Fishing and Nigeria's 2020 Goals

By Peter O Osalor 

The image is a strikingly ironic symbol of the state of Nigerian fishing in general. The country enjoys more than 850 km of coastline, besides an enviable number of well-stocked rivers, inland lakes, lagoons and creeks. The topography, soil composition and rainfall patterns in this portion of sub-Saharan Africa support an abundance of aquatic life across freshwater, brackish and saltwater ecosystems. However, tilapias, catfish, carp and other freshwater species make up 80% of all cultivation in Nigeria, with commercial maritime trawling and deep-sea fishing remaining relatively under-exploited operations. Though credible data on the sector is extremely limited, media reports indicate the fishing business contributed $60 million to the national economy in 2008, or roughly 4% of total agricultural output. The sector currently accounts for 40% of the country's total animal protein intake and offers employment and livelihood to more than 3 million people, although its contribution to the economy is minimal. 

Estimated annual fish cultivation was pegged at 120,000 tonnes in the 1960s. The figure had halved by the beginning of the next decade and continues to fall; current domestic production hovering around just 400,000 tonnes. The sudden change in fortune came about with the oil boom of the 1970s, when the discovery of vast oil and natural gas reserves radically altered official priorities. Economic diversification was stalled as Abuja kept pumping back millions in oil profits into further exploration, to the neglect of all other sectors. Endemic poverty descended over large parts of rural Nigeria as traditional livelihoods began to wither away. The absence of inclusive growth flared ethnic tensions and provoked decades of civil war and recurring military takeovers towards the end of the last century. Despite its considerable foreign exchange earnings, human development indicators plummeted across the board as the Nigerian economy grew increasingly oil-dependent and unsustainable. 

National ambitions were renewed with the reinstatement of civilian rule in 1999, when Abuja embarked on an extensive programme of economic reform and restructuring. The government under former president O Obsanjo adopted a comprehensive roadmap premised on the objective of making Nigeria a significant player in regional and global affairs. Specifically, Obsanjo's Vision 2020 document mandates sector-wide initiatives to propel Nigeria into the top 20 global economies in a time-bound manner. The present dispensation under President UM Yar'Adua remains committed not just to achieving the 2020 objective, but also the UN Millennial Development goals of universal basic human rights. 

It is in this connection that the fishing sector presents unique opportunities as both a poverty alleviation strategy and a tool for rapid entrepreneurial growth. Present levels of fish cultivation satisfy only a fraction of local requirement, with exports having to fill in for almost 95% of annual demand. Nigeria is in fact the top importer of fish in the African continent, sourcing more than 1.5 million tonnes of fish annually from international markets. Unofficial estimates suggest less than 10% of the country's fish farming potential is currently being utilised, with as much as 60,000 hectares of unused land available for expanding the sector. The fact remains that Nigeria's vast natural resources and human capital can be leveraged to promote extensive fishing as a means of ensuring not only exports but also food security. In principle at least, the Nigerian fishing industry has a lot to look forward to.

Because of its extensive coastline and tropical climate, Nigeria has the potential to develop a diversified ecology for a range of commercially viable varieties of fish. The economic appeal behind fishing is tremendous, considering the secondary and tertiary enterprises it can generate. More efficient methods of inland cultivation and coastal trolling, executed in an export-oriented environment, can spur rapid growth of down-the-line industries. Fishing, by itself, has the potential of driving considerable enterprise development, transforming rural economies and generating direct and indirect employment opportunities in the process. Abuja's primary responsibility lies in providing opportunities for export of fish and fish products to international markets. Although viable data on the subject is lacking, the aggregate economic loss due to reduced local fish production is significant and needs focused policy initiatives to correct. 

The enterprise potential of this sector is made doubly significant by the nature of the business. Fishing relies heavily on small and middle scale ancillary industries like canning, net-making and boat building, while supporting an additional base of activities in storage, processing and marketing. The net scope for employment generation, business development and poverty eradication through these allied activities make fishing deeply relevant to Nigeria's quest for inclusive economic growth. 

Here are some of the most pressing arguments in favour of a rapid expansion of fishing activities:

I.    Aquaculture provides opportunities for optimal land use, allowing areas unsuitable for crops to be developed into economically productive ponds and fisheries. 
II.    Focussed expansion of artisanal and small-scale fishing can help turn around rural economies rapidly by generating jobs and sparking enterpreneruial activity. 
III.    In development-deprived areas and among rural communities, sustainable fish farming can help improve both nutritional and living standards.
IV.    Nigeria's highly diversified tropical ecology makes fishing in brackish and fresh waters almost a zero opportunity-cost endeavour with infinite growth potential. 

