With the Nigerian economy on a downward slope,most people are reclining to the agricultural sector.A sector often ignored by many is now creating jobs and recruiting as many as are willing to join the Agro-Sector. Starting a farm is no easy task. It involves many variables including where you want to farm, how you want to farm, what you want to farm, and how big you want your farm to be. There are few of the many things to consider, and even though this is a how-to guide to get you started on starting a farm, the rest is up to you.
Part One of Four:Planning It All Out
1.Start off by drafting up a plan.Have a business plan, an operational plan and a strategy down on paper before you buy or start a farm.*.Note where you are, where you want to be, and how you want to get there. Additional personal and business goals and objectives, and financial and market goals and objectives are also important to note. *.Review and write down your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, (also called a SWOT analysis) of both yourself and the operation you want to get started in, as well as the farm you have in mind to purchase or start up from scratch.
2.Make an extensive estimate of the cost of your farm.You will needto figure the cost of the land, equipment, and necessary improvements that must be faced before beginning your farm operation. There isn't a set price forland, or a fixed amount of land required to begin a farming operation, so you will need to look carefully at those prices in the location you have chosen. Equipment can be very expensive, but you may have an option to buy it with dealer financing or by purchasing used equipment.
3.Look at your financial situation before you get too far down the path you have chosen.Farming requires an investment each year tomaintain operations. Some costs are up front, like buying or renting the land, buying equipment, and funds to sustain you until you have sold crops/livestock. Other costs that are going to be faced each year are:*.Fuel and maintenance for equipment. You will most likely be buying diesel fuel for your machinery, hydraulic oil, engine oil, and other items to keep your machines running.*.Seeds and fertilizer are necessary to produce a crop, and you will need to invest in these every year you plant and harvest your crops.*.Chemicals to protect your crops from insects, diseases, and invasive plants/weeds.*.Utility bills. You will almost certainly use some electrical power for water pumps and for maintenance equipment like an aircompressor and other power tools beyond what you will need for your living quarters and day to day life.
4.Plan on either working off the farm at a day job, or saving enough money to fund your cost of living until you begin to turn in profit on your farm.Farming doesn't pay you a weekly salary, your payday comes when you sell the product of your farm, and often that isn't until the end of your growing season.
Part Two of Four:Land and Climate
1.Familiarize yourself with the land and the surrounding climate. The land is the foundation of how, where, and what you farm. The climate also dictates what you can raise and how it will affect you and your operation.
2.Study the topographical features of the land.Hilly terrain is more suited for livestock grazing(pasture land) than crop production, whereas gently rolling or almost flat is suited for crops.
3.Soil is incredibly important for crop production,So a soil test should be carried out because if results come back that it's not up to par, or if some research on data that had been done previously shows that it's not good for crop production, then you may have to look elsewhere for better land or find something that will do better on it.
4.Vegetation.For crop production surrounding vegetation that is growing wild in other pastures or along roadsides is unimportant because you aren't going to be wanting to raise livestock, just produce crop for sale of your own choice. However, surrounding farms will tell you what they can grow in their fields, and thus will show you what you can consider growing as well. Some areas aren't as suited for growing corn as others, and orchards or a tree farm may be a better option to consider if you'd rather have a lot of trees onyour land.*.For livestock raising, though, surrounding vegetation is important especially if you want tohave pastures with a multitude of plant species and not just a few that you want seeded in. So have a look at the native or volunteer plants that are growing wild in andaround the farm, from the outskirts of the fields to ditches and even what looks like could begrowing in the neighbour's field. Some of those plants can be weeds that will need to be watched.*.Any plant that grows in a crop field (or even pasture) can be considered a "weed." You will need to be prepared to know what weeds grow in the area you want to start a farm so you are better prepared to know how to deal with them.
5.Talk to other farmers as well as the owner that is selling the land (if you are buying a virgin land or an existing farm) for information on the kinds of crops and plants that they grew there, when it was seeded, when they were sprayed and when the crop was harvested.*.If the land was only used for pasture and hay, have a forage analysis done along with the soil test, especially with collecting hay for livestock.
6.Go to a local agricultural extension office located in your state to look at the different reports on the different climatic conditions that have happened over the years for the area you will be farming in.NIFOR,ADP,IITA etc are good start points.
7.Do some research on climate history of your area.Climate is one of the most important factors that affect a farming operation, because it influences when things need to be done before a certain change in a season will hit and disable a possibility or hope of doing what you wanted to on your farm.
Even if you're starting a farm in an area you are already familiar with, sometimes re-familiarizing yourself with this information can be helpful for the kind of farming operation you want to get started in.
Part Three of Four:Capital
1.If the farm you are buying doesn't have the proper buildings on it already, planning and building may be required to make the farm you are taking over into one you have in mind.But sometimes many buildings may just need to be repaired if they are in need of it, and others may have to be taken down because they are just too old to be of any use to you.*.If you are doing crop, orchard, fruit or vegetable farming, make sure you have all the necessary machinery that is built to seed, care for and harvest the crops youare willing to sow and grow. Things like tractors are very important. *.On the other hand, if you are buying a farm to raises livestock chances are you will have to install fences and housing to keep your animals in and predators out,feeders and other neccessary equipments.
Part Four of Four:The End of the Beginning
1.Know what crops are best for you to sow, and what fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides to use on that crop. Be prepared to be flexible and to learn as you go. As for livestock, now is a good time to purchase your animals. Make sure you start with good animals and not someone's crappy culls. Carry through with what you've been planning for and built up to now, as this will most likely what will make your business click.
2.Be responsible in choosing the animals you purchase.If you are getting a breeding herd, only one intact male per several females is optimum. For instance, a bull is able to easily service up to 50 cows or heifers at one time. A boar can be used to service 20 sows, and one ram or buck for 20 to 25 females. If you are starting with only a handful of cows,do not purchase one bull per cow! This also goes for all other breeding livestock ,grasscutter,rabbits etc. It is best to choose to artificially inseminatethe only 2 or 3 cows you buy or to lease a bull to service them. This also goes for pigs, sheep, goats, ducks, geese, horses, and other animals.
3.Be prepared for the unexpected.Always review your business plan and make changes as needed as new ideas, new thoughts and new issues come up.In other words keep with the trend.
