Who?
I am Eluwole Olaniyi Akinkunmi, 31, from Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. I have B.Tech (Bachelor in Technology) in agricultural economics and extension from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
I am an agricultural entrepreneur with eight-years’ quality experience running farms as a social enterprise to create jobs for women and young people, and build the capacity of disadvantaged women and young people in my community.
What?
Maize and cassava are used as raw materials in some industries in Nigeria, they are also used as food for animal and human beings, and this has made them to be on high demand.
But due to some factors, many young people have quitted the farming business for other economic activities and this has caused a great adverse effect on the economy of our community and affected the livelihood of many families and causing under production as many production companies cannot get enough for their productions.
Some of the factors that affected the production of this include, poor yield due to poor seeds and stems planted, inadequate capital to fund the project, poor storage facility, poor processing method etc.
This has led to my great idea which is cultivating 20acres of land intercropping cassava enriched with vitamin A and yellow maize.
We have 20 acres of land with soil nutrient, soil structure and topography suitable for cultivating grains and tubers. As the growing season is fast approaching, we plan to clear the land and get it ready for the rain, to get optimum and quality yield we will buy improved maize seeds and cassava stems from the institute of international and tropic agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria, for planting.
The planting will commence in June with young men and women in the village being employed to perform the activities on the farm.
Why?
I have been practising agriculture for the past eight years. I have adequate and knowledge of it. And I have the passion to train, assist, and empower young farmers in my community in my own little way.
Our community does not have access to improved seeds and stems due to poor finance, transportation, education, and other socioeconomic factors. I intend to plant the 20 acres of improved breed of maize and cassava, after the harvesting the product will not be sold externally, but to the community at a very reduced rate at the next growing season. This we’ll do with monitoring and motivation by our farm support services, which will make agriculture attractive to the young farmers in the community and help them bounce back to agriculture
Steps
- We currently have 20 acres of land suitable for planting maize and cassava, which is a major factor for the success of the project.
- We intend to clear the land and get set as the raining season is fast approaching.
- Buy improved seeds and cassava stems from the institute of international tropic agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria
- Employ 20 young people both male and female for the activity.
- By May, first and second plough will be done.
- By June, the planting will commence with maize planting and cassava will be planted early July.
- Weeding will be done in august
- Harvesting and storage in jute bags will be in October.
- Cassava will be harvested after six months.
What has been done to get this project started?
I have tried to get this started long ago. Part of my efforts has yielded by getting 20 acres of fertile and suitable land for the project. Also contacted the local government for tractors to be used for the operation.
How to measure the success of the project?
The success of this project will begin to manifest between 4 to 6 months from the commencement.
- We plan to train and equip 100 young farmers in the community; the number of young farmers trained and empowered.
- The number of community members that are able to access the seeds and stems for their planting in the next season.
- The revenue generated at the end of the process.
- The socio economic impact on the community within the year.
- Profit generated through the sales of the maize seedlings, cassava tubers and cassava stems.
How will USD 5,000 grant be used?
The grant will be used mainly for running costs, as it will be used to procure inputs and major operations on the farm.
- First and second ploughing of the soil USD 500 in May.
- Purchase of maize seedlings and cassava stems USD 750 in May.
- Fertilizer application USD 1,000
- Farm tools and chemicals USD 300 in June
- Harvesting and storage using maize cribs and jute bags USD 900 in October
- Labour will be used from May to the end of the growing season USD 1,100
- Contingency USD 450.
Blogpost and picture submitted by Eluwole Olaniyi Akinkunmi (Nigeria): mailto:eluwoleniyi[at]yahoo.com
The content, structure and grammar are at the discretion of the author only.
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this is a project that will surely help young people in agriculture and help the growth of a community.
what do you think the Government need to do to encourage farming among the youth of the country?
I think government can do a lot,government can make available some of the farm input like seedling,improved breeds and provide market for the farm produce,also make good arrangement for storage and processing.
thank you so much,it will indeed be a great opportunity for me to contribute to my community
definitely it will even help the youths by making agriculture note attractive to them.