Early in 2008, the fishing industry in the coastal Nigerian state of Akwa Ibom was paralysed in a wave of extortion and boat capture unleashed by sea-borne pirates. The attacks forced trawlers to go on an indefinite strike, bringing the local economy to a standstill and causing terrible loss of revenue to the regional council. While this particular situation was eventually resolved, security remains just one of several momentous challenges restraining the expansion of Nigerian fishing: 

o    The absence of a sustainable and progressive fisheries policy represents a fundamental hurdle, with lax government regulation routinely forcing small-scale operations out of business. 
o    Population expansion in coastal areas is giving rise to over-fishing and unscientific practices, destroying marine ecosystems and threatening underwater environments. 
o    Organised fishing attracts high capital expenditure in Nigeria as most of the necessary equipment, boats, feed, technology and know-how has to be imported.
o    Infrastructure deficits severely hamper the storage, transport and marketing of fish in rural areas, making profitable urban markets unavailable to traditional fishing communities. 
o    Despite specific government efforts, commercial deep-sea fishing is out of reach for local entrepreneurs; the activity remains limited to the purview of foreign-owned companies. 

Although the sector continues to receive sporadic government nudging and funding, the impact of these measures has been considerably restricted thus far due to lack of insight and effective implementation. Special schemes to promote fishing in target communities have also failed because of a low awareness about profitability in the business. Turning around this mindset could well prove to be one of the deciding challenges facing the Nigerian fishing industry. The nation's history and unique circumstances will undoubtedly test its resolve to achieve formidable goals. Hopefully, the fervour of the Argungu fishermen and their quest for the biggest fish will provide some creative inspiration.

The Role Of Animals In Organic Farming

By Phongphichan Sukhonthanit 

Farm animals are an important an integrated part of most organic farms. They make valuable contributions to the productivity and sustainability of organic agricultural systems. In addition to this strong economic bond between humans and animals in organic farming, there also is a moral (and sometimes emotional) bond to animals as sentient and fellow beings on this planet. This imposes a responsibility on humans for the welfare of farm animals. However, the development of organic animal husbandry has been slower than the organic plant production. There are several reasons for this, historical and philosophical as well as the fact that research on animal production often is more expensive and difficult to carry out compared to crop research. However, organic animal research has increased considerably in several European countries lately and resulting from this, improved efficiency and productivity can be expected in organic animal production, as well as better animal welfare.

There is a big interest in organic farming in Europe, both among politicians, consumers and farmers. Organic agriculture is subsidized by the EU, and the Commission is currently working on an Action Plan for organic food and agriculture. Animals are an important part of most organic farms and research to develop better organic systems is now performed in many European countries. Thus we can expect organic animal production to increase during the years to come. At the same time there are challenges and dilemmas that the organic movement and organic farmers must face and solve to improve animal production and to maintain credibility and trust among consumers, for example in relation to animal welfare.

In organic farming, agriculture is often referred to as an agroecosystem. An agroecosystem is a community of plants and animal interaction with their physical and chemical environments that have been modified by people to produce feed, fibers and other products for human consumption and processing. The goal of organic farming is to design a quilt of agroecosystems within a landscape unit, each mimicking the structure and function of local, natural ecosystems, thus acquiring their resilience and sustainability. Ideally, the organic farmer manipulates the natural ecosystem to achieve sustainable production, using an understanding of ecological relationships while trying to minimize the use of external inputs and harm to the environment.

Although it is possible to create agroecosystems without farm animal, animal provide substantial advantages for system productivity and sustainability. For example, farm animal have an important role in processing biomass and recycling nutrients. Organic farming systems with herbivores are generally more productive than those without them. The animals can fill trophic niches that otherwise would not be utilized, for example marginal lands otherwise unsuitable for agriculture. However, in order to create sustainable agroecosystems, the animal component must meet certain requirements:-

1. The selection of species and breeds must be adapted to crop production suitable for the area, to available resources on the farm or in the region, and to local agro-climatic conditions.

