Scott Farms - Nigeria

16/06/2015

HOW CAN ONE TAP INTO THE VALUE CHAIN SYSTEM IN NIGERIA’S AGRICULTURE? PART 1
Value chain refers to all activities that is involved in getting a product to the market, each activity adding value at different stages. These activities include those before actual production, during production, and even after production. Every product has its value chain. In agriculture, the ultimate goal of the farmer is to get his produce to market at good price. However, to get to the stage of harvesting and having produce to sell he is faced with a lot of challenges to overcome. And where there is/are challenges there are opportunities. Below are some activities in agricultural production which form part of the value chain, helps farmers, agro-allied companies, industries and the final consumer achieve their goals.
Input Supply: The farmer desires good yield from his crops and livestock. To achieve this he needs seeds/seedlings, fertilizers/organic manure, water supply especially during the dry season, w**d and pest control etc. On the other hand are agro-allied companies looking to reach as many farmers as possible and seeking distributors for improved seeds/seedlings, fertilizers, herbicides etc. Bridging the gap between these two groups is an important position in the value chain and a potential source of sustained income.
Challenges of being a distributor/input supplier: Getting market: this can be overcome by liaising with farmers in the villages, studying their farming activities and challenges, establishing a good relationship with them. This may require that you spend more time in the village to understand the farming environment better or work closely with someone who does and decide which inputs would best suit the needs of the farming community.
Capital: start small, know the product of the company you are promoting, see it work and tested, work closely with all resources provided by the seed company.
In the case of livestock, inputs that can be supplied include day old chicks (broilers, cockerels, pullets), point of lay birds, feed, fish fingerlings, etc. Many poultry farmers would prefer to have someone source their initial stock rather than travel to the hatchery and go through the stress, provided they are certain of the quality of birds being supplied to them. The major challenge to overcome here is getting a good hatchery to source day old birds or a good farm for point of lay birds where it is certain that all necessary vaccines have been administered and birds sold are actually entering the laying phase. Once trust is built with your farmers, you are in business. For capital, the arrangement in most cases is such that the farmers book the number of birds needed and part or all payment is made in advance.
Water Supply is another very important aspect in crop farming. One of the major challenges of our agricultural production is the dependence on natural rainfall. This causes a hike in food prices during the dry season as few farmers have access to water for irrigation. Investing in the creation of a water supply system to farmers in a region would assure constant production all year round and even during the rainy season especially in areas experiencing delayed and reduced rainfall due to effects of climate change.
To every problem there is a solution if you can apply yourself to look closely and think opportunity. Nigeria’s agriculture and indeed Africa in general, currently faces a lot of challenges, with great opportunities for income generation, hence the increasing attention received. The key is to fix yourself along the value chain least exploited, and also associate with systems/organizations that can get you through the bottlenecks.
Look forward to 2nd part of this article.

For enquiries: mails@scottfarms.com.ng,
+234 1 295 5888,
https://www.facebook.com/scottfarmsng/

A food and agriculture business in Nigeria with interests in sustainable and technology driven agriculture.

