Livestock: Potentials of Grasscutter export

Nigerian non-oil exports are still significantly below potential. The gradual decline over the last 49 years is especially saddening when we look at past data for example in 1961. We supplied 43 per cent of the global shelled groundnuts; today it is almost zero per cent. US, Asia and Argentina now have universal dominance of the groundnut market. Also, in 1961, we exported 19 per cent of the world’s cocoa but have been rapidly overtaken by Ivory Coast and Palm oil and Shea-butter is another great example. Nigeria produces one of the purest forms in the world, and yet we are not relevant, almost non-existent, exporter in the global market. This is sad given the fact that any nation that imports virtually everything will not survive in the long run. Speaking on his experience as an expert in animal farming, and the Managing Director, Jovana Farms, Prince Arinze Onebunne, said, the business of producing, processing, exporting, transporting, financing and servicing grasscutter products should give employment to many people. Rearing of grasscutter for local consumption will decrease importation of frozen meat, chicken, fish and turkey into the country and increase export which will enhance the economic potential. It will firm up the Naira, improve GDP, reduce inflation and create more jobs for Nigerians. In addition to these facts, grasscutter is free from cultural and religious taboos. This makes it a universal favourite, breaking all barriers, religion, creed, culture, ethnicity, age grouping, colour etc. He further said that the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in a recent study observed that over 950 million people are starving everyday and this situation affords the investor the opportunity of raising grasscutter for international trade. Grasscutter meat can be exported and used in many forms, sold in top class international hotels and in preparing different delicacies such as barbecue, canned meat, sausages, meat pies, peper-soup, suya etc. Onebunne said, the demand for grasscutter meat is very high within the international market like Italy, Germany, Canada, the UK, France, the USA, especially where you have large concentration of Africans, black people. Many people now prefer grasscutter meat because it is white and healthier than cow meat which is red. Again, the thought that Nigeria cannot export grasscutter products have been debunked, he said. Even though such ventures currently enjoyed special export license, but now that homestead grasscuter farming is gathering momentum, it is a matter of time production will reach a level whereby cross border markets and transnational grasscutter export from Nigeria will by precision start to happen in a large scale. Entrepreneurs have the ability to explore this initiative and I am very much convinced that the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) will show real interest in such venture. Exportable grasscutters could be live, smoked, canned, salted, frozen and dried etc”. Onebunne agreed that the business of grasscutter farming in Nigeria is growing at a feverish pitch attracting farmers who are considering it either as a complimentary business proportion or as a main and sustainable revenue stream. But either proposition has potentials to earn decent returns. This could be taken to be a fair confirmation of the position that, run professionally, grasscutter farming may well be a key wealth creation engagement to consider in the country. Local and international demand for the tasty meat is ever increasing as the people become more health conscious by avoiding the consumption of red meat. The main reason grasscutter is now being preferred by some farmers for rearing purpose is because it is easy to house and you don’t buy food for them like you do in poultry, fish and pig farming. They are very prolific animal that is they can produce many babies. In this category, they are next to pigs and rabbits. You can get started, without the costly items the so-called experts say you should have. With N45,000-N50,000 one can kick-off with one-male and four-females depending on the age, weight and specie. They can be reared in wooden cage which costs N7,000 to N10,000, therefore with N60,000 one is already in a profitable business. Jovana farms organizes nationwide sensitization training seminars on the practical ways of making it through small scale farming. Attend our nationwide seminars nearest to you to know more opportunities in grasscutter farming. Visit us at www.jovanafarm.com , E-mail: jovanafarms@gmail.com for more details. Choose also the nearest venue from the advert box in this page.