2. The number of animals must be balanced in relation to the possible crop production and available resources.

3. Rearing systems must be designed to avoid harming the environment and to minimize the use of fossil energy.

Ruminants, such as cattle and sheep, have a particularly important role in agroecosystems since they process leguminous forage plants. These are the backbone of organic crop production because of their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. To obtain sufficient nitrogen in an organic crop rotation, about one-third of the crops should be legumes. In practice this means that organic animal production must be based on ruminants (and that these are fed like ruminants). In contrast, monogastric animal, such as pig and poultry, require high quality protein in their diets. These animals can be considered as competing with humans for food, at least to the extent they use protein sources suitable for direct human consumption. Thus, it is sometimes argued that monogastric animals should be considered marginal in organic farming, primarily to be fed on agricultural wastes. They also can contribute to the agroecosystem by producing useful services, such as biological weed or pest control.

Development approaches for organic animal production in developing countries has to be based on realistic and practical situations. First, one must recognize the limitation and complexities of export market for animal products, while there exists greater market opportunities for organic animal products locally, for instance indigenous chicken meat and eggs. Practical approaches for organic farming should be based on and developed from locally existing animal production systems which already have close resemblance to prescribed organic practices, such as those mentioned earlier for ruminant and indigenous chicken production. The local standards and guidelines for organic animal farming ought to be initially considered and developed from such existing animal husbandry practices. Further development of such standards will be a continuous process based on practical experiences gained from production, processing, and marketing of the resulted organic animal products.

The Success of the promotion of organic animal farming at national level will depend on many important factors including government policies and legislative supports, socio-economic infrastructure, farm training and extension as well as other technical supports.

Mosquitoes & Disease - The Deadliest Creatures?

By Ken Child



Most of the time, a mosquito bite is nothing more than a minor irritant that swells up, itches something fierce, then fades and is quickly forgotten. That is, unless that mosquito is carrying a bug of its own.



Mosquitoes kill more than a million people across the globe every year through the transmission of dangerous viruses and parasites. A female mosquito lights on an infected person or animal, sucks up the diseased blood and passes it on to the next victim she bites.



As simply as that, mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis, malaria and even canine heartworms can spread throughout a population. The infected don't even realize they've picked up a disease until the symptoms begin to show.



According to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, "for the first time in nearly 50 years endemic cases of dengue fever and malaria are in the United States. Improvements in world transportation now allow a person infected with a disease to be on a different continent each day. This enables mosquito-borne diseases to travel from one nation to the next."



That ability to spread sickness and death all over the planet is why the Smithsonian National Zoological Park has declared the female Anopheles mosquito - a malaria carrier - the deadliest animal in the world.



So, if you've ever wondered what diseases a mosquito can carry - and how they are transmitted - then read on.



Drawing blood with a mosquito proboscis



First, you need to understand how a mosquito takes your blood.



For the most part, only female mosquitoes feed on the blood of people and animals. They need the protein in blood to help their eggs develop, so they usually will feed before laying each batch. A female mosquito can lay up to three batches of eggs before she dies.



The mosquito uses a serrated proboscis to pierce the skin and reach a capillary. Through a tube inside the proboscis, the mosquito injects saliva containing a mixture of painkiller and blood thinner. Many people are allergic to the saliva, which is what causes the swelling and itching around the bite.



Once the saliva is in, the mosquito begins to draw blood through a second tube in the proboscis. The female usually takes about 0.001 to 0.01 milliliter of blood, according to the American Mosquito Control Association.



If the mosquito is carrying a disease, it can be transmitted through the tiny bits of blood remaining on the proboscis from the mosquito's last victim, as well through the saliva, which may contain viruses or parasites.



A single bite from the right mosquito at the right time, and you're infected.



That's why mosquito experts are always encouraging people to check their yards for standing water where the insects can breed, to avoid being outside at nightfall when they're hunting, and to use repellent, mosquito traps and even netting, if necessary, to keep from being bitten.



Mosquitoes bring malaria



Malaria is caused by a parasite that hitches a ride when an Anopheles mosquito drinks an infected person's blood. Only the Anopheles can transmit malaria, according to the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida.



Ronald Ross, a British entomologist, was the first person to make the connection between mosquitoes and malaria, discovering the parasites in 1897.



The parasites live in human red blood cells, reproducing asexually for two to three days until they burst the cell and flood the bloodstream with new parasites. Some develop into male and female gametocytes, which the mosquito takes in during feeding.



The gametocytes reproduce inside the mosquito over a period of one to three weeks, and create  sporozoites that migrate to the insect's salivary glands. When the mosquito injects saliva into a person, it also passes along the sporozoites, infecting the person with malaria, the Florida researchers report.



