By Moses Nosike

The rising unemployment rate in Nigeria can be curtailed if unemployed Nigerians are willing to go back to farming, which was the country’s mainstay prior to discovery of oil in 1956 at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State. With more Nigerians becoming unemployed and a few with steady employment, many can earn income with little investment into Grasscutter farming with a small or big space provided in their home.

The Managing Consultant /CEO, JOVANA FARMS, Prince Arinze Onebunne, advised government to create an enabling environment for job seekers to venture into grasscutter business that requires little capital, as this is one of the solutions to unemployment in Nigeria, since government cannot provide all the jobs needed to serve Nigerians. “This would help our unemployed graduates roaming the streets in search of scarce white-collar jobs. It’s regretable that these youths don’t know they could make millions through animal farming”.

Speaking more on his years of experience and skill development in animal farming especially grasscutter, he says he can identify the right species, right wards, and group them according to their species and compile their data.

Interestingly, he said, going into grasscutter farming does not require millions of naira since one can start with N50,000, or more depending on the scale you want to start with.”

Also known as ‘bush meat’, grasscutter is the second biggest wild rodent after the porcupine in Africa. According to Anebunne, “about 80,000 tons of grasscutter meat is consumed annually, but only 0.2 % is provided by domesticated grasscutters. Its meat is highly favoured and preferred in West Africa due to its high protein, low fat and cholesterol content”.

He said, hopefully Nigerian job seekers can succeed and overcome the challenges of poverty and food insecurity through micro, small and medium scale grasscutter production. But, first, we must empower our people with the right resources and skills then they’ll be able to create a brighter future for themselves and the country. It’s profitable and that is why we consult for those who want to gain knowledge and practice grasscutter business”. In the same vein, JOVANA FARMS organizes a series of seminars and workshops throughout Nigeria so as to enable those interested in engaging in the business to acquire the required skills”.

“Counting the benefits, Onebunne said, return on grasscutter investment is high and fast as people now appreciate the monetary and nutritional values associated with grasscutters and many are showing interest in it”. “Also patronage is equally very high as we have constant demands from eateries, beer palours, hotels, etc.

“As a result of the high demand for grasscutter, Jovana Farms is giving out their grasscutter breeders at a subsidized rate to those who want to start grasscutter farming immediately.

He said grasscutters are the easiest, cheapest and fastest mini- livestock to rear because one female grasscutter can give birth to 6 to 10 litters (babies) at ago.”When they are stocked at four months, they start having babies at nine months, which can be either fattened and sold or re-stocked.” Onebunne listed the major challenges to include difficulty in getting the right breeding stock and technicalities in breeding them, which he has already overcome.”

“There is need for adequate training so that one understands the techniques before venturing into the business, he said.