To say that there is hunger in the land is an understatement. In fact, famine is ravaging the land, with nowhere for one to hide, courtesy of the ignoble activities of the Boko Haram members who have driven farmers away from their farmlands. This is compounded by the high inflation triggered by the removal of the fuel subsidy and incessant increase of the pump price of petrol as well as the floating of the naira by this administration. The result is that majority of our citizens are wallowing in lack and penury. It has come to a stage that even the rich also cry. However, crying will not solve the problem; it will not put food on anyone’s table. And hoping that government will ameliorate the situation is like chasing the wind. One has to take his destiny in his own hands and begin to do the unthinkable. One of the strategies to survive this harsh economy is to grow your own food. Even if you are living in the urban area, you can invest in agriculture.
Why Agriculture?
Food Security: Agribusiness guarantees food security. In fact, it is an antidote to hunger. Agriculture insulates you from inflation and rising cost of food items. There is joy and peace of mind in harvesting your own food as at and when due. It gives you abundance of food to eat.
Employment Generation:
Agriculture can give a lifelong gainful employment. It is a business you can start at any level.
Low Capital:
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It is also business you can start with little capital.and grow into a big concern. For instance, an HND graduate started a poultry farm with ten birds in his apartment.. Before long, he moved out of the apartment, and was able to acquire 15 acres of land where he has expanded his business. No type of paid job can give him the kind of money he earns now. Or take the case of another graduate who after graduation became tired of looking for white collar jobs after some years of searching. He approached his dad to allow him erect a fish pond in the corner of their plot. His dad obliged. The young man constructed a fish pond and bought some fingerlings. Before long, he started harvesting and selling fish. He developed the fish business to the extent that he started processing catfish for export.
Land Acquisition:
There is no denying the fact that land acquisition is critical in farming business. Land is scarce for sure. However, it pains me when I see people with living in two plots of land with about one and a half plots lying fallow. They would be spending money clearing the grass every now and then when it could be utilized to add value to the family economy by doing some sort of farming. You can plant plantain, banana or fruits such as guava, avocado pears, mangoes, oranges, coco nut, or even palm trees. These will at maturity give you continuous streams of income. There are so many agribusinesses you can do with such an empty land. You can raise chicken, turkey, guinea fowl poultry farms. Now farming has so advanced that you can grow potatoes, yams, vegetables, carrots, cucumbers and lettuce in containers and sacks. These can be strategically placed at the backyard, the runway or balcony. So land availability is no longer a big issue.
Soilless Farming:
Even now soilless farming is the in thing. This is called hydroponics farming.. That is growing plants in a nutrient – rich solution rather than soil.
Training:
Go for training where necessary. Buy training manuals. Join farmers groups to enrich your knowledge and skills. You can also drop me a line or make inquiries where necessary .
Profitability:
So farming gives you limitless opportunities to earn a decent living. It is a business that you rarely record losses except for natural disasters. It will save you the money you are spending in buying food items all the time. So invest in agribusiness and will not regret it.