Great Concept, I like your breakdown and plan, youth of this generation shouldn’t depend on white collar job, this is providing job, feeding the community, and growing the economy. Great work Niyi
yea that is one of our plans to empower the youths and make them independent by equipping them with knowledge needed for the operation
This is a project that should be supported. We need to go back to agriculture to boost our economy through the exportation of agricultural products, this will alleviate poverty, reduce unemployment amidst the youth.
yea that is one of our plans to empower the youths and make them independent by equipping them with knowledge needed for the operation
yes thank you
This is a wonderful project, and the agripreneur has really tried. i guess he should be encouraged with this grant.
Mr Eluwole Olaniyi, i wish you success
This is challenging, i have always wanting to start an agric business but the challenge has always been fund. So when i see young entrepreneurs against all odds and still able to survive. I think such entrepeneurs should be encouraged with grants. Mr. Eluwole, i wish pray you get the grant.
thank you for the encouragement
great idea
Kudos
thank you
I love the way Mr. Eluwole organized the proposal. I believe in what i have read and i am sure it will be profitable and imapcting to his community.
yes it will be a very profitable venture for the community
thank you.
Its a good idea and need to be supported. Agriculture is the back bone of the nation,if young men and women can venture into these then we will be back on our feet
Its a good idea.agriculture is the back bone of the nation,we need more youth in these so as to reduce rate of poverty
I believe in this project and your analysis. Going back into agriculture is part of the way we can diversify our economy.
This is lovely, I support your program because it will reduce poverty and improve lives. Kudos bro
I believe in this project and your analysis. Going back into agriculture is part of the way we can diversify our economy. I wish you well
there is a need for us to empower our youths in the community productively to and shun every form of youth violence in the community
Great idea
Its a wonderful project
its a thumbs up, agriculture is our root and should be the lead
its rear seeing such zeal towards agriculture for a youth like you. i encourage you to ride on
thank you
i love young farmers,it inspires me alot.
Its wonderful, the grant be given to him.
In a country like ours where food security is on the front banner of agricultural transformation agenda, this proposal would go along way in supporting government policy direction of achieving household food security and also engaging and empowering many jobless youths and women.
infact I. few years to come the effect will be felt in the whole city.
whao!!! This is great
yes,this is a great project that i am sure that it will work,keep it up
the great farmer, the projet is good
i think if this can be carefully carried out it will seriously help ur youths not only in your community but Nigeria as a whole.
definitely it will as many of the youths are even waiting for it.
definitely it will as many of the youths are even waiting for
good idea that if well monitored it will make a positive impact.
If only every youth can imbibe the spirit of agriculture, Nigeria will be better off. Thumbs up Niyi, I pray you get the grant
This is wonderful!!!
Good work brother
Nice one
No nation can survive without agriculture. Hence, we should encourage those that are willing to go into it.
Wonderful
Lovely!
Agriculture is the strength of every country, good one bro.
Good one
All I see is the feasibility of this project. It will work
Hmmm, I always know you have more to offer this country.
This is wonderful
brilliant idea
This is the future of our dear country
Even from the breakdown of proposal, I already know that it will work
are you planning to extend this beyond your community
Good one
Very good concept Mr Eluwole. This will also help in creating job for the rural communities and thus reduce rural urban migration of youths. With this, they will also venture into agriculture.
Youth with great minds. Thumbs up to you sir. I hope to see this idea boom into life. Once again, kudos.
this will be great if properly and diligently carried out
bril,i pray God will see you throughliant work,just try to monitor it
agriculture is the solution to our problem, if well carried out there will be a great yield
I think this should not be limited to a community but should be speed nationwide
I believe in this young farmer.
it’s high time our youth are encouraged to go back to the farm. Good one GFAR, grants like this can help resuscitate our agricultural sector. Mr. Eluwole, nice proposal.
Well spelt out proposal. I pray it wins.
winning proposal.
concise and precise proposal
Very good and encouraging
keep it up bro.
This is a clarion call to our youth. we should stop looking for what our country will do for us but rather what we can do for our country.
Let’s make our country green again, and it is only agriculture that can help us achieve that.
whao!!.
You are truly an agripreneur. The breakdown is good, it will encourage any would be investor.
This is a great idea, but I am curious. How are you going to conduct the training?
What is the module operandi of the training and what is the selection criteria for the participants?
achievable vision.
if properly implemented, it will produce more than what is written here.
