Petroleum is still widely recognized as the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy; however, Agriculture in Nigeria remains the foundation or bedrock of the nation’s economy. It is an invaluable sector whose contributions to national revenue cannot be overlooked. Every year, the agricultural sector provides millions of jobs, tonnes of food and valuable raw materials, all of which translate into economic growth and development.

FACTS ABOUT AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA
Here are seven interesting facts about agriculture in Nigeria that you probably didn’t know about:

1. Agriculture Contributes More to Nigeria’s GDP Than Petroleum
2. Agriculture Currently Accounts for Over 30% Of Employment Opportunities in Nigeria
3. Nigeria Has a Total Agricultural Land Area Of 70.8 million Hectares
4. Crop Production Is the Largest Subsector of Agriculture in Nigeria
5. Nigeria Is the World’s Largest Producer of Cassava and Yam
6. Livestock Production Is Still Largely Under-Exploited in Nigeria
7. Nigeria Was Ranked 119th On The 2017 Global Agricultural Innovation Index

1. AGRICULTURE CONTRIBUTES MORE TO NIGERIA’S GDP THAN PETROLEUM
It may interest you to know that for many years, agriculture has contributed more to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) than petroleum, even though the latter accounts for about 80% of the country’s annual export earnings. Between 2011 and 2012, agriculture contributed to over 40% of the nation’s GDP. In 2018, the agricultural sector contributed an estimated 25% to Nigeria’s total GDP, the most by any sector, while the oil sector contributed 8.6% over the same period.

Read the detailed facts and statistics here: Agriculture in Nigeria

Nigerians love poultry meat, it is the third most consumed meat in Nigeria, after beef and goat meat, reports indicate that Nigerians consume over 1.5 million tons of poultry meat annually, and the demand for poultry eggs and meat continues to rise steadily. However, local production of poultry in Nigeria only meets about 30% of demand, while poultry imports meet up the rest of the demand. This clearly indicates that poultry farming in Nigeria is a highly lucrative field of agriculture that is still largely under-exploited in Nigeria. Thus, if you are thinking of starting a career in agriculture, you should definitely consider poultry farming.

Poultry farming refers to the raising of domestic birds like chicken, turkey, ducks etc for the purpose of producing meat, eggs, feathers and manure for human consumption and other purposes. It is a highly profitable venture with a lot of exciting opportunities, and if done right, you’ll be killing two birds with one stone– you will make a lot of profit due to high demand for poultry meat and eggs in Nigeria, and you’ll also be doing your part to ensure that local production of poultry meets demand, thus minimising importation of poultry products. If you want to get more insights about the facts, figures and statistics about poultry farming in Nigeria, read this blog post.

Continue reading this blog post if you want to learn about how to get started with poultry farming in Nigeria. It contains everything you need to know about starting a poultry farm in Nigeria.

HOW TO GET STARTED WITH POULTRY FARMING IN NIGERIA
- Learning About the Cost and Creating a Budget
- Choosing the Type of Bird to Rear
- Selecting A Suitable Farm Location for Poultry Farming in Nigeria
- Providing Good Housing or Shelter for Poultry Farming in Nigeria
- Free-range Poultry Housing System
- Semi-intensive Housing System
- Folding Unit System
- Intensive System
- Feeding And Caring for the Birds
- Marketing And Selling the Birds and Their Products

1. Learning About the Cost and Creating a Budget

The cost of starting and operating a poultry farm depends on the size of the farm and the scale of operations. A small-scale farm requires less capital due to the low cost of housing and feeding involved. Large scale poultry farms require well-constructed housing systems, large quantities of highly nutritious food and appropriate measures for disease and pest control which can be quite expensive. Before starting a poultry farm, decide the kind of farm you want to start, find out the cost of everything you need to start the farm and create a budget accordingly. You can start a small-scale poultry business in Nigeria with less than ....

Read more here: Poultry Farming in Nigeria

Babban Gona, has partnered with Aspire Institute, a non-profit organization founded at Harvard University, to give Nigerians access to a fully-funded leadership development program with access to prestigious educators.

The partnership aims to provide selected Nigerian students with access to fully-funded HarvardX courses, a global community of peers, live seminars with world-class faculty, and mentorships from seasoned professionals.

“The Aspire Leaders Program gets the best talent that has not been noticed from everywhere in the world. The mission of the Aspire Institute is to reach marginalized youth around the world at scale, meaning we want to reach as many youth from low-income backgrounds as possible.” said Tarun Khanna, co-founder and Harvard Business School Professor.

The Aspire Leaders Program is open to Nigerian undergraduate students and recent graduates (within the last 3 years) between the ages of 18-26. This program provides resources for students all over the globe that come from backgrounds of social and financial adversity, specifically students who are first-generation in their family to go to college.

Interested students can apply for the program by visiting https://www.aspireleaders.org/apply

According to the Deputy Managing Director of Babban Gona, Lola Masha, she said “Babban Gona is pleased to partner with Aspire Institute to open up this leadership program opportunity to Nigerians from low-income backgrounds. It is in line with our belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to prosper. This partnership will be a great addition to the impact we have had on over 220,000 smallholder farmers. We believe the program will equip Nigerians with the leadership skills to develop the country.”

On why Aspire Institute decided to partner with Babban Gona to reach more Nigerians, Meena Sonea, Executive Director of Aspire Institute said “Nigeria has such a large population of youth, and we are partnering with Babban Gona to give these youth personal, professional, and leadership development skills so that they can become self confident and become young leaders, young change-makers in their communities and contribute to the economy in their country of residence (in Nigeria). We both believe in the power of youth making a change in society and want to provide them with the resources, training, and opportunities to do so.”

