Smart and business-conscious people and investors in and outside the country have been advised to tap into the various opportunities available in the agricultural space.
Adebowale Onafowora, Founder and Managing Director of BIC Farms made the call in an interview with Daily Independent, stressing that this is the time that more people should sit down and put serious investment into farming.
He said that the year comes with a lot of hope, if things continue the way it is.
“It is no longer that time that you borrow money, sell property, raise funds to put into production and when you now have the product you can’t sell it at that good amount that will guarantee your return.
I think with what we have seen in 2024, the year 2025 should be a good year where people should be sure that whatever you put into agriculture you can get it back.
“You don’t need grants, you don’t really need somebody to give you what you don’t have, if you bring in your hard earned money, your hard earned investment into farming in 2025, I can say my prediction is you will make back your money.”
He lamented that the country is still not producing the right things needed to make the nation food secure.
“We are still not producing the right things, we are still not producing enough maize, we are not even growing wheat, we have not started; government said that they are opening several thousands of hectares for this, but I have not really seen the effect, so I will advise investors, those who have capacity in that field to go into it and produce, you will be sure to make money out of it.
“Grow maize, grow soya, grow wheat, produce cassava, you will make your money, grow tomatoes, peppers, onions. Imagine a bag of onions selling for over N300, 000. It has never been like that before, what has made some of these commodities or vegetables or crops not too okay to produce is because of the return on them; but the returns are looking like it’s very pretty good now.
“So I advise people to quickly rush it, go into production, it is time to produce it is time to hit the farm. I see a lot of opportunities for everybody.
Onafowora, pointed out that his farm will expand its operations and move into areas that it has not spread into this year and that he believed this year will be better than last year.
He said that the government has opened up a huge opportunity for livestock development.
“I advised people to quickly position themselves in this industry so that you can take your own part, like we are opening up pastures development, we have a special technology to grow alfalfa and some perennial grass that you just need to grow and consistently you will be harvesting it every month.
“We have capacity, we are spreading the cost of Azolla, which is an alternative to protein source for livestock and everybody can produce in the waste land they have and all that, we are quickly taking positions in all of these areas .
“I see 2025 as a big year of opportunity and I encourage young people to open their eyes and not to follow propaganda. Value does not beg, I am a real product, stop waiting for handout, produce something; you will make the money, solve a real problem that exists in the industry and I think you will smile again at the end of the year 2025,” he added.
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