Maple:
My contribution to this post would be to advice those interested in venturing into cattle/sheep/goat farming business to make security of their livestock a #1 priority with an unwavering diligence

I ventured into cattle farming (starting with 6 cows) about two years ago in Abuja using a well gated and fenced 2 plots of land. Unfortunately, when I was close to reaping the fruits of my labor, one night some armed cattle rustlers (thieves) broke into my farm stole all my cattles, along with several others in the neighborhood. Search parties were sent out the following morning, but to no avail. And the police, were useless.

Cattle rustling is now very rampant in Nigeria and even more rampant than highway robbery. It is a major dream killer for many prospective livestock farmers. Cattle rustlers are often well armed, and carry out their nefarious acts with utmost sophistication. using sophisticated weapons and so on. I was not unaware of the menace posed by cattle ruslers before I started, which was why I chose to locate my fenced farm in abuja. Sadly, what I was not aware of, was how daring they can be; to even break into a gated and well fenced farm located around Abuja and in a thriving neighbourhood, says alot. It means no location is safe from these people. However, you can secure your farm in a manner that would make their nefarious task very very difficult and expensive for them to carry-out.

Despite my unfortunate experience, my passion for cattle farming business remains unshaken, because it is a very lucrative business when successfully run. I have learned some important lessons with my experience and which I like to share:

1) Construct a very strong iron boulder fencing for your livestocks inside your farm, do so, even if your farm is already fenced. Double fencing means double risk for would-be thieves. Construct the iron fencing in a manner such that once you placed your livestock inside, it would be very hard for them to be taken out of it. Also, repair any lapses you may find in your fence or gate. Put metal caps on your fence & gates interlocks, so it makes it harder to break the locks. Any extra break-in time , is bad omen for would-be thieves.

2) Be wary of strangers around your farm location , Any new face loitering around your farm should be a warning sign. If they dont have their insider/spy who already knows your farm, livestock/Cattle rustlers spend a great amount of time (days & weeks) surveying/spying a farm, before they strike.

3) Be wary of who you invite into your farm, from the common farm help to the professional veterinarian. Some croocks among veterinarians (not to even mention farm help/workers) are known to profit by passing their client's farm herd infos, routines & security details to livestock/cattle rustlers, so beware.

4) It is very important that you have dogs in your farms. If you cant afford dogs, geese would do. The commotion dogs and geese create from their barking or quacking at intruders would significantly deter cattle rustlers from striking. The night cattle rustlers strucked my farm, they attempted to steal cows from another neighbourhood not far from my farm location, fortunately, that farm had dogs. Their constant barkings woke the people in the area, and the thieves fled.

5) keep your farm routines to yourself and to those who you can trust, and try not to create a consistent farm visitation time for yourself. Thus, be less predictable even to your farm workers, should u decide to hire any.

6) Finally, if you can afford it, hire a security guard, or build a dwelling place in your farm, and have someone live their. The presence of a person or people living inside your farm can dissuade would-be thieves.

Thanks for the heads up

Maple:
My contribution to this post would be to advice those interested in venturing into cattle/sheep/goat farming business to make security of their livestock a #1 priority with an unwavering diligence

I ventured into cattle farming (starting with 6 cows) about two years ago in Abuja using a well gated and fenced 2 plots of land. Unfortunately, when I was close to reaping the fruits of my labor, one night some armed cattle rustlers (thieves) broke into my farm stole all my cattles, along with several others in the neighborhood. Search parties were sent out the following morning, but to no avail. And the police, were useless.

Cattle rustling is now very rampant in Nigeria and even more rampant than highway robbery. It is a major dream killer for many prospective livestock farmers. Cattle rustlers are often well armed, and carry out their nefarious acts with utmost sophistication. using sophisticated weapons and so on. I was not unaware of the menace posed by cattle ruslers before I started, which was why I chose to locate my fenced farm in abuja. Sadly, what I was not aware of, was how daring they can be; to even break into a gated and well fenced farm located around Abuja and in a thriving neighbourhood, says alot. It means no location is safe from these people. However, you can secure your farm in a manner that would make their nefarious task very very difficult and expensive for them to carry-out.

