Tech

How to Start Apple Farming Business in Nigeria

NaijOnline March 26, 2022

0 15 9 minutes read

How to Start Apple Farming Business in Nigeria: Apple farming is the newest farming business opportunity in Nigeria, and it is ideal for people who are resourceful and know how to take advantage of chances. Every day, we hear people say that eating an apple a day keeps chronic illnesses and diseases at harbour. This is true. The first thing that comes to mind when we think of imported apples is the fact that they are available practically everywhere in Nigeria.

However, the foreign apple is not the only type of apple that can keep you healthy and free of ailments. The good news is that it has been revealed that the tropically grown Bell Apple is quite nutritious and can compete favorably with the foreign apples that we are all familiar with. This is an area where shrewd businessmen see tremendous potential for growth.

If there is ever a good time to start growing bell apples in Nigeria, it has to be right now. The demand for this locally cultivated apple, as well as the volume of business generated by it, is rapidly increasing. In Nigeria, people are already generating riches from the cultivation of Bell Apples. This is due to an increase in demand from fruit juice manufacturing companies for their products.

In light of all of the options that are available to its residents, Nigeria is unquestionably an extremely fortunate country. This has resulted in the country’s population abandoning farming in order to concentrate all of their energies on competing for oil exports, as if oil products were the only natural resources available to them. According to the media, oil is the only source of foreign exchange for the country.

Far from the truth, there are thousands of excellent opportunities throughout the country, and many of those who have taken the initiative to look in that direction are regularly smiling to the banks with pure profits from their various farming businesses, of which Bell Apple farming has recently become a part.

So far, we have highlighted the potentials in yam farming, cucumber farming, pineapple cultivation, and even Ewedu farming, as well as other farming opportunities in Nigeria, which the majority of Nigerians have shied away from. We will continue to do so in the future. Describe it as “hidden non-oil exports,” and you are absolutely correct!

If you start now and do it correctly, you can earn more than ten million dollars per year from bell apple farming in Nigeria, according to some estimates. Bell apples are becoming as expensive as other imported apples, and there is a steady increase in demand for them in the market.

Table of Contents

What Is An Apple?

An apple is a type of edible fruit that is produced by an apple tree (Acer saccharum) (Malus domestica). Apple trees are grown all throughout the world, and they are the most frequently farmed species in the genus Malus. The tree’s natural ancestor, Malus sieversii, can still be found in the wild in Central Asia, where it originated from. It is believed that apples have been farmed in Asia and Europe for thousands of years, and that they were transported to North America by European colonists. It is believed that apples have religious and mythological importance in a variety of cultures including Norse, Greek, and European Christian traditions.

It is common for apples grown from seed to diverge significantly from their parents’ varieties, and the resulting fruit frequently lacks desirable qualities. Clonal grafting of apple cultivars onto rootstocks is the most common method of propagation. Apple trees that are cultivated without rootstocks tend to be larger and produce fruit at a slower rate once they are planted. Rootstocks are used to control the rate of growth and the size of the resulting tree, making it easier to harvest the fruit off the tree.

Apple cultivars number more than 7,500 different varieties in the world. Cooking, eating raw, and cider making are all possible with different cultivars that have been cultivated for specific tastes or applications. Fungal, bacterial, and insect issues in trees and fruit can be addressed in a variety of ways, both organic and non-organic, by using a variety of methods. It was discovered in 2010 that the apple’s genome had been sequenced as part of studies into disease control and selective breeding in the apple industry.

On the global scale, apple output reached 86 million metric tonnes in 2018, with China accounting for roughly half of the total.

What Is Apple Farming?

Apple farming is the growing of the apple crop for the goal of personal consumption as well as for commercial purposes.

Types Of Apples

1). Red Delicious Apples:

Red Delicious apples are beautiful, red, and almost crimson. They have a slight sweetness to them and are crunchy.

The Red Delicious apple variety is the most widely planted in the United States and throughout the world. Red Delicious apples were once the most popular apple variety in the United States, but in recent years, the fruit has faced competition from new kinds like as Gala and Fuji. It has a heart-shaped body, and its skin is a beautiful crimson color with tiny gold lines down the center.

2). Fuji Apples:

Fuji apples are becoming increasingly popular due to their ultra-sweet flavor and crisp texture, which makes them a great addition to any meal. They’re crossbred varieties of Ralls Janet and Red sweet, respectively. In most cases, they are pink with green and yellow speckles or stripes on them.

3). McIntosh Apples

The third variety of apple is the McIntosh, which is deep red with green patches. They have a soft texture and are extremely juicy, acidic, and sour. They’re fantastic for slicing up and eating on their own, or for making apple sauce with other fruits.

4). Honeycrisp Apples:

As the name implies, the Honeycrisp apple has a mild honey flavor and a distinct crispness that distinguishes it from other apples. Its significance is enhanced by its unusual golden coloring, which is capped with red and pink.

5). Jonagold Apple:

This variety is a cross between the Jonathan and Golden Delicious varieties. The Jonagold apple is yellow with a tinge of crimson on the skin and flesh. It’s a huge apple with a sweet and somewhat acidic flavor that’s good for baking. It has a crispy exterior and white flesh, making it ideal for baking or eating.

6). Rome Apples:

The Rome apple is one of the best cooking and baking apples available. When cooked, the Rome apple retains its shape and texture much better than nearly every other variety of apple available. Rome apples have a crisp, mellow flavor that is perfect for snacking. They are also great to eat raw, but they are mostly meant for use in cooking.

