Grow smarter. Farm for profit. Start in Nigeria today.
Crop guides, poultry and fish calculators, tractors to hire, seed and feed sources, vets, farmland and trucks, all in one free place built for Nigerian farmers.
Free to use. Works on slow networks. No sign-up.Naija Farming Hub brings together practical, source-checked guidance on crops, poultry, fish and farm budgeting for Nigerian beginners, working farmers and agribusiness readers. Use the guides below to understand how things are usually done, then use the free calculators to test your own numbers before you spend.
Please read: Every cost, yield and price on this page is either an estimate from published agricultural guides or a figure you type in yourself. They change with location, season, variety, supplier and market conditions, and none of them is a promise of income or profit. Talk to your state Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) or agricultural extension office before you invest. Last reviewed: October 2026.
- Crop Farming
- Poultry
- Fish Farming
- Farm Costs
- Seasonal Guides
- FAQ
- Machinery
- Cash Crops
- Fruits
- Feed & Vets
- Logistics
- Farmland
- Institutes
Crop Farming: Maize and Cassava
Maize and cassava are two of the most widely grown crops in Nigeria, and both have detailed extension guidance from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS). The summary below is built from those guides.
How to grow maize in Nigeria
- Plant when the rains are steady. In IITA's guide, the optimum planting date in the forest zone is 15 March to 1 April, in the derived savannah it is 1 to 30 April, and in the southern Guinea savannah planting can run into May and June depending on rainfall.1
- Do not delay. A Nigerian study of optimum sowing dates notes that missing planting opportunities can cost up to about 5% of maize yield for each week of delay.6
- Spacing and seed. One IITA guide recommends 90 × 45 cm with 2 plants per stand, which gives about 48,000 plants per hectare at a seed rate of 30 kg per hectare.3 For the northern savannas, 75 × 50 cm with two plants per stand is commonly used, and the IITA northern guide says about 15 to 20 kg of seed plants a hectare.4 Your seed pack and local advice should decide the exact rate.
- Fertiliser. IITA's guide describes 200 kg (4 bags) of NPK 25-10-10 per hectare at planting. For higher yields it describes 600 kg per hectare in two splits, 200 kg at planting and 400 kg at 5 to 6 weeks after planting.1 A soil test is the better basis for your own plan.
- Expected yield. IITA's maize and cassava intercrop guides list 1,000 to 2,500 kg of dry grain per hectare under recommended practice and adequate rainfall.3,11 Real farms can land above or below that range.
- Weeds. Weed early. The IITA northern guide warns that weeds in the first weeks after planting reduce grain yield sharply.4
How to grow cassava in Nigeria
- Planting time. NAERLS says cassava is planted between March and October across the agro-ecological zones, as soon as the rains are established, and in the northern zones planting is done between May and July.5
- Spacing. IITA gives 1 m × 1 m, which is 10,000 plants per hectare, and about 50 bundles of stems for a hectare.2,5 Another IITA guide uses 90 × 90 cm, which is 12,300 plants per hectare.3
- Planting material. Use cuttings from healthy, mature stems, around 20 to 25 cm long with about five nodes. Pre-sprouting stakes before planting is reported to improve vigour and survival.2,3
- Weed control. Cassava is very sensitive to weeds early on. NAERLS advises controlling weeds during the first 8 to 12 weeks after planting.5
- Harvest. Cassava is typically ready 9 to 12 months after planting, and harvest can be spread over a longer period.3,5
- Yield. Farm-level averages quoted by NAERLS are around 5 to 9 tonnes per hectare, while IITA's improved-practice guides list 10 to 15 tonnes per hectare of fresh roots. Variety, rainfall, soil and weed control all matter.3,5
Intercropping maize, cassava and melon
IITA's mixed-cropping guides describe a sequence: plant melon with the first rains in March, then maize once rains are steady, then cassava soon after the maize emerges and within about three weeks of maize planting. Mixed cropping spreads your risk and uses the land more fully, but plant populations are usually reduced to leave room for each crop.3,11
Plant population and seed calculator
Enter your spacing to see how many plants fit in a hectare and how many seeds or stems to buy.
