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Nigeria welcomes support to diversify economy – Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja said his administration will continue to welcome support and investments from the international community in the agricultural and solid minerals sectors as Nigeria moves to reduce dependence on crude oil.
In a farewell audience with the outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Sweden to Nigeria, Mr. Svante Kilander, in the State House, President Buhari said the Federal Government would create the enabling environment for local and foreign investments in farming, animal husbandry, fishery and the exploration of solid minerals.
The President said a planned visit by some Swedish trade and investment delegations to the country later in the year would further encourage the ongoing process of diversifying the Nigerian economy.
President Buhari commended the Swedish government for the support extended to Nigeria in catering for the needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East and the ongoing reconstruction of the areas affected by terrorist attacks.
In his remarks, the Swedish Ambassador said his country was pleased with the sweeping changes taking place across the country with clear results in the fight against terrorism and corruption.
Kilander said his country would continue to strengthen bilateral relations with Nigeria by encouraging more trade and investments between both countries.
Receiving special envoys from President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan and President Al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan separately, President Buhari advised the two countries to avoid the trap of getting into a mono-cultural economy like Nigeria by diversifying their economies early.
The President also advised the two countries to be more vigilant on security by stemming recruitment of young people by terrorist groups.
He said Nigeria would continue to support the transitional government that had been put in place in South Sudan.
The leader of the South Sudan delegation, who is a Senior Presidential Adviser on Peace, Mr. Nhial Deng Nhial and the leader of the Sudan delegation, Ismail Abdul-Raheem, who is the State Minister, Foreign Affairs, assured President Buhari of their commitment to strengthen bilateral relations.
Both envoys commended Nigeria for the leadership role it had played to ensure peace and stability in their countries.
Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja said his administration will continue to welcome support and investments from the international community in the agricultural and solid minerals sectors as Nigeria moves to reduce dependence on crude oil.
In a farewell audience with the outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Sweden to Nigeria, Mr. Svante Kilander, in the State House, President Buhari said the Federal Government would create the enabling environment for local and foreign investments in farming, animal husbandry, fishery and the exploration of solid minerals.
The President said a planned visit by some Swedish trade and investment delegations to the country later in the year would further encourage the ongoing process of diversifying the Nigerian economy.
President Buhari commended the Swedish government for the support extended to Nigeria in catering for the needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East and the ongoing reconstruction of the areas affected by terrorist attacks.
In his remarks, the Swedish Ambassador said his country was pleased with the sweeping changes taking place across the country with clear results in the fight against terrorism and corruption.
Kilander said his country would continue to strengthen bilateral relations with Nigeria by encouraging more trade and investments between both countries.
Receiving special envoys from President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan and President Al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan separately, President Buhari advised the two countries to avoid the trap of getting into a mono-cultural economy like Nigeria by diversifying their economies early.
The President also advised the two countries to be more vigilant on security by stemming recruitment of young people by terrorist groups.
He said Nigeria would continue to support the transitional government that had been put in place in South Sudan.
The leader of the South Sudan delegation, who is a Senior Presidential Adviser on Peace, Mr. Nhial Deng Nhial and the leader of the Sudan delegation, Ismail Abdul-Raheem, who is the State Minister, Foreign Affairs, assured President Buhari of their commitment to strengthen bilateral relations.
Both envoys commended Nigeria for the leadership role it had played to ensure peace and stability in their countries.
Contact: godwineab@gmail.com
Phone:+2348179297984
11 Proven Health Benefits of Ginger
1. Ginger Contains Gingerol, a Substance With Powerful Medicinal Properties
Ginger is a flowering plant that originated from China.
It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, and is closely related to turmeric, cardomon and galangal.
The rhizome (underground part of the stem) is the part commonly used as a spice. It is often called ginger root, or simply ginger.
Ginger has a very long history of use in various forms of traditional/alternative medicine. It has been used to help digestion, reduce nausea and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few.
This is what ground, fresh and sliced ginger looks like:
Ginger can be used fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice, and is sometimes added to processed foods and cosmetics. It is a very common ingredient in recipes.
The unique fragrance and flavor of ginger come from its natural oils, the most important of which is gingerol.
Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger, responsible for much of its medicinal properties. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects (1).
Bottom Line: Ginger is a popular spice. It is high in gingerol, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
2. Ginger Can Treat Many Forms of Nausea, Especially Morning Sickness
Ginger appears to be highly effective against nausea (2).