How To Start Apple Farming In Nigeria

Here is a step by step process to follow before starting a apple farming business in Nigeria

1). Selection of Seeds

While it is possible to grow an apple tree from seed, growing an apple tree from seed does not necessarily ensure that the fruit produced by these trees will yield fruit or be of the same kind as the apple that was planted. As a result, it is preferable to choose or purchase apple tree seeds that are adapted to your temperature zone rather than risk having the tree die after it is put outside.

When developing an apple tree from seed, the tree that is generated will grow to its full height of approximately 30 feet, and it will take several years for the tree to reach maturity.

2). Preparation of the Land:

Your seeds will need to be put outside in a seedbed or a container that has been prepared beforehand. Apple grows best in soil that has a pH of 7.0 or above.

With the exception of leaf mulch and compost, no fertilizer should be applied.

Planting your tree in the right location should be based on a number of considerations. Sunlight, dirt, and space are examples of such elements.

Apple trees require a lot of sunlight. Direct sunshine should be received for at least six hours per day.

Before you plant a garden, take the time to consider your alternatives for suitable planting places.

3). Seed Planting:

Apple trees need to be planted in soil that is both moist and well-draining in order to thrive. Ideally, the soil should be somewhat rich and have a pH level that is relatively neutral.

Maintain adequate room for the apple tree’s root system to develop.

Dig a two-foot-deep trench and loosen the walls of the hole to allow the apple tree’s roots to enter the soil more easily.

4). Management:

The apple tree should be watered every 10 to 12 days while it is still in its early stages of development. As the tree grows, you can reduce the amount of water you give it, merely providing enough to keep the soil moist. As they grow, you may find that you need to water them less frequently. During the summer, though, water the tree every one to two weeks.

Otherwise, unless you live in an extremely dry climate, the tree can manage on its own. For the first year, an equivalent of 2.5cm of water per week is ideal.

5). Fertilization:

Because apple trees need to be fertilized every spring, you should fertilize your tree after it has reached a certain age.

Fertilize the tree before the tree begins to generate buds to ensure a healthy tree. If possible, use a nitrogen and oxide content (NPK) fertilizer with a nitrogen and oxide content (NPK) of 10-10-10. It is recommended that you use half a pound of it for every inch of the tree’s diameter at the base.

A surplus of nitrogen would result in excessive vegetative growth that would be devoid of fruit production.

6). Harvesting:

The apple tree branches should be clipped as they grow in order to avoid having too many clusters of fruit on a single apple branch, which could double the weight of the branch and have an adverse effect on the tree.

Once the apples have reached maturity, they can be collected directly by plucking them off the tree.

Several Facts and Advantages of Apple Farming Business

Apples have been shown to lower the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes in humans.
It is estimated that there are 2,550 different apple varieties growing in the United States.
Apples are grown in about seven thousand five hundred different types all over the world.
Apples are grown commercially in the United States in approximately one hundred different types.
It takes four to five years for apple trees to bear their first crop of fruit.
Apples are good for your dental health.
Apples include anti-inflammatory qualities that can assist to lessen the symptoms of inflammatory disorders.
Apples are a nutritious snack that can assist with weight loss.
Apples have been shown to improve blood circulation, which helps to keep the skin looking young and toned.
One large apple contains roughly 17 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C, making it a healthy snack option. Increased immunity to infections and illnesses is facilitated by the intake of this vital vitamin.
Apples are classified into more than 7,500 different species.
Apples are beneficial in maintaining fresh breath.
Produced from deciduous fruit trees, apples account for 50 percent of the world’s total.

Business Opportunities Available In Apple Farming

Apple farming offers a number of lucrative business opportunities.

1). Productivity in the Food Industry:

Apples can be consumed raw or cooked into a range of dishes such as fruit salads and custards. Apple can also be cooked, diced, mashed, frozen, dried into chips, or used in other ways as a nutritious, sugary snack option.

2). Apple Juice Production:

Apple juice is a staple beverage throughout the world, and it is found in a variety of fruit drinks.

3). Cosmetics Manufacturing:

The oil extracted from apple seeds is beneficial and has numerous applications, particularly in the cosmetics manufacturing industry. Apple seed oil has a number of beneficial properties, including the ability to reduce the appearance of acne and wrinkles, as well as the ability to moisturize the skin.

Challenges Of Apple Farming Business In Nigeria

Apple Farming in Nigeria Faces a Number of Challenges. Here are some of the difficulties that can arise while starting an apple growing business in Nigeria, Africa, or many other parts of the world:

Climate conditions are unfavorable.
Insects and diseases
a scarcity of modern, well-equipped storage facilities
Inadequacy of production methods that are efficient
Research activities are not adequately funded.
Bush engulfing
There is a scarcity of widespread understanding about how to manufacture high-quality items.
Inability to import international standard processing machinery due to
a lack of funding
Thieves and criminals are on the rise.

Conclusion

Apple cultivation is not extensively practiced in Nigeria due to the fact that the plant develops best in a specific set of environmental circumstances. Nonetheless, the chances are in Nigeria’s favor because the country has a fertile soil and favorable climatic conditions in important portions of northern Nigeria.

The apple growing business in Nigeria can be a lucrative and successful venture to start-up due to the high demand for apples in the market and your capacity to establish a broad distribution network. You should consider starting an apple farming business in Nigeria if you are searching for a new farming enterprise to get involved in.