Despite my unfortunate experience, my passion for cattle farming business remains unshaken, because it is a very lucrative business when successfully run. I have learned some important lessons with my experience and which I like to share:

1) Construct a very strong iron boulder fencing for your livestocks inside your farm, do so, even if your farm is already fenced. Double fencing means double risk for would-be thieves. Construct the iron fencing in a manner such that once you placed your livestock inside, it would be very hard for them to be taken out of it. Also, repair any lapses you may find in your fence or gate. Put metal caps on your fence & gates interlocks, so it makes it harder to break the locks. Any extra break-in time , is bad omen for would-be thieves.

2) Be wary of strangers around your farm location , Any new face loitering around your farm should be a warning sign. If they dont have their insider/spy who already knows your farm, livestock/Cattle rustlers spend a great amount of time (days & weeks) surveying/spying a farm, before they strike.

3) Be wary of who you invite into your farm, from the common farm help to the professional veterinarian. Some croocks among veterinarians (not to even mention farm help/workers) are known to profit by passing their client's farm herd infos, routines & security details to livestock/cattle rustlers, so beware.

4) It is very important that you have dogs in your farms. If you cant afford dogs, geese would do. The commotion dogs and geese create from their barking or quacking at intruders would significantly deter cattle rustlers from striking. The night cattle rustlers strucked my farm, they attempted to steal cows from another neighbourhood not far from my farm location, fortunately, that farm had dogs. Their constant barkings woke the people in the area, and the thieves fled.

5) keep your farm routines to yourself and to those who you can trust, and try not to create a consistent farm visitation time for yourself. Thus, be less predictable even to your farm workers, should u decide to hire any.

6) Finally, if you can afford it, hire a security guard, or build a dwelling place in your farm, and have someone live their. The presence of a person or people living inside your farm can dissuade would-be thieves.

Thank you so much sir for the advice, and may God return ur lost in multiple folds Amen.

What a sunny day. God bless our endeavours......

@soloxam,tell us about water melon nw,i planted water melon along side ugu(fluted pumpkin) last year.
the ugu blossom but water melon just dried off completely.
share ur experience with us please.

psalm68:
@soloxam,tell us about water melon nw,i planted water melon along side ugu(fluted pumpkin) last year.
the ugu blossom but water melon just dried off completely.
share ur experience with us please.

@Psalm68, let me ask u few question, did u plant ugu and watermelon together? Did u ever spray with insecticide/fungicides? If yes which one did u use and at what interval? What time of the year did u plant, was there enough water? So this will help me answer u well, thank for following.

psalm68:
@soloxam,tell us about water melon nw,i planted water melon along side ugu(fluted pumpkin) last year.
the ugu blossom but water melon just dried off completely.
share ur experience with us please.

Sir the only bitter experience I have on watermelon was last year when I planted 2 acres of watermelon close to a village called Agbedo along ijaye road before ajibade. My watermelon was doing fine but the villagers will never allow me to harvest my produce before it fully mature. You will just see watermelon slice into two inside the farm, I want to cry but I learn a very great lesson. I was able to harvest cucumber on the same plot because cucumber is not eaten by most of the villager.... I loss all my watermelon to the villagers oooooo......

Soloxam:
@Psalm68, let me ask u few question, did u plant ugu and watermelon together? Did u ever spray with insecticide/fungicides? If yes which one did u use and at what interval? What time of the year did u plant, was there enough water? So this will help me answer u well, thank for following.

i wish i can really say what happened along the line.i guess i watered too much in the first two weeks.afterwards i became very busy because that i practically abandoned the farm for months.no TLC i suppose.

psalm68:

i wish i can really say what happened along the line.i guess i watered too much in the first two weeks.afterwards i became very busy because that i practically abandoned the farm for months.no TLC i suppose.

