My name is Amuzie Austin. I was born in 1985 and currently reside in the city of Lagos, Nigeria. I am the Project Director for Future Leadership Conference, Executive Member of Watchman Youth Empowerment Scheme, Web and social media expert, Blogger and a persuasive speaker and youth development facilitator.
My passion and life’s story is how I called off my proposed university study programs in 2004 to answer a call to self-discovery and mastery through selfless services and personal development in various fields of endeavor, including agriculture, which has blessed many young people.
The Project: Rice Farming and Processing
Food is a basic necessity that a nation and the entire word cannot do without. It is said that a country that cannot feed itself cannot defend itself. Nigeria is the world’s second largest importer of rice, spending about N356 billion for about two million mt of milled rice a year. Total demand for rice in Nigeria is put at about 5 million MT a year.
Lagos State alone consumes over 50% of national rice demand which is put at two million mt and valued at over 365 billion Naira. This figure indicates that Lagos State consumes one billion Naira worth of rice daily.
At Delords Dream Farms, I will use advanced technology to farm, process, package and market rice produce, especially in Lagos state, which is a major consumer of rice. I will also buy rice farm produce from farmers who can’t process the harvested rice themselves and will process and sell the rice.
Also using our facility I will be processing rice for farmers at a minimal fee to encourage local farmers. Another interesting thing about my farm is that apart from farming, harvesting and processing rice for food consumption, I will also process the rice husks into briquette which is also a very sought-after product, thereby increasing revenues from our farm even further.
With my farm, I will reduce the problem of unemployment as it will create jobs for many, increase revenue for distributors and retailers of our products, reduce over-dependence on imported rice and serve Nigerians with more nutritious rice better than those imported.
My successes will encourage many young Nigerians to go into agriculture, and, as one given to youth development and empowerment, my farm will also serve as a social development resource center where I will train and develop more agripreneurs and farmers and assist them in starting up their farms.
The Motivation
As a social entrepreneur who on a regular basis interacts with young people who are faced with so many personal and economic challenges, I usually carry out research on various ways and opportunity one can take advantage of in developing oneself. From one of these studies, I came to a conclusion that the best way Nigeria as a country can empower most of its young citizens is by opening up various opportunities in agriculture.
A trip I took to the World Bank-backed Fadama Rice Project in Epe, Lagos State and to the Lagos State Rice mill facility opened my eyes to the huge opportunities in rice farming of which many individuals and the Lagos state government have failed to take advantage.
This led me into taking the necessary steps to start up a rice farming and processing project and also be of help in training other young people to get into the business.
How I intend to achieve my goal
I intend to undertake more proper research and training from well experienced experts at the FADAMA Center and also partner with several local rice farmers and the Lagos state government, which is very willing to work with us on this project. I will raise the needed funding for my project and implement the action plans for the achievement of this project.
What I have done thus far
Currently I am concluding an agreement with the FADAMA Center in Lagos state to begin my rice farming and processing project with their assistance. Also I have taken several training programs and trips related to Rice farming and processing in order to get more experience and knowledge on how to go about the project.
How I will measure my success
My success will be measured at the end of every planting season, which is four months. I will have 3 planting seasons each year.
Two hectare of land harvested gives us at least 5 tonnes harvest return. One tonne of OFADA rice in the market is worth above $1800. Therefore, 5 tonnes gives me above $9000 at the end of a planting season.
This amount is only for the rice production. I will also earn revenue from rice processing for other farmers and from the sales of briquettes which will be earned from the processed rice husk.
How I plan to use the USD $5000 grant
2 hectares OFADA rice (120 days):
2 Hectares of Land Lease for farming – $1500
Seed cost 90 kg – $220
Fertilizer 8 bags – $240
Orizon (for weed control, 6 litres) – $45
Roundup 6 lt – $195
Insecticide 2 lt – $15,
Osa Rice 4 lt – $120
Biotamax 20 pack – $150
Cost of land preparation including weed control (2 Hec) – $200
Mechanization service (harrowing and ploughing) -$350
Labour for planting – $100
Spraying labour cost – $75
Bird Scaring net spread- $820
Harvest and processing – $300
Irrigation – $650
Blogpost and picture submitted by Austin Amuzie (Nigeria) – delords[at]futureleadershipconference.com
The content, structure and grammar is at the discretion of the author only.
This post is published as proposal #356 of “YAP” – our “Youth Agripreneur Project”.
The first selection of the winners will be based on the number of comments, likes and views each proposal gets.
As a reader, you can support this speaker’s entry:
- Leave a comment (question, suggestion,..) on this project in the comment field at the bottom of this page
- Support the post by clicking the “Like” button below (only possible for those with a WordPress.com account)
- Spread this post via your social media channels, using the hashtag: #GCARD3
Have a look at the other “YAP” proposals too!
As a donor, support young agripreneurs and sponsor this unique project. Check out the side column for our current sponsors.
“YAP” is part of the #GCARD3 process, the third Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development.
blog.gfar.net 
hi..nice project!..that also my dream..am working on it….
Thanks Aurelia, Glad to know about your dream. Your dream will definitely come true.
You can connect with me if you need to network and lets give more light to your dream.
Stay Blessed.
Wow. This is great. This is a pure vision that will also generate employment to unemployed,and also reduce the importation of rice, this is great i love it.
Your vision is quite laudable & the prospect is very encouraging… I’d love to also be a part of your venture.
Thank You so much for the encouraging comment.
