IITA and NASC call for greater involvement of private sector in seed yam production

Top seed production companies from across Nigeria convened at IITA on 6 August to explore novel technologies for high-ratio propagation of seed yam tubers. IITA scientists working on the Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project have developed novel high ratio propagation technologies such as vine cuttings, aeroponics, and bioreactor to address the constraints of quality, rapidity, and multiplication in seed yam production. According to Robert Asiedu, IITA’s Director for West Africa, “The unavailability and high cost of high quality seed yam is the primary constraint in West Africa with the food security of about 900 million people heavily dependent on the availability and affordability of seed tubers.” Traditionally, farmers use tubers as seeds, which is inefficient and costly. High production costs are attributed to the use of seed yam tubers, which account for about 30% of the total yield and as much as 63% of the total variable cost incurred per season of cultivation. Moreover, most of the tubers are of low quality, containing pests (nematodes) and pathogens (virus), which decrease the yield of yam tubers. Furthermore, using the traditional system, the multiplication rate in the field is also very low. In comparison to cereals which produce about 300 seeds from a single stock, yam produces about 1 to 5 tubers depending on the variety. YIIFSWA Project Manager Norbert Maroya says: “Producing seed yam tubers using aeroponics, bioreactors, and vine cuttings is quick and cost effective, resulting in high-quality planting materials. The use of these novel, high-ratio propagation technologies gives a higher multiplication rate that is about 50-100 times more than the traditional system. It also significantly lowers the risk of nematode infestation and promotes faster multiplication and better and more uniform crop quality.” “Seed is one of the most crucial elements in the livelihoods of agricultural communities. However, farmers—yam farmers in particular—are yet to benefit from using quality seed tubers because of inefficient seed production, and lack of distribution and quality assurance systems in the country. That is why we are calling for greater involvement of the private sector in the establishment of a formal seed system with the yam value chain,” said Ebenezer Zidafomor, a representative from the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC). Participants came from Greengold Construct Nig. Ltd, Mamora Seeds Ltd, Da Allgreen Seeds Ltd, Bumfash Nigeria Ltd, Biocrops Ltd, NASC, all based in Abuja; Sylva Ejezie Farm Ltd, Asaba, Delta State; Lumiere Seeds Limited, Premier Seeds Nigeria Limited, Zaria, Kaduna; Romarey Ventures Limited, Jos; and Samlak Industries Ltd, Ibadan. According to Lava Kumar, head of IITA’s germplasm health unit, “The new technologies for the production of virus-free plants and versatile diagnostic tools for virus indexing established in the YIIFSWA project are critically contributing to the development of clean seed yam systems.” There is a need for government, research institutions, and the private sector to collaborate and develop solutions for the provision of food, poverty relief, and resource equity. http://www.iita.org/2015-press-releases

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a non-profit agricultural research-for-development (R4D) organization, and a member of the CGIAR Consortium.We thank you for your interest in IITA and invite you to explore many exciting and diverse career opportunities in a work environment that enables you to be the best you can, advancing your professional and personal growth in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment. Join a vibrant team that is committed to facilitating agricultural solutions for hunger, poverty, and natural resource degradation throughout the tropics.IITA is an equal opportunity employer and consideration for employment is given to qualified applicants regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, national/ethnic origin or social status. Please view our current job openings below. Click on the position that suits your profile and fill in the application form. For more information visit http://www.iita.org/careers/

SETTING AN ORGANIC DISPUTE

Organic and conventional farms sometimes don't make the best neighbors. The practices necessary to keep one running smoothly can be a big detriment to the other. So, how can you? http://www.agriculture.com/