05/04/2015

TOWARDS INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURE
After critical examination and cross examination, I discovered that world agriculture can be categorized into two distinct categories (a) the highly efficient agriculture of the developed countries; where substantial productive capacity and high output per workers permit a very small number of farmers to feed entire nations; and (b) the inefficient and low productivity agriculture of developing countries where in many instances the agricultural sector can barely sustain the farm population let alone, the burgeoning urban population, even at a minimum level of subsistence leading to large scale importations of food and widespread poverty.
We obviously know where we belong and we are likely to remain there until we develop an agricultural production structure that provides more food to the rapidly expanding population; increasing the demand for industrial products and thus necessitating the expansion of the secondary and tertiary sector; providing additional foreign exchange earnings for the import of capital goods for development through increased agricultural exports, increasing rural incomes to be mobilized by the state; providing productive employment and improving the welfare of the rural people.
We don’t need a soothsayer to show us that self-sustained rural community development is vital to the economic and social progress of any developing nation like Nigeria, and that unless the ways and means of massively accelerating development in the rural areas where over 80% of Nigeria’s population reside, our national goal of self-sufficiency and control over resources may continue to elude us.
As a matter of urgency, there is a need for a rapid increase in food production. The ideal situation for economic growth should be one which there should be a constant increase in farm output and the increase in farm output should be at higher rate than the increase of food demand. In a situation where the increased production of agricultural commodities lags behind growth in demand, there will be a substantial rise in food prices. To offset domestic shortage and prevent rise in prices, food may be imported from abroad but it can be at the cost of capital goods needed for development. The state may also introduce price controls, rationing and compulsory food collection. All these emphasize the importance of increase in food production.
If I want to explain this write up to a little boy I’ll say; there’s a need for increased food production and this can be achieved via increased participation. You should be a participant. That idea might just be the only start up resource that you need. Let’s hear it. Contact us today at Scott farms *mails@scottfarms.com.ng, 08176770555*

25/03/2015

AGRARIAN NATION (2)
Nigeria today depends primarily on oil for its budgetary revenues; this doesn’t and cannot change the fact that Nigeria is an agricultural society. Approximately 70 percent of the population engages in agricultural production at a subsistence level. Agricultural holdings are generally small and scattered. Agriculture provided 41 percent of Nigeria's total gross domestic product (GDP) in 1999. This percentage represented a normal decrease of 24.7 percent from its contribution of 65.7 percent to the GDP in 1957. The decrease is likely to continue if deliberate efforts are not made because, as economic development occurs, the relative size of the agricultural sector usually decreases.
Nigeria is blessed with productive a climatic variation that supports the production of a variety of food and cash crops. The staple food crops include cassava, yams, corn, coco-yams, cow-peas, beans, sweet potatoes, millet, plantains, bananas, rice, sorghum, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. The leading cash crops are cocoa, citrus, cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), palm oil, palm kernel, benniseed, and rubber. They were also Nigeria's major exports in the 1960s and early 1970s until petroleum surpassed them in the 1970s. Chief among the export destinations for Nigerian agricultural exports are Britain, the United States, Canada, France, and Germany.
A significant portion of the agricultural sector in Nigeria involves cattle herding, fishing, poultry, and lumbering, which contributed more than 2 percent to the GDP in the 1980s. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization 1987 estimate, there were 12.2 million cattle, 13.2 million sheep, 26.0 million goats, 1.3 million pigs, 700,000 donkeys, 250,000 horses, and 18,000 camels, mostly in northern Nigeria, and owned mostly by rural dwellers rather than by commercial companies and individuals.
Decline in agricultural production in Nigeria began with the advent of the petroleum boom in the early 1970s. The boom in the oil sector brought about a distortion of the labor market. The distortion in turn produced adverse effects on the production levels of both food and cash crops. Governments had paid farmers low prices over the years on food for the domestic market in order to satisfy urban demands for cheap basic food products. This policy, in turn, progressively made agricultural work unattractive and enhanced the lure of the cities for farm workers. Collectively, these developments worsened the low productivity, both per unit of land and per worker, due to several factors: inadequate technology, acts of nature such as drought, poor transportation and infrastructure, and trade restrictions.
As food production could not keep pace with its increasing population, Nigeria began to import food. It also lost its status as a net exporter of such cash crops as cocoa, palm oil, and groundnuts. According to U.S. Department of State FY2001 Country Commercial Guide, Nigeria's total food and agricultural imports are valued at approximately US$1.6 billion per year. Among the major imports from the United States are wheat, sugar, milk powder, and consumer-ready food products.
Efforts since the late 1970s to revitalize agriculture in order to make Nigeria food self-sufficient again and to increase the export of agricultural products have produced only modest results. You would however agree with me that our help is nowhere or with anybody, it’s right there in your hands and mind. We have started farming, join us. Call us today at Scott Farms 08176770555, mails@scottfarms.com.ng