Iyke Odagwe, one of the few Nigerians who participated in the 2021 Aspire Leaders Program, stated, “I have been able to meet people from other countries. I have learned a lot from different cultures, I’ve learned a lot about leadership, and I’ve learned a lot about self development.”

Since 2017, the Aspire Leaders Program has grown from a few hundred applications from nine countries to several thousands from more than 100 countries across five continents in each cycle.

The program, which was founded at Harvard University, was previously called Crossroads Emerging Leaders Program. Now, the Aspire Institute runs the Aspire Leaders program as an independent non-profit organization, allowing them to reach students from any country in the world and welcoming Nigerian students.

Apply here: https://www.aspireleaders.org/apply . When applying please indicate Babban Gona as how you heard about the program.

Babban Gona, has partnered with Aspire Institute, a non-profit organization founded at Harvard University, to give Nigerians access to a fully-funded leadership development program with access to prestigious educators.

The partnership aims to provide selected Nigerian students with access to fully-funded HarvardX courses, a global community of peers, live seminars with world-class faculty, and mentorships from seasoned professionals.

“The Aspire Leaders Program gets the best talent that has not been noticed from everywhere in the world. The mission of the Aspire Institute is to reach marginalized youth around the world at scale, meaning we want to reach as many youth from low-income backgrounds as possible.” said Tarun Khanna, co-founder and Harvard Business School Professor.

The Aspire Leaders Program is open to Nigerian undergraduate students and recent graduates (within the last 3 years) between the ages of 18-26. This program provides resources for students all over the globe that come from backgrounds of social and financial adversity, specifically students who are first-generation in their family to go to college.

Interested students can apply for the program by visiting https://www.aspireleaders.org/apply

According to the Deputy Managing Director of Babban Gona, Lola Masha, she said “Babban Gona is pleased to partner with Aspire Institute to open up this leadership program opportunity to Nigerians from low-income backgrounds. It is in line with our belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to prosper. This partnership will be a great addition to the impact we have had on over 220,000 smallholder farmers. We believe the program will equip Nigerians with the leadership skills to develop the country.”

On why Aspire Institute decided to partner with Babban Gona to reach more Nigerians, Meena Sonea, Executive Director of Aspire Institute said “Nigeria has such a large population of youth, and we are partnering with Babban Gona to give these youth personal, professional, and leadership development skills so that they can become self confident and become young leaders, young change-makers in their communities and contribute to the economy in their country of residence (in Nigeria). We both believe in the power of youth making a change in society and want to provide them with the resources, training, and opportunities to do so.”

Iyke Odagwe, one of the few Nigerians who participated in the 2021 Aspire Leaders Program, stated, “I have been able to meet people from other countries. I have learned a lot from different cultures, I’ve learned a lot about leadership, and I’ve learned a lot about self development.”

Since 2017, the Aspire Leaders Program has grown from a few hundred applications from nine countries to several thousands from more than 100 countries across five continents in each cycle.

The program, which was founded at Harvard University, was previously called Crossroads Emerging Leaders Program. Now, the Aspire Institute runs the Aspire Leaders program as an independent non-profit organization, allowing them to reach students from any country in the world and welcoming Nigerian students.

Apply here: https://www.aspireleaders.org/apply . When applying please indicate Babban Gona as how you heard about the program.

Babban Gona, has partnered with Aspire Institute, a non-profit organization founded at Harvard University, to give Nigerians access to a fully-funded leadership development program with access to prestigious educators.

The partnership aims to provide selected Nigerian students with access to fully-funded HarvardX courses, a global community of peers, live seminars with world-class faculty, and mentorships from seasoned professionals.

“The Aspire Leaders Program gets the best talent that has not been noticed from everywhere in the world. The mission of the Aspire Institute is to reach marginalized youth around the world at scale, meaning we want to reach as many youth from low-income backgrounds as possible.” said Tarun Khanna, co-founder and Harvard Business School Professor.

The Aspire Leaders Program is open to Nigerian undergraduate students and recent graduates (within the last 3 years) between the ages of 18-26. This program provides resources for students all over the globe that come from backgrounds of social and financial adversity, specifically students who are first-generation in their family to go to college.

Interested students can apply for the program by visiting https://www.aspireleaders.org/apply

According to the Deputy Managing Director of Babban Gona, Lola Masha, she said “Babban Gona is pleased to partner with Aspire Institute to open up this leadership program opportunity to Nigerians from low-income backgrounds. It is in line with our belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to prosper. This partnership will be a great addition to the impact we have had on over 220,000 smallholder farmers. We believe the program will equip Nigerians with the leadership skills to develop the country.”

On why Aspire Institute decided to partner with Babban Gona to reach more Nigerians, Meena Sonea, Executive Director of Aspire Institute said “Nigeria has such a large population of youth, and we are partnering with Babban Gona to give these youth personal, professional, and leadership development skills so that they can become self confident and become young leaders, young change-makers in their communities and contribute to the economy in their country of residence (in Nigeria). We both believe in the power of youth making a change in society and want to provide them with the resources, training, and opportunities to do so.”

Iyke Odagwe, one of the few Nigerians who participated in the 2021 Aspire Leaders Program, stated, “I have been able to meet people from other countries. I have learned a lot from different cultures, I’ve learned a lot about leadership, and I’ve learned a lot about self development.”