For example, it has a long history of use as a sea sickness remedy, and there is some evidence that it may be as effective as prescription medication (3).
Ginger may also relieve nausea and vomiting after surgery, and in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (4, 5).
But it may be the most effective when it comes to pregnancy-related nausea, such as morning sickness.
According to a review of 12 studies that included a total of 1,278 pregnant women, 1.1-1.5 grams of ginger can significantly reduce symptoms of nausea (6).
However, ginger had no effect on vomiting episodes in this study.
Although ginger is considered safe, talk to your doctor before taking large amounts if you are pregnant. Some believe that large amounts can raise the risk of miscarriage, but there are currently no studies to support this.
Bottom Line: 1-1.5 grams of ginger can help prevent various types of nausea. This applies to sea sickness, chemotherapy-related nausea, nausea after surgery and morning sickness.
3. Ginger May Reduce Muscle Pain and Soreness
Ginger has been shown to be effective against exercise-induced muscle pain.
In one study, consuming 2 grams of ginger per day, for 11 days, significantly reduced muscle pain in people performing elbow exercises (7).
Ginger does not have an immediate impact, but may be effective at reducing the day-to-day progression of muscle pain (8).
These effects are believed to be mediated by the anti-inflammatoryproperties.
Bottom Line: Ginger appears to be effective at reducing the day-to-day progression of muscle pain, and may reduce exercise-induced muscle soreness.
4. The Anti-Inflammatory Effects Can Help With Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a common health problem.
It involves degeneration of the joints in the body, leading to symptoms like joint pain and stiffness.
In a controlled trial of 247 people with osteoarthritis of the knee, those who took ginger extract had less pain and required less pain medication (9).
Another study found that a combination of ginger, mastic, cinnamon and sesame oil, can reduce pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis patients when applied topically (10).
Bottom Line: There are some studies showing ginger to be effective at reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis, which is a very common health problem.
5. Ginger May Drastically Lower Blood Sugars and Improve Heart Disease Risk Factors
This area of research is relatively new, but ginger may have powerful anti-diabetic properties.
In a recent 2015 study of 41 participants with type 2 diabetes, 2 grams of ginger powder per day lowered fasting blood sugar by 12% (11).
It also dramatically improved HbA1c (a marker for long-term blood sugar levels), leading to a 10% reduction over a period of 12 weeks.
There was also a 28% reduction in the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio, and a 23% reduction in markers for oxidized lipoproteins. These are both major risk factors for heart disease.
This graph shows what happened:
Photo Source: Suppversity.
However, keep in mind that this was just one small study. The results are incredibly impressive, but they need to be confirmed in larger studies before any recommendations can be made.
Bottom Line: Ginger has been shown to lower blood sugar levels and improve various heart disease risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes.
6. Ginger Can Help Treat Chronic Indigestion
Chronic indigestion (dyspepsia) is characterized by recurrent pain and discomfort in the upper part of the stomach.
It is believed that delayed emptying of the stomach is a major driver of indigestion.
Interestingly, ginger has been shown to speed up emptying of the stomach in people with this condition.
After eating soup, ginger reduced the time it took for the stomach to empty from 16 to 12 minutes (12).
In a study of 24 healthy individuals, 1.2 grams of ginger powder before a meal accelerated emptying of the stomach by 50% (13).
Bottom Line: Ginger appears to speed up emptying of the stomach, which can be beneficial for people with indigestion and related stomach discomfort.
7. Ginger Powder May Significantly Reduce Menstrual Pain
Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) refers to pain felt during a woman’s menstrual cycle.
One of the traditional uses of ginger is for pain relief, including menstrual pain.
In one study, 150 women were instructed to take 1 gram of ginger powder per day, for the first 3 days of the menstrual period (14).
Ginger managed to reduce pain as effectively as the drugs mefenamic acid and ibuprofen.
Bottom Line: Ginger appears to be very effective against menstrual pain when taken at the beginning of the menstrual period.
8. Ginger May Lower Cholesterol Levels
High levels of LDL lipoproteins (the “bad” cholesterol) are linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
The foods you eat can have a strong influence on LDL levels.
In a 45-day study of 85 individuals with high cholesterol, 3 grams of ginger powder caused significant reductions in most cholesterol markers (15).
This is supported by a study in hypothyroid rats, where ginger extract lowered LDL cholesterol to a similar extent as the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin (16).