INCREASED REJUVENATION OF AGRIC SECTOR TO DRIVE ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION – CBN

In the on-going strive to boost economic development of the country, Mr. Moses Tule, Director, Monetary Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during the Second In-House Review meeting of the Institute of Food Security Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has called for increased development of the agricultural sector to help achieve the targeted national transformation. Presenting a paper titled, “The Dutch Disease, Sustainable Agriculture and Monetary Policy in Nigeria” at the event which was tagged “Restoring the Primacy of Agriculture in the Nigerian Economy”, Mr. Tule stated that the Dutch disease became a common phrase to describe a situation in which a boom in the natural resource sector, shrinks the manufacturing and agricultural sectors through Crowding- out Effect and an appreciation of the real exchange rate. He listed out the factors that would ensure sustainability in agriculture to include increase in government’s provision of infrastructure, competitive pricing of agricultural commodities, private investment, high per capita income, reduction in exchange rate depreciation and the availability of credits. According to him, the CBN had often complemented its traditional role with a quasi-fiscal function, using unconventional monetary policy instruments, like dual interest rates, quantitative easing policies and by developing interventions in the agricultural sector, among others. Welcoming participants to the meeting, the Director of IFSERAR, Professor Akin Omotayo, appreciated the university management for the confidence reposed in him and his team to pilot the affairs of the Institute. He noted that the collaboration between IFSERAR and the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP), had yielded a lot for the Institute, added that for the current year, IFSERAR had empowered many farmers by giving them maize seeds free of charge for planting, so as to increase food production. http://agronigeria.com.ng/

IMPLEMENT AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENDA-FARMERS URGE BUHARI

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to, in the interest of Nigeria’s economy, vigorously pursue and implement the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the immediate past administration in order to move the country forward. This was part of the communiqué issued at the end of the One-Day South West Town Hall Meeting convened by AgroNigeria recently in Ibadan, Oyo State capital After an extensive deliberation, the Nigerian farmers (South-West zone), unanimously resolved that President Buhari should never politicize Agriculture, rather he should consolidate on the laudable policies of the immediate past administration especially ATA to move the sector to the next level. They maintained that the present administration should continue to pursue and implement the ATA which had started on a very sound footing. They also recommended that all the states in the South West Nigeria should as a matter of priority, invest massively into commercial agriculture; insisting there must be urgent efforts calculated at bridging the gap in food production between the North and the South. The forum also resolved that: “Policy formulations should adopt bottom-up and end-user-driven intervention approaches especially on fundamental issues affecting agriculture. The Farm Settlement Scheme should be resuscitated, strengthened and better positioned to address the 21st Century needs of agriculture. Attitudinal orientation should be encouraged and institutionalized by all stakeholders as this will address the negative impressions of the youth in going into agriculture. Migratory Fulani herdsmen should be integrated into the national agricultural policy to proffer lasting solution to the frequent clashes between them and other farmers.” The meeting also resolved that youth and women in agriculture should be accorded priority attention whenever policies on financial interventions are being formulated; adding that there must be a national declaration of a state-of-emergency in agriculture that will insist on a policy that Nigeria has no reason to be food insecure. The farmers frowned at the current huge infrastructural gaps in the rural areas and insisted same must urgently be addressed to make for a rewarding season for agricultural practitioners; adding that the communication gaps between farmers and policy implementation must be bridged. They argued that Agriculture in all its ramifications must be projected and made to be profitable and worthwhile, and emphasis should be placed on training and capacity development for agriculture practitioners, especially women and youths. http://agronigeria.com.ng/

FG APPROVES FIVE HIGH QUALITY CASSAVA PROCESSING PLANT

As part of efforts to achieve food security in the country, the Federal Government has approved five large high quality cassava processing plant to produce high quality cassava flour for cassava bread. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arc Sonny Echono disclosed this at a press briefing during the 1st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), held at the Muson Centre, Lagos. Arc Echono noted that the ministry in preparation for production has trained more than 5, 000 master bakers. He however stated that the ministry had not been able to upscale in the manner it would have wanted because the issue of the supply end in terms of processing has not been addressed. Identifying some of its challenges as regards the production of cassava bread, the Permanent Secretary disclosed that currently, those processing cassava are doing so mainly for garri and some other food items and as such it has not been able to put plans in place for enough equipment to produce the quality of cassava that is required for direct consumption and to make bread. http://agronigeria.com.ng/

