Association identifies lack of information on grass cutter farming as major challenge
Association
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, April 25, 2018 (NAN) The President, Grass Cutter Farmers Association of Nigeria (GRAFAN), Dr Chinedum Eluwa, on Wednesday identified lack of adequate information for prospective farmers before going into the business as its major challenge.
Eluwa said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He explained that most of those who rushed into grass cutter farming, without a basic understanding of how to breed and handle them, have had to fold up.
“People should endeavor to have some knowledge of grass cutter farming before going into it.
“And to acquire this knowledge, they have to learn this from those already established in the business.
“There exists a day, two or three days, even a week of training in grass cutter farming, depending on the potential investor’s choice.
“Of course, each of the days attracts a fee; no university will teach you what you will learn from the breeders,’’ he said.
The president said that after acquiring the knowledge on how to breed grass cutters, then the investor should be ready to set up a grass cutter’s farm.
He said that the investor would spend money to get iron cages, and also set up a colony for them, which is comprised of a male and three females.
Eluwa said that grass cutters were simple to breed and as they did not have any offensive odour, and that it could even be within a residential premises.
He noted that they were not costly to maintain as they are fed with elephant grass, water melon, cassava tubers, vegetables and supplements.
Eluwa, therefore, urged the youths to get involved in grass cutter farming, and in no time, the stress of unemployment would be replaced with fat bank accounts. (NAN)
ACA/EHI/FF/PIO
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(Edited by Fela Fashoro/Idonije Obakhedo)