10 Most Profitable Crops to Farm in Nigeria
The most profitable crops in Nigeria are the crops that you can grow within a short time and make good money. There are a lot of lucrative crops that can boost your Returns on Investment (ROI) in Nigeria; however, ten of these crops stand out as the most lucrative to grow in Nigeria.
Some of the most profitable crops to grow in Nigeria include cucumber, tomato, pepper and okra etc.
We will discuss these top most profitable crops to grow in Nigeria below:
Cucumber
Cucumber is one of the most crops a farmer can grow in Nigeria. Cucumber is called farmers ATM (Automated Teller Machine) in Nigeria.
In cities and towns in Nigeria, the demand of cucumbers is very huge. Hardly can you go to any city without seeing a lot of people hawking fresh cucumbers. This shows that there is a huge demand for cucumbers in Nigeria.
Cucumber is a short term crop. If you cultivate the hybrid varieties of cucumbers, your first harvest of cucumbers can come as early as 40 days. You are expected to keep harvesting every 2-3 days for 30 – 60 days.
A one hectare of cucumber farm can yield over 1,000 bags of fresh cucumbers. A bag of fresh cucumbers weigh about 40 kg and it is sold for ₦10,000. The price of a bag of fresh cucumbers in Nigeria can go as high s ₦15,000 in the lean period.
To earn good money from cucumber farming, you will need to use drip irrigation, specialized fertilizers and quality farm inputs. Do not cut corners.
The varieties of cucumber seeds to plant include Murano F1, Darina F1, Greengo F1 and Monalisa F1.
Tomato
Tomato is arguably the most profitable crop to grow in Nigeria. Almost every Nigeria consumes tomato directly or indirectly every day. Tomato plants start fruiting within 60 days of transplanting.
Tomato does well in Nigeria. A 50kg basket of tomato can go for N40,000 – N90,000 depending on the time of the year.
Tomato farming can be hugely profitable for anyone that grows this unique crop.
Pepper
Pepper is arguably the most lucrative crop to grow in Nigeria. Almost every Nigeria consumes pepper directly or indirectly every day. Pepper plants start fruiting within 60 days of transplanting.
Pepper does well in Nigeria. A 50kg bag of pepper can go for N60,000 – N120,000 depending on the time of the year.
To engage in pepper farming, you need to have a well ploughed farmland, rich soil, irrigation, fertilizer, pesticides and adequate supply of water etc.
Okra
Okra is also one of the most profitable crops to farm in Nigeria. It reaches maturity within 40 days. You can commence harvesting fresh okro within 35 – 45 days. Okra is used for the preparation of various types of soups and cuisines in Nigeria.
Okra farming can be very profitable. Okra farmers can easily make a ROI of over 100%, especially if they grow this crop in the dry season.
Okra can grow anywhere in Nigeria. It can also be grown in the rainy season and the dry season. Almost all Nigerians eat okra so the demand is pretty high.
There are peak and off-peaks seasons for okra in Nigeria. At some times in the year, the prices of okra are very high.
Fluted Pumpkin (Ugwu)
Ugwu is a type of leafy vegetables used for the preparation of soups in Nigeria. It is also used for the production of medicinal herbs. Ugwu is common with the Igbo tribe of Nigeria. Hardly can you eat a soup in the south eastern part of Nigeria without seeing ugwu leaves in it. Ugwu is also consumed in the south western and northern parts of Nigeria.
Ugwu as a crop is planted with seeds. It is a crawling plant which is usually staked with bamboo or planks. The first harvest from ugwu plants is usually after 30 -40 days. It is one of the most profitable crops in Nigeria.
The leaves harvested from ugwu plants are the main parts used for the preparation of soups and foods in Nigeria. This means that the leaves are the most lucrative parts of the ugwu plants. The pods can also be sold in the market. Some people demand for the pods.
The strategy of making a lot of profit from ugwu cultivation is for a farmer to cultivate this crop in the dry season. Few farmers cultivate this crop in the dry season, so the few who dare to cultivate it in the dry season often make good money.
Ewedu
As ugwu is to the Ibo tribe in Nigeria, so is Ewedu to the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria. Ewedu is also very popular among the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Ewedu is one of the most popular leafy vegetables in Nigeria. It is used for soup making.
Like the other crops mentioned, ewedu is also one of the most lucrative crops to grow in Nigeria. A farmer can start harvesting ewedu as from the 30th day of planting. Cultivation is done through the planting of the seeds of the crop on well-made beds. The seeds can also be planted on the soil.
The demand for ewedu in Nigeria is huge. The Yoruba people consume this vegetable almost every day. Cultivation of this crop during the dry season can make good money for farmers because only few farmers dare to cultivate the crop in the dry season due to the lack of rainfall.
It is very easy to cultivate ewedu. It can even be planted at home. You only need manure and little or no fertilizers to cultivate this crop.
Lettuce
Lettuce is becoming a common leafy vegetable in Nigeria, though consumed by the middle class and the rich. Lettuce is used for the making of salad and other upscale foods.
Lettuce is also one of the most profitable crops to farm in Nigeria. A farmer can start harvesting lettuce as from the 45th day, though some varieties of lettuce take a bit more time.
Lettuce is mostly sold in large quantities in cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt etc. You can also get lettuce in cities and towns like Jos, Kano and Kaduna.
Cabbage
Cabbage is one of the crops in the brassica family. It is also one of the most profitable crops in Nigeria. You can plant and harvest cabbage within 90 days. Cabbages when matured do have dense leaves.
Cabbages can grow anywhere in Nigeria, though it likes a slightly temperate condition to achieve its optimum yield.
The type of cabbage popular in Nigeria is the green colour cabbage. There are few farmers cultivating the red cabbage.
Maize
Maize can be harvested as fresh cobs within 90 days. It is one of the most profitable crops to farm in Nigeria because of the possibility of making money from it within a short time. Maize farming can be very profitable in Nigeria.
Sweet corn is also a type of maize crop that can be cultivated and harvested within 90 days. The ROI of sweet corn farming in Nigeria can be very high.
The varieties of maize seeds to plant include Pioneer Hybrid Seeds and Dekalb Hybrid Maize Seeds.
Watermelon
Watermelon is also one of the most profitable crops to grow in Nigeria. Watermelon reaches maturity within 70-90 days depending on the variety planted.
Nigerians consume watermelon a lot. You are likely to see fresh watermelon fruit vendors in every street corner in Nigeria.
Do you know other profitable crops to grow in Nigeria? If yes, why not continue the conversation by calling us on 08066437109.