Malaria symptoms mimic the flu, causing fever, chills and nausea. Left untreated, it can be fatal.



According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, nearly 500 million people around the world contract malaria each year, and more than one million die. Most of the deaths occur among children on the African continent.



The CDC reported that there were 63 outbreaks of malaria in the United States from 1957 to 2003. In each case, the outbreaks started with someone who had contracted the disease in a country where it is common, then brought it back to the U.S.



At least two species of Anopheles mosquitoes capable of transmitting malaria are prevalent in this country.



The West Nile virus and mosquito bites



The West Nile virus is a relatively mild infection that can sometimes lead to severe encephalitis. It was discovered in the blood of a woman living in Uganda in 1937, and is common throughout Africa, Asia and the Middle East.



It is spread when mosquitoes - primarily Culex mosquitoes -  feed on infected birds such as crows, then pass it to humans through the injection of saliva at the next feeding. The virus enters the bloodstream and begins to multiply.



Symptoms can begin to show within three days to two weeks, and in some cases, the virus crosses into the brain, where it can cause inflammation and disrupt neurological functions, possibly leading to permanent damage to the nervous system.



Those older than 50 are most at risk.



But the good news is that about 80 percent of those who contract West Nile virus from mosquito bites never develop symptoms. A little less than 20 percent will come down with fevers, headaches, nausea and sometimes swollen lymph nodes.



And only about one out of every 150 people infected - less than 1 percent - develop encephalitis, the most severe form of the disease. The first signs of encephalitis are often flu-like symptoms and neck stiffness, leading to high fever, disorientation, seizures, blindness, paralysis and possibly death, according to the CDC.



The mosquito-borne illness first showed up in the United States in 1999 with an outbreak in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Within four years, it had had spread to most of the Midwest and killed a reported 23 people.



In 2007, there were West Nile virus infections in nearly every state. The CDC reported 3,598 illnesses and 121 deaths.



Mosquitoes carry other forms of encephalitis



Eastern equine encephalitis is a cousin to the West Nile Virus, spread the same way - by mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds.



The symptoms are similar and usually emerge about three to 10 days after transmission from a mosquito bite. However, it is a much more serious illness, proving fatal for 30 to 50 percent of those infected, especially among kids and the elderly.



"Because of the high mortality rate, (it) is regarded as one of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the United States," the CDC reports.



Fortunately, it is also relatively rare. Only 220 cases were reported between 1964 and 2004, primarily in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.



Another particularly dangerous disease in the same family is St. Louis Encephalitis, common along the eastern seaboard, the Gulf Coast, and parts of the Midwest. Until West Nile arrived, it was considered the most serious mosquito-borne illness in the country.



As with the other forms of encephalitis, mosquitoes pick it up from birds and pass it to humans, primarily in the late summer to early winter. It doesn't harm either the birds or the insects, but can be brutal to people.



Slightly more than half of those infected develop brain inflammation and the accompanying neurological problems, and 5 to 30 percent will die, depending on the age of the person infected. Even those who survive sometimes suffer permanent memory loss or paralysis.



According to the CDC, there have been nearly 5,000 cases reported in the last 40 years.



Yeah, but what about mosquitoes and HIV?



Short answer: Doesn't happen.



On top of the diseases already mentioned, mosquito bites can transmit, in rare instances, the deadly yellow and dengue fevers to humans, and can pass heartworm larvae to your pooch through their saliva - by the way, once infected the dog is infected for life, according to the University of Florida agriculture extension office.



But researchers at Rutgers University say the one illness mosquitoes cannot carry from person to person is HIV.



For one thing, the virus that causes AIDS does not live in a mosquito's body, the way encephalitis does. Mosquitoes actually digest the virus along with the blood within a day or two of feeding. It never gets a chance to replicate and migrate to the salivary glands.



And,  there just aren't enough HIV particles in the tiny amount of blood that remains on a mosquito's proboscis after feeding to cause infection. While encephalitis bugs circulate at a high volume in the blood stream, HIV traces are relatively minute.



The bottom line is that a person would have to be bitten by 10 million mosquitoes to even have a chance of transmission. And that's statistically improbable, the Rutgers researchers say.



Of course, as you've seen, mosquito-borne illnesses are deadly enough without HIV. Maybe now you understand why those backyard pests are considered one of the most dangerous creatures alive.