This crop is called watermelon, many people believe it a water loving plant but reverse is the case, the water supply should be very moderate.
It is every important to control pest in melon farm, failure to do so then there is going to be issue. Insecticide,fungicide, should be applied once in a week or fortnightly, otherwise the outcome won't be interesting, so if you can't avoid to work on ur watermelon farm once in a week or fortnightly pls don't waste ur resources...... Then when ur crop begins to craw, while spraying, pls don't just spray the surface of the leaves, spray behind of the leaves too, cos white fly and aphid do hide behind the leaves. They always suck the sap from the plant and hinder the plant from growing...... At a point u will notice the leaves will begin to shrink and dry off, most fruit will be deformed and get spoil..... Intending farmers watermelon need much attention than u may think of.

Soloxam:
This crop is called watermelon, many people believe it a water loving plant but reverse is the case, the water supply should be very moderate.
It is every important to control pest in melon farm, failure to do so then there is going to be issue. Insecticide,fungicide, should be applied once in a week or fortnightly, otherwise the outcome won't be interesting, so if you can't avoid to work on ur watermelon farm once in a week or fortnightly pls don't waste ur resources...... Then when ur crop begins to craw, while spraying, pls don't just spray the surface of the leaves, spray behind of the leaves too, cos white fly and aphid do hide behind the leaves. They always suck the sap from the plant and hinder the plant from growing...... At a point u will notice the leaves will begin to shrink and dry off, most fruit will be deformed and get spoil..... Intending farmers watermelon need much attention than u may think of.

you are very right.now i plan to spend time in the farm.
please how can i get the f1 koloss seed in ogun state

psalm68:

you are very right.now i plan to spend time in the farm.
please how can i get the f1 koloss seed in ogun state

Are u coming to the Yabdi program on the 31st In Abeokuta? If yes the seeds will be available, or call me other wise to make arrangement on how it will get to you...

Soloxam:
Please house let me chip in this less I forget, please do not. Set your watermelon farm beside an existing melon farm or where melon was just harvested. It very risky, as ur watermelon will taste bitter instead of sweet. Merry Xmass........

What could cause the bitterness

debeey87:


What could cause the bitterness

Good question, watermelon and melon (egusi) are the same family, they behave similarly, the taste of watermelon is sweet while melon taste bitter, I mean the juice so when they are planted they are pollinated by same insect here cross pollinated the bitter taste of melon will dominate that of sweetness of watermelon..........

solxam, u too much oooo.

Soloxam:
Good question, watermelon and melon (egusi) are the same family, they behave similarly, the taste of watermelon is sweet while melon taste bitter, I mean the juice so when they are planted they are pollinated by same insect here cross pollinated the bitter taste of melon will dominate that of sweetness of watermelon..........

You are the boss. Thanks

mercylicious:
solxam, u too much oooo.

Thank you madam, how is you plantain doing? Hope you have solve the issues of monkey too? Have a wonderful day maaa.

debeey87:


You are the boss. Thanks

Uwc sir.

It the beginning of another planting season, please learn from your past mistake, experience is the best teacher so they said, intending farmer look before u loop.

Hope we are getting ready for the season? Best of luck to all practicals farmers.

I will advice an intending farmers to start small (experiment on small plot) year in year out you will get used to it............. or u work hand in hand with experienced farmers.
cheers.

God we need rain.....

Can someone update the intensity of rain in His/Her area!

I was in farm today it was as if it will rain but never, when I got home the rain was so much I called farm where we needed rain, there was no rain.

God have mercy......

Soloxam:
God we need rain.....

Can someone update the intensity of rain in His/Her area!

I was in farm today it was as if it will rain but never, when I got home the rain was so much I called farm where we needed rain, there was no rain.

God have mercy......

its amazing how rain fall in the city where its not needed and fail to fall in the rural area where its needed.
Rain have started in some area but it has not being consistent.
The weather forecast for this year is not accurate.
Rain have started in some part of Edo,Abia and Oyo state

it rained yesterday arnd 5pm in anambra. nt heavy though, bt enough to wet d ground.

mercylicious:
it rained yesterday arnd 5pm in anambra. nt heavy though, bt enough to wet d ground.

