Sani Muhammad
@sanimuhammad174075
1 year ago

My Agribusiness Journey

As a graduate in Agricultural Economics and Extension, my journey into agribusiness began during my undergraduate years. It was during a particularly long session break that I decided to venture into this field. I took a leap of faith and started with a modest flock of 50 broiler chicks in my backyard. Initially, I encountered little to no challenges, as I had chosen a time when festive demand for poultry was at its peak.

However, as time progressed, I decided to expand my venture by introducing another batch of broilers. This is where I faced one of the most daunting challenges in agribusiness – marketing. I had taken all the necessary steps beforehand, diligently contacting prospective buyers, especially retailers, to secure a market for my poultry. I thought I was well-prepared for the harvest season, but reality hit hard.

Many of the prospective buyers, frustratingly, decided not to purchase the birds for various reasons. Some demanded that I wait for another week, while others attempted to negotiate prices to the point of making the venture unprofitable. A few even claimed that the birds were too large for their needs. This unforeseen market obstacle left me in a difficult position.

I struggled to find buyers, and in the meantime, my birds continued consuming valuable feed, cutting into my profit margins. When I eventually managed to sell them, it was at a bare minimum profit. This experience became a turning point in my agribusiness journey.

I realized that to thrive in the competitive agribusiness landscape, I needed to approach the industry from a different angle. I decided to start from the end of the value chain – marketing – and then work my way backward to production.

My vision for the future of my agribusiness extends beyond poultry farming. I aspire to diversify into other sectors, such as fisheries, beef and explore innovative opportunities that enhance the overall sustainability and profitability of my venture.

With the knowledge and skills I hope to acquire from the Agribusiness Digital Marketing course, I aim to further enhance my marketing abilities and leverage digital tools to reach a wider audience and create a more resilient and profitable agribusiness venture.
#learning #Agribussiness