Both studies also showed reductions in total cholesterol and blood triglycerides.
Bottom Line: There is some evidence, in both animals and humans, that ginger can lead to significant reductions in LDL cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels.
9. Ginger Contains a Substance That May Help Prevent Cancer
Cancer is a very serious disease that is characterized by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells.
Ginger extract has been studied as an alternative treatment for several forms of cancer.
The anti-cancer properties are attributed to 6-gingerol, a substance that is found in large amounts in raw ginger (17, 18).
In a study of 30 individuals, 2 grams of ginger extract per day significantly reduced pro-inflammatory signalling molecules in the colon (19).
However, a follow-up study in individuals at a high risk of colon cancer did not confirm these findings (20).
There is some, albeit limited, evidence that ginger may be effective against pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer. More research is needed (21, 22, 23).
Bottom Line: Ginger contains a substance called 6-gingerol, which may have protective effects against cancer. However, this needs to be studied a lot more.
10. Ginger May Improve Brain Function and Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease
Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation can accelerate the aging process.
They are believed to be among the key drivers of Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline.
Some studies in animals suggest that the antioxidants and bioactive compounds in ginger can inhibit inflammatory responses that occur in the brain (24).
There is also some evidence that ginger can enhance brain function directly. In a study of 60 middle-aged women, ginger extract was shown to improve reaction time and working memory (25).
There are also numerous studies in animals showing that ginger can protect against age-related decline in brain function (26, 27, 28).
Bottom Line: Studies suggest that ginger can protect against age-related damage to the brain. It can also improve brain function in elderly women.
11. The Active Ingredient in Ginger Can Help Fight Infections
Gingerol, the bioactive substance in fresh ginger, can help lower the risk of infections.
It is very effective against the oral bacteria linked to inflammatory diseases in the gums, such as gingivitis and periodontitis (31).
I need your help
My company (AutoReg) and my GMD have been nominated in some categories at the Nigeria Technology Awards, 2016 and I need your support for us to win.
Just vote for Adebola Akindele and Courteville Business Solutions Plc.
Below are the links to the categories:
http://www.nigeriatechnologyawards.com/voting/gtsv/
http://www.nigeriatechnologyawards.com/voting/icv/
http://www.nigeriatechnologyawards.com/voting/btcv/
Kindly help me rebraodcast on your whatsapp group, Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, BBM, instagram.
You can use your phones, laptops and pads.
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Nigeria’s agro allied industry: A starting point for the entrepreneurial revolution ON AUGUST 22, 201612:54 AMIN BUSINESS, FINANCE, NEWSCOMMENTS By Peter Osalor
As part of former President Umaru Yar’Adua’s Seven Point Agenda for economic revival and accelerated growth, the commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) was launched. It was designed to provide concessionary funding to small farmers through credit guarantees and interest draw back support. Initial outlay for the scheme stands at a respectable $1.4 billion, to be disbursed through participating commercial banks. The Nigerian government envisions that the program would increase farmland output, diversify the revenue base, and provide vital resources and raw material to the manufacturing sector. The idea of Agriculture and Agro- based industry as a strategy for accelerated economic growth is slowly beginning to take hold. The oil boom of the 1970s caused the marginalisation of Agriculture into a labour – intensive, low – productivity subsistence activity that eventually plunged large parts of rural Nigeria into abject poverty. The redirection of Agricultural policies was affected since the return of democracy in 1999 proved more successful. Under a radical reforms programme, the government targeted rural development with integrated plans for Agriculture promotion, rural industrialization and infrastructure development. This integrated approach has yielded tangible results: Agriculture now leads the country’s economic recovery, bouncing back to contribute 42% of the GDP by 2009, 40.19% in 2011, and 39.02% in 2012, 37.92% in 2013, while 36.79% by 2014, 35.75% in 2015 and 34.74% in 2016 also 33.86% by 2017(FSDH Research). Perhaps the most significant thought arising out of this recovery is Nigeria’s natural inclination towards farming. Traditional involvement with Agriculture and the existence of diverse ecological conditions across the country offers strong potential for growth of a flourishing and suitably inter- linked agro allied industry. Nigeria’s ambitions for accelerated and inclusive economic growth are contingent on achieving a vibrant Agriculture sector that can support extensive down -the –line enterprise development and employment. In line with this assessment, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) expressly recommends the adoption of a national investment policy to diversify the Nigerian economy with a strong focus on agro – allied industries. The fact that this sector is primed to spark off rapid enterprise development in Nigeria is simply undeniable. Enterprise potential exists in almost all areas of local farm production. According to FAO estimates, Nigeria currently produces over 100,000 metric tonnes of Kola nut, which finds use in the manufacture of beverages, liquor, and confectionaries. Yet, local processing