Since 2017, the Aspire Leaders Program has grown from a few hundred applications from nine countries to several thousands from more than 100 countries across five continents in each cycle.

The program, which was founded at Harvard University, was previously called Crossroads Emerging Leaders Program. Now, the Aspire Institute runs the Aspire Leaders program as an independent non-profit organization, allowing them to reach students from any country in the world and welcoming Nigerian students.

Apply here: https://www.aspireleaders.org/apply . When applying please indicate Babban Gona as how you heard about the program.

Dry season farming is the practice of planting and cultivating crops during the dry season in Nigeria, usually between the month of October and March.

Due to the limited or lack of rainfall during this period, farmers depend heavily on irrigation systems to water their farms. This practice of farming has been encouraged by agricultural experts in order to improve food security levels in the country and the profitability of farmers.

In 2017, the Nigerian government distributed over 9.5 billion Naira worth of farm inputs to farmers for dry season farming. The scheme had a success rate of 92%.

HERE ARE FACTS ABOUT DRY SEASON FARMING
If you are considering specialising in dry season farming or adding it to your farming activities, here are some facts you should know:

1. Dry Season Farming Improves Food Availability
2. Irrigation for Dry Season Farming in Nigeria
3. Improves the Quality of the Soil
4. There are Fewer Pests and Diseases During the Dry Season
5. Transportation of Farm Produce to the Market is Easier

Learn more here: https://babbangona.com/5-facts-about-dry-season-farming-in-nigeria-you-should-know/

Agriculture in Nigeria may be the least accepted amongst youths in the country. Research carried out in some parts of the country showed that only about 21.5% of youths in the country were willing to participate in agriculture. 68.5% of the respondents were not willing to attend seminars that would encourage youths to participate. While over half of the respondents attributed their unwillingness to participate in agriculture to “making one dirty”.

However, despite Nigeria’s alarming unemployment rate that is at 33.3% according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the agricultural sector provides employment for about 36.38% of the population in a 2019 report, this has been its lowest contribution to employment in the country over the past 28 years. Its highest, being 53.15% in 1992.

The year 2020 was a year of uncertainty with the outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic that ravaged the country. The pandemic led to the enforcement of lockdowns, travel restrictions, border closure and more. These caused businesses to close down temporarily and some permanently and resulted in the loss of jobs.

The agricultural sector, however, had a few positives and also contributed to about 20% of the country’s GDP which has seen the country come out of recession in Q4 2020.

In 2021, the Agricultural sector had a contribution of 25.88% to the country’s national GDP and grew by 3,58% year on year.

NIGERIAN YOUTHS ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN AGRICULTURE PROVIDED THEY HAVE THE NEEDED SUPPORT

Read more here: https://babbangona.com/how-nigerians-youths-can-be-engaged-through-agriculture/

You can learn more about the Aspire Leaders Program by joining the Info Session and Alumni Panel. Alumni from Nigeria, Kenya and Cameroon will be sharing insights about their experience with the program.

Join and learn how you can transform your future and make an impact in your community as a first-generation college student.

Date: Monday, May 9 2022.
Time: 4pm GMT | 5pm (West African Time)

Register to attend here---> https://apply.aspireleaders.org/e/6271311f6ab72853c70001ff

You can learn more about the Aspire Leaders Program by joining the Info Session and Alumni Panel. Alumni from Nigeria, Kenya and Cameroon will be sharing insights about their experience with the program.

Join and learn how you can transform your future and make an impact in your community as a first-generation college student.

Date: Monday, May 9 2022.
Time: 4pm GMT | 5pm (West African Time)

Register to attend here---> https://apply.aspireleaders.org/e/6271311f6ab72853c70001ff

Africa’s largest producer of maize, Babban Gona, has partnered with Aspire Institute, a non-profit organization founded at Harvard University, to give Nigerians access to a fully-funded leadership development program with access to prestigious educators.

The partnership aims to provide selected Nigerian students with access to fully-funded HarvardX courses, a global community of peers, live seminars with world-class faculty, and mentorships from seasoned professionals.

“The Aspire Leaders Program gets the best talent that has not been noticed from everywhere in the world. The mission of the Aspire Institute is to reach marginalized youth around the world at scale, meaning we want to reach as many youth from low-income backgrounds as possible.” said Tarun Khanna, co-founder and Harvard Business School Professor.

The Aspire Leaders Program is open to Nigerian undergraduate students and recent graduates (within the last 3 years) between the ages of 18-26. This program provides resources for students all over the globe that come from backgrounds of social and financial adversity, specifically students who are first-generation in their family to go to college.

Interested students can apply for the program by visiting https://www.aspireleaders.org/apply

According to the Deputy Managing Director of Babban Gona, Lola Masha, she said “Babban Gona is pleased to partner with Aspire Institute to open up this leadership program opportunity to Nigerians from low-income backgrounds. It is in line with our belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to prosper. This partnership will be a great addition to the impact we have had on over 220,000 smallholder farmers. We believe the program will equip Nigerians with the leadership skills to develop the country.”

On why Aspire Institute decided to partner with Babban Gona to reach more Nigerians, Meena Sonea, Executive Director of Aspire Institute said “Nigeria has such a large population of youth, and we are partnering with Babban Gona to give these youth personal, professional, and leadership development skills so that they can become self confident and become young leaders, young change-makers in their communities and contribute to the economy in their country of residence (in Nigeria). We both believe in the power of youth making a change in society and want to provide them with the resources, training, and opportunities to do so.”