17/03/2015

CONTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURE TO THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY

Nigeria faces serious poverty challenges. Two out of every three Nigerians live below the poverty line of $1 per day in income. Poverty in Nigeria is concentrated in rural areas, which are home to more than 70 percent of the nation’s poor. Development indicators for rural areas lag behind those for urban areas: incomes are lower, infant mortality rates are higher, life expectancy is shorter, illiteracy is more widespread, malnutrition is more prevalent, and greater proportions of people lack access to clean water and improved sanitation services.
For the foreseeable future, the welfare of rural populations in Nigeria will be tied to agriculture. Agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy, generating about 35 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and providing by far the largest source of rural employment. Growth in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, while better than the growth achieved in many other African countries, has fallen short of expectations. Value added per capita in agriculture has risen by less than 1 percent per year for the past 20 years, and food production gains have not kept pace with population growth, resulting in rising food imports and declining levels of national food self-sufficiency.
Blessed with abundant land and water resources, Nigeria’s agricultural sector has a high potential for growth, but this potential has not been properly harnessed. Productivity is low and basically stagnant. Farming systems, which are mostly small in scale, are still predominantly subsistence-based and for the most part depend on the vagaries of the weather. The country’s vast irrigation potential remains largely unexploited. Most farmers produce mainly food crops using traditional extensive cultivation methods, while commercial agriculture based on modern technologies and purchased inputs remains underdeveloped. The capacity of the agricultural research system has eroded in recent years, as has that of the extension service, so, even when improved technologies are available, often they fail to reach farmers. Farmers’ lack of technical knowledge is compounded by deficiencies in input distribution systems, which limit the timely availability of improved seed, fertilizer, crop chemicals, and machinery. Where inputs are available, farmers’ ability to use them is often compromised by a lack of credit, because rural financial institutions are in general poorly developed. Farmers who produce surpluses frequently lack access to reliable markets, and the high cost of transporting produce to distant buying points over bad rural roads reduces their competitiveness. These are some of the challenges the agricultural sector of the country have had to face overtime. It is not enough to identify the problem, we must provide a solution. We at Scott farms Nigeria are dedicated to being a part of the solution. For more enquiries contact mails@scottfarms.com.ng, 08176770555