NIGERIA CAN NOW PRODUCE WHEAT ECONOMICALLY - ARC ECHONO

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture And Rural Development has said Nigeria can now produce wheat economically. This was disclosed by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Arc. Sonny Echono at a press briefing during the 1stAnnual General Meeting (AGM), of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), held at the Muson Centre in Lagos recently. Arc Echono disclosed that in the past, wheat was introduced based on the need to do so, since wheat were imported; this according to him, was a drain on our foreign exchange and the wheat produced then was not economical but was subsidised. “This is because at a breakeven price, if the cost at which we produce a metric ton of wheat is less, how much are we going to sell?” He said Echono however noted that with the development of two major varieties, “Norman Borlaug” and “Reyna-28” by Lake Chad Research Institute, Nigeria is now getting yield that will enable her wheat farmers compete with imported wheat. He further said that due to the new development, the ministry is multiplying the seeds using farmers, in other to ensure that there will be enough seeds for enough farmers to plant and upscale, also the ministry has gotten the sympathy and support of Nigeria millers, to ensure that a similar quota for rice is put in place for wheat, in order to protect the local production industry and ensure that all the wheat we produce locally are first exhausted before allowing the importation of supply gap for our industry. Echono disclosed that the ministry is also promoting substitution of wheat, so as to reduce our dependency on imported wheat, especially now that Nigeria do not have the foreign exchange to expend on wheat importation. He noted that the ministry is targeting all the wheat farmers in the country and making available to them seeds at a very subsidized rate of about 80%; ensuring that everyone who produces wheat, if the industry have not up taken it, it will be bought from them and also ensuring that the right quality of these seeds are given to all the farmers who want to grow wheat in the wheat region. The Government, Arc Echono disclosed, has also procure for lease a lot of implement to assist the wheat farmers such as water pump, stretchers and so on, and it will be made available to wheat farmers to encourage them to grow more wheat in the dry season. http://agronigeria.com.ng/

GREEN-HOUSE TECHNOLOGY, THE PATHWAY TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Green-house technology delivers healthier, cleaner produce from the farm. Greenhouses employs the latest solutions in agro-technology to enable farmers maximize each growing cycle, it provides higher quality produce and obtain higher prices for their crops.it is efficient and reliable, suitable to local environmental conditions, with water availability and budget allocations. For the most effective output on crop production and management, trust Greenhouse to help you grow better... Source: www.top.pro