THE MOST POISONOUS INSECT

Mosquito are group of
about 3500 species of small insects that are flies (Wikipedia). Thousands of
mosquito species feed on the blood of various host: vertebrates, including
mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some fish; and some invertebrate,
primarily other arthropods.

Mosquito
life cycle

A female can produce up
to 500 eggs before she finally dies.

Mosquito goes through
four separate and distinct stages of its life cycle: Egg, Larva, Pupa, and Adult.

Mosquitoes bite humans to
drink their blood. The nutrients contained in a human’s blood help female
mosquitoes to make the eggs they need to reproduce. The saliva of the mosquito
transmitted to the host with the bite can cause itching and a rash.

Symptoms

Mosquito bites occur
shortly after being bitten, including several harmful infections that mosquitoes
can carry and transmit, including:

·       
Malaria

In
2015, malaria alone caused 438,000 deaths. That same year, 3.4 million people
were at risk of catching malaria worldwide. The world health organization estimates
that between 300 and 500 million cases of malaria occur each year and a child
dies from malaria every 30 seconds.

In
2017, there were an estimated 219 million cases of malaria in 87 countries

·       
Trouble breathing

·       
Facial swelling

·       
Hives.

·       
Lesions.

·       
West nile virus

·       
Zika virus

·       
Yellow fever

·       
Dengue fever

Except:

HIV/AIDS:
There is no evidence of HIV transmission through mosquitoes or any other
insects.

EBOLA:
Ebola is then spread from human to human through direct contact with the blood
fluids of another infected person. There is no evidence that mosquitoes or
other insects can transmit ebola virus.

Causes

• ·       
  Stagnant water.


•       Trash from around any standing water.


•       Going or sleeping outdoors at night.

Prevention

Mosquito net

·       
Use mosquito repellent.

·       
Get rid of stagnant water.

·       
Wear long-sleeved tops and long
trousers.

·       
Wash frequently, as sweat may attract
mosquitoes.

·       
Use screens on the windows or air
conditioning to keep mosquitoes from slipping in a window.

·       
Remove trash from around any standing
water.

·       
Make yourself less appealing.

·       
Avoid going outdoors at night.

If a person notices a
mosquito bite and feels any flu-like symptoms or a fever, they should seek
medical treatment immediately and fumigate the environment / house or call an
expert for pest control.

Rain Boots for Kids: Finding the Best Pair

By Jens Peter Jensen



       Come the rainy or wet season, our kids are prone to catching a cough and colds; and while we want to keep them dry and warm, we can't very well keep them locked in the house until the rainy season is over.



Besides, there are times when we should let kids be kids and allow them to experience playing in the rain or at least in a puddle. With the proper rain gear, we can keep them warm, dry and comfortable even when it's raining up a storm outside.



Among the most important protective wear that children can use in the rain are rain boots for kids. We can find several excellent rain boots appropriate for children of any age right on the internet so we can simply surf, search and purchase online any time, anywhere.



Finding The Perfect Pair



With so many options available to us, we can take our pick of the best pair of rain boots for our children; and if we need to purchase several pairs, we have the option of getting similar pairs for all our kids since most of these children's rain boots come in multiple stocks at a time.



On the other hand, if our kids want their own style of boots; we can help them pick-out the best pair for each of them so they will be satisfied with their choices plus, they can look forward to wearing their stylish rain boots come the rainy season.



From Hello Kitty rain boots to Thomas the Tank, dainty floral designs or simple dots; to cowboy-inspired designs and animal prints; plus butterfly prints; hunter-style boots and even a snow-inspired print; rain boots for kids now come in so many different styles that our kids will surely find them all funky and stylish.



A Few Things To Consider



Before we buy any rain boots for kids, we should first check a few things just to make sure that they can perform under pressure, in a manner of speaking. Naturally, the boots have to be made of water-proof materials so we'll know that our kids' feet won't get soaked through the boots.



Secondly, the length has to reach up to the calves and the lining made of cotton so the kids will really be kept warm in the rain. We also have to make sure that the outsole is made of textured rubber so the kids won't slip or slide on the wet pavement.



Typically, we should also consider getting rain boots that are at least a size or two bigger so we can easily tuck the kids' jeans or pants inside the boots to keep them dry. Plus, kids have the tendency to grow pretty quickly; so getting a size or two bigger can at least assure us that they can still use these for the next rainy season.