Iyke Odagwe, one of the few Nigerians who participated in the 2021 Aspire Leaders Program, stated, “I have been able to meet people from other countries. I have learned a lot from different cultures, I’ve learned a lot about leadership, and I’ve learned a lot about self development.”

Since 2017, the Aspire Leaders Program has grown from a few hundred applications from nine countries to several thousands from more than 100 countries across five continents in each cycle.

The program, which was founded at Harvard University, was previously called Crossroads Emerging Leaders Program. Now, the Aspire Institute runs the Aspire Leaders program as an independent non-profit organization, allowing them to reach students from any country in the world and welcoming Nigerian students.

Apply here: https://www.aspireleaders.org/apply . When applying please indicate Babban Gona as how you heard about the program.

Africa’s largest producer of maize, Babban Gona, has partnered with Aspire Institute, a non-profit organization founded at Harvard University, to give Nigerians access to a fully-funded leadership development program with access to prestigious educators.

The partnership aims to provide selected Nigerian students with access to fully-funded HarvardX courses, a global community of peers, live seminars with world-class faculty, and mentorships from seasoned professionals.

“The Aspire Leaders Program gets the best talent that has not been noticed from everywhere in the world. The mission of the Aspire Institute is to reach marginalized youth around the world at scale, meaning we want to reach as many youth from low-income backgrounds as possible.” said Tarun Khanna, co-founder and Harvard Business School Professor.

The Aspire Leaders Program is open to Nigerian undergraduate students and recent graduates (within the last 3 years) between the ages of 18-26. This program provides resources for students all over the globe that come from backgrounds of social and financial adversity, specifically students who are first-generation in their family to go to college.

Interested students can apply for the program by visiting https://www.aspireleaders.org/apply

According to the Deputy Managing Director of Babban Gona, Lola Masha, she said “Babban Gona is pleased to partner with Aspire Institute to open up this leadership program opportunity to Nigerians from low-income backgrounds. It is in line with our belief that everyone deserves an opportunity to prosper. This partnership will be a great addition to the impact we have had on over 220,000 smallholder farmers. We believe the program will equip Nigerians with the leadership skills to develop the country.”

On why Aspire Institute decided to partner with Babban Gona to reach more Nigerians, Meena Sonea, Executive Director of Aspire Institute said “Nigeria has such a large population of youth, and we are partnering with Babban Gona to give these youth personal, professional, and leadership development skills so that they can become self confident and become young leaders, young change-makers in their communities and contribute to the economy in their country of residence (in Nigeria). We both believe in the power of youth making a change in society and want to provide them with the resources, training, and opportunities to do so.”

Iyke Odagwe, one of the few Nigerians who participated in the 2021 Aspire Leaders Program, stated, “I have been able to meet people from other countries. I have learned a lot from different cultures, I’ve learned a lot about leadership, and I’ve learned a lot about self development.”

Since 2017, the Aspire Leaders Program has grown from a few hundred applications from nine countries to several thousands from more than 100 countries across five continents in each cycle.

The program, which was founded at Harvard University, was previously called Crossroads Emerging Leaders Program. Now, the Aspire Institute runs the Aspire Leaders program as an independent non-profit organization, allowing them to reach students from any country in the world and welcoming Nigerian students.

Apply here: https://www.aspireleaders.org/apply . When applying please indicate Babban Gona as how you heard about the program.

With more than 80% of Nigerian farmers being smallholder farmers, smallholder farmers in Nigeria are the heart of food production in Nigeria. We will be looking at uncommon facts about this unique group of farmers who hardly get little or no credit for their contribution to the agricultural sector and the Nigerian economy at large.

HERE ARE UNCOMMON FACTS ABOUT SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN NIGERIA
1. They Account for 90% of Nigeria’s Agricultural Produce
2. There are About 38 million Smallholder Farmers in the country
3. They Practise Diversified Agriculture
4. More Than 72% Live Below the Poverty Line
5. Major Problems Affecting Their Profitability and Productivity

Read More Here: https://babbangona.com/uncommon-facts-about-smallholder-farmers-in-nigeria/

Snail farming is one of the most sought-after type of farming in Nigeria alongside maize farming, poultry farming and fish farming. This is because it is not capital intensive, doesn’t require a large piece of land; just adequate knowledge and time. The rearing of snails for human consumption or economic use is called Heliculture.

Snail farming has also been found to be a profitable venture and a source of job opportunities for youths by the government. Recently, the Lagos State Government organised training for youths on snail farming. The Ekiti State Government also unveiled a snail farm worth 5 billion Naira in 2021, it is said to be the second-largest snail farm in the world, providing over 5,000 jobs.

FACTS ABOUT SNAIL FARMING IN NIGERIA
- It is a 12 Billion Dollars Industry
- Snail Species Reared Profitably in Nigeria
- Opportunities for Intending Snail Farmers
- Export Opportunities

Read more here: https://babbangona.com/snail-farming-in-nigeria-4-facts-you-should-know-about

Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol or locally regarded as fuel in Nigeria is the country’s most consumed product from crude oil. According to data sourced from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the daily consumption of fuel in Nigeria was at 72.07 million litres in May, 2021. Majority of Nigerians use petroleum-based vehicles and power generators.

There is a large dependence on petroleum in Nigeria, largely due to unstable power supply, Nigerians use power generating sets to power up their businesses and homes.

The nation is currently facing a looming threat of widespread petrol scarcity, due to imported petroleum products having excess methanol, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have also come out to state that the fuel scarcity crisis may last another two weeks. We believe that it may be a smart decision for the country to start considering agricultural alternatives to petrol. This will not only tackle the fast-growing fuel crisis but also reduce the country’s dependence on crude oil as the major source of revenue for the government.