Will be a pleasure to have you on board.
Together, We can always achieve more.
Thanks, bro for such a program like that will assist equip the youth and solve our unemployment issues. Thanks.
Thanks Brother, That’s really my desire.
Many of our youths needs to be awaken from the deep slumber of the fantasy world in order for them to see the realities of life and to become very productive and helpful to the society.
It’s an awesome project and you have our full backing..
Thanks Brother, Really appreciate your support.
Nice project
Thanks Bro, One Love.
Great to see this, the Lord is your strength!
Thank you Sir, AMEN.
This is an awesome project, it sure will great jobs and be of great benefit to the nation at large. I rep you Sir.
Thanks Brother,
It is one of our mission and with this, am sure we will create several jobs and raise more farmers.
A very nice project. Such idea and project is what a country like Nigeria need at such a time like this. I will Br pleased to be a part of it.
Thanks Brother,
Will be glad to have you on board and lets produce enough rice to feed our dear country.
Wonderful project, it a great platform to encourage our youths and farmers.
Thanks Faith,
We will do our best to encourage as many of them as possible.
Nice project sir, this is surely going to help empower our nation and empower our youths. Ready to fly with you when the time comes.
Thanks Brother,
Sure Bro, You are always with me and together, we will always achieve more.
It’s a great project and ınıtıatıve….you have my backıng. All the best!
Nice one
well structured proposal.highly motivational and inspiring.u really are some amazing visioneer..Godspeed!
Great ideas. Carry on. Hope u get great sponsors for this project of yours is BAM. NICE ONE
Good project.
Good project. The Lord is ur strength.
Brilliant. Wow. And d best so far
Nice project, 100% full support.
Don’t knw much about rice planting and processing but I jst knw that I hv gotten enuf knowledge thru this…..wow ….can I be a part of this? ……..nice proposal …spiced wit clarity….
It’s a great project I support you fully
Good idea
I have known him for years as a leader and i know he is well able to achieve this dream without doubt. GOODLUCK SIR.
Wow. This is indeed great and wonderful vision that will create employment to unemployed, and also will reduce the importation of rice in Lagos state.this is great.
Wow! This is visionary. A great project with the potential to generate revenues, employment and also grow our country. A nice one to be associated with.
Wow! This is visionary. A great project with the potential of generating revenues, employment and growing our country. A nice one to be associated with.
Wow! Interesting. Am Inspired. Yes Let The Dream Come Alive, We Support You.
May the Lord bless be with you in these project. Am at ur back.
The agricultural sector is going to face enormous challenges in order to feed the 9.6 billion people that the FAO predicts are going to inhabit this planet by 2050 (i.e if Christ tarries): food production must therefore increase by 70% by 2050 to avoid food scarcity, and project like yours seeks to strengthen food security.
Quite laudable and impressive proposal I must say. No doubt, you’ve got all it takes to do exceptional well in this project. I see you surpassing your set goals. The sky is your starting point! Hope to partner with you in the nearest future. Congrats in advance!
The agricultural sector is going to face enormous challenges in order to feed the 9.6 billion people that the FAO predicts are going to inhabit this planet by 2050 (i.e. if Christ tarries): food production must therefore increase by 70% by 2050 to avoid food scarcity, and project like yours seeks to strengthen food security.
Quite laudable and impressive proposal I must say. No doubt, you’ve got all it takes to do exceptional well in this project. I see you surpassing your set goals. The sky is your starting point Bro! Hope to partner with you in the nearest future. Congrats in advance!
Perfect! I love this, and will want to be part of the success. You are blessed.
This is awesome! I loved your dream and your drive to achieve goal beyond the reach. Your dream is capital intensive but, of benefits to the nation if supported. Thanks! for having people like you in our great country Nigeria.
Truly, this is a great project and it worth venturing into. The lord will see you through.
This is an amiable project and i love to share in the resplendence of this unique idea..
this is a terrific project, hence, will love to share in the resplendence of this unique idea
Wow ! great idea, keep up, I am willing to partner with you.
This is a very laudable concept and writeup. I trust you can pull it through
impacting n profiting idea
impactful and profiting… on point
I am persuaded you will succeed because of the gaps in rice production and consumption as enumerated here. One thing I observed is that rice will traveled from far away Asia, arrived Cotonou and still remains 50kg but as it crosses Nigeria border the weight status will change. I mean it will become less in weight per bag and become a mixture of different brand of rice. Why?!!!!! That is one factor we will no longer have if produced locally. I wish you success.
Rice produce is begging for attention in this part of the world and the earlier we arrested this dependence on importation by engaging and encouraging local creative skills and output the better for our economic forward match. Bravo Austin!
Dear Austin, I am impressed by your story, of self actualization. Like you I was self motivated back in 1986, just coming home from the US to embark on farming venture.
I have a rice processing structure I built on an acre of land in Ogun state in 1987..
Unfortunately things became too rough for my liking and had to shelve the rice processing project due to lack of support then.
People were literally mocking me back then. I started by supplying paddy rice to Agro Millers in Markurdi in Benue State, for processed parboiled rice which I shipped to Lagos for sale. It only lasted one trip because, people in Lagos refused to eat the rice thinking it was stone laden, whereas it was the best quality rice being produced in Nigeria
If you are interested in using the Warehouse by rehabbing it , I will allow you have it for lease for ten years, for close to nothing.
For further details contact me at Crownhead@sbcglobal.net.
Sincerely.
JO