units are rare and exports are largely limited to fresh and dry nuts with little value addition. Cassava, likewise, has emerged as a major cash crop with untapped potential in industrial use and bio – fuel development. With adequate private sector involvement, commercialised Agriculture can not only aid industrialization and employment generation but also breach the productivity gap and reduce food costs. The government’s intervention in the Agro – allied sector must essentially be aimed at creating the right environment for rapid expansion of locally – owned enterprises. However, there are serious challenges in this direction. Industries processing of agricultural product are almost negligible, existing standards being very basic and often incomparable with export requirements. Post – harvest losses are also very high, assesses at near 50% of total production. (Van Buren) Labour saving production and advanced harvesting and processing technologies are therefore critical for sustained revival of Nigerians Agriculture. Moreover, efficient production and marketing systems will prove vital in ensuring high quality standards and competitive prices for both domestic industries and export markets. In term of broad parameters, policies for effective development of the Agro –allied sector in Nigeria must focus on a number of key considerations: Ensuring food security by increasing supply and lowering prices with the specific aim of curbing inflation. Enhancing credit access to small farmers and Agro – based enterprises at low rates of interest. For more on this, get my book “The Entrepreneurial Revolution”.
As part of former President Umaru Yar’Adua’s Seven Point Agenda for economic revival and accelerated growth, the commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) was launched. It was designed to provide concessionary funding to small farmers through credit guarantees and interest draw back support. Initial outlay for the scheme stands at a respectable $1.4 billion, to be disbursed through participating commercial banks. The Nigerian government envisions that the program would increase farmland output, diversify the revenue base, and provide vital resources and raw material to the manufacturing sector. The idea of Agriculture and Agro- based industry as a strategy for accelerated economic growth is slowly beginning to take hold. The oil boom of the 1970s caused the marginalisation of Agriculture into a labour – intensive, low – productivity subsistence activity that eventually plunged large parts of rural Nigeria into abject poverty. The redirection of Agricultural policies was affected since the return of democracy in 1999 proved more successful. Under a radical reforms programme, the government targeted rural development with integrated plans for Agriculture promotion, rural industrialization and infrastructure development. This integrated approach has yielded tangible results: Agriculture now leads the country’s economic recovery, bouncing back to contribute 42% of the GDP by 2009, 40.19% in 2011, and 39.02% in 2012, 37.92% in 2013, while 36.79% by 2014, 35.75% in 2015 and 34.74% in 2016 also 33.86% by 2017(FSDH Research). Perhaps the most significant thought arising out of this recovery is Nigeria’s natural inclination towards farming. Traditional involvement with Agriculture and the existence of diverse ecological conditions across the country offers strong potential for growth of a flourishing and suitably inter- linked agro allied industry. Nigeria’s ambitions for accelerated and inclusive economic growth are contingent on achieving a vibrant Agriculture sector that can support extensive down -the –line enterprise development and employment. In line with this assessment, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) expressly recommends the adoption of a national investment policy to diversify the Nigerian economy with a strong focus on agro – allied industries. The fact that this sector is primed to spark off rapid enterprise development in Nigeria is simply undeniable. Enterprise potential exists in almost all areas of local farm production. According to FAO estimates, Nigeria currently produces over 100,000 metric tonnes of Kola nut, which finds use in the manufacture of beverages, liquor, and confectionaries. Yet, local processing units are rare and exports are largely limited to fresh and dry nuts with little value addition. Cassava, likewise, has emerged as a major cash crop with untapped potential in industrial use and bio – fuel development. With adequate private sector involvement, commercialised Agriculture can not only aid industrialization and employment generation but also breach the productivity gap and reduce food costs. The government’s intervention in the Agro – allied sector must essentially be aimed at creating the right environment for rapid expansion of locally – owned enterprises. However, there are serious challenges in this direction. Industries processing of agricultural product are almost negligible, existing standards being very basic and often incomparable with export requirements. Post – harvest losses are also very high, assesses at near 50% of total production. (Van Buren) Labour saving production and advanced harvesting and processing technologies are therefore critical for sustained revival of Nigerians Agriculture. Moreover, efficient production and marketing systems will prove vital in ensuring high quality standards and competitive prices for both domestic industries and export markets. In term of broad parameters, policies for effective development of the Agro –allied sector in Nigeria must focus on a number of key considerations: Ensuring food security by increasing supply and lowering prices with the specific aim of curbing inflation. Enhancing credit access to small farmers and Agro – based enterprises at low rates of interest. For more on this, get my book “The Entrepreneurial Revolution”.