AGRICULTURAL ALTERNATIVES TO PETROL
Agricultural alternatives to petrol are commonly referred to as Biofuels and they include (but are not limited to) the following:

Ethanol From Maize or Sugarcane
Palm Oil
Canola Oil
Soybean Oil
Cottonseed Oil

Read full details here: https://babbangona.com/fuel-scarcity-5-agricultural-alternatives-to-petrol/

Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol or locally regarded as fuel in Nigeria is the country’s most consumed product from crude oil. According to data sourced from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the daily consumption of fuel in Nigeria was at 72.07 million litres in May, 2021. Majority of Nigerians use petroleum-based vehicles and power generators.

There is a large dependence on petroleum in Nigeria, largely due to unstable power supply, Nigerians use power generating sets to power up their businesses and homes.

The nation is currently facing a looming threat of widespread petrol scarcity, due to imported petroleum products having excess methanol, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have also come out to state that the fuel scarcity crisis may last another two weeks. We believe that it may be a smart decision for the country to start considering agricultural alternatives to petrol. This will not only tackle the fast-growing fuel crisis but also reduce the country’s dependence on crude oil as the major source of revenue for the government.

AGRICULTURAL ALTERNATIVES TO PETROL
Agricultural alternatives to petrol are commonly referred to as Biofuels and they include (but are not limited to) the following:

Ethanol From Maize or Sugarcane
Palm Oil
Canola Oil
Soybean Oil
Cottonseed Oil

Read full details here: https://babbangona.com/fuel-scarcity-5-agricultural-alternatives-to-petrol/

The year 2021 was filled with a lot of positives for farmers and the agricultural industry, the lifting of Covid19 restrictions which affected farmers productivity in 2020; Climate Change Conference 2021 (COP26), new agricultural technologies and more.

Despite these gains, there is more to be done to strengthen the agricultural industry. The world’s population is expected to increase by 1.09% annually, which means an increase in the rate of food consumption. By 2050 it is expected that the world’s population would be over 9 billion, meaning that there will need to be a significant increase in agricultural production required to meet this demand. To remain productive and address relevant needs, industries like agriculture must leverage the following emerging trends

AGRICULTURAL TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2022
1. Increased Adoption of Artificial Intelligence for Soil and Plant Health Monitoring.
2. Use of Modern Technology.
3. Attracting Talents Through Agritech
4. Increased Use of Climate Friendly Agricultural Practices
5. Higher Food Consumption Rate

Read full details here: https://babbangona.com/agricultural-trends-to-look-out-for-in-2022/

Climate change adaptation techniques – Extreme climate change events such as flooding, heatwaves and droughts threaten the productivity of farmers, which in turn affects the level of food security in the economy and the livelihood of farmers. These events may discourage farmers in rural areas and cause them to change their primary source of livelihood (about 80% of the world’s population who live in rural areas are into farming).

With the effects of climate change on the community and the environment growing daily, farmers are constantly trying to adapt to the adverse effects it has on farms, crops and livestock. Climate change is reducing crop yields, soil nutrients, the nutritional quality of major cereals, and lowering livestock productivity.

HERE ARE CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION TECHNIQUES FARMERS CAN IMPLEMENT:
1. Practice crop rotation.
2. Plant trees.
3. Use mulching for your plant cultivation.
4. Soil fertilisation.
5. Construct infiltration pits.

Read full details here: https://babbangona.com/2022-climate-change-adaptation-techniques-for-farmers/

Rice farming is one of the most lucrative types of farming in Nigeria, although rice is classified as a cash crop for farmers, it is one of the most consumed staple foods and important cereal in Nigeria. Almost 7 million tonnes of rice are consumed per year in the country.

In July 2015, when the Federal Government of Nigeria announced plans to place a ban on the importation of rice into the country, Nigeria’s local rice production started experiencing growth and demand for locally produced rice also increased. The ban placed on the importation of rice caused the price of foreign rice to soar, turning the attention of Nigerians to locally produced rice. Creating an opportunity for interested individuals, farmers, organisations and even some state governments to go into rice production.

Rice mills like Abakali rice, Lake (Lagos and Kebbi State) rice, Anambra rice, Labana rice, as well as the production of Babban Gona’s rice and many others are among the producers of rice in Nigeria. There are more opportunities in the rice farming sector for intending rice farmers.

rice farming in Nigeria - rice field
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RICE FARMING IN NIGERIA
NIGERIA IS THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF RICE IN AFRICA
Nigeria is the largest producer of rice in Africa, producing about 8,435,000 tonnes annually, followed by Egypt, Madagascar, Tanzania and Mali according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Ironically, Nigeria is the 3rd highest importer of milled rice in the world, importing about 2 million metric tonnes of rice into the country.

Read more here: https://babbangona.com/interesting-facts-about-rice-farming-in-nigeria

Agriculture may seem like a male-dominated industry from the outside, but it is women who practice agriculture more, especially rural women and by a wide margin. Nigerian women make up about 70% of the country’s agricultural workforce and also contribute to 70% of the country’s food production.

The contribution of women to the agricultural sector in Nigeria is largely under-recognized. According to a study carried out in 2014, some of the reasons for non-recognition are:

a. Male-dominated cultures, which place women in inferior positions;

b. Custom, taboos and sex-based division of labour, which keeps women subordinate to men;

c. The failure of economists to place value on unpaid women’s domestic production;

d. Uncertainty of women’s ability to articulate their problems and needs effectively;

e. The problem of the land tenure system and the inability of women to meet basic collateral security as bank requirements for loans intended for agricultural production.

