Know the market

 Factors to consider when choosing the crop to grow

1. Market acceptance

The Farmers intention cor growing is to sell the produce

First step before entering the farm is knowing how the crop will be accepted in terms of 

A. Colour...  

* Tomato must be extremely Red. Reason why some Farmers add Carbide(a deadly chemical)  to fast ripen it

* Cucumber must be extremely Green

B. Size.....

The big size tomatoes (Hausa tomatoes) is widely accepted than the small tiny ones (Kerewa or Yoruba tomatoes)

C. Quantity.....

Knowing the quantity of produce to get to the market at some particular time will assist a farmer in growing.

Eg there is a period where tomatoes command high price and at some period it commands low price

At low price the farmer ran at a loss.

Imagine a farmer not having produce to sell at the peak period which would have compensate for the low period 

D. Market specifications

The type of produce accepted in markets are quite different

During market survey, the farmer is expected to know the variety and the specification that the market required

For instance: The Market in Lagos Mile 12 pay more for lady's finger (okro) that are slim and tall

They also accept the Yoruba variants of okro called ila iwo 

Buy dare take the lady finger to Sasha market in Ibadan and your produce will be return to you

E. Market rules

Each of the vegetable markets has got their rule

Most markets have agents that collects commission to sell for you

F. Knowledge of several markets...

There are so much market around that one can not finish touring them.

G. Price Fluctuation..

An intending farmer should acclimatise himself with the price of goods in several market at different time of the year

The same good bought at mile 12 could be expensive at Ile Epo market in the same Lagos

But an intending farmer will do himself /herself a lot of good by taking some time to visit several of the markets

Not just visit, but he should also take time to ask questions and do an intense market survey to determine what and what not will be acceptable

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