INTRODUCTION
What are the best agro- allied business opportunities for big towns and mega cities? What business can one start in the agriculture industry and succeed? This article will put these questions to rest. The trending challenge and impact of rural-
urban migration have continued to generate great debates since the last three
decades. Urban employment problems are a result of the phenomenal growth in
urbanization and the inability of these urban centers to be able to utilize or
absorb the urban labor that was created through the process of urbanization.
Approximately 50% of Nigerians are urban dwellers. At least 24 cities have
populations of more than 100,000 Those moving from rural to urban areas
constitute certain classes, categories and strata of the society that are
basically plagued with certain social and economic problems in which poverty
ranks highest and most fundamental. So without
wasting your time, this article will highlight in details, some lucrative
business ideas and opportunities you can engage in towns or villages rather
than remaining unemployed. 20+ Business
ideas in Agriculture for Young Entrepreneurs Top 20+ Best Low Cost Agriculture
Business Ideas for Villages 1.
Urban
Agriculture or Crop CultivationUrban
agriculture is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food
in, or around, a village, town or city. Urban agriculture in addition can also
involve animal husbandry, aquaculture, agro-forestry and horticulture. Urban
agriculture contributes to food security and food safety in two ways: First it
increases the amount of food available to people living in cities and secondly,
it allows fresh vegetables and fruits and meat products to be made available to
urban consumers. Urban and peri- urban agriculture are generally seen as
sustainable agriculture. 2.
Rabbit
Rearing There is no law
prohibiting the keeping of rabbits in Towns and Cities. A backyard can serve as
a good source of additional income, food and employment; thus reducing poverty,
hunger and idleness. Rabbit do not compete with humans for food, as kitchen
leftovers, cut grasses and formulated or compounded feed can sustain them.
Rabbit keeping does not require much capital for investment and maintenance. As
little space is needed, most rabbits could be kept in the backyard or in the
abandoned sheds. 3.
Start
Selling Fresh Fruits Without any
doubt, this is a business that should be checked out. With a little
professionalism and good public appearance or hygiene, you can make money in
this business because a lot of people who live in most of our highbrow area,
like to eat fresh fruits especially if it is neat. Some people even prefer it
served chilled. So if you have blenders and an extractor, then you are bound to
make a lot of money. A lot of people are tired of all these artificial juices
in the market and I bet, they will pay and still thank you for giving them the
natural source of vitamins which is needed in this age of fast foods and
artificial flavors. 4.
Foodstuff
Retailing or Grocery Service In today’s busy
and sophisticated world, convenience has become a real business opportunity.
Foodstuff like rice, beans yams plantain, potatoes, onions, pepper, oil etc.
These items can bought in bulk, cleaned and packaged in specific portions and
sold direct to end users. Many people who are unable to find time to shop will
be relieved to know that they can just make a phone call and the groceries are
delivered. Get a list of people you know who may patronize you. If you can get
them to pay up-front, then you are better up with cash flow. 5.
Fish Farming
Over the years,
quite a few people have made fortunes from fish farming, as the population is
swelling and protein needs are far outstripping the available supply. Food is
always a winner in any country or environment if done well. Fish farming is a
sure bet business if you put the right structures in place. More and more
people are turning to fish for its low cholesterol protein. All you need to do
is to get a space, buy or construct tanks, buy finger links for between N10 to
N20 and feed them for 4 to 6 months, then sell from between N500 to N1,500
depending on weight and size. The breed of fish to train is your choice to
make. You can choose to specialize on Catfish, Tilapia, etc. 6.
Herbs,
Flowers Framing and Gardening Walking through
a grocery store, a herb store, a health food store and even in gardening
sections of home centers, you will find herbs in their dry forms to be used by
consumers. Using the right equipment in your home garage or shed or by building
a green house, you can start and raise both herbs and plants to resell to
larger outlets and to the consumer as well. Plants are the basis for all
landscapes, homes, gardens and even for brightening offices. You will pay
pennies for packets of seeds and make way more when selling starter plants. The
more space you have, the better you are going to do. If you really have the
space in your landscape and outdoor garden, creating gardens where you will
grow plants and drying them out will add so much to your inventory and you can
make great amounts of money selling dried flowers to retailers, wholesalers and
even to flower shops themselves. 7.
