizer

•         Modern tools

•         Seek an established mentor

•         Read books

•         Attend seminars

•         Workshops

Farm Management

The farmers need a sound organizational, management and financial skills. The farmer needs to maintain financial records, save judiciously. To succeed they also need entrepreneurial and marketing skill.
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Building Capacity

Experts believe capacity building starts with rural communities working together. This includes joining a group, association or farmers union.

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How to Become a Successful Farmer

Having a fair knowledge of the product is the first step to becoming a successful farmer. A crop farmer has a huge variety of choices. They can grow rice, beans, corn, wheat, cotton, tomatoes and citrus fruits.

Crop farmers should understand weather conditions, soil pH, water level and type of soil. Other knowledge include specie of crop, growth and harvest period. More specialized knowledge includes spraying techniques, pruning, fertilizing and grafting.
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Things to Consider as a Livestock Farmer

Livestock farmers have different options in animal husbandry. The farmers need a deep understanding of feed type, body to fat ratio and medication for the livestock.

Other things to consider are common diseases, habitat and breed. It is important to develop basic business knowledge, accounting and record keeping. The farmer should study market trends, market fluctuations, demand and supply.

•         Deep understanding of feed type

•         Body to fat ratio

•         Medication for the livestock

•         Understand common diseases

•         Habitat

•         Breed

•         Develop basic business knowledge

•         Accounting

•         Record keeping

•         Study market trends

•         Understand market fluctuations

•         Demand and supply

Things to Consider as a Crop Farmer

Things to consider as a crop farmer are crop selection, crop yield, growth-harvest period. You need to know the type of climate, weather conditions, winter, and annual rainfall.

Others are soil type, waterlogged or well-grained soil and nutrient content. More are natural hazards like hailstorms, snow, flood or drought.

Intensive farming requires huge land, mechanized equipment and regular water supply. The farm land should be accessible with good roads, electricity. It is also very important to study the host community before establishing the business.

•         Crop selection

•         Crop yield

•         Growth-harvest period

•         Type of climate

•         Weather conditions

•         Annual rainfall

•         Soil type

•         Waterlogged or well-grained soil

•         Soil nutrient content

•         Natural hazards

•         Size of land

•         Mechanized equipment

•         Regular water supply

•         Accessible roads

•         Electricity

•         Study the host community

Farm Selection

The type of farming will determine the geographical location and type of farm. Things to consider are location, kind of farm, lease or purchase. Crop farmers need highly productive fertile land for the crops to thrive.

While livestock farmers need a secure land with perimeter fence, pens and cages. A farmer could consider renting if the farm already has the required facility. Buying a farm land involves long term investment in the business.

Make sure the region is familiar to avoid unwanted surprises. If there are successful crop farms in your area of selection then you are in good company. This is because the soil type and climates supports that particular crop.

If you are into poultry farming choose an area with successful poultry farms. Such areas have good support system, offers networking.

Gain Experience

It is important to develop the perquisite experience and hire knowledgeable professionals. To gain experience start as a farm hand and slowly learn the business.

Other ways are through tutorials, seminars or trade institutions. To succeed the farmer should have the necessary skills to manage his own farm.

•         Develop the perquisite experience

•         Hire knowledgeable professionals

•         Start as a farm hand

•         Use tutorials

•         Attend seminars or trade institutions

Start Cautiously

As opposed to owning a farm outright you can start by renting a farm. This way you will gain enough experience without tying down huge funds. The experience will also determine your level of interest and commitment to the business.

If you wish to buy focus more on history of the land than brokers looking to close a deal. Leverage on farming communities, groups, organizations and agricultural agents for advice.

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Facts on Duck Farming

Ducks are a delicacy in many countries while others consume them in moderate quantity. The bird’s meat is not as popular as turkey, chicken or beef. In a country like Nigeria turkey meat is popular while unpopular in Ghana.

