How To Start Organic Fertilizer Business in Nigeria

Abasiofon Udo

Fertilizer use in Nigeria is integral to enhancing agricultural productivity, ensuring food security, and supporting economic growth. Fertilizers play an important role in enhancing agricultural productivity, ensuring food security, and supporting the livelihoods of farmers across the country. 

Why Fertilizers Are Essential in Nigeria

The use of fertilizers have become increasingly important in Nigeria because intensive farming practices have led to the depletion of essential nutrients in the soil, necessitating the application of fertilizers to replenish these nutrients and maintain soil fertility.​

Also, fertilizers provide essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are crucial for plant growth and development, leading to increased crop yields.​

The major types of fertilizers used in Nigeria are inorganic or chemical fertilizers (such as NPK fertilizers, urea, and calcium nitrate) and organic fertilizers like animal manure, green manure and compost.

Although chemical fertilizers play a major role in enhancing crop productivity through the rapid supply of essential nutrients, organic fertilizers have been increasingly recognized for their environmental and ecological benefits. They improve soil structure and fertility over the long term and also help promote biodiversity, reduce pollution risks, and support sustainable agricultural practices that are more aligned with environmental conservation goals.

Why Choose Organic Fertilizers?

1. Organic fertilizers increase the organic matter in the soil, which enhances soil structure, aeration, and water retention. They support beneficial microbial activity, which helps in breaking down nutrients for plant absorption.

2. Unlike chemical fertilizers, organic options reduce the risk of water pollution, soil degradation, and toxic buildup. They are biodegradable and renewable, making them safer for ecosystems and biodiversity.

3. Over time, consistent use of organics can reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, lowering farming costs and exposure to harmful substances.

4. Organic fertilizers promote long-term soil fertility and health, aligning with principles of sustainable farming and food security.

5. Being natural, organic fertilizers are non-toxic and pose minimal risk to farmers, consumers, and livestock.

Steps to Starting an Organic Fertilizer Production Business

Starting an organic fertilizer business involves several steps, including market research, securing raw materials, establishing a production facility, and developing a distribution network.

1. Understand the Market

You need to know who will buy your fertilizer (mainly farmers), and why they want organic options. Many Nigerian farmers are looking for healthier and more sustainable ways to produce crops.

2. Decide What Type of Organic Fertilizer to Produce

As mentioned earlier, there are different kinds of organic fertilizers:

– Compost: Made from rotting kitchen or farm waste.

– Animal Manure: From cows, goats, chickens, etc.

– Vermicompost: Compost made faster with worms.

– Plant-based: Using dry leaves, ash, groundnut shells, etc.

Choose the one that is easy for you to produce based on the materials around you.

3. Get Your Raw Materials

These are the things you will need to make fertilizer.

– Animal waste from poultry farms or cow ranches

– Food waste or farm waste like maize stalks, yam peels, banana leaves

– Wood ash, charcoal dust, bone meal (optional for added nutrients)

4. Set Up Your Production Site

You will need a piece of land (backyard, farm, or open space), a shaded area for composting and some tools like wheelbarrows, shovels, sacks, and sieves

You can start small, even with a simple compost pile in the ground. Later, as you grow, you can invest in machines such as

Mixers, shredders, and bagging machines

5. Register Your Business

You may register your name with CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) and het a license or approval from government agencies like the Federal Ministry of Agriculture or SON (Standards Organisation of Nigeria)

This helps you sell legally and get access to funding or support.

6. Package and Market Your Fertilizer

Once your fertilizer is ready, dry it, sieve/ granulate it, and bag it in 10kg, 25kg, or 50kg sacks and add a label with your brand name and instructions on how to use it if you want.

You can then sell it to local farmers, cooperatives, or markets

Challenges Associated with Organic Fertilizers

– High Cost of Production: Organic fertilizers are often more expensive than synthetic fertilizers due to the need for higher quality raw materials and more complex production processes. 

– Lower Yields: Organic fertilizers may result in lower yields compared to synthetic fertilizers, especially in the short term, as they can be slow-releasing and nutrient-variable. 

– Labor-intensive Processes: Production and application of organic fertilizers, like composting and manure application, can be labor-intensive. 

– Difficulty in Pest and Weed Management: Controlling pests and weeds in organic farming can be more challenging without synthetic pesticides and herbicides, requiring alternative methods like crop rotation and cover cropping, which can increase labour and costs. 

– Nutrient Availability and Variability: Organic fertilizers have varying nutrient contents and release rates, which may not always match the needs of crops, especially in the initial stages of plant growth. 

– Difficulty in Storage and Handling: Storing and handling organic fertilizers, particularly manure, can be problematic due to their smell, bulk, and potential for spoilage or nutrient loss. 

– Climate and Weather: Climate change and weather patterns can affect organic fertilizer production, including availability of raw materials, composting processes, and crop yields.