RE: Giving to elevate or meet an end? Possible kind gestures
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Thank you very much and I wish your wife a quick recovery.
I cannot agree with you less about agriculture and being the bedrock of every society. Not too long ago, the ex president of Nigeria encouraged us to grow what we eat. The challenge was insecurity. The urban dwellers cannot do that, traveling for distance to get lands for farms?
The rural farmers constantly have the herdsmen to scuffle with. The herdsmen believe their cattles should graze and they move about with cutlasses ready to start a fight. There's a saying that "Fulani never forgives and never forget" And a belief that they value their cattle more than human lives. This has been the major contender of Agriculture in Nigeria.
That I is followed by uncoordinated bush burning by hunters. I've managed a hypertensive man that lost his farm to bush burning after he committed hugge capital from his pension into agriculture.
Thirdly is stealing. People steal food crops in Nigeria. Two years ago, the workers contracted to help harvest my corn that were casual staff of the hospital (paid by hospital internally generated revenue) were caught on camera stealing the farm produce we paid them to help us harvest. Stealing can be from people you know or those that may just be waiting for you to harvest.
This is the reality picture. I am getting or trying to secure some lands for next year agriculture where the location has little known encroachment. Hopefully I can do something tangible this coming year.
Once again, thank you for giving me a vivid picture of life over there. You're my very first friend over there that communicates well and glad that we have ideas to share. Do have a great day sir
If I may ask a couple questions.
First: The hunters who burn the crops. What is it that they typically hunt? Second, the herdsman who love their cattle, can I assume you mean cows or is it something else like a buffalo or other grazing animal? As for theft that is to be expected at least to some degree. If people are starving and see food in front of them it is hard to say no to.
Also. I've been told that you are the person "in the know" about renting and buying land. @monica-ene mentioned that farmland in/near Ilorin is roughly 2M Naira. Ideas on if that is correct? Size of land for that price? Extra fees involved in procuring the land?
Are the herdsmen and hunters reasonable people? Can they be reasoned with if you wan make a Win-Win for them? (more prey for the hunters, more food for the cattle?)
Just getting ideas :)
Thanks
Oh... The cattle here refers to cows. The hunters hunt for animals like grass cutter and other rodents.
Thefts not because they're hungry, majorly because it's their lifestyle and it's rampant especially in rural areas. Where I had my farm two years ago was 2 hours away though I had someone on ground whom I partnered with (he was not a locale), a male nurse but, i was pre-warned and we experienced it eventually.
Can a truce be met?
Possibly?
My intention is to secure farmlands that are not a far drive from the city I live in. I can spare time to check on the progress regularly and, the truce can come from a known society where the chieftains have a good understanding with the herdsmen (hopefully hide under them). That was what prompted me to talk about perimeter fencing, it does not have to be a major fence, just something as a barricade to show territoriality.
Cost of farmlands?
It varies, saw recently an acre for N1.6 million naira. Of course this is excluding legal paper works which charges 10%. The farther one goes from the city, the cheaper the lands but the less likely one will be encouraged to visit often. I will make further enquiries this week God's willing to have price variations and distances from the city.
I think I wrote a post on leasing or buying farmlands a whole ago. I'll search out the post.
@monica-ene is a great friend and my onboarder, the best gift she gave me was introducing me to Hive.
https://peakd.com/hive-114308/@jjmusa2004/factors-and-cost-of-farm-locations-leasing-and-procurement
In Canada cattle indeed refers to cows also. However in the Philippines my father-in-law raises 80+ cows and some water buffalo. He refers to all of them as cattle. Just wanted to make sure I'm talking the same language :)
Thanks for telling me about Grass Cutter Rats (aka Cane rats). I had never heard of them before and the thought of RAT=FOOD would be seriously odd here in Canada. Squirrels as bushmeat, sure but rats are a no go :) Then again a quick read on grass cutter rats shows they could be a decent food supply and I understand why hunters would go after them.
Final thought as you seem business minded. Have you ever looked into incorporation costs and running a business as a corporation in Nigeria? I see you are looking to do farming as a business, if you incorporated perhaps you could get some foreign capital ;)
Thank you very much, I actually did, got a business name, tried to push for grants in 2020 and met with a deadlock. I don't mind sharing the business plan with you off hive, maybe discord for you to see the details even though inflation would have influenced the variables therein.
Another business people do here is to buy foodstuff in sacks when they're cheap and store them for subsequent resell when the prices hike.
Yes, buying things in bulk and reselling for profit either now or later can be a good business idea. Whether it is cellular data or dried soy beans as long as their is a cheaper bulk price and a higher resale price there is money to be made.
However, the true benefit to the community and country at large is for there to be primary production. Where the land or people's talent turn something of no value (dirt) into something valuable (food, oil, or cotton/fiber) then into something more valuable (meals/clothing/fuel) and if you can export the high value product then you bring more cash into the society.
I'm far more interested in ground roots (literally) then business of buy and markup. I'd love to chat with you offline, monica has my Discord. However, wait a day or two until I can put my "dream goal" into a post so you can get an idea of where I'd ideally love to go and what I'm willing to put my money on :)
Have a great day and thanks for the reply
Alright, thank you very much, wish your wife quick recuperation also
She has the flu but its day 5 so she is on the mend. The next question how long until I have it (sigh) hate contagious diseases when they enter the house.
Perhaps the weather, it'll take its course, flu is common now that we are in harmattan here in Nigeria also. Stay safe sir