Introduction:
This piece addresses the younger generation of Nigerians, urges them to rise up and do the needful.
Dear younger generation of Nigerians, I have been following and monitoring you for a while. My self-imposed mandate as a business Coach, entrepreneurship development activist and vanguard for job creation (not a motivational speaker) is raising at least 3000 entrepreneurs in Nigeria between 2020 and 2050. This task has placed some demands on me, and one of it is to follow, monitor and identify the growing trends among the most active population in the Nigerian economy (you, the younger generation).
Interestingly, I have observed like many other Nigerians, I guess, a sudden rise then, but later a consistent jumping and galloping figure, a sort of surge, in the number of Nigerians, particularly the young ones becoming sportsmen and women, and many others having special liking for sports, in particular football. This development has been on and still witnessing continuous rise, interestingly, at both the urban and rural areas.
From my continuous interfaces, genuine relationship and regular interactions with you the younger generation of the abundantly blessed country, Nigeria, I know of a fact that you have a passion for football and other sports. But I dare to ask, have you ever considered diversifying your interests and investing in agriculture the type of time, energy and other resources that you regularly, consistently and continuously expend in football/football related and some other sports?
Agriculture may not have the same fanfare and glamour as sports, but it offers an untapped potential for growth and opportunities in the emerging Nigeria.
Moving forward in this piece or report, we will specifically explore the various opportunities available in agriculture and the value chains, and how you can embrace them to widen your opportunities during your active years.
Opportunities in Agriculture:
Nigeria is blessed with vast arable land, fertile soil and favorable climate for agriculture. Agriculture contributes significantly to the GDP of many African countries, and there are various opportunities available in the agricultural value chains. These include:
1. Farming: You can invest in crop farming, livestock farming or aquaculture. These offer opportunities for value addition through processing, packaging and marketing.
2. Agro-processing: You can invest in agro-processing by adding value to crops, livestock and fish. This includes processing, packaging and marketing of food products such as flour, oil and canned food.
3. Logistics and transportation: You can invest in logistics and transportation by providing services such as linkage or referral services on warehousing, transportation and distribution of agricultural products. Your increasingly growing knowledge, understanding and awareness of both the internet and social media, and the experience that the android offers provides you with vast opportunity in this regard.
4. Marketing and distribution: You can invest in marketing and distribution by creating a brand for either your own or other people's products and distributing them to retailers and consumers. The role, as in the above that the android phone and other tools, already noted in the paragraph above will play in this regard are too enticing to contemplate missing by anyone.
Opportunities in Rural Areas:
Rural areas offer unique opportunities in agriculture, especially in the production of crops such as maize, beans, guinea corn, millets, potatoes, groundnuts, cassava, onions, ginger, pepper, yam, etc. Some of these crops can be processed into various food products such as flour, starch and chips and others as additives. There is also the potential for livestock farming, especially in areas with favorable grazing land. In addition, rural areas offer opportunities for agro-forestry, beekeeping and fish farming.
Opportunities in Urban Centers:
Urban centers offer opportunities in agro-processing, logistics, marketing and distribution. You can set up a processing plant for food products such as flour, oil and canned food. You can also provide logistics and transportation services for the distribution of agricultural products to retailers and consumers. In addition, you can create a brand for your products and distribute them to retailers and consumers.
Conclusion:
Agriculture offers untapped potential for growth and opportunities in Nigeria. As young sportsmen and women, and keen followers of your choice sports, you can diversify your interests and invest in agriculture to widen your opportunities during your active years. There are various opportunities available in the agricultural value chains, and you can embrace them to create a sustainable future for yourself and your community. Whether you are in a rural area or an urban center, there is a place for you in agriculture.
We implore you to follow us keenly on this platform, especially on emerging issues in agriculture and agriculture related activities and opportunities, as we position to throw up opportunities in the Agric Corner. A typical one in this regard is what we have scratched a little in our previous publications, the Jah Put Ah Hand Project in Nigeria which covers the 36 states, the 774 local government areas and their wards in the Country. The opportunities coming up through the Jah Put Ah Hand Project are huge, but demand hardwork, resilience and knowledge seeking, which involves both paid and free teaching. So, prepare to take the leap and embrace agriculture, moving forward!
Nnabugwu Chizoba
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