Agricultural financing and insurance opportunities for women and youth development in Africa

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MSME to get N10m collateral-free loans.

MSME to get N10m collateral-free loans.Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, says the Federal Government is working towards providing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) a credit facility of N2 million to N10 million without collateral. Osibanjo made the disclosure on Wednesday at a dinner/ maiden edition of the MSMEs Award 2018 held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja. The awards packaged by the Office of the Vice-President and supported by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, got over 300 nominations across the nation. Osinbajo had in 2017 launched the MSME Clinic as part of efforts to encourage the contributions of MSMEs to Nigeria’s economic growth. The acting president said he was delighted to reward and recognise outstanding MSME as they represent remarkable examples of Nigerian entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. According to him, efforts are underway to double government’s commitment to ensuring that MSME find an enabling environment to thrive. He said that in addition to the one-stop-shop launched in some states to carry the MSME clinics intervention, the Federal Government would soon launch its shared facilities for MSMEs initiative. Osinbajo said the initiative would be in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). “This initiatives will provide MSME access to fully equipped cluster style facilities for which they can pay an affordable fee to operate. “These facilities would have been pre-certified by relevant agencies like NAFDAC, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and NEPC thereby removing the layers of bureaucracy that in the past held back many aspiring entrepreneurs.

POULTRY VALUE CHAIN

 POULTRY VALUE CHAIN.  PROVIDING MORE PROTEIN FOR THE NATION.  OBJECTIVE .  Provision of animal protein which is essential for growth and development.  Source of revenue generation.  Promote entrepreneurship.  Employment opportunities.  JUSTIFICATION OF PROJECT.  The dietary intake of protein according to nutritionist is 0.8g/kg body weight.  56g/day is required for men and 46g/day for women but there is a deficit.  According to the FAO the average intake is below recommendation, so more protein(animal sources) should be incorporated in diet. Eggs and chicken will makeup for the deficit.  An egg a day, keeps the doctor away.  POULTRY PRODUCTION.  Birds reared for meat and eggs are referred to as poultry.  These include cockerels, broilers, layers and turkey.  Ducks, guinea fowls and quails  Birds to be reared are raised within a time line so that profit can be realized from the venture .  PRODUCTION OVERVIEW.  The scale of project could be small, medium or large, depending on the number of birds and space.  Adequate housing is paramount to success of the venture. This could be temporary or permanent structures, but which must be well ventilated and rodent proof.  PRODUCTION OVERVIEW( 2)  Feeders, drinkers and lighting equipment are provided.  Healthy birds sourced from reputable hatcheries.  Birds are properly housed and good quality feed and adequate quantity are provided.  Essential vaccination and medication are provided.  Strict bio security measures enforced.   METHODOLOGY.  The project will encompass production(rearing) ,processing and packaging.  It will be a year long project, divided into phases so as to make money at specific periods in the year.  Broilers reared and marketed at 42 days,this phase is the 42-dayturn over. Investors with limited funds can access this chain at this level.  METHODOLOGY (2)  Layers reared for eggs starts at about 21 weeks of age, and some breeds can lay up to 300 eggs in a year. The layers could be sold out after a production cycle.  Cockerels mature at 5 months,this can be reared towards a festive period to increase revenue.  Turkeys can also be reared twice in a year ,and also targeted towards festive season.  PRODUCTS. Eggs and chicken are sold for profit.  Feathers from the birds are processed and used as accessories, home décor, mats and fashion accessories. This will also generate revenue.  The waste generated from the birds can be channeled to a digester, to produce electricity.  The blood waste and gut waste can be processed and incorporated into animal feed.  PROJECT COST AND ESTIMATE.  Land depends on size and location.  Laying pens..7.6mx7.6m @# 900,000.  Cages units @#70,000  Farm implements such as wheel barrow, shovel, bucket and water drums. @ #35,000.  Day old chicks ranging from #180-250.  Feed; this accounts for 70% of production hence it will be advisable to have a feed mill that will cater for the birds.  REARING COST . Brooding @25# per chick.  Vaccination/medication @ #40 per chick.  Labour…#7,500 .  Feeders/drinker depending on type and model. Polythene sheets and cardboards@ # 3000.  Broiler..0-3 weeks requires 100g of feed/chick/day.  REARING COST( 2)  Broiler at 4-7weeks require..180g of feed/chick/day.  Layers----o-8weeks requires 60g of feed/day/chick.  9-20 weeks require..90g of feed/day/chick.  Then from 21 weeks require 120g of feed/day/chick.  Water is made available at all times.  PROCESSING AND PACKAGING.  RECOMMENDATIONS.  Healthy birds must be procured.  Bio security measures instituted.  Employment of interested workers.  Good working conditions for workers.  Advertisement of processing plant to expand market.  Good water source and proper waste disposal methods.  A mini processing plant can be attached to live bird markets to process birds. This is another investment opportunity.  Conclusion.  The poultry value chain is a very lucrative venture with rapid return of investment.  Investors could actually invest in short term aspect such as broiler production.  The long term investors will go for layers/egg production.  The seasonal investors will look into cockerels and turkeys.

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY.

Food security can only be achieved if more food is produced and food waste and loss is eliminated from the value chain.


Women make up the bulk of those in the farming business,and the production of their produce can be doubled to increase revenue and feed the nation.

 The women in agriculture started farming and rearing animals because they wanted to feed their family and help in running of the home,but over the years this has evolved to a business where they rear and sell making money for themselves.

 Women in agriculture produce more food that could actually ensure food security but are constrained due to the following:

 1) preservation equipment.
 2) processing technology.
 3)education on proper handling of food.
 4)Transportation.

 Women in agriculture produce their crops,but lack technical strength in terms of preservation methods
  The.women produce grains,that when harvested are stored in sack, or spread on the floor,thus exposing the product to rodents and other pests.
This results in food loss and contamination which reduces revenue of the farmer but also the amount of food available for consumption,thus disrupting the food security chain.

 When women have access to modern storage facilities such as silos, more crops will get to market .The provision of such facilities at community level,divisional level or district zoning,will give more women access.

Organizing the farmers per zone and also providing a platform for marketing will ensure more food will get too the market.

Processing technology :the women in the fishing business and poultry are majorly affected. The fish harvested can be sold live,but because they lack processing equipment they cant process the fish into smoked variety.This  results in reduced income,as the majority of the fish are left unprocessed and marketers will offer to buy it off at ridiculous prices.

When processing technology is available  to these women, such drying stoves/kiln provided at community level,more fish will make it to the market and food security will be a reality.

The education on powered eggs will be an advantage in the poultry industry.When large quantities of eggs  are available,storing methods are very important to the marketability of the eggs.

 Food handling techniques are very important to food processing and packaging.

Women in agriculture should be educated on proper handling to prevent food waste and food loss.

When crops are harvested ,there are proper handling methods to prevent spoilage;like vegetables, these should be handled with care and store in an aerated environment to prevent rottenness.These must also not be lumped on ,but are stacked on platforms to keep them fresh

Modern techniques on handling will ensure more food get to market to prevent food loss and food waste.

 Transportation of these produce is a major key to food security. When roads are accessible more produce get to destination and in record time ensuring fresh foods are available.

The women face a lot of constraints that if addressed in form of training,seminars and provision of infrastructure such as light,electricity,good roads and telecommunication devices,

food security will be a reality. Empower the women!!! feed the nation.

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE AND THE IMPACT ON ECONOMIC GROWTH.

The role of of agriculture in economic growth is significant to any form of globalization. Women plays significant roles in agriculture,they are involved in all sectors and contribute to economic growth and development. 

 The empowerment schemes should involve more women as they are challenged on so many fronts,the contract farming is a way to encourage more women to join agriculture sector and support those already in the sector. Agriculture has so many facets and aspects that if properly coordinated will bring about food security and increase revenue generation. 

The higher the number of people actively involved in this sector,the greater the chances of a sustainable economy. 

The use of contract farming in the agricultural sector has the following benefits ; 1) employment opportunities. 2) increase revenue generation. 3)food security. 4)globalization through partnership. 5)broad-based learning platform. 6)empowerment. 

      What is contract farming and how does it work?? 

This is basically a platform for growth both for individuals ,companies and the countries involved.The scheme extols the benefits of various aspects of agriculture such as fish farming,piggery,cattle rearing, and poultry.

The various segments are handled by professionals,who corporate with stakeholders already in the agriculture business and these seek out interested candidates in these projects.These people undergo training for a specific period,after which they are provided with tools to start-off.These tools include chicks,drugs,feed, weaners,calves and cages. 

The tools also include spaces that are allocated at moderate prices so the farmers can afford this without affecting overhead costs. The contract farmer has access to needed tools to start the project with a memorandum of understanding which states; the expected return and time lapse. 

This scheme will allow more players in the agric sector,with access to latest innovations in the field which they can employ to rapidly turn around their investment. 

 The venture also involves provision of equipment to process the finished products for packaging such as stoves,drying kiln and ovens to process fish. Education on food preservation and provision of such equipment will help prevent losses of crops.A source of water is a very necessary factor for any production,and many women travel long distances to get access to portable water.

A water for all project in forms of wells,boreholes and irrigation systems will boost production and increase sales.The larger percentage of the agricultural products are farmed in the rural areas and this is done by women. Empower the women; feed the world!!! Contract farming is an empowerment model that will fast tract growth in the agriculture sector,because the companies involved in this scheme collect products for sale in international market. 

The scheme also involves buying farmers products right from the farm,so the farmer tends its products carefully to attain specified standards.

This scheme will regulate products in the market because only those that meet required specification are purchased.

LIVER ABSCESS.

INVESTING IN POULTRY VALUE CHAIN.

Production overview of the poultry-value chain. The value chain encompasses the following poultry species; cockerel, layers , turkeys and broilers. The emphasis of this project is on intensive broiler production because of the rapid return on investment. The advantages of this venture are as follows; 1) Production span is 42-days. 2) Low capital investment. 3) Large market. 4) High turn-over of investment. The broiler production is a profitable venture that is not labour intensive; also the cost of medication is limited because of the length of production. This is also an added advantage as it will further reduce overhead costs and the benefits of this venture are tapped faster than in other poultry species. The processing aspect will involve machines that work at high capacity to process birds in large numbers within a short time. The venture will also promote partnership with other producers, who can use the facility at a fee. This will also be another point of wealth generation, as the cost of the machines will be recovered within a short time. Investors in this value-chain have the rapid return on investment as an advantage because financial institutions have short-term loans that will benefit them.

I-CONNECT-AGRICULTURE®.

Telecommunication as a tool for global food security. Farmers,producers,vets,animal health specialists.Banks,insurance companies, network providers are all important to every aspect of the agricultural value chain.... join the train. sign up and expand your borders. I-PHONE-FARMERS-INITIATIVE®....bringing benefits of agric to your door step.

EDUCATING FARMERS.!!!

Farming is a major force that drives the economy, and the higher the number of people involved the better for the economy. The agricultural business though very lucrative many players are still in the dark about various aspects of production and better methods of production. Farmers basically need to update their knowledge so they can harness several opportunities,exposure to new drugs and techniques. The farmer needs to learn about management polices,insurance,latest products and vaccination methods,a lot of farmers really operate out of old ideas that cant solve today's challenges,hence there is a need for constant interaction between the service providers and the farmers; animal health care product manufacturers,technical officers,vets,banks and insurance companies. The interactive forum is to expose to modern ways of animal husbandry and how to make more money,in line with this a farmers bazaar is been organized; venue....Ajah vet center,Ajah Lagos. time...10 am date...27/8/15 topic....agric insurance, access to agric facilities, benefits of registration and how to make more money from your venture. There will be demonstration from banks,insurance company,manufacturers of animal health products,disinfectants and protective clothing. come ,learn and be more protective.