The example numbers only show how the tool works. Replace them with your own.
Crop budget and break-even calculator
Enter your own costs and expected output. All money fields are in naira (₦) and costs are per hectare.
Use a yield you can defend with your own records or local extension advice. For a rough reference, the IITA guides above list 1,000 to 2,500 kg per hectare for maize and 10 to 15 tonnes (10,000 to 15,000 kg) per hectare for cassava under recommended practice.
Poultry: Broiler Basics
Broilers are meat chickens raised for a short cycle, so a poultry farm turns capital over quickly but also feels price and feed shocks quickly. Feed is the biggest routine cost in poultry, so a small change in feed price or feed conversion can change the whole result.10
What to get right in a broiler batch
- Prepare before the chicks arrive. Clean and disinfect the house, leave a rest gap between batches, pre-heat the house and put down dry litter such as wood shavings. Breeder management guides stress warming the house before chick placement and managing temperature carefully during brooding.10
- Do not overstock. An Ibadan trial compared 10, 12 and 14 birds per square metre over seven weeks. The highest density gave lower final live weight per bird, and feed conversion was better at 10 and 12 birds per square metre, although live weight per square metre was higher at 14.9 Agricultural extension material also advises reducing numbers by about 10% in hot weather.10
- Know your feed conversion ratio (FCR). FCR is the kilograms of feed a bird eats for each kilogram of live weight it gains. A lower number means cheaper meat. Your hatchery or feed company gives a target for your strain, and your own records show what you actually achieve.
- Health and biosecurity. Control visitors, keep wild birds and rodents out, provide clean water and follow a vaccination and medication programme agreed with a veterinarian or your hatchery. Do not copy a schedule from a social media post, because disease risk differs by location.
- Plan the sale before you buy chicks. Know who will buy, at what weight and when. Selling on time matters because every extra day costs feed.
Broiler batch cost calculator
Enter your own prices and targets. Feed is calculated as survivors × target weight × FCR, which is a simplification.
The example numbers are invented to show how the tool works and are not real prices or typical results. Do not include the cost of the building if you do not own it, so add rent or depreciation under other costs.
Fish Farming: African Catfish
The African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) is one of the most commonly farmed fish in Nigeria because it is hardy, grows fast and tolerates crowded conditions better than many species. It still needs good water, good feed and careful sorting to do well.
Key points from the research
- Stocking rate sets the harvest size. FAO's catfish guidance says stocking rates in ponds range from 2 to 10 fingerlings per square metre, giving fish of roughly 500 g at the low end and 200 g at the high end after six months.7
- Feed properly. FAO states that a balanced compounded feed is a prerequisite for intensive catfish culture. The major problems it lists are water quality and predation, and poor water often shows up with dense algae blooms.7
- Density and growth trade off. In a 150-day cage study at Kubanni Reservoir, Zaria, fish stocked at 25, 50 and 75 per cubic metre reached average weights of about 828 g, 774 g and 693 g, and the highest density grew and survived worst. The 50 per cubic metre treatment gave the best profit index in that study.8 The study's feed conversion ratios were 3.4 to 5.0, which shows how much FCR can vary between systems.
- Grade your fish. FAO's fingerling-production guidance includes grading fish by size and warns that cannibalism appears quickly, so keep fish of similar size together.7
- Time to harvest. A Lagos State University pond study on hybrid catfish harvested after 24 weeks from fingerling stage, with survival of about 97%.12 Time to market depends on feed, water, strain and your target size.
- Daily routine. Check water colour and smell, remove dead fish, feed on a schedule, keep records and have a plan for water exchange or aeration.
Catfish batch cost calculator
Enter your own numbers. Feed is estimated as harvested weight × FCR.
The example numbers are invented to show how the tool works and are not real prices or typical results.