The Next Big Carbon Source of Energy

The industrial revolution began in the early 1800s in England when coal was used to drive steam engines to provide the power to run the textile mills. Millions of laborers were replaced by weaving machines with mechanical weavers. That began the industrial revolution which continued to escalate in the form of gross domestic product production worldwide until the present. The next big hydrocarbon usage was when J.D. Rockefeller discovered oil in Ohio. He built a number of refineries across the United States and established such familiar companies as Standard Oil of California and Standard Oil of New Jersey, Mobile Oil Company, Standard Oil Kentucky and eventually Texaco. This pushed the energy hydrocarbon revolution into the United States which allowed it to become the greatest industrial nation in the world. The next big hydrocarbon activity came from laying pipeline so natural gas, which was being bled off into the atmosphere during oil drilling, could be captured and used to heat homes and generate steam power as well as create electricity. All of these different hydrocarbons contributed to the gross domestic product of the world. It kept escalating as more sources of hydrocarbon were discovered and employed in this new industrial revolution. Hydrocarbons have developed under the earth’s surface which has been disturbed by volcanos, glaciers, flooding and other natural phenomena that buried plant matter and sea life. This caused a tremendous pressure differential that was exerted upon this organic matter. The increase in pressure differential and change in temperature differential in this buried organic matter created endothermic energy accompanied by bacteria that converted the organic matter to hydrocarbons. The memory of what took place is dependent upon the differential of Delta T (temperature) and Delta P (pressure). This is the equation of thermodynamics and the equation of energy. Over the years, we have had to go deeper and deeper to recover these hydrocarbons buried under the earth’s surface. It has become more costly and more of a threat to the environment to do so. In my opinion, we are about to see the end of the hydrocarbon age. During the last 10 years, we have seen the beginning of the micro-carbon energy technology. This is the energy that is recovered from the carbon sources in the upper part of the soil where the plant roots grow and productivity of plants is increased. This is leading to a new science of biological energy. At this time, there is controversy in doing so. However, this technology is being developed and will be successfully employed in the future. Why? Biological energy uses the sunlight as its major source of energy. The microbes on plant roots convert the micro-carbons back into simple carbons which supply additional energy to plants. Agronomists did not recognize the importance of recovering the micro-carbons from the soil. They referred to it as soil health and plant health. In all cases, it relayed the carbon content of the soil in providing soil health and plant health. In reality, they are merely referring to carbon as a source of energy. Biological energy, whether it be through corn, legumes or any other plants (including trees), makes use of the sun’s energy and recovers the micro-carbons in the upper layer of the soil. We no longer need to go on deep in the soil to recover hydrocarbons which have been subjected to tremendous temperature and pressure differentials. As agricultural scientists, we must figure out a better way to recover the micro-carbons from the soil to give all of our plants more energy for higher yields and more resistance to plant disease and insects. We also must raise cover crops which can use the sunlight’s energy to transfer carbon back to the soil and build more micro-carbons into the soil for the crops that follow. Cover crops produce a natural energy windmill between the sunlight and the soil micro-carbons. We must keep this windmill focused on capturing the increased growth and utilization of nutrients and the increased energy supplied to our plants. Before we depart this subject – if we don’t increase the total energy to the plant, we must learn how to partition the energy over different stages of plant growth to maximize the energy that the plant obtains from both the sunlight and the micro carbons in the soil.

POST-INSURGENCY PLAN: BORNO BUILDS SEEDLING PRODUCTION CENTRE, ACQUIRE 845 TRACTORS

Paper reports that the Borno State government has taken to a completion of an ultra-modern farm centre for the production of improved seedlings that aim to multiply yields for farmers. The state has also taken delivery of 845 additional tractors, bringing the number of tractors at its disposal to about 2000. It has equally taken delivery of 1416 planters to add to its stock. All the farming equipment were imported as part of the government’s post- insurgency plan for commercial agriculture in rural areas as soon as Boko Haram insurgents are defeated. Governor Kashim Shettima inspected the equipment yesterday at the Borno State Agricultural Mechanization Unit, along Dikwa road in Maiduguri. The governor also assessed 25 combined harvesters acquired by the State noting that in the whole of Nigeria, there are currently a total of 56 combined harvesters out of which Borno alone has 25.(Source: Guardian Newspaper - 12/8/15 pg.14).

You Can Tell Your Plants How to Grow

It is within your capability to direct how your plants should grow. During the vegetative stage of growth, plant cells normally produce vegetative plant parts. It takes less energy for them to do so. This is within their natural DNA rhythm. Therefore, the hormonal applications made to plants during the vegetative stage of growth should be made at a lower rate than those during the reproductive stage of growth. It takes less hormonal cell signaling to grow vegetative parts than it does reproductive parts. Foliar application of Stimulate™ Yield Enhancer during the vegetative growth stage should be less than 4 oz/A for each application. This should be an adequate amount unless the plant is under severe stress due to cell moisture or climatic conditions. Then the rate per application should be higher. It is during the early reproductive stage of growth that you want to change the plant cells to produce reproductive cells rather than vegetative cells, so the amount of Stimulate Yield Enhancer applied should be at higher amounts. It is during the time of flowering and pollination that the application rate of Stimulate Yield Enhancer should be in excess of 4 oz/A. It takes more energy to grow reproductive plant cells than it does vegetative plant cells. Remember, Stimulate Yield Enhancer is a phytohormone. It is a hormone that signals the plant cells how to grow. By using Stimulate Yield Enhancer you will have greater control of the way your plant grows.