As for purchasing the boots online, things we should consider prior to ordering from a specific online shop are the reliability of the shop, meaning they are known to deliver the goods in excellent condition; the return and refund policy; plus shipping and delivery.



Once everything is in order, we can immediately place our orders and simply wait for the boots to come right to us!



Click here for more information about rain boots for kids [http://www.rainbootskids.com/rain-boots-kids/]

More than 18 Rainy Season Businesses You Can Start Now

        Let's take advantage of these seasonal needs and offer the appropriate business services. You will find below a list of 20 profitable rainy season business ideas.





Cold Weather Apparels and Accessories: Starting a cold-weather apparel store can be a great option for those looking for a seasonal business. You can buy products in large quantities and start selling to retail fashion shops and corporate offices. You can even hire sales canvassers and pay them on a commission basis.

Lawn care business: Contrary to popular beliefs, the rainy season is a great time to start a lawn care business. Lots of individuals and large companies seek for services of lawn care maintainers to help them take care and beautify their environment. You will need to advertise your services in local newspapers, or write an introductory letter to the ministry of environment either at local or state level. You can also write to property managers. Who says you can't go out and knock on doors of commercial businesses and property managements? They have a long list of clients that will need the services of lawn care service providers. You can start with two or three staff.

Roadside snacks: In this rainy season, snacks like roasted corn, cooked corn and cooked groundnuts are in demand. Passersby, pedestrians and drivers alike would always want to buy hot snacks to heat up their body and quell their hunger. Your target market should be in densely populated areas of streets with big pot holes that could delay traffic. As drivers slow down, they notice you and buy your snacks. Herbs and Flower Farming/Gardening: Flowers survive better during the rainy season. Plants are the basis for all landscapes, homes, gardens and even for brightening offices. You will pay small amounts for packets of seeds and make way more when selling starter plants. The more space you have, the better you will be at it. If you have the space in your landscape and outdoor garden, you can create gardens where you will grow the plants and dry them out after. This will add much to your inventory and you can make lots of money selling dried flowers to retailers, wholesalers, and even flower shops.



Make Mosquito Nets: Mosquito nets are simple to make and easy to use. They eliminate the need for repeated use of dangerous chemicals. Mosquito nets can be institutional and attractive. By using pretty flowing fabric and a few household objects, it is possible to make a beautiful yet functional mosquito net. Things you will for construction of a mosquito net are; stud finger, 4-inch metal "O" ring, cup hook, 2-feet diameter embroidery hoop, 20 yards of tight weave chiffon fabric, 4 feet of stain cord or ribbon, hot melt glue and clear hot melt glue sticks.



Tea Cafe: This market is not likely to be saturated if you decide to start this business. What innovations do you need to do this business? Simply make your tea joint look neat and attractive. Guys will park their cars, jeeps; roll up their sleeves and squat for a cup of steaming tea. You can entertain them with music. Your major target will include bachelors and spinsters, and also from the married groups and workers in general. Most of these people leave their homes early enough for work without having breakfast. Make sure your shop is situated where there is high concentration of people. Also make sure your customers have varieties of beverages to choose from e.g. beverages like bournvita, Milo, ovaltine, top tea etc. Other add-on for your tea cafe  can include bread, canned fish, sardine, noodles, soft drinks and water. As a starter you require fire heating gadgets, tables and chairs, cups, plates, spoons, knives, forks and so on. You may require a small accommodation or a table space in a busy area, which wont be difficult to get if you meet the right authorities. You just need to part with a few cash to get this space. As you start operation, set aside some specified amount that the government may require as levies. Never mind the levies because you can record over 40 clients per day especially when you start very early in the morning and evenings. If you are innovative, entrepreneurial and exceptional, you will discover that there is no limit to what you can earn.

Catch and Sell Snail Meat: Snail meat has been severally affirmed as a safe and nutritious delicacy. If you place a blanched piece of romaine lettuce, zucchini or cucumber into a small tank, in no time snails will gather around it. You have to be patient though, because it will take a while to catch a whole bunch of them. The best period to commence snail farming is the raining season. You can start with about 50 - 60 snails to have a good knowledge of how snail breeding works. Snails are sold in bunches of 20 pieces each and the price depends on the size. The bigger sizes are sold between N2, 500 and N3, 000 per bunch. It is better to buy the big ones so you can expect to produce more after about 35 days on location. As a starter, you can start with as low as N10, 000 in this business. You can sell your products to hotels, restaurants, individuals and market women. You can even export them if you have large quantities in stock.