Farm Costs: How to Build a Realistic Budget
Most farm losses come from costs the farmer did not plan for. Prices for feed, fertiliser, fuel and produce move often, so this page does not publish fixed costs. It shows you which cost lines to collect and how to price them with quotes from your own suppliers.
| Enterprise | One-off or set-up costs | Running costs each cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Crops | Land rent or purchase, clearing, tools, storage | Land preparation, seed or stems, fertiliser, herbicide or pesticide, labour, harvesting, drying, bags, transport, loss after harvest |
| Broilers | House, drinkers, feeders, heaters, cleaning equipment, fencing | Chicks, feed, vaccines and medication, litter, power or fuel for brooding, water, labour, transport, mortality |
| Catfish | Pond, tanks or cages, pump, aeration, nets, water supply | Fingerlings, feed, water treatment, power, labour, transport, mortality, sorting |
Five habits that protect your money
- Get at least two current quotes for every major input and update them before each cycle.
- Add a contingency for delays, deaths, price changes and bad weather, rather than assuming everything goes perfectly.
- Work out your break-even price first. The calculators above show the lowest selling price that covers your costs, so you know your floor before you buy inputs.
- Stress-test the plan. The crop calculator shows what happens if yield or price falls by 20%. If one bad outcome wipes you out, reduce the size of the first season.
- Keep records of every purchase, date, quantity and sale, because your own numbers are the most reliable guide for the next cycle.
Also think about how you will fund the work, whether any loan repayment fits your harvest dates, and whether you need insurance or a buyer agreement before you start.
Seasonal Guides: When to Plant
Nigeria's rains start earlier in the south and later in the north, so planting dates depend on your agro-ecological zone and on that year's rainfall. The windows below come from IITA and NAERLS guidance and are starting points, not fixed dates.
| Zone | Reported maize planting window |
|---|---|
| Forest zone | 15 March to 1 April, or as soon as rainfall is steady |
| Derived savannah | 1 to 30 April, as soon as rainfall is steady |
| Southern Guinea savannah | May to June, depending on rainfall |
| Northern Guinea savannah | Between the southern Guinea and Sudan savannah windows. Confirm the date with your ADP. |
| Sudan savannah | First to second week of July |
Sources: 1, 4. For cassava, NAERLS reports planting from March to October across zones, and from May to July in the northern zones.5
A simple seasonal checklist
- Before the rains: clear land, arrange seed or stems, buy inputs and book labour.
- At the start of steady rain: plant on time and weed early.
- Mid-season: top-dress fertiliser at the recommended time and watch for pests and disease.
- Harvest and after: harvest at the right stage, dry and store properly, and sell with a plan.
- Off-season: review your records, service equipment and plan next season's budget.
For this year's forecast, check the seasonal outlook from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and speak to your local ADP before you commit seed to the ground.
Machinery: Buy or Hire Near You
Hiring a tractor, planter, sprayer, harvester or processor is often cheaper than buying. Pick a state or city, then tap the map to see dealers and hire services near it.
The map loads only when you tap, to save your data.
Open this search in Google Maps. Google Maps shows businesses of all quality. Call first, ask for the price in writing, and inspect any machine before paying a deposit.
Listed services
Hello Tractor
A Nigerian platform that connects farmers with tractor owners for hire. Check current coverage in your state.
Visit siteTractor or equipment owner?
Get your machines in front of farmers in your area. Listing is simple.
List with usDealer or fabricator?
Sell planters, sprayers, mills, dryers and pumps to farmers who read this page.
List with usWe list services we have checked exist. We do not guarantee any provider. Always verify before you pay.
Other Cash Crops Worth Knowing
Maize and cassava are only the start. These crops have established markets, and each has a specialist research institute you can ask for seed and advice. Tree crops need patience, because they take years before the first harvest.
| Crop | What to know | Ask for seed and advice |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa | Tree crop, needs shade and rain, several years to first harvest. | CRIN, Ibadan |
| Oil palm | Tree crop, use certified improved seedlings, not random nuts. | NIFOR, Benin City |
| Rubber | Long wait before tapping, suits the humid south. | RRIN, Iyanomo |
| Cashew | Tolerates drier land, strong export demand. | CRIN (Ibadan) and state ADPs |
| Yam, sweet potato, cocoyam | Seed tubers are the big cost, use clean healthy setts. | NRCRI, Umudike and IITA |
| Rice, sorghum, millet | Choose varieties for your water situation. | NCRI, Badeggi |
| Soybean, cowpea, groundnut | Legumes, they improve soil, soybean feeds poultry demand. | IITA and IAR, Zaria |
| Sesame, ginger | Strong export interest, quality and drying decide price. | Your ADP and NAERLS |
| Tomato, pepper, onion, vegetables | Quick returns but high spoilage, plan transport before harvest. | NIHORT, Ibadan |
Buy certified seed with a label, from licensed sellers. The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) regulates seed quality in Nigeria.