How to prepare Coconut Milk Rice

HOW TO PREPARE A COCONUT MILK RICE

coconut milk rice

Ingredients (240 ml cup used)

• 2 cups rice
• 1 cup chopped coconut pieces (or store bought coconut milk )
• 2 ½ cups Water (adjust as needed, you can use ¼ cup more)
• 1 ½ ginger paste or crushed
• 2 green chili slit
• Fistful of chopped carrots
• Fistful of frozen or fresh green peas
• 2 tbsp. oil, Ghee or butter
• Salt as needed

Spices or 1 sprig curry leaves and ½ tsp jeera

• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cardamoms
• 6 cloves
• 2 inch cinnamon stick
• Few pepper corn
• ½ tsp cumin / jeera

optional for garnish

• Few cashews
• Few tbsp. Grated coconut

Instructions

1. Wash and soak rice for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Keep aside one to 2 tbsp. Of scraped coconut. Blend chopped coconut pieces with 1 cup water. Filter to extract the milk and Mix with the rest of the water. i.e. 1 ½ cup water. Store bought milk can also be used.
3. Add ghee to a pan or pot, fry the grated coconut till it turns slightly brown. Add cashews and fry. Set these aside. This step is optional.
4. To the same pan, add spices and fry till they turn fragrant. Add ginger paste and fry until it smells fragrant. Add slit green chili, chopped vegetables and fry to remove the raw smells. One to two minutes would be enough
5. Add the milk along with the water (if you haven’t mixed with 1 ½ cup water) and add salt
6. When the milk begins to boil, add rice and stir
7. Cook till the rice is fully cooked. Cover and cook on a medium flame. Little water can be sprinkled if rice is still not cooked well.
8. Garnish coconut milk rice with roasted coconut and cashews.

Notes

Adjust water to suit the quality of your rice.

To learn more visit the link bellow
https://youtu.be/3r0dPN4VzaM

HOW TO REAR GRASS-CUTTER (CANE RAT) IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD

GRASS-CUTTER (CANE RAT) FARMING AND MANAGEMENT MANUAL

WRITTEN BY:

 MR. NERUS N.ONWULI

greatnerus@gmail.com

 +234(0)8078907118

INTRODUCTION

In the economy of ours, there is great need for self employment and entrepreneurship in other to keep body and soul together. Agricultureis one of the great venture that has made these key elements a possibility and as well a reality.

In agriculture, animal farming is now paving way for so many opportunities to flow into the economy, with so much delight in my heart i bring to you one of the most lucrative agricultural business currently gaining a good group in west Africa and beyond.
"Grass-cutter(cane rat)  farming" you must have heard about it before and if you

have not you are lucky to be reading this material now.
The grasscutter (Cane-rat) is a hystricomorphic rodent endemic to Africa. The animal occurs in savannah grasslands, forest clearings, cultivated lands and secondary forests, where it is very common and is heavily hunted as a food resource in many areas on the continent. Grasscutters are herbivorous, their favorite’s food being savannah grasses. In captivity; they will also take sugar cane, corn stalks and cassava peelings. The animal is a wasteful feeder, cutting the grass at a characteristic angle with its very powerful incisors to eat the more nutritious, succulent inter-nodes, leaving behind scattered pieces of stem on the feeding grounds. This characteristic feeding behavior is exploited by hunters who look for the feeding sites, an indication of where the animals were active the previous night and concentrate hunting efforts in such areas.

Grasscutter which can also be refer to as giant cane rats are domesticated for their enormous health and increasing wealth benefits.