Cassava Processing Facility Intervention Scheme (CAPFIS)
CAPFIS Enterprise Ltd is a renowned growing organization that sprung from Bold Support Services, a “think tank” organization based in Nigeria. Bold CAPFIS Enterprise Ltd is created to engage 34,000 youths into cassava cultivation program. The farms will be situated in the following states; Anambra, Bayelsa, Rivers, Ebonyi, Imo, Ondo, Cross River, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Ekiti, Kogi, Taraba, Niger, Benue, Kaduna, Ogun and Edo State mainly because of the soil advantage. The selected participants will be given two weeks intensive training on mechanized cassava production. Bold CAPFIS shall also allot 5 hectares to each and every one of them after they have undergone their preparatory course, and establish solar powered cassava flour, chips, starch and chips processing centers in each state to commercialize the farm outputs for local consumption and export.
The ration of participants will be 30% to 70%, 30% goes to the indigenes of the State where the lands are situated, and 70% will be distributed equally amongst the participants that were successfully selected from the remaining 36 states of the Federation.
At the end of the harvest (8-9months), each farmer will earn a sum of N1,000,000.00 as a reward for monitoring and nurturing their farmland. Sign up for CAPFIS now.
CAPFIS OBJECTIVES
i. Give two weeks training selected participants
ii. Build their capacity to manage the farms
iii. Supply them with high yielding and disease resistant cassava stems
iv. Allot five hectares to each of the farmers
v. Establish Solar Powered chips processing equipment in each of the farm
vi. Establish Solar Powered flour and starch processing centers in each of the state
vii. Provide ICT Centers in a safe location close to the farm to enable farmers have easier access to stay up-to-date on modern agro allied farming etc.
viii. Develop a farm community with state of art facilities and provide accommodation in the farms for the farmers to encourage them to live and work on the farm
Target: 34,000 youths (male/female)
Total Land Size: 170,000 Hectares
Expected Output in MT: 4,250,000+ (RAW)
Visit: www.capfis.com.ng
To join CAPFIS WhatsApp group and make direct enquiry add this number 08064837161. Please state your intention to join CAPFIS
CAPFIS Enterprise Ltd is a renowned growing organization that sprung from Bold Support Services, a “think tank” organization based in Nigeria. Bold CAPFIS Enterprise Ltd is created to engage 34,000 youths into cassava cultivation program. The farms will be situated in the following states; Anambra, Bayelsa, Rivers, Ebonyi, Imo, Ondo, Cross River, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Ekiti, Kogi, Taraba, Niger, Benue, Kaduna, Ogun and Edo State mainly because of the soil advantage. The selected participants will be given two weeks intensive training on mechanized cassava production. Bold CAPFIS shall also allot 5 hectares to each and every one of them after they have undergone their preparatory course, and establish solar powered cassava flour, chips, starch and chips processing centers in each state to commercialize the farm outputs for local consumption and export.
The ration of participants will be 30% to 70%, 30% goes to the indigenes of the State where the lands are situated, and 70% will be distributed equally amongst the participants that were successfully selected from the remaining 36 states of the Federation.
At the end of the harvest (8-9months), each farmer will earn a sum of N1,000,000.00 as a reward for monitoring and nurturing their farmland. Sign up for CAPFIS now.