Umbrella Stocks and Sales: Since there is no notable umbrella manufacturer in Nigeria, prospective investors are advised to buy in wholesale and start selling branded umbrellas to corporate organizations. Don't forget companies will like choose the colors that match their company. Modern rain umbrellas are made with fabrics (commonly nylon) that can withstand a drenching rain and one that can dry quickly and fold easily. They are available in varieties of colors and designs. You can get it in large quantities for retail at Idumota in Lagos and the prices ranges from N150 to N250 depending on the size.

Tarpaulin Hire Business: Many people organizing outdoor parties are most likely to hire tarpaulin to shield them from the rain. You can make money by engaging in the tarpaulin hire business. If you don't have enough money to buy a brand new one, you can lease it from sellers and hire out to those who need it, taking the commission as your gain.



Pest Control: A pest control home based business can provide you an healthy income. There are various types of pest controls such as insect or rodent control, or the business can specialize in providing all pest control services. There are also various methods now being used to control pests, such as chemical-based sprays and organic-based sprays. This will also have to be a consideration in terms of the types of methods your business will utilize. Overall, a pest control service can be very profitable business venture during the rainy season and can generate profits of N5million per year. You can write a proposal to big corporate organizations stressing the advantage of pest control and healthy living can have for them.



Yam planting and Sales: Turning yam into an exportable product is considered a remarkable achievement in Nigeria. Although the country is rated as the largest producer of yams in the world, it didn't find the means to take advantage of this huge potential for export until the formal launch of the Nigerian Yam Export to U.K in July 2009. You can take advantage of the rainy season, which is best for yam planting and sales. You can buy yam in large quantities and sell to exporters, and you can also sell to local manufacturers who process yam to pounded yam and flour.



Maize Cultivation and Processing: Investors have the opportunity to capitalize on the current high demand for staple foods by investing in the cultivation and processing of maize and corn. Maize is commonly grown in the middle and southern part of the country where heavier rainfall permits two corn crop seasons per year. A well drained loamy soil can be used for maize plantation.



Gutter Cleaning: A lot of gutters are blocked during the rainy season preventing the free flow of water. You can start making money by offering the service of Cleaning Gutters. Don't shy away from this business because it's a money earner in the rainy season. You can employ two to three people to leverage on. You will need to assemble items such as large wooden spoon, a simple garden trowel, and a sturdy pair of garden gloves. You can find work with landlords or landlords associations. Some will prefer you clear it for them weekly while some will want their gutters to be cleared once or twice in a month. You can charge between N5, 000 to N20, 000 depending on the clients and the intensity of the work to be done.



Hire Water Pumping Machines: A lot of houses will get flooded during the rainy season. This will create a business opportunity for you to own a water pumping machine and hire out to these houses to clear the flooded area and pour the water to the gutters. Some water pumping machine owners charge as much as N5, 000 per day. During emergencies when there is no entrance to a whole street a water pumping machine owner can charge more. All you need to do is to identify such flooded areas, move in with your pumping machines and charge appropriately.



Sell Rain Coats: Modern raincoats are often constructed of breathable, waterproof fabrics such as gore-tex and coated nylons. These fabrics allow some air to pass through, thereby allowing the garment to "breathe" so that sweat vapor can escape. You can commission a tailor to sew in different sizes and designs to meet the demand of different customers; you can also buy in some retail stores and sell directly to individual and corporate organizations. Or you can recruit sales canvassers who can help you get it to the markets, especially when it rains.



Start a Car Wash Business: A lot of cars will get dirty in the rainy season because of splashes by mud. You are going to make cool money in the rainy season with this business. There is some equipment you need to start this business. Most importantly you need a pressure washer, if you want a proper washing to make your customer appreciate your service and always come back. The pressure washer brings out the water with pressure. It removes all the dirt and makes the cars to glitter. The pressure washer is also used to wash the car radiators, no matter the amount of dirt that blocks the vent of your radiator, the pressure washer removes all and opens up the vent again. The pressure washer consumes less water. The amount you can charge to wash cars and trucks will vary with location and to how dirty the car or truck is. Normal car wash costs N300, but for interior wash, it can cost up to N800. Washing of engines cost up to N1, 000 which is also the cost for normal washing of Jeep. The cost for washing a truck can be around N3, 000 and a very dirty trucked can be charged N5, 000. If the engine is extremely dirty, you will have to apply chemicals which are a mixture of diesel, detergent, kerosene, petrol and acid, which should be mixed very well. Sprinkle on the engine and leave for about five minutes. Now when you use a pressure washer to rinse, the engine would look as clean as new. You can get to major car parks, negotiate with car owners and get their cars washed before they get back to the car park

