GRASSCUTTER FARMING IN NIGERIA :
There are many decent ways to make good money farming small garden plots or backyard and a lot of people are using these methods to earn part-time or full-time incomes. Rearing Grasscutters in Nigeria in this type of space is one of the best way to earn cool money in MILLIONS.
Grasscutters (a rodent family), like many rodent species have been and continue to be a delicacy in a number of countries, in Latin America, Africa and Asia where markets exist for a wide variety of rodent species for consumption, grasscutters are often preferred over other sources of meat. The vast majority of these animals are still gathered from the wild and several species have been hunted so extensively that they are now extinct. And this offers small-scale farmers, investors, businessmen and all those with wealth-mind set, an economic incentive for raising grasscutters in captivity.
Grasscutters are widely distributed and valued in West and Central Africa. The meat is of a higher protein but lower fat content than domesticated farm meat and it is also appreciated for its tenderness and taste. More recently, intensive production of grasscutters has been undertaken in many African countries, including Nigeria.
Research carried out over the last two decades has allowed the selection and improvement of stock for captivity with much knowledge and techniques for grasscutter production.
Practical information is readily available for anyone interested in grasscutter farming/production in Nigeria.
Grasscutter has been overhunted and savanna habit is often at risk during the dry season from bushfires, which are lit during bushmeat hunting expeditions. Grasscutters are not the most prolific of rodent species but the high demand, attract market price and small amount of investment required makes grasscutters a suitable mini-livestock activity for income generation in many part of Nigeria.
There are few Nigerians today that are making brisk business in grasscutter rearing. Grasscutter farming in Nigeria if pursed with the benefit of the right information and knowledge now available, is a very viable commercial venture. Grasscutters are mainly herbivorous; require neither imported component of food nor expensive medical expenses if strict hygiene is maintained. They are easy and very cheap to raise. Gestation period of the grasscutter is about 154 days or five month.
Grasscutter meat is a delicacy in Nigeria today and are served in big hotels and restaurants as well as some joints patronized by middle to high level people.
Depending on your experience, grasscutter can be packaged to outfits as pepper soup meat, suya, frozen or dried meat. Most Chinese are looking for the meat as regular meal and also to entertain most of their guests from abroad.
If you rear grasscutter in commercial quantity under good hygienic condition, fast food restaurants such as Mr. Biggs, Tantalizers, Sweet Sensation etc will be your regular customers. They will only need your assurance of regular supply per week. There is also good market for grasscutter meat in the international market if only you can do a good packaging.
Nigeria`s economic recovery programmes have necessitated a radical shift from total dependence on government for job to self employment. One such attractive area for self employment is Grasscutter farming. It is a great money-spinning business that can provide a substantial source of protein to complement Nigerian carbohydrate meals. Sadly Nigerians inclination to go into business in the field where thousand have already made their fortune has led to the ulter neglect of such lucrative area as Grasscutter farming in Nigeria.
Many who are also into the business of Grasscutter farming are unwilling to let others know about the farming methodology. The techniques are after shrouded in secrecy.
HERE ARE THE DETAILED ADVANTAGES OF GRASSCUTTER FARMING:
1. They can easily be reared at home
2. They command a very good selling price as a family that is made up of five grasscutters is sold for N45,000 or more. A serious and dedicated farmer can have close to 200 families at a time.
3. They are herbivorous animals, so they feed mostly on grass.
4. Grasscutters are polygamous in nature, hence it makes it easy to colony raise them in captivity and in large numbers.
5. It is a multimillionaire business, if one can take the courage of breeding them on commercial scale.
6. It is a business venture that can be started on small scale with a space of less than one room.
7. Source of income and employment: one can depend on grasscutter rearing for his livelihood. In fact, grasscutter farming should create a job opportunities for urban and rural dwellers. The business of producing, processing, transporting, storing, financing and servicing grasscutter products should give employment to many people.
8. Grasscutter farming in Nigeria is a virgin in the kingdom of livestock as a result earlier investors without doubt have bright prospects in exploring this venture.
9. You can conveniently earn income a thousand fold higher than your present earning. You can keep your present job and do this on part time.
10. The demand for grasscutter meat is so large that it is not being met.
11. Production of pharmaceuticals: The pancreas of the grasscutter is believed to have a high concentration of insulin, which is used in local preparation for the treatment of diabetes. The possibility of using the brains, blood and various organs for producing various biological products for use in medicine and research generally could be explored.
12. The meat has high carcass quality and protein is comparable to that of poultry.
13. The meat tastes well and highly relished.
14. There is no known religion discrimination against grasscutter meat.
15. Grasscutters do not compete with man for food.
16. As pets: people usually derived pleasure and satisfaction from raising grasscutters etc.
