BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NIGER DELTA: FARMING

                                                             By Ewomazino E. Okah-Avae

Crude oil which is popularly known as “black gold” immediately comes to mind when the Niger Delta is mentioned. However, we often forget that the consistent, abundant wealth and prosperity of the Niger Delta regions are a sum total of the numerous activities that have gone on from time immemorial till date. One of the most crucial activities rampant in the region is farming.

Farming is very essential to life and living, and the fact that the very essence of it has been relegated to the background, doesn’t make it any less important than it was fifty years ago. Farming, I would say is the working of man’s land to produce crops for food and money.

The Niger Delta Region is rich in diverse food and cash crops. We have on the list, vegetables such as okra, tomatoes, pepper, Ugwu, and green. Others are melon, maize and fruits such as mangoes, oranges, pear, guava, etc.

Farming in the Niger Delta region is very lucrative because the soil is very rich in nutrients needed to grow these crops. The various farming techniques or types range from the traditional mixed farming to the mixed cropping techniques. In this scenario, different types of crops are cultivated at the same time. While in mixed farming, animals such as goats, pigs and even fish are reared alongside the crops.

Farming is life and it has been that way since the Garden of Eden, where God Himself instituted the importance of this sacred venture that He created man and put him in the midst of plants (food) to sustain him. It is however, unbelievable that so much emphasis has been placed on oil mining to the detriment of farming and agriculture as a whole.  Everybody seems to have forgotten about the essence of the sacredness of farming and hence, the present economic gloom and crisis plaguing the country right at this moment.

 Business wise to make a living out of farming, it can and should be done on a large scale. Although, one could start on a small scale and gradually expand to a full scale farm. A preferred type of crop should be actively engaged for export to other parts of the country and also neighbouring countries as well. A lot of money can be made out of farming in the Niger Delta if the right techniques are employed for guaranteed success and maximum profit.

STEPS TO BEGIN YOUR BUSINESS IN FARMING

First of all, you need to acquire a good piece of land, which is the first and foremost thing to do. Secondly, choosing the type of crop to be cultivated should be carefully done. In other words, the crops which are economically and commercially viable should be your target and focus. Thirdly, tilling the land and planting should be the next stage. Employing people especially experienced farmers to do the job of working the earth should be carefully supervised. If you can afford it, employ the use of tractors, planters, and harvesters etc., to do a thorough and quick job for you.                                                                                                

Finally, having a good market base and marketing strategy, is all you need to make it in the farming business.