Fruits: Replace Imports with Your Own Harvest
Nigeria imports a lot of fruit that can be grown at home. The honest rule is simple: tropical fruit grows easily almost everywhere, while cool-climate fruit needs cooler land or protected growing. Match the fruit to your zone before you buy a single seedling.
Tropical fruit
Pineapple, watermelon, pawpaw, mango, avocado, citrus, banana and plantain. Ask NIHORT or a licensed nursery for improved varieties.
Strawberry
Does best on highlands such as the Jos Plateau, or under shade and protected growing. Order plantlets early and ask what has worked locally.
Peach, apple, blueberry, blackcurrant
These need cold winters and are difficult in lowland Nigeria. Only try low-chill varieties on highlands, start with a few plants and get advice first.
Where to source seedlings and plantlets
- Ask NIHORT (Ibadan) and your state ADP which nurseries they trust.
- Buy only from nurseries that name the variety, show healthy rootstock and let you visit.
- For temperate fruit, import only with the proper plant health permit. The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) handles this, so contact them before you order from abroad.
- Search your area: fruit nurseries on Google Maps.
Nursery owner or plantlet supplier? List with us so farmers can find you.
Animal Feed and Veterinary Services
Feed is your biggest cost and a sick flock or pond can wipe out a batch in days. Sort both before you stock.
Feed sources
- Ready-made feed: buy from registered feed mills or their distributors. Check the batch date and the bag label.
- Own mixing: maize, soybean meal, fishmeal, wheat offal, limestone and a premix are the usual ingredients. Get a formula from a qualified animal nutritionist, not a forum post.
- Fish feed: use floating pellets in the right size for the fish. Ask for the protein level on the label.
- Feed mills and dealers on Google Maps
Veterinary help
- Use a vet registered with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN). Ask to see the registration.
- Agree a vaccination and health plan before the chicks or fingerlings arrive.
- Do not buy antibiotics and drugs without advice. Wrong use wastes money and can leave residues in meat.
- Veterinary clinics on Google Maps
Feed supplier or veterinary doctor? List with us.
Logistics: Get Produce to Market Fresh
Many farmers lose money after harvest, not before it. Tomatoes, fish and fresh cassava spoil fast, so book transport before you harvest.
Kobo360
A Nigerian freight platform that connects goods owners with truck drivers. Check what it offers for farm produce today.
Visit siteHaulage and cold chain
Search for trucks, cold rooms and cold vans in your area.
Trucks Cold rooms- Agree price, pickup time and who pays for damage before loading.
- Use crates, not sacks, for tomatoes and soft fruit. Harvest early in the morning.
- Get the buyer's name and phone number before the truck leaves.
Farmland: Buy, Sell or Lease
Land is the largest purchase in farming and the easiest place to be cheated. Use a real agent, a lawyer and a surveyor, and never pay on the strength of a phone call.
- Check ownership: ask for the title documents, such as a Certificate of Occupancy and survey plan, and have your lawyer search them at the land registry.
- Visit the land: check access roads, water, soil and flood risk in the rainy season.
- Pay safely: pay into a verifiable account against a signed agreement, never cash in a car park.
- Consider leasing first: a short lease lets you test the land before you buy.
- Find estate agents on Google Maps
Agent or landowner with farmland to sell or lease? Send us your listing. We will ask for proof of ownership before we publish it.