 Its true grasscutter has been existing for a longtime ago, but as a result of the endless scientific research that is been carried out on a daily basis, shows that it is now possible to keep grasscutter as a home animal and not just killing them or burning the entire ecosystem by hunters and bushmen, you can easily turn your backyard into a barnyard with grass-cutter or you can get a land or stop fallowing your land due to lack of money and make it value to increase by farming grass-cutter on the land.

Grass-cutter is a meat delicacy in Africa and as such it is widely consumed making it one of the 10 most demanding meat in the market. A market ready Grass-cutter is sold between N4,000 to N10,000 per one.

Five hundred Grass-cutters in a year could earn you between N2 Million to N2.75 Million. Another benefits in grass-cutter is that they are very prolific, they grow fast
a single grass-cutter can be bigger than a small goat, the female grass-cutter gestation period lasts for 150 to 155days or 5months so they can reproduce twice in a year and a mother grass-cutter can give birth to 7 to 10 grass-cutters. It grows big and very fast too.

Grass-cutter(cane rat)  is one of the biggest rodents in Africa. A fully mature female or male that is ready for market weighs between 3.5kg for the

female and 4.5kg for the male. While measuring 45cm to 60cm in body length.

The standing height is between 25 to 30cm. The body size of a fully grown male is about the size of a nine inches block. One of the reason why the business is booming for the early adopter is because the public already know how much grass-cutter meat can add value to their hath and since the business is still a green-horn, most people buy it from hunters, making it very expensive and the same applies to grass-cutter(cane rat)  farmers because unlike poultry grass-cutter(cane rat)  is not found

everywhere.

GETTING STARTED AS A NEW FARMER

Firstly, you have to know that grass-cutter (cane rat) lives in colony; you don't separate or keep them in cages alone you will keep them inthree or four numbers. You can keep 3 males together and 4 females together, they must be in a family form.

COLONY: 

Grass-cutter(cane rat)  lives in colony, two mature male doesn't live together. Therefore, start with a male and few females together. A colony should consist of one male and three to four females. Your capacity determines how many colony you wants to start with. A small farmer may start with one or two colony, with the arrangement of one male and 3 female in each colony. 

BREEDING PROCESS:

Grass-cutter(cane rat)  is kept 100% for meat; it has to grow well and healthy in other to be profitable. To achieve this, a new farmer must lay emphasis on the choice of breeding stock.

Each colony must have a very health male.The male is the engine of reproduction; a healthy male makes a healthy stock. While selecting the male, pay attention on the well being, good weight gain in male animals is a very important factor that determines how healthy it is.

You have to be watchful when breeding them you need to make sure the animals used for breeding (both male and female) are perfectly healthy with good quality genetic properties.

HOUSING:

It’s important you know that grass-cutter(cane rat)  don't sleep where they eat so if you are keeping them in cage, it has to be large enough and can contain both dinning and sleeping space, it has to be distance away from each other. They can be breed either in a properly build cages or in a house specially designed forthem. Grass-cutter(cane rat)  is sensitive to good habitat, for a colony (1 male and 3 female) the dimension of the cage should be 180cm in length, 60cm in width and 45cm in height. Build your cage that way, separate for each colony. It’s important for their house to be protected from sunlight and humidity the atmosphere must be normal with shed.

The greatest enemy of grass-cutter(cane rat)  is snake and soldier ants, so it’s important you make their house located in a place where they are protected against attacks of the predators, cases of soldier ant is usually rampant during rainy season so you must watch out and surround their house floor (the soil or concentrate around the cage) with black oil.

Provide their cage with some bedding like grasses to make them feel comfortable always.  

FEEDING:

Grass-cutter (cane rat)  is a herbivorous animals meaning their source of food is basically from the bush,that's why they are more comfortable in the bush where their foods could easily be found (just like their name grass-cutter (cane rat) ) . Their major food is Elephant grass. They also love Sugar cane and most farmers use sugar Cane mainly for their feeding, Guinea grass, Gamba grass, Congo grass.