Repair Pot-holes: You can start a mini-road-construction business repairing pot holes. A lot of pot holes will continue to increase in size during the rainy season. Some products make potholes repair easier than others. Asphalt makes the process significantly easier. No special equipment is needed with asphalt. You can start making money with the local government area in your locality. You can even negotiate with the unit or National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in your area or discuss with the landlords association or the local government chairman. You can charge as much as N20, 000 to N100, 000 or more, depending on the intensity of the project.

Own a Warehouse: A lot of retailers have been keeping goods in shops before now but during the rainy season, most of them will be forced to take their goods to warehouses to protect their goods from unexpected rainfall. Prior to opening a warehouse business in your area, it is paramount to find out how many competitors you have. Gain knowledge of how existing firms have positioned themselves in the market place and then design your business in a way that sets you apart from others. You can charge daily, weekly or monthly. However, make sure you inform your retailers in your areas that don't have a shop before now that you can provide them a secured place for their goods in your warehouse. They would be ready to pay for your services

Produce Shower Caps for Women: This business can be started with very low capital. Purchase some yards of plastic materials which are clear, opaque or semi-transparent or can have pretty designs on them. Measure the distance around the head where the shower cap is expected to end. Add one inch to this figure for overlapping purposes. This will be the shower cap circumference. Purchase elastic, less than one inch wide, and cut to the shower cap circumference. The elastic can be sewn on the outside or inside of the shower cap edge, or the elastic can be pinned down, sewn, and then one or two folds (or rolls) made, then sewn again to "case in" the elastic inside the edge of the plastic cap. You can sell for N50 or more depending on the quality of the nylon you are using.

Set Up an NGO for Climate Change Disaster and Relief Services: This type of NGO is going to be busy in the rainy season, providing supportive services for Nigerians who live in flood prone areas. The NGOs in this sector will be responsible for educating Nigerians in these areas on how to avoid flood disasters and also provide weather report and analysis so that they will prevent flood occurrences in their regions. Such an NGO will receive regular funds from foreign donors. You can make money from this by affiliating with already existing NGOs abroad. They have regular source of funding and they will be happy to have an affiliate agency here in Nigeria or Africa.

Make Mosquito Repellant Lotions: Earlier on we talked about Making Mosquito nets for sale. But you can also produce mosquito repellant lotions so repell mosquitoes which are in abundance in the rainy season. There a couple of different formulations you can make for your natural mosquito repellant. In general, what you are doing is diluting an essential oil that the mosquitoes find distasteful or which confuses them so they can't bite you. The oil doesn't mix with water, so you need to add them to other oils or to alcohol. It is important to use an oil or alcohol that is safe for your skin. You can sell in a small bottle after production for N100 to N300 depending on the size.

Produce Agro Products for Local and Foreign Consumption: Local products like cocoa, kola nut, banana, chili pepper, shea nut, okro, melon are products that you can start selling during this rainy season. All you need to do is to locate the exporters and start earning finders fee. If you have a small farmland, you can sell to retailers and start making money that exceeds your imagination.



The rainy season is an all year round event, so if you have the time and some money to invest in a business idea then check above the one that best describes your dream business or starting point. Discover the money making possibilities of each one and use them as your keys to success.

Dairy farming and types of equipment used.

 

D

airy farming is a class of agriculture, where female
goats, cattle and other mammals are raised for their milk, which may be either
processed on-site or transported to a diary for processing and eventual retail
sale.

Types of equipment

The specific type of equipment required depends on
the size of the dairy operation, its location and the number cows milked.

o  
Small
dairy farm equipment required a stool and a bucket.

o  
Large
dairy farm equipment required milk parlors, which areas with livestock chutes arranged
in a circle. Note:
the building or farm area where milk is harvested from cow is often called a
milking parlor or parlor.

Workers on the farm
bring the cows into the area for milk and once the cows are in their pens,
workers attach automated milking devices to the cows’ udders to start the
milking process.

Other types of
equipment commonly found on dairy  farms
include automated scrapers and waste handling systems, milk chiller tanks,
watering equipment, tractors, feeders, buckets, milk containers, pasteurizers,
etc. depend on the size of the farm.