In Nigeria there is no empirical data on number of ducks farmed annually, marketing or consumption. This offers a challenge for entrepreneurs looking to invest in the industry. However the focus on organic, chemical free meat has increased the demand.

Modern living focuses on health consciousness and food safety. For centuries wild-ducks are game birds in aristocratic settings. But are now domesticated and farmed.

Although the interest in duck consumption has raising top poultry meat are chicken and turkey. Poultry meat now extends to quail, duck, ostrich and guinea fowl. Other types of poultry are waterfowl, geese and peafowl.

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Why Farm Duck

The meat is a delicacy and a good source of protein. The birds are hardy and not easily susceptible to diseases. It requires small investment, low feeding cost to run a farm. Infrastructure is basic, easy to establish and low cost.

•         Good source of protein

•         The birds are hardy

•         Diseases resistant

•         Requires small investment

•         Low feeding cost

•         Basic Infrastructure

•         Easy to establish

Types of Ducks

There are many species of ducks both wild and domesticated. Popular ones are Blue Swedish, Aylesbury. Others include Buff, Muscovy, and White Pekins.

•         Blue Swedish

•         Aylesbury

•         Buff

•         Muscovy

•         White Pekins

Uses

A farmer can introduce ducks to their free-range poultry farm. This is because they are good companions and natural pest control. They add manure to soil, good source of meat and feathers. The birds also attract premium price in the market.

•         Good companions

•         Natural pest control

•         Add manure to soil

•         Good source of meat and feathers

•         Attract premium price in the market

How to Start Duck Farming

In developing countries duck farming is almost nonexistence. This is because the meat was regarded as poor man’s food. Poultry farms focus primarily on chicken and turkey production.

To start duck farming you need land space and source of water supply. You can create an artificial pond and demarcate the land with fencing.

The amount of startup capital is small as opposed to chicken farming. Start with a foundation stock of 1 male and 3 females.

Habitat

Ducks are regarded as waterfowls and the best habitat are regions with high rainfall. They grow well in the tropics, cool and riverine areas.

Pen or Cage

Most farms operate the free range system. This system allows the birds to wander about the farmland. They grow well alongside domesticated chickens.

In many parts of Africa the birds are raised in traditional subsistence rearing system. Free-range birds are varsities, prolific and are capable of raising themselves with very little assistance.

Some farmers raise them in chicken cages or pens. However they need to provide adequate water for the bird.

•         Free-range

•         Traditional subsistence rearing system

•         Pen/cage system

Food

The birds can digest a variety of protein rich food, fiber and non-conventional feed-stuff. They are prolific scavengers, eat insects, worms, grains and seeds. The type of food they eat is low cost and easy to source in the local market.

•         Protein rich food

•         Fiber

•         Non-conventional feed-stuff

•         Prolific scavengers

•         They eat insects

•         Worms

•         Grains

•         Seeds

•         Grass

Eggs

The waterfowls lay about ninety to hundred eggs per year depending on species. They start laying at eighteen weeks. The reproductive cycle is in three phases, laying (fifteen days). They incubate for twenty eight to thirty days and brooding phase is sixty to sixty three days.

Marketing

Sell your produce to supermarkets, grocery stores, restaurants. Others are hotels, food outlets, frozen and live food vendors.

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Lawn Care Business: How to Start a Lawn Care Business

This guide provides essential information on lawn care business. It coves startup costs. Legal, marketing, equipment. Other things are business overview, earning potential, growth.

It does not require any formal education and perfect for young people. You can be self-taught, learn from practical experience or books.

How to Start a Law Care Business

•         Write a business plan

•         Carry out a feasibility study

•         Register the business

•         Register for tax

•         Get insurance cover

•         Open an account

•         Obtain permit and license

•         Create a brand identity

•         Develop a marketing strategy

Who can Start the Business?

The person needs to have physical stamina and enjoy working outdoors. The business requires hard work, love for plants.

