Maize Farming Business Plan in Nigeria

Business Plan for Commercial Maize Farming in Nigeria & Maize Farming Project Proposal

Maize is one of the staple foods in Nigeria. There is hardly any Nigerian family that does eat maize or its products weekly. Some families cannot even do without consuming foods made from maize daily. Asides human consumption, maize is used for several other purposes.

Also Read: Palm Oil Business Plan in Nigeria

This is why if you are thinking about how to start commercial maize farming in Nigeria, you are on the right path. To dive into maize farming, you must have a full grasp of what it entails. Even though it may seem simple to the layman, there are several pitfalls on the way. Most of these challenges revolve around diseases and pests that may attack the crops.

In this post, we will deal with different aspects of the information you need to start maize farming commercially in Nigeria and also provide you with a sample maize farming business plan in Nigeria. if you are ready, let’s get straight to the crux of this post.

Feasibility Report on Maize Production in Nigeria / Market Overview

Nigeria enjoys a tropical climate and the soil all over the country is relatively fertile. These two factors make it possible to cultivate maize in any of the geo-political zones of Nigeria. Once upon a time, people only engaged in maize farming in a subsistence manner. However, most of these farmers are becoming more aware of the economic value of this crop. This is driving them into commercial production and processing of maize.

Maize is used in producing several foods eaten within the shores of Nigeria. Examples of such foods include pap (pap/ogi), maize flour (tuwo/semo), roasted maize, boiled maize, etc. It is also used in the production of livestock feed as well as industrially to manufacture several products.

Farmers who invest in maize commercially can hardly ever be wrong, as long as they get their processes right. The challenge of most maize farms in Nigeria is not the cultivation or harvesting processes, it is management. There is a huge market within and outside the country for maize.

All over the world, 800 million tonnes of maize are cultivated every year. Of this figure, Africa only produces a very small 6.5% which is extremely low. The demand for maize and its products is far higher than the supply. This means anyone that invests in maize farming will enjoy huge profits provided the management of the farm is efficient.

Profitability of Maize Production in Nigeria / Why should you invest in it

There are thousand-and-one reasons why you should invest in commercial maize farming in Nigeria. These reasons can be split into three categories which are economic reasons, uses or maize, and health benefits.

Already we know that maize cultivation will bring the farmer a lot of profit. The demand for maize is so high right now and you will see why when you read through the other categories. All over the world, maize is in high demand while there is a dearth in supply. Investing in commercial maize farming in Nigeria means you have a market that is not restrained by the shores of Nigeria.

The second category is concerned with the uses of maize. What is maize used for? Check out a few uses below:

1. As human food. In Nigeria alone, 4 out of every five families eat maize related foods daily. This figure is high compared to how much maize we produce in the country. Examples of these maize related foods include pap, semo, corn flakes, popcorn, etc. Did you know that beer is made from maize as well?
2. Animal feed. Maize is one of the major ingredients in animal feed. Even if you don’t buy the regular feed, you can feed your animals with maize directly. Maize contains a lot of nutrients needed for your animals to grow and produce optimally.
3. Industrial material. The starch content of maize makes it desirable for production in several industries. Examples of products that are manufactured using maize include beer, ink, cosmetics, medicines, and paints. Some companies that purchase maize for their industrial processes in Nigeria include Cadbury, Nestle, and the Nigerian Breweries.
4. Making fuel. Though we have not started this in Nigeria, in many other countries, starch drawn from maize is used as fuel. The starch is synthesized into corn ethanol which is blended with gasoline to produce E10, E15, and E85 mixtures.

The final category is the health benefits drawn from maize. There are so many health benefits you can draw from maize. Examples include:

1. Ease of digestion because of the high fiber content of maize.
2. Helps to prevent hypertension and fight diabetes.
3. Helps to improve eyesight.
4. Maize is great for healthy skin.
5. Rich in carbohydrates which is our main source of energy as humans.
6. Contains several minerals such as manganese, phosphorus, copper, and zinc. All of these are important for human metabolism.

How to start a commercial maize farm in Nigeria

The reality of the fact is that maize farming is very easy to engage in. You don’t need any special skills or education to start a maize farm. We understand that you may have a few challenges on the way so we have put together this guide to help you out.

Discover the best weather for your crops

The truth is that you can plant maize in any season, as long as you can get sufficient water for your crops. Usually, maize is planted in Nigeria around April because this is the beginning of the raining season. We advise that you begin your planting after the third rainfall. With irrigation, you don’t have to wait for the rains.

Choose a fertile land for your cultivation

One of the best benefits of maize farming is that maize can grow on just about any piece of land. However, studies have shown that to get optimal yield, you should plant maize on loamy soil. The soil should also have adequate water content, good drainage, and adequate sunshine.

Don’t plant maize on a rocky or sloppy landscape because of runoff. It is also imperative that you avoid waterlogged areas as this may affect crop yield. Consider a farmland that has a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. This is why many educated farmers take soil samples to the lab for testing before cultivation.

Preparing your land for cultivation

Land preparation processes include clearing the land, fumigating it, burning the bushes, and tilling the topsoil. You must get rid of bushes as they may constitute shades to your crops hindering them from getting adequate sunlight. You should also get rid of weeds as they may compete with your crops for nutrients.

The fumigation process is needed to get rid of any pests existing on the farmland before planting. When there is a need, you should add some fertilizer to the land to make it more fertile. The best kind of fertilizer is organic fertilizer however, you can get Diammonium Phosphate (18-46-0) as a good alternative.

Choose the variety of maize to plant

Here is a list of maize varieties you can choose from:

• Zea mays saccharata
• Zea diploperennis
• Waxy corn
• Sweet corn
• Shoepeg corn
• Purple corn
• Peruvian corn
• Hopi maize
• Flour corn
• Flint corn
• Field corn
• Dent corn
• Baby cornBlue corn

Planting your maize

You can either plant maize by hand or make use of a mechanized method. For a commercial farm, mechanized planting is better as it will save time and cost on labor. It is best to seek the help of a professional farmer to provide you details on how to plant your maize.

Caring for your farm

Several processes go into caring for your maize farm. You don’t just plant the maize and leave it there. It is important to care for and nurture your farm so that it is not attacked by pests, diseases, or stray animals. Some of the processes you should engage in include:

1. Timely weeding.
2. Pest control
3. Irrigation

Marketing your maize

After you have harvested your maize, the challenge is marketing the yield. Finding buyers in Nigeria is not difficult. You can choose to market locally or export to other countries. For a commercial farm, you can make contact with NIRSAL or IITA to help find buyers.

Writing a commercial maize farming business plan

A business plan is very important for several purposes. Asides acting as a map that guides your business, it helps to attract investors and also get loans from the bank. With a concise business plan, you have a clear picture of how the business should be run. If your commercial maize business is going to succeed, you need to write a business plan.

It is not compulsory to write the plan by yourself. You can contact a writer to do this on your behalf. Just in case you are in search of a business plan writer, reach out to us as we will help write your business plan at subsidized prices in record time.

Get your Maize Farming Business Plan and feasibility study in Nigeria, pay N10,000 to:

Bank Name: Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB)

Account Name:  Chibuzor Tochi Onyemenam

Account Number: 0044056891

After payment, send your name, email address and “Maize Farming Business Plan in Nigeria” to  07033378184

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