What do you believe is the single most important factor driving up the cost of living in Nigeria?

Emmanuel Twene, CEO of QET Organic Farms (R) with host, Daryl Kwawu (L)

Aspiring vegetable farmers are being encouraged to seize the opportunity to start their farms now to meet the high demand during the upcoming Christmas and New Year periods. Emmanuel Twene, CEO of QET Organic Farms, made this appeal during a session of the JoyBusiness Masterclass Agribusiness Series, emphasizing the importance of timing and proper preparation for a successful harvest.

Twene explained, “First, get to know the season in which you are. For instance, from now to April/May, prices of vegetables will go up. We have just a few farmers who will be able to irrigate their farms in order to grow the vegetables, and that will automatically shrink the system. Also, we're entering into Christmas and New Year, and there'll be high demand for vegetables.”

In addition to strategic timing, Twene also advised farmers to avoid purchasing seeds from open markets due to their reduced commercial viability.

"If you're going to do agribusiness, you don't buy your seeds from the open market. Almost all the seeds in the market have been worked on and when replanted, it will not produce a good yield. It's only suitable for backyard farming so we advise you get first-generation seeds instead," he cautioned.

• Read More