Resources: Essential Tools for Successful Agricultural Investments
The Ecofarms and Agroservices Company
Nigeria's leading Agricultural Research, products and service provider.
Book review
Welcome to the Ecofarms and Agroservices Resource Center, where we build and equip the next generation of sustainable farmers to guarantee the sustainable production of sufficient and affordable high-quality food for all.
As 2024 comes to a close, we are happy to share reviews of some of our key resource materials in 2025. If you have studied them, kindly share your thoughts, if you haven’t, kindly consider doing so, as they are essential tools for a successful agricultural investment.
1.???? Protected Farming: A manual on Construction, Requirements and Management of Greenhouse Structures for Tropical Regions.
The increasing pressures of climate change on crops, limited available farmland, rising input costs, the growing demand for food and diverse food choices across different segments of society, and seemingly high returns on investment are driving the demand for food grown in controlled environments. This approach aims to optimize production within limited spaces.
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While this technology offers significant rewards, managing it effectively presents substantial challenges. Many farmers are abandoning their investments due to a lack of technical knowledge and the limited availability of skilled labor.
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Efforts to transfer advanced protected farming technologies from developed countries to Africa, to enhance food security and boost the economy, are gaining traction. However, any technology that seeks to succeed must adapt to its local environment.
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The Manual aims to provide essential practical management information for investors, prospective farmers, and current farmers. It covers designs, inputs, crop husbandry, and market linkages with tropical African countries while addressing rising costs and climate risks.
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Additionally, a new version of the manual is in development, which will include detailed step-by-step protocols, inputs, and market contacts for successful protected cultivation in Nigeria.
2.???? Achieving Sustainable Cultivation and Production of Staple Legumes.
Food insecurity is a significant challenge in Africa and across the globe. The situation has worsened due to the depletion of soil health and fertility, largely caused by years of overgrazing and unsustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, rising weather anomalies and sharp increases in the costs of energy and farm inputs, particularly fertilizers, further exacerbate the problem. Currently, over 70% of sub-Saharan Africa’s farmlands are unproductive, eroded, or facing degradation. If these issues are not addressed, they will severely threaten the region’s ability to feed itself.
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While fertilizers and effective agronomic practices provide essential nutrients for plants and enhance productivity, many areas in Africa still struggle with fertilizer production and the implementation of adequate agricultural practices. Consequently, farmers often face limited access to necessary inputs, which are frequently neither timely nor affordable, further increasing the risk of poor productivity.
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Legumes play a crucial role in maintaining and improving soil health, particularly in nutrient-deficient soils. They can biologically fix atmospheric nitrogen and enhance the assimilation of other nutrients. As a result, legumes can become valuable tools for promoting sustainable soil health, fertility, and agricultural production, which are crucial for developing countries’ agricultural systems. Furthermore, the nutritional benefits of legumes also contribute significantly to addressing food insecurity and improving human health, aligning with the United Nations' sustainable development goals.
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Legumes provide essential dietary amino acids and protein for both human and animal health. They are also a source of key micronutrients necessary for a balanced diet worldwide. This is especially important for many developing nations, where a large portion of the population relies on plant-based food products for nutrition. Strategic intercropping of legumes with common staple crops can greatly enhance agricultural diversification and integration for sustainable production.
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Considerable research supports the need to fully exploit the potential benefits associated with the cultivation and consumption of legumes. This manual offers practical knowledge and skills to cultivate and produce common staple legumes successfully. Additionally, it provides essential information to guide policymakers in making informed decisions that will promote food security and environmentally sound agricultural development at both local and national levels.
3.???? Introduction to Conservation Agriculture
Conservation Agriculture aims to enhance agricultural production by optimizing the use of farm resources while reducing widespread land degradation. This is achieved through the integrated management of available soil, water, and biological resources, in conjunction with external inputs. Instead of mechanical tillage, the soil is biologically mixed, allowing microorganisms, plant roots, and other soil organisms to perform the tillage function and balance soil nutrients. Soil fertility is managed through techniques such as soil cover management, crop rotations, and effective weed management. In essence, Conservation Agriculture promotes sustainable farming and soil conservation through environmentally friendly practices.
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Smallholder family farmers, who are vital to food security in Sub-Saharan Africa, continue to face challenges such as worsening climate extremes, a soil fertility crisis, economic shocks, and regional conflicts—all of which contribute to rising costs in energy and food production. Moreover, there are increasing uncertainties regarding the achievement of a food-secure future. Key questions arise, such as how to feed growing urban populations, meet the dynamic demands for food production, tackle climate challenges, and lower food costs. These concerns resonate with decision-makers and producers alike.
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One major approach to addressing these significant challenges is to focus on localized, site-specific solutions, particularly through the adoption of Conservation Agriculture.
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While Conservation Agriculture may seem new, it is not unfamiliar to Africa. Historically, the continent was a pioneer in these practices. Early agricultural methods relied heavily on internal resources, the recycling of organic matter, and natural biological control mechanisms, resulting in modest but stable yields. Farmers typically grew multiple crops or varieties within a single field, serving as insurance against pests, outbreaks, or severe weather conditions. Additionally, rotating major field crops with legumes provided essential nitrogen inputs and helped suppress insects, weeds, and diseases by disrupting their life cycles.
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However, as agricultural modernization progressed, the connection between ecology and farming was often overlooked, as ecologically sound principles were ignored in the pursuit of higher yields. Evidence suggests that while current, capital-intensive farming systems have been highly productive, they have also created various economic, environmental, and social problems.
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The Ecofarms hopes that this manual will encourage farmers to return to these time-tested practices, designed by Mother Nature, to help restore our severely depleted soils and fields, supported by sound scientific protocols. We aspire for this resource to serve as a valuable tool for farmers, aspiring farmers, students, and local crop advisors, equipping them with the knowledge needed to promote more sustainable agricultural practices and development.
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