our services
Agric Inputs
The Foundation would source improved seeds/seedlings, fertilizers, herbicides; insecticides etc from manufacturers and make these available to the farmer for a subsidized fee or a negotiated share of the farmer’s harvest. With regards to livestock and poultry farmers, of infant stock and day old chicks, HAO Foundation aims to source and supply veterinary medicines and vaccines to the farmer at a highly subsidised rate
Post Harvest
One of the most intractable problems of Rural Farmers is the preservation of harvested produce. Many farmers resort to selling harvested produce at a loss and often times lose a significant portion of their harvest through their inability to process for safe and long term storage; HAO Foundation aims to intervene by equipping itself with grain dryers, corn cob shellers, winnowers (grain cleaners), moisture meters etc; making these items available to farmers with the view of helping to enhance storage. In the event of huge demand, the Foundation will build cribs and silos for long term storage of produce during the off season. It bears observation, in this regard, that it is the middleman/commodity buyer who reaps windfall profits from the labour of the farmer as he often buys at a premium during the off season. The Foundation will not be a middleman (except on request) but will serve as a platform for the farmer to preserve and sell his produce profitably.
Fabrication
Some Universities in the country have designed simple machines for Agricultural production. At HAO Foundation we aim to explore the possibility of obtaining licenses with the view of mass producing these machines and implements for sale at home and abroad, plans are already in place to partner with established international manufacturing companies regarding this venture
Conflict Resolution
Numerous Agricultural Enterprises in the country have experienced the menace of Fulani Herdsmen inflicting damage and destruction of their farmlands. Violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers are inevitable if solutions are not speedily found. The Foundation aims to champion conflict resolution initiatives through collaboration with relevant stakeholders such as:
- Experts in Criminal law
- Human Rights Activists
- Civil Societies
- NGO’s (National and International)
- National Assembly Members
Land Preparation
From antiquity Rural Farmers have relied almost exclusively on back breaking manual labour, utilizing the cutlass and hoe for its farming activities. Low cultivated hectares of land and poor yields have been the result especially when the farmer is malnourished or falls ill during the planting season. It is quite evident that mechanisation is the solution to this burdening problem but unfortunately the rural farmer cannot afford to purchase farm implements in the absence of support from the Cooperatives. As part of its strategy to support the rural farmers, H.A.O Foundation aims to invest in tractors, ploughs, harrows, boom sprayers and planters thereby making these available at an affordable fee or a share of the harvest.
Processing support
Recently it was announced that the Ministry of Agriculture exported several tons of yam tubers to Asia and Europe. While this may appear to be a sound strategy to boost Agricultural Export Earnings we respectfully submit that it is not the correct strategy. A more profitable approach would be to process yams and cassava into starch for export. Provided we can persuade a critical mass of farmers to venture into yam and cassava cultivation among others, it will become expedient for the Foundation to establish processing plants for starch, tomato paste, canned vegetables, fruit drinks, rice (rice mills) etc. The list is endless. We also to venture into meat and poultry processing as well as construction of cold rooms for storage.
Marketing
On request, the Foundation would help farmer’s source markets for their produce at home and abroad. This we believe will enable rural farmers an opportunity to focus on production without worrying about sales of their produce. Our extensive sphere of influence grants us the capability of expanding the market scope beyond the shores of Nigeria
Capacity development
The best way to persuade the Rural Farmer to adopt modern and scientific methods of production is by showing him practical demonstration of its performance and productivity. These are some of the numerous initiatives HAO Foundation is currently developing, one of which is the setting up a small teaching and demonstration units for guidance . Such a units is planned to be domiciled at Araromi Farm Enterprises.
Scholarships
The H.A.O Foundation as part of its aims will award Scholarships for deserving students of Agricultural Economics at agreed Universities in Nigeria.. An endowment is planned for this purpose to provide tuition, boarding and maintenance support for as many deserving students as possible. Scholarships may be tenable at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In the same vein, the Foundation would on an annual basis present The Hezekiah Adedunmola Oluwasanmi prize in Agriculture Economics to the best graduating student of the Department of Agriculture Economics at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife