Agricultural reality show helps farmers talk to scientists

“Our model is and edutainment model. Entertain, meet information needs … build big audiences.” And big audiences can drive sustainability. So said David Campbell of The Mediae Company at a presentation Bringing Science to Life: CCAFS and Shamba Shape-Up, hosted by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) this Wednesday.
Mediae produces the popular TV show Shamba Shape-Up, a “make-over” style reality show for rural and peri-urban audiences that reaches over 10 million farmers in East Africa and gets double the audience of major Kenyan TV stations like KBC, KTN and NTV at primetime.
The show is changing the way people get their agricultural information. Research shows that Shamba Shape-Up viewers have greater understanding about agricultural topics than non-viewers – from composting, to nitrogen-fixing plants, to the benefits of silage.
At least 36 percent of Shamba Shape-Up viewers have changed their farming practices as a result of the show – including choosing different seed varieties, intercropping maize and beans and storing maize.

David Campbell of the Mediae Company. An innovative collaboration between researchers and the makers of the hit television show ‘Shamba Shape-Up’ connects farmers with knowledge on sustainable agriculture.

“We’re basically offering [the development sector] a pipeline – very large numbers of people on a regular basis, not just a one-off documentary,” said Campbell, a media specialist and recognized leader in development communications. “People know where [the show] is, they’re coming to it, they’re listening to it, the numbers are building.”
TV, which according to Campbell, might cost a Kenyan family “a really good goat”, is a crucial and growing source for outside information. And surprisingly, Mediae’s audience isn’t restricted to families with “two cars and a washing machine” – it’s predominantly rural.
But its Mediae’s use of mobile technology that’s really revolutionizing knowledge sharing, by putting farmers on the phone with scientists. Farmers can submit questions via SMS and Mediae connects them with experts at organizations like CCAFS or CARE International who offer answers. Over 170,000 farmers have already tapped into the service and those numbers are growing.
One of the company’s goals is to use mobile technology to form farmer groups. “The objective is to connect [farmers] with new potato seed varieties,” said Campbell. Mediae can learn how many people want particular seed potato varieties and put partner organizations directly in touch with the farmers.
Mediae has also built a knowledge-sharing platform, called the Africa Knowledge Zone. Campbell’s aim is to use the platform to connect millions of farmers to a range of research and development organizations.
So how does Mediae ensure that Shamba Shape-Up is not just a source of entertainment but can be translated into something beneficial by rural farmers? “We show the products…and explain their advantages via numbers, either very simply or with a full calculation,” he said. “We look for women farmers and try to address issues where women can earn more money and draw them into the program.” If neighbours and friends are making changes, he explains, the information also has a better chance of reaching the poor.
Bruce Campbell, director of CCAFS, who attended the event, asked how Mediae goes about extracting useful information from scientists.
The response was that the real challenge is not just getting a scientist to explain a subject in simple terms – it’s bringing research organizations on board in the first place. “The first step is actually getting research organizations to think seriously about talking to farmers. Without that, there’ll be no progress.”
CCAFS is already collaborating with Mediae to raise awareness about Climate Smart Agriculture – helping farmers adapt and become more resilient to climate change.
Patti Kristjanson, CCAFS Theme Leader on Linking Knowledge to Action is optimistic that the approach will grow and build. “This is an incredibly innovative way of using technologies to get research information to those who need it most – the farmers. This is what brings our science to life.”

Corporate Farmers Tv Reality Show - Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation

 

Akin Alabi, Prince Ade Ajayi are young Nigerian Agropreneurs, inspired by food policies  adopted by H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo’s governments during his time as leader of Nigeria and the resurgence of interest in Agri-business. With collaboration with professional in the Agric Researh, Media and Agric Extension professionals has come up with a unique concept to motivate more African Youth to venture into the Agro-Business arena via “Agrotainment

As economic development in the African context has moved to secondary and service industries in recent years, the Abandonment of rural enterprise in Nigeria and other parts of Africa is growing by the day. Factors which make the young and old migrate from rural to Urban settings include Overpopulation, loss of interest in Agriculture, climate change (including drought and failed rains), poverty and insecurity.

 Corporate Farmers Tv Reality Show is the first to be developed in Africa as an “Agrotainment” platform whose mission is to lure the Youth back to the farm and bring passion for economic empowerment through agribusiness.