The person should have good interpersonal skills, knowledge of different plants, growing mediums. Most of the equipment are manually operated and requires some level of expertise.

•         You need physical stamina

•         enjoy working outdoors

•         requires hard work

•         Love for plants

•         Good interpersonal skills

•         Knowledge of different plants

•         Growing mediums

The Job Description

You need to define your scope of work and services. Common services include turf maintenance, lawn care, fertilization, edge removal.

Others are general sanitation, pest control, removal of debris and weed control. The operator needs to regularly check equipment, work at job sites. They fill reports, bill the clients and fulfill orders.

•         turf maintenance

•         lawn care

•         fertilization

•         Edge removal

•         General sanitation

•         Pest control

•         Removal of debris

•         weed control

Operational Costs and Equipment

The fix assets constitute most of your expenditure.  You need hand tools, trimmer, mower and shears, advertisement and gas.

Earnings

The job is labor intensive and usually carried out by casual low income workers. A two hour site job can cost from $15 to $25 per hour. Most lawn care are small business however there is stiff competition.

The expenses are transportation to site, labor and phone bills. Others are employee tax, insurance, gas, equipment maintenance and promotional. Promotions can cost $80 per month, insurance $150 per month, phone services $50 per month.

To increase income you can offer additional services like installing fountains, waterfalls, ponds, pavers or walkways. In cold climates you can offer snow removal services.

Legalities

There are legal considerations like obtaining a lawn service license and registering a business name. Engage an attorney to make a service contract or agreement. Register the business as a LLC, get insurance and tax identification number.

•         Lawn service license

•         registering a business name

•         prepare a service contract or agreement

•         Register the business as a LLC

•         Get insurance

•         Tax identification number

Staff and Marketing

Lawn care is a one man business however you need occasional assistance. For large jobs you need additional crew.

Use flyers, discounts and word to word to reach clients. Print a signboard, newspaper advertisement and social media. Look for corporate clients, schools, private residency, companies and government institutions.

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Lawn Spraying: How to Start Lawn Spraying Service

The demand and competition is high in the lawn spraying business. Customer base are commercial institutions, government or private residents.

One-time expenses include purchase of equipment, legal fees, permits, licensing. Recurrent costs are transportation, advertisement, labor, utilities and rent. To succeed the entrepreneur should offer quality service and an affordable price.

Startup Costs for Lawn Spraying Service

•         Purchase of equipment

•         Legal fees

•         Permits

•         Licensing

•         Transportation

•         Advertisement

•         Labor

•         Utilities

•         rent

Learn the Trade

The first step to providing lawn spraying service is to learn the trade. The business is easy to learn and does not require higher education. However the individual can acquire knowledge through trade workshop, tutorials, books and practical experience.

Other ways include becoming an apprentice, or seeking advice from experts in the industry. It is highly unlikely that operators in the same demography would help because they are in direct competition with your organization.

To get expert advice hire a professional from another state or local government area. Another way to gain knowledge is through an apprentice online courses or seminar. The basic educational qualification to start this business is a diploma. However a knowledge of horticulture is advantageous.

How to Learn Lawn Spraying

•         Workshop

•         Tutorials

•         Practical experience

•         Apprentice

•         Online courses

•         Seminars

•         Trade institution

•         Books

Register the Business

Once you have acquired knowledge the next step is to register a business. Register the business as an enterprise and apply for a business license.

The type of chemical agent must be approved by government. Obtain permit, get insurance cover and fill tax requirements. You need advertisement license to brand your vehicle. The license is normally renewed every year.

License and Permit

•         Business License

•         Obtain a permit

•         Business name

•         Mobile Advert license

•         Insurance

Write a Business Plan

Write a lawn spraying business plan and carry out a feasibility study. Hire an expert to write the plan or use readymade business plan template. Study the competitions business structure, prices and services.

Funding

The amount of money depends on the size of the establishment. Funds are needed for equipment, chemicals, office space, labor and storage. Other requirements are transportation and marketing.

