JOHN OBA, in this piece looks at the viability of vegetable farming in Nigeria
In the recent time vegetable farming has become one of the most viable agro-business, while polyhouse cultivation of vegetables is emerging as a specialized production technology to overcome biotic and abiotic stresses and to break the seasonal barrier to production. It also ensures round the year production of high-value vegetables. Nearly all vegetable farming processes are mechanized especially in western countries, and specialist farmers tend to cultivate the vegetables and crops that are genetically disposed to doing well in their environment.
Increasing demand It may appear unbelievable but so amazing that fresh fruits and vegetable production is one of the most lucrative agribusiness in the country. Aside, its massive local consumption by almost 200 million local market which is still growing, it has remained a stable export agricultural commodity. The demand for fresh fruits and vegetables is huge but the supply appeared short, thus the need for more involvement in agri-food production and exports from Nigeria. According to experts, it has largely contributed to the nation’s non-oil export volume recorded at an impressive growth of $260 million. Rural farmers are taking advantage of this to increase production and maximise profits.
Luckily, it can be consumed any time of the year. Due to its varieties, there is always consumer choice to select whichever is desired either for cooking or raw intake. Baiscally, vegetable farming is the growing of vegetables for the purpose of consumption or usage for other traditional or medical purposes. Its cultivation is a practice that began years back which still remains very relevant in today’s agricultural practice. It could be planted all year round.
As it is, there are vegetable types such as Ugwu, Tete, Bitter leave, Efo, Ewedu among others. There are also leaf vegetables, root vegetables, fruit vegetable, pod vegetables, seed vegetables, flower vegetables and bud vegetables. While some are good for exports, others are mostly locally consumed.
For beginners In the case of tomatoes, it is a must for every Nigerian table. Tomatoes cultivation can be an amazing source of income with a ready made market. It takes about six months for growing tomatoes.
They require a minimum of 8 hours of continuous sunlight each day, and 3 to 4 months of warm, clear, fairly dry weather to produce best. In terms of capital, it is relatively cheap to farm. Moreover, the start-up capital required to grow the vegetables may also depend on the scale of operations envisaged by the farmer.
To begin cultivation of vegetables on a piece of land of between one and two hectares of land, experts put the startup capital at between N50,000 and N70,000. Often time, this includes payment for seedlings, pesticides, manure and labour. But in order to boost production and develop the agricultural sector, the federal government requested the World Bank support for its Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), a project adopted in 2011 to improve value chain of prioritized agricultural commodities inclusive of tomatoes. The intervention presented an opportunity to the World Bank to increase its development impact in the country’s agricultural sector.
Facilitating the process To complement the project, the World Bank Fadama III Project, led to Fadama III additional fi nancing (Fadama III AF). In pursuance of this and upon request of the federal government, a $200 million was approved in June, 2013 as Additional Financing to the Fadama III Project. The Project is expected to close by December 31, 2019. Among others, the intention is to ramp up production of Tomatoes and other selected produce in such a way that the large producer will be linked to processors to off -take the produce averting any form of wastage or loss to farmers.
In addition, the objective is mainly to scale-up impacts made under Fadama III and support clusters of farmers in six selected states with comparative advantage and high potential to increase production and productivity of horticulture value chains and link them to organized markets including the Staple Crops Processing Zones (SCPZs) when established. It also facilitated linkages between federation of producers and existing processors.
Some of the participating States are Kogi, Anambra, Enugu, Niger, Kano and Lagos. Other states that expressed interest and met the criteria to participate in Fadama III AF includes Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo, FCT, Adamawa, Bauchi, Ogun, Kebbi, Sokoto, Taraba, Jigawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Ebonyi, Cross River, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara and Akwa Ibom). The last six additional states such as CrossRiver, Zamfara, Katsina, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa were included to support the production of Cassava, Sorghum, Tomato and Rice value chains. At the time of fi ling this reporting, the project is being implemented in thirty one (31) states divided into Six Core States comprising: Anambra, Enugu (South Eastern Zone), Kano (North West Zone), Kogi and Niger States (North Central Zone) and Lagos (South Western Zone) of Nigeria. However, the other twenty-six (26) States are production Cluster States from all the six geopolitical zones of the country based on expression of interest by Governor of each participating States.