HERE’S WHY WOMEN’S ROLE IN AGRICULTURE DESERVES BETTER RECOGNITION
CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY
By being responsible for about 70% of the country’s food and agricultural produce, women’s contribution to the economy is crucial. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the agricultural sector accounts for 23.78% of the country’s GDP, which would not be possible without the input of women in the sector.

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE – REDUCTION OF POVERTY IN THE SOCIETY
When women are empowered, the level of poverty in the society is reduced, this is because...

Read more: https://babbangona.com/critical-role-of-women-in-scaling-the-nigerian-agricultural-sector/

Lagos – Africa’s largest producer of Maize, Babban Gona, has called for more investment in the Agriculture sector as part of measures to increase food security for Nigerian population estimated to reach 400 million in 2050.

The Chief Executive Officer of Babban Gona, Mr. Kola Masha, made the assessment while commenting on the 2021 Food Security Report Launch. He affirmed that “Nigeria ranks 98 out of 107 countries in 2020 Global Hunger Index with a score of 29.2 out of 100 points. About 9.2 million people in Nigeria were confronted with crisis levels of food insecurity between March and May this year amid insecurity, climate change, and the effect of COVID-19.”

He added that attaining food security requires intentional diverse approaches both within the public and private sector. Hence, holistic approaches to food security should be reciprocated by holistic national and international support strategies. The more farm communities, the greater our collective farm security, and ultimately food security as a nation.

According to the CEO, “increased investment in smallholder farmers who make up more than 80% of Nigerian farmers- many of whom are women and youths will improve agriculture productivity. This will enable the adoption of new technology inventions which is vital to guarantee food security and sustenance.”


“If they receive timely support, small-scale farmers and rural small and medium-sized enterprises have the strong potential to be at the heart of meeting the increasing demand for food and of revitalizing rural economies in Nigeria,” said Stefania Lenoci, Head of the Private Sector Advisory and Implementation Unit at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). “To achieve this, we urgently need to channel more private sector investments to unleash the potential of millions of rural entrepreneurs involved in food processing, packaging, transport and trade.”

The Portfolio Manager, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Mr. Pius Anyiador reacting to Babban Gona’s 2021 Food security report stated that “Infrastructure investments and developments across the entire agricultural value chain are critical to having an encompassing solution to the myriad challenges faced in the agriculture sector. Growth in the sector can be achieved through the creation of innovative financing solutions that serve to catalyze interest and investments from both public and private partnerships; as such significant attention needs to be given to the improvement of critical market infrastructure required to boost local agriculture production, improve pre and post-harvest management, enhance standardization and quality of produce, and drive import substitution”.

Download the report here.

https://babbangona.com/more-investment-needed-in-agriculture-sector-to-tackle-food-security-and-unemployment/

With more than 80% of Nigerian farmers being smallholder farmers, smallholder farmers in Nigeria are the heart of food production in Nigeria. We will be looking at uncommon facts about this unique group of farmers who hardly get little or no credit for their contribution to the agricultural sector and the Nigerian economy at large.

The term “smallholder farmers” is typically used to describe farmers who own small plots of land (less than 5 acres of land) which they use to farm subsistence crops and one or two cash crops. Family members are usually involved in farming activities and labour. Smallholder farmers are primarily located in the rural areas of the country. About 70% of people living in rural areas of the country are smallholder farmers.

HERE ARE UNCOMMON FACTS ABOUT SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN NIGERIA
1. They Account for 90% of Nigeria’s Agricultural Produce
2. There are About 38 million Smallholder Farmers in the country
3. They Practise Diversified Agriculture
4. More Than 72% Live Below the Poverty Line
5. Major Problems Affecting Their Profitability and Productivity

1. THEY ACCOUNT FOR 90% OF NIGERIA’S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
Despite farming on small plots of land, the collective numbers of smallholder farmers drive food production in Nigeria, they account for 90% of the agricultural produce in Nigeria. They are also responsible for about 98% of food consumed in Nigerian homes, with wheat as the only exception.

Read more here: https://babbangona.com/uncommon-facts-about-smallholder-farmers-in-nigeria/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_mUXP29ObI

Community leaders at Ikara and Maigana local government areas in Kaduna state, Nigeria share their thoughts about Babban Gona and the impact of Babban Gona’s operations on their community.

They also discuss how Babban Gona’s program is empowering youths and is helping them stay away from insurgent activities.

Watch the video for full details.

Although the Nigerian agricultural value chain is highly underdeveloped, it is estimated to be worth $85 billion. The continent of Africa holds 60% of arable land which are uncultivated in the world and 13% of those are in Nigeria, only 34 million hectares have been cultivated from 82 million hectares of arable land.

Agriculture’s contribution to the nation’s GDP and export earnings have steadily declined from 1970 to the late 2000s, due to Nigeria’s focus shifted to petroleum exploration. The agricultural sector has contributed an average of 23.5% to the country’s national GDP and generated 5.1% of export earnings over the past five years.

The fall in the prices of crude oil has triggered conversations around the role of Agriculture in the economic diversification of the country.

THE NIGERIAN AGRICULTURAL VALUE CHAIN
The agricultural value chain goes beyond the activities around smallholder farmers and consumers; it gives added value at each stage of the production, marketing and consumption process. The World Bank defined the term “value chain’’ as the “full range of activities that firms and workers do to bring a product from its conception to its end use and beyond.”

