‘Nigeria can reduce importation of frozen meats through animal farming’

June 14:

Presently, Nigerian non-oil exports are still significantly below potential. The gradual decline over the last 49 years is saddening especially when we look at past data for example in 1961. We supplied 43 percent of the global shelled groundnuts; today it is almost zero percent. US, Asia and Argentina now have universal dominance of the groundnut market.

Also, in 1961, we exported 19 percent of the world’s cocoa but have been rapidly overtaken by Ivory Coast and Palm oil and Shea-butter is another great example. Nigeria produces one of the purest forms in the world, and yet we are an irrelevant, almost non-existent, exporter in the global market. This is sad given the fact that any nation that imports virtually everything will not survive in the long run.

According to Animal Farm Consultant and Managing Director, Jovana Farms, Prince Arinze Onebunne, the business of producing, processing, exporting, transporting, financing and servicing grasscutter product should give employment to many people.

He said, rearing of grasscutter for local consumption will decrease importation of frozen meat, chicken, fish and turkey into the country and producing grasscutter for export will greatly enhance the economic potential. It will firm up the naira, improve the GDP, reduce inflation and create more jobs for Nigerians. In addition, he said, grasscutter is free from cultural and religious taboos. This makes it to be a universal favourite.

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in a recent study observed that millions of people are starving everyday and this affords the investor the opportunity of raising grasscutter for international trade. Grasscutter meat can be exported and used in many forms, sold in top class international hotels and used to prepare different delicacies such as barbecue, canned meat, sausages, meat pies, pepper-soup, suya etc.

“The demand for grasscutter meat is very high within the international market like Italy, Germany, Canada, the UK, France, the USA, especially where you have large concentration of Africans, black people. Many people now prefer grasscutter meat because it is white and healthier than cow meat which is red”.

“The business of grasscutter farming in Nigeria is growing at a feverish pace attracting farmers who are considering it either as a complimentary business,or as a main and sustainable revenue stream”.Onebunne said, a robust and thriving grasscutter meat industry would add value to the economy. It would not only offer opportunities for major investors to start and grow large meat processing companies for export thereby contributing to employment creation andforeign exchange, but it also will open avenues for the lucrative trade in smoked and dried meat export.

What is more, the industry would transform the fortunes of many small producers and leverage assets for the poor. Others, who would benefit from the spinoff in the value chain, are the manufacturers of animal feeds, distributors, stockists, butcheries, restaurants etc.

At Jovana Farms we have for sale fast growing species of grasscutter for intending farmers.

You can get started, without the costly items the so-called experts say you should have. With N45,000-N50,000 one can kick-off with one-male and four-females depending on the age, weight and specie. They can be reared in wooden cages which cost N7,000 to N10,000, therefore with N60,000 one is already in a profitable business.

Jovana Farms organizes nationwide sensitization training seminars on the practical ways of making it through small scale farming. Attend our nationwide seminars nearest to you to know more opportunities in grasscutter farming. Visit us at www.jovanafarm.com, E-mail: jovanafarms@gmail.com for more details. Choose also the nearest venue from the advert box on this page.

Source:  http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/06/nigeria-can-reduce-importation-frozen-meats-animal-farming/?