Try target savings or visit a micro finance bank for long term low interest loans. To obtain the loan you need collateral, guarantors, business plan and part of startup capital. Another way to source funding is through partnership or find investors.

Purchase Equipment

The main equipment is for spraying the lawn. The type of chemical agent should be environmentally friendly and certified by the regulatory authorities. A subvention of the countries laws could cause litigation or serious penalties.

Additional equipment includes mowers, blowers, trimmers and edger. It is important to have an operational vehicle for easy movement and transportation of equipment. Purchase a used bus and brand with the companies name, address and logo. Offer added services

Although the core business is spraying the lawn the entrepreneur can add other services. The services will effectively increase income. The company can offer fertilization, trimming services, weed control and pruning services.

Hire Employees

The entrepreneur can hire qualified staff however the job is basically a one man business. Big jobs would need many people onsite to reduce time and increase efficiency.

Staff requirements are gardeners, lawn maintenance crew, sprayers, office secretary, location driver and janitor. Every aspect is practicable by a single person or hire temps when appropriate.

Advertise

The business is highly competitive so launch an effective marketing program. Keep the costs low and use print or newspaper advertisement.

Print flyers, posters, banners complimentary cards. Use word of mouth, social media and a website to reach prospective clients. Offer incentives, special offers, discounts and promotions to reach clients.

Determine Target Market

The type of client you service will determine your business template. Offer services to commercial clients or residential households. Make sure the advertisement is targeted at the right people and demography.

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How to Start Watermelon Farming in Nigeria

Watermelons are sweet juicy fruits with lots of health benefits. The nourishing fruit is grown extensively in West African countries. They are also cultivated in Asian countries, Egypt and India.

The popular fruits earliest record goes back 4000 years in ancient Egypt. Easy to grow it requires good soil, water, adequate sunlight. To start a watermelon farm secure farm land, purchase seedlings, prepare the soil, grow.

Health Benefits of Watermelon

The fruit is believed to aid the body’s metabolism, control obesity and unclog blood vessels. It contains lots of vitamins, folic acid, iron, magnesium, good source of potassium.

How to Start a Watermelon Farm

•  Secure farm land
• know the planting season
• purchase/prepare seed
• prepare soil organically
• cultivate
• harvest when ripe
• marketing and sales

Secure Farm Land

Secure a good farm land for the cultivation of the melons. The best soil composite is loamy or sandy soil. It is essential you introduce fertilizer to the soil. Find an area with adequate sunlight, water.

The water sources could be a stream, river, well or borehole. Watermelon plants only need moderate amount of water to grow. The farmer could lease farm land or purchase accordingly.

• loamy or sandy soil
• introduce fertilizer
• area with adequate sunlight
• good water source

Prepare the Seeds

The juicy fruit is known to have lots of seeds. The farmer should use only quality seeds for better yield. To check the quality of the seed dip in 4% solution of salt/water. Quality seeds tend to sink to the bottom and are ideal for farming.

Prepare Seeds: To prepare the seed for planting you need to follow some simple steps. Sowing the seeds without preparing them would not yield any result. This is because the seeds have a leathery shell.

To prepare the seeds soak in warm water daily. The water temperature should not exceed 35C. The next step is to heat the seeds under the sun for a period of 9-10 days. This makes the seeds resistant to disease, ready for planting.

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Cultivation Method

Conventional cultivation method is to create rows for the seeds 2.5m. The distance between crops should not exceed 2m.

The depth of the sow hole depends on the type of melon.  The soil should be fertilized and composited, and then introduce the prepared seeds.

You can use a seed per hole to achieve larger melons. Make sure you provide adequate space between plants to accommodate the fruit. For best result use organic fertilizer or compost.

Avoid fresh manure because it affects the quality, taste, plants resistance and hasten ripening. Make sure the plants are uniformly distributed in rows. Once they grow on the central stem control the fruit formation.

