How to start Onions Farming/ Buying & Selling Business in Nigeria.

Onions can be grown anywhere in Nigeria and they have a short growing season. Onions farming or just buying and selling aspect of is a huge trade with great turnover if you find buyers. Every business requires strategic marketing and Onion business is no exception.

Onions can be used in a wide variety of recipes. They can be fried, roasted and eaten raw on sandwiches or in salads. Additionally, onions are used to flavor lots of different sauces and soups. Onions are packed with vitamins and minerals.

We will first look into the buying and selling aspect of onion business.

Buying and Selling Onions

Onion business can give you millions of Naira in a year if properly done. Depending on the season, you can buy a bag for between N6,000 to N7,500 naira and sell it between N20,000 to N30,000 or more. For example: if you buy for N7,000 plus transportation (N2,500) totaling purchase cost at N9,500 and sell for N25,000 naira, you will make N15,500 per bag.

If you invest like N100,000 in this business (at least for 10 bags of Onions) probably for a start, sell at N25,000 per bag, you will gain like N155,000 naira. Subtracting small expenses, one will still gain like N130,000 naira.

Step 1: 

Discuss with the buyers on how it will be delivered to them during your marketing before the arrival. You can get a store or distribute/ sell the bags to the buyers from the port or bus station. Another option is to pick the bags from the arrival point with a car (small bus, hilux, etc) and deliver to the market.

Step 2: 

Locate a credible seller or a middle man from states (Kano, Kebbi, etc) where they produce onions in large quantities and negotiate with him/her.

Step 3: 

Depending on the negotiation, payment before shipping or ship to pay after selling is up to you and the farmer/middle man. But negotiate payments, transportation method etc. Now we are reinvesting in Train transport, one can take advantage of that instead of using night buses.

Step 4: 

Start buying and selling onions in bags to your already sorted market.

NOTE: During transporting the onions down to your location, likely there will be some loses but you will still make your cash.

Onions Planting 

•   Think of the type to plant

Onions are categorized into two growing types; long-day and short-day. Make your choice. Both are good for farming.

•  Decide on your planting location and method

The Onions will grow quite large if they’re given enough space and sunlight. You can also raise beds for the onions crops because they do well in raised beds.

There are two major ways of growing onions: using either onion seeds or sets (bulbs). Planting onion bulbs is better because they are a bit hardier and stand up to poor weather better than onion seeds. But you can grow your onions from seeds and transplant them later if you desire.

•  Plant your Onions

Prepare the soil for planting several months in advance by tilling the soil, removing the weeds and adding manure. The pH level of your soil should be between “6 and 7.5”.

If you are planting the onion seeds set them 1–2” apart but if planting the onion sets place them 4–6” apart. Dig the holes and cover them with ¼ to ½ inch of soil. Water frequently especially if you transplanted them.

•  Maintaining the Plants

Maintaining the plants are important but not much will be done. Water regularly and also weed. Growing will be difficult for the plant if you don’t weed but bear in mind that onions has fragile root therefore careful weeding is required. Add fertilizer or decaying leaves to enrich the soil.

• Harvest your Onions

You can harvest your onions when the tops appear yellowish and also after 24 hours when the tops appear brown. Option two is to manually break the tops of the onions which will make it ripen before bringing out flowering stalks. Do not wait until it starts generating flower stalks. Leave the onions to dry out and then make your money. Have fun doing it.

You may add your experience bellow.