According to experience, Hygiene and good feeding are the most
important factors for successful, profitably Grass-cutter (cane rat)  farming. You

can also fatten the male with concentrate feeds like broiler’s finisher or broiler starter’s feed to help attain market weight within short period of time.

The animal also like Gliricidia septum, herbaceous legumes like root and pitch
of oil and coconut palms, bark of the anacardium and fruits such as half ripen pawpaw, plantain, pineapple, mangoetc are their delight. Food crops such as groundnut, rice, maize, grain legume, tubers like cassava, sweet potato etc also make part of their feeds.

The grass-cutter (cane rat)  feed on palm wine and that iswhy they destroy oil palm plantation. They take their water mostly from the field and go to the river during the dry season only. But when domesticated, you can give them water by adding some attractant to it. Cane rate it should be noted does not dig a hole and cannot climb a tree either, so they are less trouble and easy to handle.

They can also be fed with formulated concentrates like pellet as well
as other processing by-products like wheat bran, corn bran, groundnut, soya, oilseed, cotton seed cakes, brewer yeast, grain legume pods, brewers’ grains, maize shucks and cobs, brewer’s yeast etc as feed supplements which will make their growth to be faster.    Grass-cutter (cane rat) don't like cold environment.  The rooms or cages where you keep them must neither be too cold nor too hot. Environment that is suitable for human is considered suitable for Grass-cutters.

GROWING TIME

With good, adequate feeding, the grass-cutter(cane rat)  babies can grow between four to eight weeks. But as a family, they can be with the mother for four months. The kids can be separated from the mother between five to seven months and place with a male to mate with them. The weaned animals can be mated at the age of between seven to eight months from birth.

Indefinite mating is expected to have taken place when the weaned male grass-cutter (cane rat)  is seven months old and the female is eight months. The indefinite mating period is 140 days. But if after 160 days of separation from the male, there is still no sign of pregnancy, and then it should be taken back to the male for proper mating.

Usually there should also be an extra male that can serve the
same purpose.
Grass-cutters(cane rat)  are simple animals and with a healthy environment and proper feeding can make the breeding favourable they have high resistance to diseases outbreak and in any case of abnormality consult the vet doctor.

THE MARKET

Grass-cutter is very marketable and they can be liken to be a hot-cake so many people industries, hotels and commercial restaurants demand for it at a very high rate as they use grasscutter to make deliciousand expensive delicacy.  Most people in the city couldn't buy the meat because it's very scarce, so no amount of Grasscutter you produced that can't be sold within days. It will take combined efforts of thousands of farmers to fill the need of bush meat in the market in
west Africa right now. Grasscutter is a fast reproducing animal and starts mating with 7 months after birth. It gives birth twice yearly and produces 4-7 at a time. That means, if you have 100 females that gives birth twice in a year, you would be having 900 to 1,500 in your farm within just a year! Such number will bring you nothing less than N5 Million when they are matured for marketing.

PROFIT ANALYSISOF GRASSCUTTER BUSINESS

Initial Start-up in (Naira) =N=

1 family = 5 grasscutters (1male & 4 females) @   =N=70,000 each

 Starting with 5 families = 25 grasscutters @ =N= 350,000

Cage / Housing =   =N= 75,000 for 5 families

Food supplements (soya bean, crush animal bone, PKC ) =  =N= 30,000 / year

TOTAL =  =N= 455,000

Expected Income in (Naira )  = N=

1 female gives birth to an average of 4 animals within 6 months

4 females will give you an average of 16 grasscutters within 6months

16 grasscutters  x 5 families = 80 grasscutters within 6 months

In 1 year, you will be expecting about 160 grasscutters.

The grasscutters weigh between 6- 10kg at maturity

Let’s assume you sell each for =N= 6,000

6000 x 160=    =N=960, 000.