The inspiration for this project is in no small part to celebrate the living legend farmer, the only Agbeloba of our generation Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. It is our hope that the participants in the show will emulate Baba’s passion for agriculture. The concept was born to bridge the need to improve the Agriculture sector in the country in which both the Federal Government and State governments appear to be pursuing with dexterity, the growth of Agriculture through the AgricultureTransformation A g e n d a (ATA)·an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development under the ministerial leadership of the former Minister of Agriculture Dr Akinwunmi Adesina.

How it will work:

40 various youths in groups of 5 to 8 will be selected to live in the “Farm House” 3 months.

What will they do

 The project is scheduled to run for a period of one year broken down into 3 sections

First : registration, selection and Auditioning of contestants to choose the 40 young Farmers that will enter the farm house

Second Quarter: 40 contestants enters the farm house for a  period of 3 months to do Agriculture in another dimension via our Agricultural Technical team from IITA , Agricultural Society of Nigeria.  After which 5 will be selected as winner for the Corporate Farmers TV Reality show season 1.

Third Quarter: This period is the time to celebrate Agriculture in Nigeria and Africa through the first Nigeria Agrotainment Award to celebrate Farmers, youth, and Federal states who have contributed to the resurgence of Agriculture.

This proposed project is already supported by IITA and ASON while we seek other interested partners.

Kindly follow any of our social media links for more info

Blogspot: www.corporatefarmers.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/corporatefarmers

Website: www.CFTVafrica.yolasite.com

Twitter: @corporatefarmerstv

Top 10 Lucrative Farming in Nigeria

1. Rice Farming – Nigeria has one of the world’s highest Rice consumption stat. Rice is by far one of the most popular staple food among Nigerians, almost every family eats rice daily in Nigeria. In 2011 alone, Nigeria spent N991 Billion on Rice importation and the rice we import is said to be nothing less than 10 years old in storage. That means we spends billions buying Rice that has since lost it’s nutritional values.

Any entrepreneur in Nigeria who goes into Rice Farming and get it right is sure to be smiling to the bank. A bag of Rice is currently sold for N8,000 to N10,000 depending on the quality. A farmer who is able to invest in large scale Rice Farming in Nigeria and produced 100,000 Bags of processed Rice in a year, sell at wholesale price of about N7,000 per bag, he will be making 7,000 x 100,000 = N700,000,000 ($5.5 Million)

You can achieve the above figures conveniently with less than Two hundred million Naira ($1.3 Million) capital investment! I’m currently looking for who to partner with in this. If you have the cash, I have the logistics and good plannings to achieve that. Serious investors only!

2. Cassava Farming -The popularity of cassava as the major source of food for Nigerians dates back to ages. Between Garri and Rice, it’s hard to tell which one is the most popular as both are the most consumed food staples among the citizens — I think if one is the King the other should be the Queen.


A bag of Garri costs almost the same as a bag of rice, and apart from garri, there are tens of other food stuffs that are processed from Cassava in Nigeria. The introduction of the high yield species of Cassava has made it possible for Nigerian Cassava Farmers to produce more Cassava per plot. Nearly every land in Nigeria is good for growing Cassava and 1 Acre, when properly planted and managed can produce Thousands of Naira worth of Cassava in a year!

3. Plantain Plantation – One thing I like about Plantain is that when planted once, it keeps producing year in year out for eternity. Like Rice and Garri, Plantain is widely consumed in Nigeria and you know — any food that is popular in Nigeria is always a huge income earner due to the population of the country.


I really haven’t seen Farmers in Nigeria taking advantage of the opportunity in Plantain Farming to create wealth for themselves. Plantain is highly priced in Nigeria and is always in high demand all year round. Fry it, Boil it, Roast it — it will never get angry with you, that’s how liberal Plantain is. I can tell you, Millions of Naira is currently lying fallow untapped in this sector of Farming in Nigeria.

4. Poultry Farming – Everyone knows how ‘Cashy’ this one is, it doesn’t need much introduction and yet it’s still not fully tapped. What we currently have are few badly managed, scantily equipped poultry farms here and there. I’m yet to see a full fledged, high tech Poultry Farm as it is in The USA and Europe except Obasanjo’s Farm which I don’t think is currently in serious business.

Any serious entrepreneur who is able to fire this up will have huge profit to contend with. The reason is because Nigerians eat chicken more than snakes do and 70% of our consumption still based on importation. The egg is yet another goldmine!