It’s indeed a waoh!!! concept…kip it up bro
Honourable Niyi, This is is a good project that can change the conmunity. Thumbs up,
keep d flag flying.
this is an innovation that will restore agriculture to the way it was on our community pls keep it up
how can someone be part of this please?
as soon as we are through a with this,we will make awareness and involve the youths.
our youth should be sensitized to think like this not as a dependent human that wait for the government for everything they need.
if 10% of our youth can be thinking this way and come up with good proposal as this. Then Nigeria is on her way to compete with the developed nations.
this is a good project in the right direction.
Paddling the economic canoe of Nigeria in the right direction.
We believe in you brother.
Good one coming from a Ladokite. wish you the best.
in a long time seeing an independent mind.
this is good especially when the country is clamoring for made in Nigeria.
support for the development of Nigeria agricultural sector through agriculture grants for those who are willing to do the business like Niyi.
only agriculture can bring us out of this self inflicted economic recession, and agriculture is the the number one sector to embrace and develop.
The survive of our citizens lies on the farm l, that was what are father’s handed over to us. good project for the sustainability of agric-business.
If properly used, this grant should liberate the youth of the community of operations.
Minds like this are needed in our country. pray this grant will be granted to you.
have you considered how ICT can be used in effectively achieving the needed goal of this proposal?
Instead of discussing about how corrupt our leaders are, let’s put our minds and time to good use like Niyi.
Nice work Niyi, how can one get grants like this for engineering.
there are many sites like this that also support engineering works.
An independent mind with an eye for excellence. good one Niyi.
wish agricpreneural studies could be taught in our schools. Good one Niyi.
we threw agriculture away because of black gold. this is the time for us to back to our pre-colonial occupation, and that is what this proposal is all about.
We missed our way at the wake of independence but people like Niyi can actually help redirect us back to the promise land through agriculture.
agriculture is the only thing that can make vision 2020 attainable. keep it up Niyi.
for a better healthy nation, agriculture should be supported. I support this proposal.
great farmers are known by how they prepare for the Farming season. from your proposal I can say that this is not your first time of running a successful farm.
my full support goes to this proposal.
not just achievable but also reducing poverty in the community and increasing our internally generated revenue.
Your proposal is worthy of the grant.
farmers are leaders, you have showed that in this proposal.
GFAR, this is good and such should be encouraged not those competition that destroys the psychology of our youth making them believe that fame is good without hard labour.
Going back to the farm is our way out to make Nigeria sustainable
having gone through this proposal and that of others young farmers (not all) I believe this is more precise and easy to understand and implement.
This proposal should win. hope it’s not just words because implementation is the major thing.
agric-business, the lifeline of any nation. fully support.
rightly said, having access to good seed has been a challenge for young farmers. if Niyi can surmount that then I am behind this proposal.
what a great conception. ride on
there is hope for agriculture if we can embrace this.
this will make a great impact,I am sure.
this is indeed a good idea that must be practiced
is this going to be annual thing or be repeated annually?
Great job bro, I am very sure you will make tremendous impact on your community with the actuation of such project through job creation and source of inspiration to other young innovative minds. all the best
have you considered how ICT can be
used in effectively achieving the needed
goal of this proposal?
This is a laudable and needed project for this time. Am sure Niyi record another landmark success in this area as he has always done in the last 8 years.
this will be a beginning of new thing in the community,I am very sure.
A great alternative to solve unemployment and ensure food security.
Extension workers and various feedback mechanisms can be involved, while states, federal government should package these type of projects like in the old western region as state, national agricultural policies.
yes this will create employment for the youths and make the populating by out he to be self reliant.
Very good concept.
we truly need positive minds like yours in our dear country where people will see agriculture as the bed rock of the nation. I want to believe that if we can all support and encourage youths like you, young minds will be more encouraged to venture into agriprenuers thereby generating employment opportunities,stop rural urban migration in search of white collar job, increase the county GDP and drastically reduce poverty. I want to plead that the grant be given to him for the accomplishment of this great vision.
that is why we want to equip young people who have positive minds but no opportunity through the program.
