YAP Proposal #386: Integrated catfish and livestock farm (Lukman Lawal, Nigeria)

Who?

I am Lawal Lukman, born on August 21^st, 1983 in the city of Gusau in Zamfara State, Nigeria to the family of Malam Lawal Abdulhamid. Zamfarms  is owned by myself, its founder, a graduate of chemical engineering. I have undergone several trainings in the agricultural sector with agro-entrepreneurship as common culture right from childhood.

I have a passion for business, for development and for trying out new concepts with the business skills, financial literacy and vocational skills I have acquired to become a successful entrepreneur.

Economic impact of my project

Zamfarms ltd. is an integrated farming business which has plan for a fish farm, animal husbandry and poultry farm section. Presently the farm is in its growing stage and the farm is into only catfish farming now. The animal husbandry section will consist of cows, goats, rams and sheep and has a capacity for up to 100 animals.

The poultry house can accommodate chickens, turkeys, ducks and guinea fowls, up to 2000 birds. The fish farm section consists of catfish of different sizes including fingerlings, juveniles to be sold to other farmers to stock their farms, fresh table fish and smoked fish to be sold to the society and general public.

We have a capacity for 50,000 heads of fingerlings/juveniles and a total capacity of 20,000 table fish.

Zamfarms ltd. is situated in Mareri village along Zaria Road Gusau, Zamfara State. The business goal of Zamfarms ltd. is to produce high quality fingerlings, juveniles and table fish, eggs, healthy and hygienic breeds of poultry and meat products to our customers.

We also wish to make available to the customers a better packaged and quality controlled product at a reasonable price that will allow the farm and its owners to realize a profit. It will later on include ready-to-eat fish packages, dressed chicken, fresh meat, well spiced suya and kilishi meat product.

It is also the mission of Zamfarms ltd. to foster a healthy working environment, to pay competitive and fair wages to its employees and to provide training and consultancy services. The business will enable creation of a sustainable market and thus enhance trade in fish, chicken and beef products.

These business enterprises shall create several direct and indirect jobs and will always consider the 7 Ps of marketing: place, price, promotion, product, positioning, packaging and people to ensure the growth and sustainability of the business. Zamfarms intends to operate 50 retail outlets with a hygienic environment where fresh and ready to eat meat, chicken, eggs and fish products will be sold to customer.

What motivates me

In Zamfara State, farming is our pride. I opted out to start business, as I wanted to have greater control of my life and not have restrictions in exploring new fields and opportunities.

I am always motivated by what I do, and have patience to see work done. With the passion I have for agro-business I am keen to develop and try out new concepts. With the recent drive by the Federal Government on diversification of the economy, there is a great opportunity for Zamfarms and other agro-entreprenuers.

In Nigeria there is unlimited demand for fish and meat products. Fish consumption accounts for about 35% of animal protein consumption while poultry and animals account for about 65% of animal protein consumption in Nigeria.

In turn, animal husbandry, poultry and fish farming is a vibrant and dynamic commercial sector in Nigeria, ripe with investment and employment opportunities. Recent data show that Nigeria produced less than consumer demand. On the other hand, it was also reported that the unmet needs are met only in part by imports on a yearly basis.

Meeting local consumer demand is in line with Zamfarms commitment to global food security and its positive impact on nutrition. The contribution of Zamfarms to the nation’s economy is very significant in term of employment, income generation, poverty alleviation and foreign exchange.

How?

Success in business is never automatic. Starting up a business is always risky but the chances of success are higher when you plan. Zam-farms will ensure that it makes proper use of the SWOT analysis in the day-to-day business activity of the farms. SWOT analysis has to do with the strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats of the business.

Strengths

• Prime location with easy access.
• Exceptional staff with the can do attitude.
• Combined several years of experience in the Industry.
• Because owner has experience, he already has established a customer market and approved vendors.
• Due to our small size, we believe we can provide exceptional quality by hand-selecting our market specials when compared to our larger corporate competitors
• The same concept holds true in our staffing requirements. By hand-selecting our employees we will strive to offer unsurpassed service when compared to our larger competitors.

Weaknesses

• Recruiting and retaining quality employees.
• Tight margins will allow little wiggle room for error.

Opportunities

• Few barriers to entry allows for immediate business opportunities.
• Offer consultancy services.

Threats

• Government policies.
• Rising operating costs.
• Building/maintaining sales volume.

Strategy Pyramid

Strategy:  Customer Satisfaction.

Tactics: First create awareness. We ensure that awareness of our products will bring customers to us and once we gain them, we will always treat our customer with the warmest and most sincere greeting and ensure they get satisfaction, anticipating repeat customers.

Programs: Provide employee training on customer service and retention. Offer ongoing training programs for employees, keeping them current on industry trends and safety at work.  Keep track of employee’s progress through performance reviews and offer employees incentives for attracting and retailing customers

Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Zamfarms will offer better service delivery, quality, hygienic and affordable catfish, poultry, and meat products. We will keep our prices in check by meticulous monitoring of our controllable production expenses, that is, by keeping a close eye on our Prime Cost and Inventory.

Zamfarms is located along Zaria Road on a 100 by 180 piece of land. Presently  has in place 4 concentrate ponds, 2 earthen ponds, 3 plastic ponds for the catfish fattening, 1 bore-hole and a well for water supply,  1 pumping machine, 2 gasoline generators, farm offices, a brooding room for broilers, and a security house all well fenced on the acquired the land.

The pond has a capacity for up to 5,000 juvenile to table sized fish and a capacity for brooding up to 500 day old chickens (DOC) and area reserved for animal husbandry.

With sufficient working capital the forecasted revenues and sales should be within the forecasted market demands for our products. From the second year onwards, the various divisions should be able to bring in adequate sales revenues.

We are expecting a conservative 20-30% increase in sales revenues annually over the next 3 years.  The growth is adjusted for inflation, with the addition of the consultancy service revenues.

Budget

 

Blogpost and picture submitted by Lukman Lawal (Nigeria) – zamfarms[at]gmail.com

The content, structure and grammar is at the discretion of the author only.

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