The agriculture sector is still largely underdeveloped, in spite of the policy interventions by the Government, mainly because the focus has been on production, rather than on improving value addition across the value chain.

In order to enhance productivity and create a multiplier effect on the value chain segments. A significant mindset shift is needed, the government’s focus should be on investments that encourage increased productivity and the ability to capture a higher value includes the following key areas: transport infrastructure; power for processing, chilling, drying, and or packaging produce; research and extension services in new storage practices, processing and packaging technologies; and ‎‎education and training in product marketing.

Source: https://babbangona.com/fundamentals-of-the-nigerian-agricultural-value-chain/

Butterpie123:
Many youths don't see the goldmine in agriculture, to them it's a dirty job. But this is a job others are cashing out from

Yes, and the people who can see it are making money from it.

Agriculture, in spite of its great strides over the years and its contribution to the Nigerian economy, remains one of the least attractive sectors to the Nigerian youths. A study on youths carried amongst youths in Southwestern universities in Nigeria showed that only about 21.5% of the respondents were willing to participate in agriculture; while 68.5% of the respondents were not willing to attend seminars that would encourage youths to participate in agriculture. Over half of the respondents attributed their unwillingness to participate in agriculture to “making one dirty”.

Although this may have been true in the past, the recent introduction of technology solutions to the agricultural sector has seen the participation of youths in agriculture increase. This can be attributed to improved access to funding opportunities, farm inputs, technological innovations and digital solutions in the agricultural sector.

Experts have stated that youths are going to find agriculture attractive with the introduction of technology. In turn, the use of technology will drive youths’ inclusion in the agricultural sector.

HERE ARE THE MAJOR REASONS WHY YOUTHS NEED TO JOIN AGRICULTURE:

IT IS A $5 TRILLION INDUSTRY
The food and agriculture industry is a $5 trillion industry and it is ranked the 7th biggest industry in the world in 2021, according to Yahoo Finance. It is expected that the worth of the food and agriculture will increase, by 2050 it is projected to feed about 9.7 billion people. In order to meet that demand a 70% increase in agricultural production is required.

Source: https://babbangona.com/4-reasons-why-agriculture-is-an-untapped-goldmine-youths-must-explore/

Maize is a prominent cereal crop and one of Nigeria’s most essential staple foods. Because of its genetic versatility, it is the most commonly farmed plant in the nation, from the damp evergreen environment of the forest region to the arid ecosystem of the Sudan savanna. Maize farming is one of the most profitable types of farming in Nigeria.

In 2017, the Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) valued Nigeria’s maize industry to be at $6bn, which is about N2.5 trillion. Maize is in high demand in the country, local production only meets about 72% of the total annual demand for maize, according to data by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria churns out about 10.5 metric tons of maize annually while having a demand of 15 million metric tons. This indicates that there is a huge opportunity for intending local maize farmers or maize producers in Nigeria. You can read this maize farming in Nigeria facts blog post to get more insights.

You can also check out this blog on how to get started with farming in Nigeria.

This comprehensive guide includes detailed information on how to get started with maize farming in Nigeria.

HOW TO GET STARTED WITH MAIZE FARMING IN NIGERIA

1. Finding Suitable land and soil type
2. Clearing and preparation
3. Maize Farming Season and Planting
4. Fertilizers
5. Weeding
6. Disease and Pest Control
7. Monitoring
8. Harvest
9. Post Harvest

1. FINDING SUITABLE LAND AND SOIL TYPE
Maize cultivation is best suited for plain regions. Maize thrives in a variety of soil types, spanning from podzolic soils located in temperate areas to lush loamy soils in tropical climes. The most favorable soil for maize production is commonly thought to be deep, rich dark soils with plenty of nitrogen. Productive loamy soils on moderately flat, well-drained areas are also ideal for cultivation. Additionally, maize is grown in undulating lands and on the lower slopes of hills. Because the crop’s high yield depletes soil nutrients, it should be sown as the first plant in a crop rotation. Stay away from areas with trees, shaded regions, and ant hills if you want excellent yields. Avoid compacted, muddy, and clayey soils since maize is reactive to salinity and cannot handle waterlogging.

Read more here: Maize Farming in Nigeria

It might seem odd in present-day Nigeria when you tell someone you have a passion for agriculture and are looking to develop a career within this sector. Of course, most people would ask if you are not interested in being a doctor, accountant, an engineer, a lawyer, finance, an economist, or even a tech career, but what they fail to realize is and even you may not know it, is that most of these career fields are also applicable in the agricultural sector.

You can become an agricultural engineer, agricultural economist, and an AI specialist focused on creating solutions to improve farming yields and more. You can read up on this blog post about different careers in agriculture youths can explore. If you are interested in the agritech side of things, you can also check out the top in-demand agritech jobs to get additional insights.

Also, the agricultural sector is one of the major contributors to the country’s national GDP. According to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, agriculture accounted for 23.78% of Nigeria’s GDP in Q2 2021. A study by the World Bank shows that agriculture provides employment for about 34.97% of Nigeria’s population as of 2019.

Indicating that agriculture has a significant impact on Nigeria’s economy, there are opportunities for anyone genuinely interested in the sector.

HERE ARE TIPS FOR SELECTING A SUITABLE CAREER IN AGRICULTURE:

DECIDE ON THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE YOU WANT
This is the first step to selecting a career path in any job field; there are various fields in the agricultural sector, and picking a specialty to focus on will help you grow within that field. You can choose to become a farmer (crop farming, livestock farming, animal husbandry, etc.) or the other career fields in agriculture such as a farm manager, crop scientist, crop manager, farm administrator, software engineer, and many more. By now, if you’ve read some of the blog articles we recommended earlier in this article, you should have a rough idea of what you want.