Research Institutes You Can Contact
These public institutes breed improved varieties and run training. Many offer seed, seedlings or advice, so call or visit before you buy planting material elsewhere.
| Institute | Focus |
|---|---|
| CRIN, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (Ibadan) | Cocoa, cashew, kola, coffee and tea |
| NIHORT, National Horticultural Research Institute (Ibadan) | Fruits, vegetables, ornamentals |
| NRCRI, National Root Crops Research Institute (Umudike) | Yam, cassava, sweet potato |
| NIFOR, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (Benin City) | Oil palm and coconut |
| NCRI, National Cereals Research Institute (Badeggi) | Rice, soybean, sugarcane |
| RRIN, Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (Iyanomo) | Rubber |
| NSPRI, Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (Ilorin) | Storage, drying, processing |
| NAERLS and state ADPs | Extension advice and farmer training |
Services and contact details change. Search the institute name for its current phone number and address.
List Your Business With Us
Own machines, a nursery, a feed shop, a clinic, a truck, cold storage or farmland? Fill the short form and we will contact you. Every listing is checked before it goes live.
Listing does not mean endorsement. We may ask for proof such as registration or title documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to plant maize in Nigeria?
It depends on your zone. IITA lists 15 March to 1 April in the forest zone, April in the derived savannah, May to June in the southern Guinea savannah and the first to second week of July in the Sudan savannah. Always follow the actual onset of steady rain in your area.
How many cassava plants fit in one hectare?
At 1 m × 1 m spacing, 10,000 plants fit in a hectare. At 90 × 90 cm, it is about 12,300 plants. Use the plant population calculator above for your own spacing.
How much does it cost to start farming?
It depends on the crop or animal, the size, your location and current prices, so we do not publish a fixed figure. Use the calculators with real quotes from suppliers near you.
Is farming profitable?
Some farms make money and others lose money. Results depend on yields, input prices, selling prices, losses and management. Test your plan with the break-even and stress-test results before you invest.
What is feed conversion ratio?
It is the kilograms of feed used for each kilogram of weight gained. Lower is better. Compare your real figure with the target for your strain or species.
How many broilers can I keep per square metre?
An Ibadan trial tested 10, 12 and 14 birds per square metre. Follow your hatchery or breeder guide and reduce numbers in hot weather.
How many catfish fingerlings per square metre?
FAO gives 2 to 10 fingerlings per square metre in ponds depending on the size you want at harvest. Cages and tanks use different densities, so match the guidance to your system.
Where can I get free advice?
Your state Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) and agricultural extension office are the first stop. IITA, NAERLS and the crop research institutes listed above also publish free guides.
Can I grow peaches, apples or blueberries in Nigeria?
These fruits need cold winters, so they are hard in lowland Nigeria. Highlands such as the Jos Plateau give better odds, and strawberry is the easiest of the group. Start with a few plants and get advice from NIHORT or your ADP before investing.
How do I list my business or farmland?
Use the "List Your Business With Us" form on this page. We check each listing before it goes live.
Sources and Further Reading
These guides were used to prepare this page. We summarised them in our own words. Please read the originals for full detail.
- IITA and USAID, Growing Maize in Nigeria. biblio.iita.org
- IITA and USAID, Growing Cassava in Nigeria. biblio.iita.org
- IITA, Growing Maize with Cassava in Nigeria, Commercial Crop Production Guide Series. cgspace.cgiar.org
- Kamara and others, IITA, Guide to Maize Production in Northern Nigeria. iita.org
- NAERLS, Cassava: Production, Processing and Utilization in Nigeria. naerls.gov.ng
- Spatial and temporal distribution of optimal maize sowing dates in Nigeria, PLOS ONE. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- FAO, African catfish culture. fao.org
- Dasuki, Effects of stocking density on production of Clarias gariepinus in floating bamboo cages at Kubanni Reservoir, Zaria. core.ac.uk
- Effects of stocking density and season on growth performance and welfare of broiler chickens in Ibadan, Nigeria, University of Ibadan repository. repository.ui.edu.ng
- FUNAAB Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre, broiler production presentation. funaab.edu.ng
- IITA, Growing Melon and Maize with Cassava in Nigeria. biblio.iita.org
- Growth performance of hybrid catfish (Clarias gariepinus × Heterobranchus bidorsalis) in earthen ponds, Lagos State University. ajbs.scione.com
Have a farming question or a correction? Email nadiagist247@gmail.com. Looking for more? Read all farming articles or visit Naija Chill Finder.