Building farmers capacity Among others, each state was required to embark on Group Mobilization and Formation. They mobilized benefitting farmers and provided capacity building and support to them to enable them prepare a business plan according to their choice of value chain.
They sensitized and train the farmers ‘groups to implement their activities, integrate community plans to enhance sustainability and improve good governance. In addition, they linked the farmers to Agro- dealers, and processing firms to expand their economic opportunities; and the sub-component to scale –up activities and support gender and youth empowerment through inclusive targeting. In total, 3187 Production Clusters and 22,300 Production Groups were registered across the four value chains in the project. As a result, it led to the an improvement in the linkage of farmers to creditable off -takers who mop-up farmers produce at a pre-determined price. As at the time of this report, 620 PCs had been linked to 78 off -takers with signed MoU In some States.
The agreed price was re-negotiated at the point of sale of the vegetables while in some they have agreed that off – takers will buy at the prevailing market price.
Vegetables and their nutrient contents It is worthy of note that vegetables have their different benefi ts and nutrients, as well as some common features. For instance, a vegetable, irrespective of type, has strong colouring containing vitamins. Green in vegetables indicates Vitamin B9, C or Pro-Vitamin A while Red or orange in signals Pro-Vitamin A. Aside these, there are other nutritional benefits in leaf vegetables such as cabbage, chard, lettuce, spinach, sorrel are usually low in energy and rich in Vitamin B9. They usually contain high levels of Pro-Vitamin A and as Vitamin C. Root vegetables such as radishes, beet, carrot etc. usually have few calories. Instead they have much fibre, and some contain high levels of Pro-Vitamin A.
The seed vegetables such as flageolet beans are higher in calories (60-90 kcal/100 g). They are also very high in fibre, iron and magnesium. Pod vegetables such as wax beans, mange-tout, green beans, runner beans, peas and fruit vegetables are low in calories. They supply fi bre, Vitamin B9 and Vitamin C. Flower vegetables and bud vegetables such as artichokes, broccoli, cauliflower etc. are low in calories but high in fi bre. Other vegetables mostly grown are Okra, Arugula, Onion, Asparagus, Carrot, Green, Purple, White Plantain, Bell Pepper, Avocado, Tomato, Bamboo Shoots, Beans, Cabbage Green, Red, Savoy, Broccoli, Calabash, Capers, Eggplant, Spinach, Mushrooms, Green Onions, Parsley etc.
Business consideration Considering the facts that most vegetables are perishable, the farmers mostly develop suitable markets for the produce, even before cultivation. More so, strong middlemen are involved in the delivery process to ensure the produce get to the selling point. Topography such as contour, soil depth, water and air drainage, and, the presence of rock out cropping and soil type are mostly considered before planting. The vegetables usually need more water than most other agronomic crops do, and this is a factor usually considered during site selection. For instance, as busy as Lagos metropolis, over 30 different types of vegetables are farmed commercially. These vegetable farms are usually situated in residential backyards or open space areas along roads, streams or in open fields. In other major cities around the country, as well as rural areas, there are scores of different vegetables that are commercially produced for profit making purposes.
Challenges Slight challenges that often arise in uncoordinated tomato farming is vegetable glut, a condition in which the harvest of many farmers mature and are brought to the market at the same time. This occurs once in a while and drives down the price of vegetables considerably. And since they are quickly perishable, a farmer at this time has to sell at whatever price he can get in order to avoid total loss.
A major challenge of the vegetable farming profession is closely tied to the first. Preservation is a major problem. One way to avoid glut is preservation in order for vegetables to last longer. But the truth is, the country is still struggling with the preservation problem, leading to excess and then waste in glut periods, as well as scarcity. So it is often advisable to sell beyond the farm. Vegetable vendors can make up to three times more than actual vegetable farmers; therefore gaining direct access to consumers is a good way to increase profits. Major supermarkets, restaurants, and caterers could also serve as sales point through direct purchase from farmers to reduce costs and guaranteed freshness.