10/03/2015

LOW COST AGRICULTURAL START-UPS
Agriculture in Nigeria is gradually becoming the industry of focus in recent times. While it has always been fact that there are massive investment opportunities for potential investors in agriculture as well as a large job creation potential with attendant macro-economic effects if all aspects of the value chain are properly harnessed in Nigeria, many; especially the youths are yet to fully embrace the opportunity. However, there is a growing movement of young agribusiness oriented youths and the young at heart across the country providing support particularly in knowledge sharing, resource pooling and cooperation in various agricultural ventures.
There is a general belief that farming is capital intensive. This is not always the case depending on the aspect and the scale of production. Below are some
1. Vegetable production: Most vegetables have a short generation period and are categorized as catch-crops (fast growing crops). These include leafy vegetables like ugwu (pumpkin), ewedu, amaranthus spp (popularly called ‘green’), okra, tomato, pepper, etc. A small bed at the back of your house can hold a vegetable garden that can adequately serve your neighborhood on a commercial basis providing constant source of fresh vegetables even to nearby markets. This on a large scale may require more capital than the backyard farm however, continuous production and good management can make a backyard producer into a large scale vegetable farmer.
2. Fruit Production: Some fruits are biennial or perennial requiring at least 2years or more before fruiting. However, fruits like cucumber, water melon, carrot, eggplant etc. However, practical training may be required to successfully manage these. But they are not as capital intensive on a small scale relative to other farm ventures and they give a faster return on investment.
3. Agricultural commodity marketing: This is one of the most interesting aspects of agribusiness. Many farmers have produce but do not necessarily have a ready market or do not know where the demand for their produce is. Often times they get to selloff at not so profitable prices. There are also individuals and organizations in need of certain agricultural produce but do not have access to farmers when they need these produce. As an agricultural commodity marketer you provide a valuable linkage between the sellers (farmers) and the buyers. This connection under an agreed contract assures the farmer of a ready market and the buyer of a ready and constant supply when needed, and you nexus get your agreed commission from the transaction. Everybody is happy!!!
4. Industrial processing of agricultural products: this is another step in food production value chain. A step ahead of crop production actually. Agricultural products require processing to improve it’s suitability for consumption or industrial use, depending on the final demand. Oil palm production, cracking of nuts, processing and packaging of food spices are few of the subsectors under industrial processing of agricultural products.
5. Agro commodity export: this is also a step ahead of industrial processing of agricultural products. You might decide to process your agricultural products strictly for export. This can also be on a small scale through friends and family abroad who need the local African food condiments or through a structured organization that provides such service with an existing infrastructure thereby saving you cost on registrations and certifications. With increase in dollar price to Naira, agricultural commodity export is an attractive option to take advantage of now. According to statistics from Nigeria export promotion council, there has been an increase in export from non oil export segment with agriculture being one of the most notable non oil export sector. Some of the agricultural products that are exportable includes, pepper, crayfish, Iru (locust beans), garri, ginger, cashew, vegetables, food spices, cocoa, hide, groundnut etc.
6. Micro livestock and poultry farming: rabbit production, snailery, poultry are some low start-up requiring ventures too. Rabbits are very prolific (giving birth to litter size of 6-10 rabbits) and have a gestation period of about 30days. With a mature male and 2-3 females you can start off. Snails are easy to manage in terms of feeding and housing requirement. Materials like baskets, tyres, and wooden hutches can form the housing. Although they require a longer waiting time to maturity the relatively very low financial requirement and the high demand for the delicacy of snail meat more than make up for the waiting period. When we talk about poultry, most times we think about chicken and turkey. However, poultry refers to all domestic birds. Among the list, quail farming is one of the least expensive to start off compared to chicken and turkey. Quail eggs are in high demand, and a mature female begins to lay at 6-8weeks of age.
For more information, guidance or training on any of the above, or seeking a structured system through which to farm or export farm produce, contact Scott Farms Nigeria (mails@scottfarms.com.ng, 08176770555)

09/03/2015

BRING LIFE OUT OF THE LANDS!!!
It is 25% of the earth
On its fruits depends the human race
Although neglected by the same
Barren becomes
I am one in a million professions
No land is barren with me at hand
I, in the hands of the weak, make strong
In the hands of the poor, make rich
Embrace all professions
I do
To the success of any nation
I’m key

Know me
You do
Talk about me
You do well
But what you don’t do
Is more significant
Knowing is not enough
And talk don’t cook rice

Act now
Revive! Revive!! Revive!!!
The glory of the lands
The glory of our Nation
Go back to the lands
Bring life out of the lands
Give food to the world
Be the Giants again

Embrace me
And empower u
I will
Hear my call
Hear the cries of the voiceless
To my cause
Lend your hand
Lend your talent
Lend your time
Lend your voice
Lend your youth
And with good measure
Reward you I will
Pressed down, shaken together, running over

Let me blossom again
Let the lands smile again
The power I give, wield
And the glory you desire, yield
Ever humble and noble
I remain
Calling to all
Pleading to all
I AM AGRICULTURE!!!

26/02/2015

Which is your BUT? Agriculture/Farming is lucrative but

It is drudgery
It is risky
The crops might not do well
I do not have the necessary skill
I may lose my investment due to disease outbreak on my livestock
I do not have access to land
I do not have access to market

At Scott Farms farming is our passion.
Whatever your area of interest of farming we are here to help you succeed.
Together let's create a sustainable food production system...
We farm for you...