Livestock
Feed Production The production
process is not so difficult. The ingredients required are mainly, maize, soya
beans, fish bone, sorghum, groundnut, blood meal, wheat, rice shaft, additives
etc. All these can be sourced from the market, any animal consult outlet, or
any agricultural product shop around. 8.
Setup a
Small Poultry Farm Technology has
enabled many to operate profitable poultry, yet make it free of odor that a
neighbor next door will not know you operate a poultry farm. This is a business
you can start from one room, car park or from that abandoned property near you
with 50 to 500 birds, which cost between N100,000 to N500,000 depending on the
cash at hand. 9.
Mushroom
Farming Mushrooms are
natural phenomenon that can give you much money. The untapped potential of
these fungi is so much that if you invest on the venture, your room can no
longer be your bank. Mushrooms are rich in vitamins, protein and minerals; they
are favored over meat or even fish by some people, considering the nutritional
value and superior health implications. There are two main broad categories of
mushrooms; the edible and the non-edible (which is poisonous). The deliberate
mushroom cultivation is therefore essential to eliminate the imminent threat of
mistakenly gathering the dangerous type. The start-up requirement are mushroom
shed or house, sawdust, Polythene bags, Spawns/mushrooms seeds, Urea/nitrogen
fertilizer, Lime, water, ceiling machine, weighing scale, extra hands,
Refrigerator. 10.
Frozen
Chicken Production Many Nigerians
have come to depend on imported frozen chicken for quite a while now and this
is in detriment of local poultry industry and the subsequent health implication
because of the long voyage from Europe or wherever, the imported product are
usually preserved with chemicals, some of which are said to be injurious to
health. A lot of people prefer not to go through the stress of slaughtering and
preparing live birds because frozen chicken can easily be stored and used at
will, thereby saving time; and many people think it is cheap too. Start-up
requirement are space, knives, tables, basins, heat source, stove heater, soap,
hand towel, extra hands, freezer and generator .You need to go directly to the
chicken farms to source for your live birds cheaply You can also position
yourself to supply small hotels, restaurants and eateries. 11.
Grass cutter
Farming Grass cutter is
the second largest rodent in Nigeria and it is endemic to Africa. It breeds
successfully in captivity and is capable of reproducing twice a year with
litter size varying from two to six. They are primarily vegetarian and can be
raised to maturity entirely on fresh grasses. They prefer plants with high
moisture content and soluble carbohydrate. Field studies reveal that they do
not burrow so they may be caged or reared in a fenced pen on the ground. Grass
cutter is worth considering for use in husbandry in the humid forest where poor
grazing and harsh environment limits the performance of conventional livestock.
Ranching of grass cutter as a backyard mini livestock would therefore improve
the lot of the peasant farmers, provide an alternative source of animal
protein, create job opportunities for urban dwellers. 12.
Buy Charcoal
from the rural areas and resell in the cities Do you know
that you can make 100% profit if you buy your charcoal from the farm or
production site and sell to the retailers; a bag of charcoal (32 to 35kg bag)
is being sold for N450 to N550 from the farm, while the retailers sell to the
final consumer at N1000 to N1,5000 per bag. All you need to do is to buy the
charcoal from the farmers and bring it down to the major cities like Lagos,
Abuja and Port Harcourt and resell to the retailers. But it is advisable to
find out if they have an association in your vicinity, joining the association
will allow you to operate with peace of mind. Alternatively you can sell to
exporters as a large market exists in EU, USA and ASIA with prices ranging from
$170 to $300 per ton (FOB Nigerian Port), depending on mode of packaging. The
charcoal industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and a money spinner for
interested investors. 13.