FACTS TO CONSIDER

1. You spent =N= 70,000 to buy your parent stock (breeding stock) @ =N= 14,000 per grasscutter, why should you sell for less? I mean the breeding stock.

2. In the 2^nd year you will not be concerned with housing and buying breeding stock, that means much more profit for you.

3. Grasscutters rarely get sick. The cost of treatment is negligible. For example when they have dysentery (running stomach) you administer chalk coal.

4.  Pls note that grasscutter as a delicacy is for the rich and it is in very high demand at restaurants, fast food outlets, hotels, and pepper soup joints and would be grasscutter farmers like you.

5. Breeding stock is more expensive than the fully grown animal.

6. Mortality rate in grasscutter is very low

7. Risk level is very low

8. Grasscutters have been known to litter (give birth) 11 offspring in some cases so using 3 offspring in the estimate above is just to be very very  conservative. You will certainly see much more than 4 grasscutters in some cases.

9. Grasscutter business is an inheritable business that if properly managed; it may out-live the owner and pass on to the next generation.

10.The cost of feeding is very low compared to that of poultry, piggery or fish farming.

Grasscutter farming is one the cheapest form of animal production available. This is because 95% of their food is grass and cassava. This food type does not undergo any form of processing. They are administered in their raw state. An average grasscutter weighing between 6-10 kg could cost between =N= 7,000 – =N=15,000.

AS A GRASSCUTTER FARMER YOU STAND TO GAIN FROM:

1. Supply of grasscutter meat to hotels, restaurants, individuals, fast food etc.

2. Supply of breeding stock to intending farmers

3. Advisory and General Consultancy

4. Training

5. Export

6. Grasscutter feed production

7. Excursion visit by students etc.

There are many decent ways to make good money farming small garden plots , backyard or any available corner in your house and a lots of people are using these spaces to earn part-time or full-time income. Rearing Grasscutter in this type of space is one of the best way to earn cool money.

Grasscutter (a rodent family), like many rodent species has been and will continue to be a delicacy in a number of countries, in Latin America, Africa and Asia where markets exist for a wide variety of rodent species for consumption. Grasscutters are often preferred over other sources of meat because of its unique taste and health benefits. It has no fat, or cholesterol. It is white meat and it is sometimes referred to as lean meat. The meat is of a higher protein content than any other domesticated farm animal and it is also appreciated for its tenderness.  This special delicacy is expensive to buy in the bush meat markets, roadside or anywhere they are sold.

Intensive production of grasscutter has been undertaken in many African countries, including Nigeria.  Small-scale farmers, investors, businessmen and all those with wealth-mind set can now take advantage of the economic incentive for raising grasscutter in captivity / domestication.

At NERUS FARM TECH, we tutor you step by step on how to invest and own your own grasscutter farm at a spot. Attend one of our sections today and learn how to earn extra money to augment your income from your backyard or from that little space around your home.

One of the major reasons and justification for grasscutter farming is to create employment for both skilled and unskilled individuals, thereby helping to reduce the current high level of unemployment, hunger and poverty in our society.

Grasscutter farming is recommended for all including; farmers, Job seekers, Investors, entrepreneurs, military men and officers, Retirees, CEOs, government officials, NGOs, Businessmen and all result oriented people.

NERUS FARM TECH delivers complete technology on intensive and extensive systems based on agro farming to meet your budgets, even if you don’t have substantial capital we know how you can improvise.

If you desire to invest in grasscutter breeding and production, NERUS FARMTECH is ready and experienced to train, guide and mentor you wisely from site survey, location of project set-up, feasibility report and modern grasscutter farm construction.

We are disposed to render on the spot services you may require with respect to grasscutter breeding and production in any part of Nigeria and African as a whole.

Contact Us at:

NERUS FARM TECH

24, Beside ECWA II,

SCC Road, Bwari Abuja.

greatnerus@gmail.com

+234(0) 8078907118

+234(0) 7066855843