The first job that God gave to man was farming! Farming is an occupation that is commissioned by God. It is essential for life. There are lots of potentials for food production than you realize. This book is thus a highlight of agriculture business ideas as well as step-by-step, practical guide on the cultivation of some crops in Nigeria.

Nigeria is blessed with a wide variety of agricultural potentials, ranging from varieties of crops to varieties of animals and plants and natural agricultural-supportive factors like forests, waters, sands and most of all human resources that are being under-used (or not even used as at now). We have it all, yet we lack it all; and that is why we are hungry in the face of plenty to eat.

 How can our Nation grow well if we cannot cultivate and manufacture our own food? How do we intend to carter for the ever growing Nigeria population if we cannot confidently feed them to face life’s ever trying activities?  With the increasing awareness of Nigerians on the need to take at least one egg per day (with population projected to be gearing towards 200 million) our animal protein intake per head is grossly low. But how many Nigerians can afford to put an egg (which is truly viewed as a luxury good) on their tables without necessarily opting for ‘garri’ (which truly will be more satisfying to the stomach and is therefore viewed as a core necessity)?  That our masses therefore cannot afford eggs to eat is part of why we should be ashamed of our oil-bugged economy.  

 As a believer of agricultural development, I am convinced that Nigeria’s economic development can become a reality through the total resuscitation of our agricultural sector. This will propel the sector to produce food and fibres to feed our people and the industry at a rate faster than the birth-rate; yet reducing the death rate. The injection of vigour into the agricultural sector will fast track the creation of self-reliance, self-contentment and self-sufficiency. Adequate supply of raw materials for industries, increased foreign reserve; and increase in the export of non-oil commodities and improvement in the standard of living of the masses are issues that a revitalised agricultural system can provide. This will encourage the growth of a physically fit and mentally alert population. 

However, the best way to get started in agriculture is to find and learn from people who are already involved in it. The first hand, hands-on knowledge however far outweighs anything you will read from any book. So get started today! 

Proceedings of 41st Annual Conference, October 2017.

Consider the reality of today’s job market. We have a massive skills gap. Even with record unemployment, millions of skilled jobs are unfilled because no one is trained or willing to do them. Meanwhile unemployment among graduates is at an all-time high, and the majority of those graduates with jobs are not even working in their field of study. There are different vocational skills that are becoming money spinners in Nigeria. No one can use the excuse of ‘I can’t get a job’ and remain idle. You can now tap into any of the following vocations and become your own boss.

This research work was carried out to evaluate the physicochemical properties of Elekute enriched with African oil bean seed. Elekute (a maize-based snack in West Africa) was substituted with oil bean seed in the ratio 90:10, 80:20, 70:30 and 60:40 with 100% Elekute as control. Results revealed higher protein content with increased substitution (highest was 23.14% in 60:40). Mineral composition as well as the phytic acid, oxalate and tannins in the samples also increased with higher substitution level. There was significant difference among the samples in bulk density, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, emulsion capacity and stability and foaming capacity but no significant difference in gelation capacity. Enrichment of Elekute snack by incorporating African oil bean seed improved the nutritional quality of this maize-based snack with high level of acceptance from the taste panelist

This study was conducted to determine the impact of traditional processing methods on the total carotenoid (TC) content and consumer acceptability of four different cassava products (Fufu, Gari, Lafun and Pupuru)commonly consumed in West Africa from three cultivars of low-cyanide biofortified cassava roots (TMS 01/1368, TMS 01/1371 and TMS 01/1412). The roots were subjected to two different traditional processing techniques and their total carotenoid content measured before and after processing, spectrophotometrically, in order to establish the effect of processing on TC retention.  The acceptability of the processed biofortified cassava products was determined by sensory evaluation.  The total carotenoid (TC) contents of the raw dried cassava cultivars are 17.9μg/g, 19.62μg/g and 27.11μg/g for TMS 01/1412, TMS 01/1368 and TMS 01/1371 respectively. The TC content of Gari ranged between 4.78 and 14.82 μg/g, Lafun ranged between 9.33 and 11.53 μg/g, Pupuru ranged between 5.8 and 12.81 μg/g and Fufu ranged between 10.6 and 17.5 μg/g.

Thus among all products, Fufu samples soaked without peel, from variety 01/1412 had the highest TC (17.50 μg/g) compared to the other varieties. Fufu samples from variety 01/1412 also exhibited an appreciable carotenoid retention (98%) compared to the other two varieties 01/1368 and 01/1371 which had carotenoid retention of 24% and 28% respectively. Sensory evaluation results showed that Gari from 01/1412 and 01/1368 were most preferred. Thus fufu retained highest amount of carotenoid and consumers generally accept biofortified cassava products.

In: Proceedings of Regional Food Science Summit, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, Western Chapter, Owo ad. 62