If U’re Tired Of Working For Others, Try Grasscutter Farming

Nowadays a lot of Nigerians go to higher institutions for the sole aim of getting paper qualification that make them eligible “to get white-collar jobs” after graduation. This kind of dream is like one learning to become a well-paid slave forever. Even, the so-called jobs being prepared for are in short supply and many times not available. The government, which had traditionally provided jobs, can no longer cater for the increasing number of job seekers as it has even on occasions retrenched many without recourse to due process.A credible alternative is to start your own animal farming business and be your own boss.

Grasscutter rearing can make you to be gainfully employed. At Jovana Farms we specialize in breeding, training, setting-up grasscutter farms and sales. Grasscutter farming is a great money-spinning business that can provide job opportunities for the young and old; the educated or uneducated members of the society. If you want to be your own boss and you are ready to work hard and get rich, try grasscutter farming.

The business does not require millions of naira to execute. It can be started with just one family of grasscutters normally called a colony which is sold for N45,000 to N50,000. A colony comprises  one male and four females. They are reared in cages which can be constructed at a cost of N10,000 by any roadside carpenter. Therefore, with N60,000, you are already in good business. It is advisable to buy them when they are four months old, which is the breeding stock stage.  Grasscutter is odourless unlike fowls, rabbits, pig etc. You do not require an expanse of space to start. The cage can be placed anywhere in the compound or even in the kitchen. In terms of feeding, it is not like fish farming, pig farming or poultry farming, because grasscutters feed on grass.

In terms of yield, one female grasscutter can give birth to as many as six to ten babies at a go. I have even witnessed 10 at once in my farm. So, instead of remaining unemployed, even an undergraduate can take a soft loan from a bank, friend or family member and in a few months be able to pay back the loan and still remain in business. For instance, if you start rearing now, in about four months, they will start having babies because they mature for birth at eight months.

And if you do not have enough space for expansion, you can sell the babies to new farmers; at the end of the day the four females give you seven babies each, you have 28 litters. Invariably, you only have to be patient for about eight months, and if they carry their babies for about five months, you can start cross-breeding them for stronger breeds and in eight months, you start making profit. Grasscutter meat is also high in demand. It readily comes to mind when people think of ‘bush meat’. Though for now, the price maybe on the high side, the nutritional value is enormous. It is white meat and has low cholesterols and doctors highly recommend it for health conscious people.

The major challenge in grasscutter rearing is the technicalities involved. This is why we organize seminars and workshops all around the nation. We recommend that people come for proper training before going into the business. This is necessary because I have witnessed instances where people start without proper training, only to shut down when faced with minor technical challenges, but with proper training these challenges can be avoided. Some went into it as a hobby. With some training and adequate guidance, it can turn money spinner.

Today, people do not need to look far for quality grasscutter breeders. They are now readily available for supply now in my farm. In addition, we have also developed special breeds through research. We have also developed the criteria for identifying the right species, right wards, grouped them according to their species and compiled their data. All these we teach in our seminars and workshops.

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 and know more opportunities in grasscutter farming. Visitwww.jovanafarms.com or call 08033262808 for more details.

By Prince Arinze Onebunne