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Watering the Plant

Watermelons tend to have long roots that are capable of finding water. The early stage of growth needs occasional watering to grow the plant.

Pollination is generally achieved by flying insect attracted to the flowers. To achieve quick fruiting pollinate 'yourself' by introducing male to female flowers.

Harvesting the Watermelons

Make sure the watermelons are fully ripe before harvesting. The fruits are durable and long lasting. A ripe fruit feature uniformity in color and is well rounded.

You need heavy duty truck to carry the bulky fruits to the market. Sell you produce to wholesalers, fruit vendors, market women, supermarkets. Others potential customers are beverage drink makers, fruit stands.

Where to Sell Watermelon

• Fruit wholesalers
• fruit vendors
• market women
• supermarkets
• beverage drink makers
• fruit juice manufacturers
• fruit stands

Planting Season in Nigeria

The best planting season in southern Nigeria are March, June, September. The northern areas plant in May and July.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Starting a Fruit Selling Business in Nigeria

Although each fruit type is seasonal and perishable they provide an ideal investment opportunity. Fruits are loaded with essential nutrient, energy, natural supplements for our body. They taste nice are delicious, easy to digest.

They aid bowel movement, provide fibers and are low in calories. Fruits have many economical values in the food, beverage and manufacturing industry. To start a fruit business you need finance, suppliers and store.

Types of Fruits

The list of edible fruits found in Nigeria is huge. Popular fruits are oranges, lemon, pineapple, and apple.

Others are banana, pawpaw, guava, grape, watermelon. More include carrots, tangerine, plantain, mangoes and pear. You can sell a combination of fruits or specialize in one type.

Fruits

• Oranges
• Lemon
• Pineapple
• Apple
• Banana
• Pawpaw
• Guava
• Grape
• Watermelon
• Carrots
• Tangerine
• Plantain
• Mangoes
• pear

Economic Aspects of Fruits

Apart from the benefits derived from the consumption of fruits they have good economic value. They are eaten raw, processed, cooked or roasted.

You can add them to meals, blend or make into fruit juice. Fruit selling provides good income for the investor.

An investor could go into wholesale, retail or production. Manufacturing beverages involves huge capital investment in machinery, factory location, utilities, personnel, transport and marketing.

However retiling requires small startup of less than N100, 000.  About N500, 000 to N1, 000,000 is sufficient to go into wholesale. Popular wholesale fruit markets in Lagos Nigeria are Ketu Fruit Market, Ojo Market, and Mile 12.

Find Suppliers

A wholesaler or retailer needs to find a credible supplier. Wholesalers generally buy directly from farmers in remote areas. Sometimes they work through middlemen who contact the farmers.

The fruits are then gathered, transported to the major markets. Top producers of fruits are the northern parts of Nigeria. However fruits are found in abundance throughout the nation.

Fruit Retailer

A fruit retailer buys directly from wholesalers or farmers. They supply supermarkets, grocery stores, market women. The retailer can open a store to sell directly to customers.

Fruit juice Producers

 A person might decide to go into fruit Juice production. This involves juicing equipment, preservatives, airtight packaging, branding. The juice could be patented and needs NAFDAC.

Licensing

Only manufacturers need   NAFDAC registration number. You could get a business name, trade license. There are some local government levies including membership of associations.

Location

The location of the business should be in a commercial area. Ideal locations are close to their market base. Other good locations are busy roads, walkways, areas with heavy vehicular, human traffic. .Make sure the office has storage equipment, refrigerator, generator.

Ideal Location for Fruit Stall

• commercial areas
• close to market base
• busy roads
• walkways
• areas with heavy vehicular
• human traffic
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Marketing

Marketing fruits is very easy because of their health benefits. To sell you fruits you can get a stall in a popular fruit market. Other ways include selling through on online portals or a website. Try home delivery, word of mouth, supermarkets or network with fruit sellers.

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