CAPFIS OBJECTIVES
i. Give two weeks training selected participants
ii. Build their capacity to manage the farms
iii. Supply them with high yielding and disease resistant cassava stems
iv. Allot five hectares to each of the farmers
v. Establish Solar Powered chips processing equipment in each of the farm
vi. Establish Solar Powered flour and starch processing centers in each of the state
vii. Provide ICT Centers in a safe location close to the farm to enable farmers have easier access to stay up-to-date on modern agro allied farming etc.
viii. Develop a farm community with state of art facilities and provide accommodation in the farms for the farmers to encourage them to live and work on the farm
Target: 34,000 youths (male/female)
Total Land Size: 170,000 Hectares
Expected Output in MT: 4,250,000+ (RAW)
Visit: www.capfis.com.ng
To join CAPFIS WhatsApp group and make direct enquiry add this number 08064837161. Please state your intention to join CAPFIS
Make Money Planting Watermelon
Are you tired of working tirelessly with nothing to show for it? Are you uncomfortable eating from hand to mouth, always living in debt from month to month? Are you tired of unsuccessfully roaming the streets in search of jobs that are hardly available? Have you been looking for a simple, straightforward and legal way of generating reasonable amount of income without necessarily working like a Jackie round the clock? If your answer to these questions is yes, this may be the single most important letter you will ever read this year.
You may have tried various ways of improving your financial lot in life with many hitting the rock. Some on the other hand may be complex and difficult to implement. In some cases, it takes a long time before realizing the expected benefit if only it will come at all. In cases of food products, there may be difficulty in marketing and they eventually get spoilt. What happens also when you don’t have the time and energy to really get things done?
But do you know that with a little startup capital, seriousness and readiness to follow some simple practical steps, you can drastically improve your present financial state. Before I go on, let me tell you that I am not compiling this piece of information as an Information Marketer. An Information Marketer is one who gathers information from different books and package them to sell to people for money. An Information Marketer may not even understand what he sells. It does not matter if what he sells benefit the buyers or not. All he is interested in is his cool cash. May be you have at one time or the other fallen into the hands of such wicked people and thus you are scared. Please be informed that I am not one.
Rather, I farm watermelon myself and what I am proudly giving out is what I do and carefully put together to emancipate people financially. And you too can do it. Before now, when people hear of or see watermelon, the assumption is that this is a vegetable from Northern Nigeria. Many feel that watermelon can do well in that part of the country only and thus, it is not popularly cultivated in other parts of the country.
On the contrary, watermelon can be grown in all parts of the country. In fact, the warmer temperatures and longer growing season of the southern areas especially favors this vegetable.
Now, many in Edo, Delta, Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti and several other states have been benefitting from the high income potential watermelon business has, and you too should not be left out.
Testimonial:
On the 31st of March 2010, Daily Trust Newspaper interviewed a farmer by name Mr. Mustapha who says: ‘Ever since the people of the area discovered that the commodity can be harvested in commercial quantity, watermelons have become their source of livelihood…’ He added: ‘One of my watermelon farms is 10 hectares and can get as much as two trailer loads of the commodity’. The newspaper mentions that a trailer load of watermelon can cost as much as N2.4 million.
These are people who hardly apply fertilizers and know nothing about any chemical whatsoever and yet are successful. How much more you who will be provided with all the information you need.
Several families have relocated from Lagos to Edo state solely for the purpose of farming watermelon and they are not regretting their actions in any way.
Let Me Tell You Why You Need To Farm Watermelon
a. Little Start-up Capital and High Return on Investment.
You need as little as N30, 000 to get started and if this guide is followed, the minimum you can make from a hectare is N250, 000. Imagine the potential of cultivating more areas of land. I have ordinary people like us without any special expertise here who are making millions of naira twice annually. Believe me and believe more in yourself dear friend, you can conveniently earn a comfortable living planting watermelon.
b. Very short ‘Gestation’ Period.
Gestation period here means the time period between planting and harvesting. You do not have to wait for one year to sell your product and smile to the bank. Instead, within three months or less, you are already made. Even if you have to pay interest on loan, you can easily absorb the shock because of the short time involved.
c. High Nutritional Value
Watermelon is low in calories and very nutritious. It is high in lycopene, second only to tomatoes. It is also a good source of Vitamins A and C, can fight some forms of cancer and is very good for those suffering from hypertension and some other related diseases. Hence, both the rich and poor have become consumers of watermelon.
d. Readily Available Market
Because of its high nutritional value, watermelon is a highly demanded product. There is great market for watermelon in all major cities in Nigeria and Africa. Do not be surprised if you cannot meet up with all those requesting the product. The fact that you can sell in bulk even from your farm makes the marketing of watermelon so interesting.
e. Ease of cultivation
Farming watermelon is not as stressful as the conventional farming that is so tasking and energy-sapping and with little or no good return at last. Watermelon farming is just like Vegetable farming with a little more attention.