Read more here: https://babbangona.com/tips-to-select-a-fulfilling-career-in-agriculture/

It might seem odd in present-day Nigeria when you tell someone you have a passion for agriculture and are looking to develop a career within this sector. Of course, most people would ask if you are not interested in being a doctor, accountant, an engineer, a lawyer, finance, an economist, or even a tech career, but what they fail to realize is and even you may not know it, is that most of these career fields are also applicable in the agricultural sector.

You can become an agricultural engineer, agricultural economist, and an AI specialist focused on creating solutions to improve farming yields and more. You can read up on this blog post about different careers in agriculture youths can explore. If you are interested in the agritech side of things, you can also check out the top in-demand agritech jobs to get additional insights.

Also, the agricultural sector is one of the major contributors to the country’s national GDP. According to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, agriculture accounted for 23.78% of Nigeria’s GDP in Q2 2021. A study by the World Bank shows that agriculture provides employment for about 34.97% of Nigeria’s population as of 2019.

Indicating that agriculture has a significant impact on Nigeria’s economy, there are opportunities for anyone genuinely interested in the sector.

HERE ARE TIPS FOR SELECTING A SUITABLE CAREER IN AGRICULTURE:

DECIDE ON THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE YOU WANT
This is the first step to selecting a career path in any job field; there are various fields in the agricultural sector, and picking a specialty to focus on will help you grow within that field. You can choose to become a farmer (crop farming, livestock farming, animal husbandry, etc.) or the other career fields in agriculture such as a farm manager, crop scientist, crop manager, farm administrator, software engineer, and many more. By now, if you’ve read some of the blog articles we recommended earlier in this article, you should have a rough idea of what you want.

Read more here: https://babbangona.com/tips-to-select-a-fulfilling-career-in-agriculture/

Fish farming is undoubtedly one of the most popular type of farming in Nigeria at the moment. Fish farming in Nigeria has gone beyond the traditional method of setting out into a river, stream, sea, ponds, or lakes to bait fish by either casting nets or fishing tackle (although this is still very much practiced). Nowadays, with the modern-day fishing farming methods in Nigeria, you can practice fish farming in your compound or with a water tank, provided you have the space.

Fish is an essential source of food in Nigeria; a visit to the typical Nigerian market will present you with various fishery products, from fresh live catfish in plastic buckets to frozen fish, roasted fish, dry fish, and many more. There is a massive market for fish farmers in Nigeria, depending on the type of fish farming you wish to specialise in.

Here are four facts that you should know about fish farming in Nigeria:

4 FACTS ABOUT FISH FARMING IN NIGERIA
1. Domestic production only meets about 40% of the demand for fish.
2. Catfish is the most farmed species.
3. Nigeria is the 3rd largest producer of fish in Africa.
4. The contribution of the fisheries sector to Nigeria’s GDP is 3.24%.

Read the detailed information here: Fish farming in Nigeria

Boni77:
Good one

Thanks

Maize farming is a very popular form of crop cultivation in Nigeria. It is an essential diet and is consumed by a good number of families and homes. An average Nigerian consumes maize or its derivatives at least once every day. Maize farming in Nigeria is practiced across the country in small, medium, or large scale capacities. It serves as a significant source of income for many households that are into farming in Nigeria.

Although there are about 50 species of maize in the world, available in different colours, grain shapes, and sizes, the popular cereal is mainly available for cultivation and consumption in two variants – white and yellow maize. The yellow maize is mostly used for feed and human consumption, while white maize is for human consumption only (FAO 2013).

Here are some amazing facts about maize farming in Nigeria:

FACTS ABOUT MAIZE FARMING IN NIGERIA
1. Nigeria is the largest producer of maize.
2. 60% OF MAIZE PRODUCED IN NIGERIA USED FOR POULTRY FEEDS.
3. MAIZE IS THE MOST CONSUMED STAPLE FOOD IN NIGERIA.
4. THE MAIZE FARMING SECTOR ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 5% OF THE COUNTRY’S GDP.

Read the detailed information here: Maize farming in Nigeria

Poultry meat is one of the most consumed meats globally, and it accounts for almost half of the global consumption of meat, about 137 million tonnes of poultry meat was consumed in 2020. The health benefits of poultry products are numerous, and they are vital for human growth and development.

Poultry farming is beyond just chicken meat or chicken eggs; there are other poultry products that serve as sources of poultry meat, such as turkey, ducks, guinea fowl, etc. One of the reasons people love chicken meat, aside from its delicious taste, is because it serves as a good source of protein.

We will be sharing the significant nutritional benefits of chicken that you need to know:

4 HEALTH BENEFITS OF POULTRY PRODUCTS
1. Growth and body development.
2. Adequate distribution of oxygen in the body
3. Strong immune system
4. For a glowing skin and healthy hair


GROWTH AND BODY DEVELOPMENT
Poultry products are rich in protein, chicken and egg have an average of up to 20% and 26% protein value respectively, which is an essential nutrient for the growth and development of the body. Protein helps your body to maintain and build muscle mass and strength, which is why they are recommended for bodybuilders and fit-fam enthusiasts.

Protein also enables bones in your body to remain healthy and is highly recommended for child growth and development. You should, without fail, give your child an adequate amount of protein daily.

Read more here: Health Benefits of Poultry