Niyi, this is commendable, one of these days I should facilitate your coming to my village to replicate this. I want you to note the previous statement. I also pray you get this grant because I trust you will do what you’ve stated that you will do. I’ve not seen you in years but I’ve heard of your agricultural and entrepreneural muscle flexings. Godspeed brother.
Great vision…Wish you good success.
more Nigerian youth need to see this so that they can be inspired to move to the farm.
I have heard of your antecedents and I am sure this is another success.
I wish you the very best.
Your Farming success is about to cross the borders of this country if you win this grant.
Good to know that some youth are leading the pack to the farm.
good one, we are looking up to you as a role model in agric-business.
The cry of this administration is to support made in Nigeria. as a fellow Nigerian, I support this proposal.
I commend your dodgedness despite all odds you have shown that we (Nigerians) can survive on agriculture.
I am waiting for the implementation of this.
Niyi, agriculture is the bedrock of any sustainable economic. Your vision is good but I think a focus on how to increase your output is paramount.
Your proposal is nice and feasible.
the agricultural sector needs great minds like you. wish you the best in this contest.
what the proposal is set to achieve is well spelt out, which makes it a good proposal worthy of wining the contest.
Agric-business is the in-thing now, anybody that has the finance and finesse should be encouraged.
I pray you get this grant because I wouldn’t mind learning under you.
Encouraging proposal, wish it wins the content.
Great vision, but why maize and cassava and not other cash crops?
this proposal should win this grant and still get an endorsement from the ministry of agriculture.
Mr. Eluwole, look for a way you can merge ICT with agriculture because that is what can speed up your work..
Thank God you are a Nigerian, that means we can resuscitate the agricultural sector.
This is a great idea.
this is what Nigeria need at this time.
if you pull this through then Nigeria is on the verge of solving her food security issue.
This is commendable
this is laudable
Your proposal is mouth watering.
Without doubt agriculture is the ancient source of Nigeria income before early 1970s of crude oil we nearly abrogate agriculture for crude oil. Wait a moment, oil had been gradually affected by modern technology such as solar buses and car, electric cars among other which brought about devaluation. The above parables revealed that agriculture remains key for continuity. I hereby, appreciate government in advance to pay undiluted attention to this golden ideas. No farmer no nation
yes I will be glad to make positive impact in your community too
this is great we hope you win this as we wait to see our cmmu ity changing
I think this type of idea should be taken up at the national level.
but you will have to start this as early as possible for the planting season is fast approaching.
not just achievable but also reducing
poverty in the community,
increasing our internally generated
revenue.
I this this will also address the issue of food security in the nearest future.good idea
agriculture should be our major occupation to improve the economy
Good one i respect your knowledge.
We all should support agriculture if we really want our country to develop
Agric-business can’t thrive without access to grants. Mr. Eluwole, i wish you the best in this contest
developing our agricultural sector should be our major goal since the black gold has failed us as a country
To reduce unemployment and ensure food security, agriculture should be made the main generator of income for the country
i support your opinion
I had to read this several times, i am really impressed with the proposal
i would say the writer knows what he wants and he has spelt it out in a way that even a novice will understand
Such grants should also be provided by the Federal Government, this will encourage alot of people in the sector
Food security is important for any country and this can only be achieved by encouraging people to farm
This is really a good work, with good seedlings, this can move from a community thing to a national level
Our leaders should be thinking in this light. This is the only way we can liberate our country people
Mr. Eluwole, this project should be starting anytime soon because the raining season is here already.
Mr. Eluwole, this proposal though has not been kicked off looks as if it has started generating the required result.
This is a wonderful proposal worthy of wining the grant.
I can’t but applaud this proposal, well detailed and concise.
It’s good to see youths who are working for a better Nigeria.
You didn’t mention anything about storage of your harvest. Nice piece.
Very insightful
Thoughtful
A wonderful piece, keep it up.
Good plan.
Achievable
Excellent piece.
The proposal is well constructed.
Thumbs up
Great work.
Wonderful piece.
Perfect for our country.
I believe in the feasibility of this proposal.
correct, farming not for the lazy bones. Nice piece sir.
I love food, I love farmers, I appreciate youths who venture into agriculture.
Great work, I respect your courage.
Great work, I salute you
Great work, you really need to be encouraged.
Great work, such work needs serious encouragement.
Great work, i salute your courage.