Snail
Farming Snail meat has
been severally affirmed as a most safe and nutritious delicacy. In these days
of increased coronary implications and other health implications, snail
producers are certain to hit it big because many people are shunning away from
beef or red meat. It is also pleasing to note that snail production venture
could be kick-started with a little initial capital. The best period to
commence snail farming is the rainy season, you can start about 50 to 60 snails
to have a good knowledge of how snail breeding works. Make sure you go for a
fully matured and big nails as they are sold in bunches of 20 pieces and the
prices ranges from N1,800 and N3,000 per bunch. It is better to buy the big
ones so that you can expect them to hatch after about 35 days on location.
About N10,000 should get a new entrant started in the business14.
Coconut
Juice Production From fresh
chunks of meat to milk, creams, and powders, the flavor of coconut is a
distinctive addition to hundreds of sweet and savory recipes. If properly
packaged roasted and sliced to pieces with sugar, you can sell for between N20
to N100 depending on the quantity and the level of packaging. You can make good
money buy selling in wholesale to retail outlets and supermarket, but make sure
your product is well branded, with your company’s name and contact. With a good
marketing plan, you are sure to make a lot of money with this business. 15.
Production
of Weed Killer Another major
problem confronting every farmer in Africa, especially in Nigeria, is the
problem of getting rid all the unwanted crops (weeds) from the farm, which
successfully compete with crops and exhaust the soil nutrients. The cost of
weeding takes between 50 –60% of the total cost of farming but the good new
here is that, there is a formulation of chemicals which is crop and environment
friendly. Herbicides market is a virgin in Nigeria- meaning that if an investor
produces 20-30 tones daily, he will still sell all. No single investor can meet
the herbicide demand in Northern Nigeria alone, not to talk of other zones. 16.
Beekeeping
and Honey Production
Honey is manufactured in one of the world’s most efficient factories, the
Beehive. Bees may travel as far as 55,000 miles and visit more than two million
flowers to gather enough nectar to make just a pound of honey. A litre of pure
honey now goes for between N1000 to N2000. You can sell your Honey to high
net-worth individual, busy executives who prefer to take pure honey than sugar,
I know some honey dealers who are ready to give out their honey at a
ridiculously low prices, all you need to do is to package it for the local or
international market. 17.
Roasted and
Toasted Plantain (Dodo and Boli) Only few
Nigerian have realized the money- spinning prowess of this delicious delicacy,
and if properly packaged, with a good marketing strategy put in place, you are
sure to make a lot of money. It is popular among the working class as a quick
mid-day meal. 18.
Plantain
Chips Production After removing
skin, unripe fruit can be sliced (1 or 2 mm thick) and fried in boiling oil, to
produce chips. Plantain Chips’ if they are made of green plantains that taste
starchy like potato chips. Just make sure you put your label, the more you
produce, the more money you make, because majority of Nigerian love plantain
chips. 19.
Custard
Manufacturing In Africa,
almost every ethnic group makes a different variety of food out of corn. In
Nigerian cities, people are used to what is called Ogi, Akamu (pap); this is
cornstarch. When the Europeans came, they came with what they called Custard.
But it was later found out that the only difference is the coloring and flavor
that was added to the corn. It is very easy to produce custards. You can
package it in sachets. It is very easy to market also, particularly in big
towns and cities where people are used to modern life. 20.
Local drinks
or Dry Gin Production A lot of
villagers has come to the city and still love to take local drinks, if well
packaged, and accessible, you can start making money by selling to some beer
palour, while Ogogoro can be supplied to some companies that uses this product
as one of their raw materials 21.
Basket and
Broom Production Baskets are
used for packaging agricultural product such as Okra, bitter kola, tomatoes,
pepper, onions, oranges etc. Since baskets are produced in various sizes, they
help the farmers to grade his brands of product for easy pricing.. Our concern
here is how to convert palm front and leaves to finished product for economic
and commercial gains. 22.