20/02/2015

Waiting to be tapped into: Export Potential of Nigerian Foodstuffs
Basics
In the 1960s, before it turned to oil, Nigeria was one of the most promising agricultural producers in the world. Between 1962 and 1968, export crops were the country’s main foreign exchange earner. The country was number one globally in palm oil exports, well ahead of Malaysia and Indonesia, and exported 47 percent of all groundnuts, putting it ahead of the US and Argentina. Also during this period agriculture accounted for 60-70per cent of total exports from Nigeria.
Presently, it’s status as an agricultural powerhouse has declined, and steeply. While Nigeria once provided 18 percent of the global production of cocoa, second in the world in the 1960s, that figure is now down to 8 percent. And while the country produces 65 percent of tomatoes in West Africa, it is now the largest importer of tomato.
Nigeria has the potential to be one of the world’s next great breadbaskets. It has over 84 million hectares of arable land – larger than the entire country of Turkey – but only 40% is currently cultivated. It has abundant and reliable rainfall in over two thirds of the country.
Today, government’s Transformation Agenda is seeking to make the necessary reforms and investments in the agriculture sector so that the country can return to being a major global food producer, processor and exporter that supports both a growing domestic and global population.
With new policies and investments, Nigeria is producing more food for itself and for export today than it has in decades. Overall agricultural production in Nigeria has increased by 20 million metric tonnes over the past four years. As a result, Nigeria’s food imports have been halved over the same period.
Opportunities;
The demand for African foodstuff in Europe and America is rising due to the increasing number of Africans, particularly Nigerians who sojourn in these countries. With over 400 Nigerian African foodstuffs supermarket and Grocery stores all over Europe including U.S, the opportunity in food export business is massive, not only for those already in the export business, but even for the new comers.
The volume of Nigerian export of foodstuff to these countries is still on a very small scale considering the estimated 20 million people of Nigerian descent residing outside the country, with the majority living in the United Kingdom (UK) and the US. This is a great opportunity to sell to this category of people. The few exporters of African foodstuff cannot meet with the demand of Nigerians whose population is increasing everyday in the US and UK.
The exportable foodstuff to the foreign countries include: smoked fish, gari, beans flour, melon seed (egusi ground), ogbono, cassava flour, bitterleaf, dried ugu leaf, palmwine, butter, coconut, pepper, tomato paste, hibiscus flower, yoghurt, pap (ogi), ukazi leaf, kolanut, potato, semolina, ginger beer, kilishi, soybean, groundnut, okro, cassava, yam, honey, snail, bitter kola, ofada rice, catfish, shrimps, crayfish, stock fish, pounded yam flour, poultry, fruit juice, cashew nuts, plantain flour, palm oil.
As a practical example, according to a study sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, the quantity of dried and smoked catfish, tilapia and other types of fish exported from West Africa to the United Kingdom was estimated at over 500 tonnes per year; with a retail value of nearly $20 million.
Many people make over a hundred percent returns exporting food items and selling them in African food stores and markets across USA, Europe, Italy, Canada, France, The Netherlands and Switzerland.
Conclusion;
Nigeria’s agricultural food export industry is one of the most untapped sources of GDP earnings for the country. Scott farms Nigeria provides an organized structure for potential entrepreneurs who are looking to tap into these potentials.

For enquiries: mails@scottfarms.com.ng
08176770555, 07039135090

https://www.facebook.com/scottfarmsng

30/11/2014

COMING SOON...
Scott Farms Nigeria brings to you...
Food production
Food processing/packaging
Food exports
Food branding services and support
Agricultural markets access (local and international)
Livestock waste evacuation/waste management services
Organic farming
Supply of agricultural food products
On-farm Renewable energy systems ...

For enquiry: mails@scottfarms.com.ng
https://www.facebook.com/scottfarmsng


http://www.scottfarms.com.ng/