Crop and livestock farming are the main stay of Borno State’s economy. Cash crops that can be found in the state include groundnut, cotton, gum arabic, oilseeds and sugarcane.
Others are millet, rice, cassava, date palms, fruits vegetables, sorghum, wheat, sweet potatoes, cowpeas, sugarcane.
Borno is primarily agrarian with over two-thirds of the population dependent on agriculture and allied activities for livelihood. Endowed with fertile soil, the land is agro-climatically suitable for cultivation of a wide variety of cash and food crops on a commercial basis. Rice is grown in large hectares of land yielding million tonnes annually. The state is a leading producer of soybeans, sugarcane and other cash crops.
Her agro-climatic conditions favour development of agriculture. However, there are several crops whose potential have remained under-exploited.
Livestock industry, dairying, fisheries, poultry and sericulture are some of the promising areas crying for entrepreneurial attention. Strong macro-economic fundamentals and supports the transformation of small-scale processed food production system into a modern industry aimed at catering to the evolving tastes and needs of discerning consumers. Soft drinks, grains processing, dairy products and confectionery are some of the areas that investors can use.
The inclination of consumers to fresh food cannot be wished away. State wide, the demand for processed or pre-cooked foods is rising. The range of processed foods include mainly fruits and vegetable based products (juices, sauces, pickles, chips); milk and dairy products; cooking oils; meat and poultry; marine foods; non-alcoholic beverages; grain and grain-based products; and confectionary. There is a big advantage to producers examining market size and investment.
The huge opportunities include market size, ravenous appetite for food, growing incomes and changing lifestyles. The state has a large production base for a variety of raw materials covering food crops, commercial crops and fibres. The state Ministry of Agriculture has some incentives that entrepreneurs can benefit from. Given the huge market potential, the government considers agriculture a big earner.
The policies of the government are investor-friendly. It makes tremendous investment and commercial sense to be a part of the burgeoning agric industry. The state has chosen a development strategy that continues to rely heavily on the agricultural sector for economic growth. Cattle production needs to be intensified. The state faces the challenge of good rain distribution throughout the year, suitable air temperatures for agriculture and abundance of inexpensive labour. The state is doing its part to improve the sustainability of agriculture by helping growers adopt best practices on their farms. The state government works with farmers, providing training on agricultural best practices and helping them implement those practices through field events and individual consultations.
As a consequence, there is relative growth. Part of the success is due to increased yields and area of most crops, especially cash crops such as soybean and millet. The state is undergoing structural transformation in agricultural activities. The population distribution of Borno has also changed during the past two decades. As a result, non-agricultural employment is increasing in rural areas. The rural urbanisation is building a big market for agricultural produces. The state is at an important juncture in terms of sustainable development. This through agriculture, allows it to be optimistic about the future.
thenation
Source: newsroom - meattradenewsdaily.co.uk
Back to News Headlines