One can not really predict rain fall this year, last two week I was travelling to Asaba, when I got to Edo I notice it rain a night before that morning, with what I saw it was very heavy, I was happy that at least it will rain in Asaba, by the time I got to Agbor it was some thing else the soil were so dry. On getting to Asaba, I asked my guy over there said it has not rain for months. Just imagine the intensity of sun just like that of the north....
We have many work to execute now rain is holding us.... God shower your rain.........

Soloxam:
I will advice an intending farmers to start small (experiment on small plot) year in year out you will get used to it............. or u work hand in hand with experienced farmers.
cheers.

You ve said it all.
Get trained, get experience. Learn from experience farmers.
Its baffled me on daily basis when the first thing that intending farmer ask is what they can get per acre in naira within 2 months.
No practical experience, no learning process. You see them later come to Nairaland searching for emergency solutions.
Yes. Agriculture is profitable but one has got to learn the rope.
There is no short cut in agric.
Meanwhile an Agribusiness On Farm Practical Training "Grow Your Own Vegetables" is starting in April.
Minimum attendance is a month stay on the farm in Saki.
Participation fee is N20,000 per month,accommodation inclusive.
Time to get your hand dirty
Learn from experience hands on the farm
08064688501, 08188540096

jethro2:

You ve said it all.
Get trained, get experience. Learn from experience farmers.
Its baffled me on daily basis when the first thing that intending farmer ask is what they can get per acre in naira within 2 months.
No practical experience, no learning process. You see them later come to Nairaland searching for emergency solutions.
Yes. Agriculture is profitable but one has got to learn the rope.
There is no short cut in agric.
Meanwhile an Agribusiness On Farm Practical Training "Grow Your Own Vegetables" is starting in April.
Minimum attendance is a month stay on the farm in Saki.
Participation fee is N20,000 per month,accommodation inclusive.
Time to get your hand dirty
Learn from experience hands on the farm
08064688501, 08188540096

Knowledge is power..... One need to acquire it before venturing to Agric or get an experience person to guide u...... If u must do it by ur self then start small so that u won't get ur fingers burnt....... Madam jethro hope u done book my space down........?

Lesgupnigeria:

its amazing how rain fall in the city where its not needed and fail to fall in the rural area where its needed.
Rain have started in some area but it has not being consistent.
The weather forecast for this year is not accurate.
Rain have started in some part of Edo,Abia and Oyo state

The climatic change have really cause issue my oga.

Lesgupnigeria:

its amazing how rain fall in the city where its not needed and fail to fall in the rural area where its needed.
Rain have started in some area but it has not being consistent.
The weather forecast for this year is not accurate.
Rain have started in some part of Edo,Abia and Oyo state

we need it in the city too o cos the heat is much too

Soloxam:
The climatic change have really cause issue my oga.

Na so o.

cbrass:


we need it in the city too o cos the heat is much too

you sure you need it in the city?
But we need it more.
You can still survive with heat but you cant survive with no food,and moreover i need to make some quick money with watermelon.

Lesgupnigeria:

you sure you need it in the city?
But we need it more.
You can still survive with heat but you cant survive with no food,and moreover i need to make some quick money with watermelon.

ok o

cbrass:


we need it in the city too o cos the heat is much too

Lol, my brother heat no be small thing...

[quote author=jethro2 post=3188104
Yes. Agriculture is profitable but one has got to learn the rope.
There is no short cut in agric.
Meanwhile an Agribusiness On Farm Practical Training "Grow Your Own Vegetables" is starting in April.
Minimum attendance is a month stay on the farm in Saki.
Participation fee is N20,000 per month,accommodation inclusive.
Time to get your hand dirty
Learn from experience hands on the farm
08064688501, 08188540096[/quote]

Nice way to go before one venture into agribusiness. I need more info, is it weekend inclusive, time schedule per day, wat types of vegetables are we learning with?....

[quote author=funstufz post=31913703][/quote]
Yes. Its weekend inclusive.
Morning and evening session. Morning Session 7am-12noon.
Evening Session 3pm -7pm
Vegetables such as
Cucumber, Tomato, Green pepper, Chilli pepper, Green beans, Cabbage, Ugwu, Onion, Okra, water melon etc.
Starting from the nursery through transplanting. Meeting the standard market requirement and accessing the market are part of the training