ENTERPRENEURSHIP IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA PRESENTED BY NNAEMEKA NZEKWE OF

1. ENTERPRENEURSHIP IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA PRESENTED BY NNAEMEKA NZEKWE OF NNAEMEKA NZEKWE POULTRY EQUIPMENT LTD PLOT 569, OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY, LIVESTOCK HOUSE LIFE-CAMP, ABUJA MANDATORY CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION (MCPE) TRAINING SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 ASAN-NIAS JAM PORTHARCOURT

2. ENTERPRENEURSHIP IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE A lot is being said about Animal scientists like you and I becoming Entrepreneurs. But what is entrepreneurship?What does it take to be entrepreneurial?How can it be created, sustained or developed especially in a growing economy like ours? Entrepreneurship is the act of organizing or setting up a business or an enterprise with the aim of making profit.The entrepreneur is the Sole Proprietor and the risk bearerEntrepreneurs are also Innovators. They always look for better, more efficient and profitable ways to do things; especially when the business faces strong competition or operates in a rapidly changing environment.

3. There are two parts to Entrepreneurship. • The first is the Managerial or Technical skill; This isneeded to start and run a profitable animal farm business. • The second is the Entrepreneurial Spirit. The first can be taught in Schools, Colleges and Universities: while the second, the Entrepreneurial Spirits are developed by those Practitioners that have outstanding abilities, that are innovative and ready to take risks. Once you are able to take Livestock Farming, be it Poultry, Cattle, Sheep and Goat rearing, Rabbitry or Snailry as a business and you are working towards making profits, then, you will be ready y to take risks and, if you do, the business grows. Part One: Managerial /Technical Skills in Animal Agriculture. Like I earlier said, this aspect is taught in our institutions: In setting up a farm business, we would consider the following: Siting- Be it a Farm, Feedmill, or a marketing outfit, siting is very important. The site should be accurate, with a good road network leading to and from it. • Proper and Adequate Security: In form of fencing, building of Staff Quarters within the farm, installing Close Circuit Television and employing trained guards.

4. Power: electricity, Solar, and or generating sets • Water supply: boreholes, wells , water board pipe- borne water , Streams and Dams etc • Proximity to market • Topography of the land, Orientation of buildings, Foundation of buildings, adequate floors, walls, windows, vents and roofs • Fencing: tree planting around the fences, and in between houses. This will give the farm the required environment for enhanced production. The greener the farm the better. • Biosecurity, staff identification, Uniforms and adequate equipment. • Proper Record keeping, Accountability and prompt marketing strategy • Personnel Management. But beyond these factors, successful Entrepreneurs are technically competent, innovative and plan ahead. However, there are many challenges like social and economic barriers, access to finance and information that has to be overcome for one to succeed.

5. Barriers to Entrepreneurship: There are several barriers that could hinder progress to the effort being made by an entrepreneur achieving his ends. These barriers include: 1) Poor or absent infrastructures like roads, inadequate storage, market facilities, irregular supply of power, and water. 2) Unsupportive laws and regulations like land tenure and ownership, bank interests, and taxes 3) Lack of financial support and credit 4) Lack of training facilitiesand extension services. 5) Marketing constraints. We have come to a stage in our Livestock Industry that we would not only limit our production to local markets, but should equally explore the profitability in export market. The Entrepreneur weighs up the opportunities and the risks involved and decides on the combination of markets to use.

6. Access to importation is very helpful for a healthy and profitable business. Entrepreneurs require adverse information that is organized, packaged and communicated effectively. Radio talks, posters, fliers, leaflets, workshops and seminars can help teach learners. • Entrepreneurs need security to adapt to the changes in the economy and to develop their bargaining power especially in the case of - unexpected low yields or failure during outbreaks; - changes in prices of inputs and products, - changes in interest rates. Part Two: The Entrepreneurial Spirit. Like I said earlier, this aspect is not learnt or acquired in school but is developed by the Entrepreneur. This is where the difference counts.

7. The Entrepreneurial Spirit is exhibited in different ways: • Conceptual ability • Objective approach • Realistic outlook • Sense of urgency • Self confidence • Good and sound health • Emotional stability In all business, the entrepreneurial spirit is what makes the Entrepreneur excel The sustainability of the animal agricultural business is linked to managing the business with ethics, values and principles. To maintain and sustain the business, all areas of work in a farm business must be carried out according to the Core Values; for example, when selling produce, the seller should be honest with respect to weights and measures ensuring the quality and safety of produce and complying with agreed contracts. Applying the core values in all business dealings is good business practice.

8. Core Values Trustworthiness: worthy of trust and confidence includes such values as integrity, keeping promises, loyalty, dependability and reliability Truthfulness: Being honest and truthful in all business dealings. Respect: Regard for the dignity, worth, independence and essential equality of all people. Treating people with courtesy, politeness and kindness and tolerance. Responsibility: Acknowledging and performing duties to others and oneself. Being self-disciplined and accountable to one’s actions. Fairness: Making decisions based on appropriate factors; being impartial, avoiding conflicts of interest; being reasonable and caring; having regard for the well-being of others; being kind, compassionate, considerate and charitable. Social Responsibility: Recognizing and living up to social obligations, being law-abiding and being fair to all concerned. To run a business with trustworthiness and respect requires patience. Since the business must focus on long-term results, Entrepreneurs know that they must be patient.

9. Entrepreneurial Qualities There is a difference between Farm Business Management and Entrepreneurship. Farm Business Management is about better planning, implementation, control and managing risk while Entrepreneurship is about looking forward – identifying opportunities, creating a vision of how the business will grow, innovating and taking risks. A farmer who thinks of the farm as a business that has potential to grow and develop is an Entrepreneur. Entrepreneurial Farmers look at their farms and see ways to make them more profitable. They develop ideas and then translate them into action. They need self-motivation, perseverance and confidence with an ability to plan and organize the farm business. These qualities enable entrepreneurial farmers to seek-out business ideas and guide the farm business to accomplish the goals set. Entrepreneurs need more than just their personality or personal traits. They need ideas, opportunities and resources. Knowledge allows Farmers to make informed choices. It puts them in a better position to compare the current practices being used with alternatives. Farmers obtain knowledge through experience and observation from listening to and learning from other farmers. Entrepreneurs have some special qualities or characteristics that set them apart from the average Farm Manager.

10. Some typical Characteristics CONFIDENCE • Risk taker • Self Confident • Positive • Persuasive FLEXIBITY • Flexibility • Adaptive • Change is anOpportunity • Tolerates ambiguity COMPETITION • Competitive • Takes initiative • Goal-driven THE FARMER-ENTREPRENEUR CORE VALUES • Trustworthy • Honest DRIVE • Highly • Motivated • High energy • Determined • Persevering PROBLEM-SOLVING • Problem solver • Creative • Innovative • Imaginative • Learns from failure