Mix Of Crop, Livestock Agribusiness Opportunities Opens
…As YABDI Trains Agropreneurs
The reading of the beat of the nation’s economic pulse is steadily tending to agribusiness, not with the cascading price drop and discovery of oil in different places. Diversification, in real and practical terms especially from private sector organisations and individuals, remains key to lifting Nigeria up economically.
On the plank of this scenario, Mr. Sola Adeniyi, Chief Executive Officer, Natural Nutrients Limited and promoter of agricultural entrepreneur training arm, YABDI, is embarking on raising a new crop of agropreneurs. Participants at the event, which will hold at Iganmu’s Apex Mill Building on Independence Day, will be drawn from all walks of life.
Adeniyi said for this to be a reality in today’s Nigeria, where the much-desired white collar jobs are out of reach, there must be a re-orientation of the youths and the people to see agriculture as the next goldmine. He said though over 70 per cent of our land is arable, Nigerian youths are not encouraged to see farming as business, ‘instead, we all grew up and dream of working in a bank hall.’
We have to start seeing farming as business and blood of our nation.
In those days, cocoa was the gold (and largest non-oil export) for Nigeria, mostly from west, yam and cassava was much in south and sorghum, millet were much from north.
“So were rubber, maize, melon, cashew nut, sesame, groundnuts, palm kernels, palm oil, plantains, rice and soybeans he said.
Adeniyi stressed that the nation’s abundant blessings, of favorable soil and climate condition that can accommodate crops such as onion, carrot, cocoa yam, pear, potatoes, okra, vegetables, beans and so much more should not be swept aside in times like this.
The Israeli-trained agri-marketing and farm business manager said not only would participants be practically trained, the marketing side of the business is to be given adequate attention.
He revealed that people would be taught about new techniques/procedures in plantain and pineapple plantation, hybrid cucumber farming, fish culture and introduction to free range Grasscutter and snail farming.
Adeniyi, committed and enthusiastic about the course of agribusiness, said it is time to take advantage of the various business opportunities in this sector.
“You have options to choose, whether you`ll love to go into business of agriculture as a crop and plant farmer or as a livestock farmer, that is rearing animals for commercial purpose. Either of these can be done with modern agricultural tools and implements, even on large and profitable scale,” Adeniyi said.
On Cucumber (Cucumis sativus), he said it originates in southern Asia, but a large number of cultivars have been developed and are grown worldwide. It is a widely cultivated plant of the family Cucurbitaceae. It is a creeping vine that bears cylindrical fruits that are used as culinary vegetables.
He identified three main varieties of cucumber: Slicing, Pickling, and Burpless and added that within these varieties, several different cultivars have emerged that find use for culinary and health purposes.
Rise of Cucumber
Adeniyi said it rehydrates the body and replenishes daily vitamins – cucumbers are 95 per cent water, keeping the body hydrated while helping the body eliminate toxins. “Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day. The skin contains a good amount of vitamin C, about 10 per cent of the daily-recommended allowance.
Skin and hair care – it can be used for skin irritations and sunburns. The silicon and sulfur in cucumbers help to stimulate hair growth. Aids in weight loss and digestion – Due to its low calorie and high water content, cucumber is an ideal diet for people who are looking for weight loss.
“The high water content and dietary fibre in cucumbers are very effective in ridding the body of toxins from the digestive system, aiding digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.
It has been recorded to cures diabetes, reduces cholesterol and controls blood pressure – Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which has been found to be beneficial to diabetic patients, an enthusiastic Adeniyi explained.
Cultivation
He said that cucumber does well on a well-drained soil, often planted on raised beds, but also thrives in a sandy loam soil.
It requires a good amount of sunshine and warmth and is mostly grown in green house. It requires space and can rapidly reach around six feet.
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