5. Pineapple Farming – Money is sweet, everything sweet is money, and Pineapple is sweet. Ask any Australian Farmer and he will tell you how huge the income in Pineapple Farming is in their country. Any juice maker that doesn’t have Pineapple flavor variety in his product line is not yet in business. That tells you how popular Pineapple is, not only in Nigeria but Worldwide.

Nigeria seems to have better soil for Pineapple Farming than Australia where Farmers are making it big in the business. A Pineapple sells in Mile-12 market in Lagos for about N200 — If you are able to harvest one million in a year, you will earn least N80 x 1,000,000 = N80,000,000

6. Beans Farming – A bag of Beans costs twice more than a bag of Rice and garri the Northern Nigerians are making it big in Beans Farming, supplying almost all over Nigeria and beyond. But one thing is that, this same Beans also can do very well in the South East, South West, and South South Nigeria soils. So why only the North?

7. Catfish Farming – Catfish Business is really hyping in Nigeria right now but how many are really getting it right? Get it right and you’re in money. A single Catfish sells for N700 in Restaurants and about N400 in open market.

8. Goat Rearing – It’s only in the North that goat is reared in commercial quantity. I don’t know why we are so looking down on Farming Investment in the South even though there are millions to be made in this business. Why would you chose to sell used shoes in Oshodi and make few thousands of Naira yearly than to engage in productive Farm Business and make millions of Naira?

In The USA and Australia, Farmers are among the Richest people – Get involved in professional goat rearing and make money for yourself. A full grown goat sells for between N15,000 to N40,000

9. Snail Farming – I see Snail Farming really picking up in Nigeria very soon — but if you don’t hurry up, others would have made the money before you realize what you are missing.  The potential in this business for you is about N50,000,000 Annual revenue.


10. Maize Farming – You never know the profit in Maize Farming in Nigeria until you try it, and one thing I like about it is that everything happens fast. It takes less than Four months between planting and harvesting.


Stand up. Get involved in any of these Farming and you will never regret it. Drop us a comment if you are in support of Farming Business in Nigeria!

Publication by Darlinton Omeh

Farming Investment in Nigeria

Farming in Nigeria has taken a dramatic turn to better directions in recent years, creating jobs and opportunities for Entrepreneurs who dare to go into farming Business. Millionaires are currently being made every year through Farming in Nigeria and there is no end to the prospects of creating more and more wealth through farming in the coming years.

There are good reasons why farming in Nigeria is currently doing very well and understanding these reasons will help any serious entrepreneur (no matter where he comes from) to think seriously about setting up Farm in Nigeria. (1) There is no any other African country where Farming is as viable as it should be in Nigeria in terms of productivity and profitability. (2) There is no other country where farmers are more advantaged as they are in Nigeria as regards demands — take a look at my top five reasons you need to start Farming in Nigeria now.

 Nigeria has a huge population of over 150 Million people, twice more than the populations of Zimbabwe and South Africa combined. The entire population of Nigeria depends on staple foods produced from farms and other farm produces for their daily meals and sustenance — and more than 80 percent of Nigerians buy their Farm Produce from the market.

(2) Nigeria has very large expanses of fertile farmlands laying fallow for nothing. Nigeria Land area when measured in sq km is about 910,770. The Land area of any country is the country’s total area, excluding areas that are considered to be water bodies. So, Nigeria has one of the biggest expanse of Land in Africa of which 70 percent is available for Farming.

(3) Nigerian Government is seriously turning it’s attention to promoting Farming in Nigeria to help boost food productions in the country and minimize foods importation. The government is willing to assist any would be Farming entrepreneur/investors with the necessary supports and logistics.

(4) Nigerians have very high purchasing power, far more than any other indigenous Africans — we buy things here and we pay cash! Talk about parties, Nigeria is the most merriment people on earth — the foods used for parties and merriment in Nigeria yearly can feed four other African countries.

(5) By the time Nigeria attain it’s full capacity utilization is agriculture, Farming in Nigeria will become great foreign currency earner more than as it already is. The implication is that Nigerian Farmers will be able to earn in Naira and in Dollars as well as Euros and Pound Sterling.

The prospect for Farming in Nigeria is so high that only a fool will ignore it. Having said that, let’s take a closer look at some of the types of Farming that does very well in Nigeria.

Place your ADVERTS here and make the world come to you!

Need to make more money in your PRODUCT or BUSINESS why not

Place your ADVERTS here and make the world come to you!

Contact: Akin

Email: corporatefarmersnigeria@gmail.com

Phone: 2348029110482

You will be glad you did!!