Great Job, I appreciate it when people use their work to help other
Great Job, you really deserve to be encouraged since you aim to employ more people and the community
Awesome idea, I believe in your project, food security should be encouraged.
How I wish you are encouraged with funds to do more you are a blessing to others
Your vision is awesome, keep it up.
Seriously we youths need to go back to the farm but we funds are the only limiting factor. Keep the good work going, I hope you will be given fund to continue the struggle for a greater job.
Only few with dedication and interest are going into the field you are into, I wish you luck.
Wow, good work. Keep on believing and the reward will be great. #Motivate
True vision, I like the idea of helping others and the community at large. I hope people like you are empowered to do more.
Thumbs up, keep on doing what you do best and surely you will be fulfilled.
I believe you will surely get there, your vision is good and needs to be encouraged
Agriculture can be interesting if well encouraged/empowered- that is true
I believe in empowering the youth to do much more better, I
I had to read this several times, i am really impressed with the proposal.
A great alternative to solve unemployment and ensure food security.
Extension workers and various feedback mechanisms can be involved, while states, federal government should package these type of projects like in the old western region as state, national agricultural policies.
I believe in this project and your analysis. Going back into agriculture is part of the way we can diversify our economy. I wish you well
definitely it will as many of the youths are even waiting for it.
Instead of discussing about how corrupt our leaders are, let’s put our minds and time to good use
This is is a good project that can change the conmunity.
This is a wonderful proposal worthy of wining the grant.
what the proposal is set to achieve is well spelt out
Agric-business can’t thrive without access to grants. Mr. Eluwole, i wish you the best in this contest
I think government can do a lot,government can make available some of the farm input like seedling,improved breeds and provide market for the farm produce
this is a project that will surely help young people in agriculture and help the growth of a community.
yes,this is a great project that i am sure that it will work,keep it up
I love the way Mr. Eluwole organized the proposal. I believe in what i have read and i am sure it will be profitable and impacting to his community.
what do you think the Government need to do to encourage farming among the youth of the country?
Its a good idea and need to be supported. Agriculture is the back bone of the nation,if young men and women can venture into these then we will be back on our feet
definitely it will even help the youths by making agriculture note attractive to them.
This is a wonderful project, and the agripreneur has really tried. i guess he should be encouraged with this grant.
Its a good idea.agriculture is the back bone of the nation,we need more youth in these so as to reduce rate of poverty
This is a project that should be supported. We need to go back to agriculture to boost our economy
When i see young entrepreneurs against all odds and still able to survive. I think such entrepeneurs should be encouraged with grants.
if young men and women can venture into these then we will be back on our feet
I think such entrepeneurs should be encouraged with grants.
youth of this generation shouldn’t depend on white collar job, this is providing job, feeding the community, and growing the economy
its rear seeing such zeal towards agriculture for a youth like you.
This is a project that should be supported. We need to go back to agriculture to boost our economy through the exportation of agricultural products
This proposal would go along way in supporting government policy direction of achieving household food security.
I believe in what i have read and i am sure it will be profitable
it will help the youths by making agriculture more attractive to them.
Youth of this generation shouldn’t depend on white collar job, this is providing job and feeding the community
The project is good
Empowering many youths will surely translate to helping many others indirectly.
If this is carefully carried out it will seriously help our youths not only in your community but Nigeria as a whole
This will also help in creating job for the rural communities and thus reduce rural urban migration of youths.
Its a good idea and need to be supported.
We should encourage those that are willing to go into it.
There is a need for us to empower our youths in the community productively
A good project in the right direction.
I see the feasibility of this project. It will work!
This grant will definitely liberate the youth of the community
Youths need to see this so that they can be inspired to move to the farm.
From your proposal I can say that this is not your first time of running a successful farm.
This will make a great impact.
it’s high time our youth are encouraged to go back to the farm. Good one GFAR, grants like this can help resuscitate our agricultural sector.
This will be a beginning of new thing in the community
The agricultural sector needs great minds like you
This is a great idea n project, am re searching on the GESS programme and the newly introduced programme of NAP. The government are really trying in d agric sector, but dia shud be an increase in d sensitization aspect. Am currently managing an 100 acres of cassava. Food insecurity is just a matter of tym.