Export
Agricultural product from the rural area Agricultural
Export trading guarantees good returns on Capital on almost monthly basis.
Exporting Wood charcoal, Palm kernel shell, Cow horns, Gallstones, Bitter Kola,
Cashew, Ginger, Gum Arabic Chilli pepper, bitter kola, coconut, okro, yam, etc
and earn good returns on investment. It might interest you to know that the gap
between you and the millions of naira or dollar waiting for you in this
business is nothing but the “basic understanding of an export business
process.” Understanding the fundamentals of an export business process
especially as it concerns securing a genuine export order or contract with a
well secured method of payment is the basic requirement in this business, and
then you are on your way to making unimaginable loads of money. You can also
become an export broker which is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways any
prospecting exporter can raise money to go into full time export business.
Starting from a little or no capital, an export broker could earn large
“finders fee” with absolutely unlimited income. 23.
Source for
agro raw materials for urban manufacturing companies Despite the
apparent growth in the number of indigenous players in the industry, there
still remains the fact that no company has set up a basic active raw material
manufacturing plant in Nigeria. Most of the raw materials being used by the
industry in our urban centers are sourced from the rural areas, you too can be
part of this opportunity by locating a manufacturing companies and start
supplying them with raw materials based on their specification and quality.
Approach the personnel in charge to provide you with appropriate information on
how to be their supplier. 24.
Help the
Nigeria rural farmers who deal in foodstuffs to export it to the foreign
Countries Our foodstuffs
are very cheap in the rural areas, you can bring this food stuff to the cites
and tap into the local and the international market. Foodstuffs like Smoked
fish, Garri, Beans Flour, Melon seed (Egusi Ground), Ogbono, Cassava Flour,
Bitterleaf, Dried Ugu leaf, Pepper,Tomato paste, Hibiscus flower and Ukazi
leaf. Others are, Hot Chilli Pepper, Ground nut , Kolanut, Potato, Ginger,
Kilishi, Soybean Groundnut, Okra, Cassava, Yam, Bitter Kola, Ofada rice,
Catfish, Shrimps, Pounded Yam Flour. You can bring some of these food items to
the markets in the urban centers, you can also sell to some food stuff
exporters who are looking forwards to buy at ridiculously low prices. 25.
Start
connecting rural farmers with exporters using the internet Can you browse
the internet very well , can you chat online? If yes, then I want to
congratulate you because you can connect the agro farmers in the rural areas
with Nigeria exporters and earn a commission. A lot of exporters find it very
difficult to get their desired agro product at the right quality and quantity,
you can do this for them and name your price. You can also join some online
trade portals, secure a contract, sell the contract and charge an appropriate
commission. A lot of Nigeria including my humble self earns commission by
connecting the rural farmers to local exporters and I also help Nigeria secure
good contract. 26.
Help the
rural farmers to load Agro- Exportable Product From The Hinterland and Villages
to Towns A lot of our
readers have already tap into this opportunity by providing supportive services
to Nigeria exporters. You can help source for agro product for Nigerian
exporters and earn finders fee. You can travel to Jigawa, kano Kaduna, Plateau
states, go to their commodity markets and meets any of the sellers of these
commodities, tell them that you need a large quantity. At least 30 tons which
is a trailer load. Your commission is between N5,000 to N20,000 per ton
depending on you negotiating power, since you are loading a Trailer which is 30
Tons, multiply your commission by 30, which can be N150,000 to N600,0000 finder
fee. It is very important to know the product profile because exporters will
always ask you to submit samples and the product specification. They will come
to the market to pick the product from the market and pay you the commission
because you are adding value to the export value chain and a lot of exporters
will be ready to work with you. In conclusion, i don’t want
you to miss this opportunity to get started on your dreams! Take the first step
towards making money and living the life you want. Pick an idea now, execute
your plan, and earn some money with any of these urban agro business
opportunities.
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