Place your ADVERTS here and make the world come to you!

Need to make more money in your PRODUCT or BUSINESS why not

Place your ADVERTS here and make the world come to you!

Contact: Akin

Email: corporatefarmersnigeria@gmail.com

Phone: 2348029110482 
You will be glad you did!

Financing Agricultural Growth In Africa

After years of neglect, banks, private equity funds and microfinance institutions are bringing capital to African agriculture
Africa’s agriculture sector has struggled to access the financing it needs for sustained growth. In part, a perceived combination of high risk and modest returns – as well as the costs of extending traditional banking infrastructures in rural areas – has deterred many banks and financial institutions.
“There can be failures in critical infrastructure such as inadequate cold storage facilities, unexpected disruptions in commodities trading, lack of adequate feeder roads to production areas, inadequate dry storage facilities, and congested ports prohibiting the export or import of products on time,” says Chomba Sindazi, director of Standard Chartered’s solutions structuring team for Africa. “And there can also be delays in the supply of critical inputs such as fertilisers, seed and fuel because of difficulties in getting goods to market. This is a particular problem in landlocked countries where it can sometimes take as long as four months to get the inputs to the required areas.”
Without tackling these constraints, and their knock-on effect on lending, talk of Africa’s green revolution is premature. But solutions are emerging at last, as banks, NGOs, micro-lenders, governments and investment funds make inroads into the continent, bringing much-needed capital to bear.
For large banks, Africa’s rural sector was long seen as a problem. Just 10 percent of Africans with only primary-level education – which is the majority of those in rural agriculture – have a bank account, rising to 55 percent for those with a post-secondary qualification. But rather than writing off this population, forward-thinking banks have sought to find new vocabularies to speak to them. Togo-based Ecobank has proven popular for its simplified language and procedures, which are more accessible to a wider range of customers than global banks.
Standard Bank, which has operations in nearly 70 countries worldwide, has also reviewed processes to suit the kinds of financial information more commonly found in the informal and small-scale sector. It has also broadened its range of services to include technical expertise for lendees. The combination of lending and advisory services is critical, helping the bank protect its portfolio, and helping customers gain credit and repayment track records.
Standard Chartered shows the same trend. Instead of looking to traditional collateral, Standard Chartered uses the value of the commodity being financed as collateral for input financing – as opposed to conventional mechanisms where collateral is secured through physical assets and balance sheets. According to Mr Chomba: “Risks associated with the cultivation of a range of soft commodities are mitigated through a customised multi-peril insurance policy, and operational issues are addressed through physical inspection and regular reporting by a team of independent specialised contract managers and insurance companies.”
The arrival of major banks bodes well for the efficiency of the sector overall. “Banks are interested in investing in businesses and entrepreneurs that are going to make money and are going to pay them back – either interest or return on some form of an equity. As businesses that are profitable come into the agricultural value chains, that is going to bring in the financing that will support those businesses,” says Gary Toenniessen, managing director at The Rockefeller Foundation.
Taking equity
Equity financing provides an interesting – and fast-growing – source of capital. According to the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association, total private equity capital raised for sub-Saharan Africa in 2012 was $1.4bn. Agribusiness is proving one of the primary draws. The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private equity firms, made its first Africa play late last year, as part of a consortium that included Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Fund and Standard Chartered Private Equity.
The fund invested $210m in the Export Trading Group (ETG), a Tanzanian agribusiness with interests in 29 African countries. ETG, which manages both intra-African and global supply chains and has more than 7,000 employees, says the investment will enhance its ability to connect African smallholder farmers with consumers around the world. The capital will expand the company’s geographical reach while adding to the quantity and variety of products – which currently includes commodities ranging from sesame seeds and cashews, to rice and fertiliser.
Private equity can bring broader structural changes too. A part of the Carlyle consortium investment will go towards building infrastructure to allow processing to take place in east Africa. “Typically the margins in processing are much greater than they are in pure acquisition and distribution, so part of the capital will be used to put up processing facilities around the continent,” says Marlon Chigwende, managing director and co-head of the sub-Saharan Africa buyout advisory team at Carlyle Africa.
Other PE funds and investment actors are also showing a strong interest in African agribusiness. Phatisa’s African Agriculture Fund, which focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises, signed its first deal in 2012, backing Cameroon’s West End Farms. The same year, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners and Capitalworks bought out South Africa’s Rhodes Food Group.