Maize farming is one of the crop farming that is very suitable for Nigerians, considering our great arable land. Unlike rice farming, much more of our land can easily be used for maize farming. Maize farming is as old as man itself, and it has been done commercially in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular for decades now. Maize farming is a high-potential opportunity for Nigeria and its people, especially those who are willing to learn how to turn a business idea as this to wealth. Maize is perhaps the most common food crop in Nigeria, and also the most important as it is eaten in various dishes and forms the basis for most of the meals prepared by the average Nigerian family. As we all know, corn is a crop cheaper than rice and wheat, two of the other most consumed cereals, and this affordability makes maize hugely popular. The savvy agribusiness investor stands to make a sizeable amount of money through commercial maize farming.

Maize, also known as corn, is one of the farm produce that gives an incredible return on investment, as one seed of planted maize could return more than 500 kernels of corn come harvest season. A little monetary investment in corn farming can therefore yield a sizeable level of income and profit after a little while. Maize matures very fast. Between planting and harvest time, a farmer needs to wait only between 3 or 4 months. Therefore cultivating just 5000 kernels of corn, a farmer can harvest not less than 2.5 million kernels of the same maize in less than 120 days. What more, maize is a hardy plant, and is one of the few crops that can grow on a vast array of soils and can survive in different climatic conditions. It needs sunlight to prosper and Nigeria is a country blessed with abundant sunlight; maize can therefore be grown successfully in almost every state of the country. Maize remains a key food crop in Africa, Latin America and Asia where it is primarily used as human food; in developed countries though, maize is one of the most important raw materials for animal feed production and biofuels.

Maize also forms the basis for the production for most animal feeds in Nigeria. Without it, the livestock farmer will probably be unable to rear his livestock. The production of meat, eggs and dairy products (like milk and yoghurt) would be difficult without maize, which is a hugely important ingredient in animal feed.

The Market for Maize/Corn in Nigeria.
There are three major markets for maize and its allied products in Nigeria.

Corn as Human Consumption:
Unlike in developed countries where a major portion of maize produced is used for animal feed or biofuel, maize is a significant part of diets in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. Experts expect that the demand for maize as human nourishment will increase in tandem with Nigeria’s population growth. There will therefore also be a higher demand for corn (maize). This market currently accounts for about 50 per cent of the Nigerian corn demand.

Corn as Animal Feed:
Corn is a favourite raw material for animal feeds, mainly because it is cheaper than many of the other feed alternatives and yet provides the required nutritional content for livestock. As a result, about 35 percent of corn produced in Nigeria is used in animal feed production.

Maize for Industrial Consumption:
It is estimated that about 15 per cent of Nigeria’s current maize produce goes for industrial use, due to its high starch content. The starch obtained from maize is processed into several additives, agents and ingredients such as sorbic acid, sorbitol, dextrine, and lactic acid. These are used in the manufacture of common household items such as cosmetics, ink, medicines and wall paint.
If you’ve eaten popcorn before, you know you’ve eaten the product of maize. Other by-products from maize are shoe polish, batteries, syrups, ice cream, and glue. Companies such as Nestle and Cadbury also buy corn to produce cereal-based breakfast brands like corn flakes, while companies such as Nigerian Breweries and Guinness purchase maize to use as a major raw material for the production of beer. In industrialized countries, the starch from maize is also used to produce bioethanol, a form of renewable fuel. Nigeria is aiming to achieve this level of sophistication as well.


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Maize is one of the staple foods in Nigeria. There is hardly any Nigerian family that does eat maize or its products weekly. Some families cannot even do without consuming foods made from maize daily. Asides human consumption, maize is used for several other purposes.
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