SEMINAR RECAP ON THE TREASURED ENTREPRENEURS ASSOCIATION HELD ON SATURDAY 3RD OF NOVEMBER 2018

👉🏼Theme:

❤ HOW TO CULTIVATE APPLE PLANTATION AND BECOME A MILLIONAIRE IN 24 MONTHS

🎤 Speaker/Facilitator

🗣Mr Moses Babatunde

For weather related reasons, Nigeria does not produce apples even though there has been a steady increase in its demand by middle class and large retail outlets.

Many still believe that apple cannot grow in Nigerian. But every year, Nigerians spend millions of dollars importing the fruit from South Africa and other European countries. The reason Nigeria spends so much to import apple is not far fetched. People often eat apple raw but it can also be found in many prepared foods and drinks. And there are many health benefits thought to result from eating apples.
Statistics indicate that Nigeria imported 1,882 tonnes, 7,857 tonnes and 32,317 tonnes of apples between 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively from South Africa. Industry watchers said these figures have increased tremendously in the last four years as millions of dollars is expended on importation of apples.

However, apart from statistics available in 2011, 2012, 2013, there is no recent data to indicate amount of apples imported and consumed in Nigeria, but large numbers of apples are imported and brought in through the nation’s borders. But the demand for the product continues to increase indicating that there is a sustainable market for apples in Nigeria, which is largely being driven by the increasing preference for fresh fruit over processed fruit.

It is clearly stated that apples that are sold at shops, in hotels and Nigerian markets have been harvested before they get ripe and they take weeks and months before getting here. Even the apples are injected somehow to preserve them.

There is good news for farmers who want to venture into this money spinning fruit. Today, there is a specie of apple called semiarid apple, also known as ‘wambugu’ apple, which matches Nigeria’s weather conditions. This basically means that the apple can grow and do well in Nigeria, as government is looking for a way of reducing import bills.
The semiarid apple was developed by Peter Wambugu, a man who used to work as a mechanic in the streets of Nyeri, central Kenya, now a trained agriculture expert. The semi-arid apple can grow to climate of up to 36°, which is within Nigeria’s weather conditions because the apple specifically is for hot and warm areas and it has a lifespan of 50 years. The apple can grow in any West African country and anywhere in the world. The semi-arid apple bears up 500 to 2000 fruits on each tree every season and it has two seasons in a year, starting between July, August, December and January.

As Nigerians look for fresh fruits and food everyday, it would be advisable for farmers to invest as early as possible and take advantage of the prevailing opportunities to make some good returns.

Presently, in Nigerian markets, a piece of apple goes for N50, N100 and above depending on its size. Some hotels buy apple in cartons week in, week out, which shows the huge prospects for the fruits. If a tree produces at least 500 fruits per harvest and multiply the 500 by N50 and also with 250 to 300 trees, you know how much that will fetch you in two seasons.

Speaking with Daily Sun, on the potential of the fruit, the Chief Executive Officer, Wambugu Apple Farm, Peter Wambugu, said the semi-arid apple variety is a kind of apple that does best in hot and warm areas, which makes it different from any other imported apple, saying it requires only manure and water for it to grow well.

According to him, the semi-arid apple variety has a very good income as the harvest season comes every nine to 13 months.

How To Start Apple Farming In Nigeria And Make Millions*

Wambugu apple also known as semi-arid-apple is an organic grafted apple that can be grown anywhere. Apple farming has been a difficult thing in West Africa including Nigeria due to Climatic conditions. This fruit bearing plant is very selective yet the fruit is liked by many people in our country. That is why the rate of consumptions keeps increasing daily. Apple is more preferred than other fruits with a higher price.. One can go for #50 or #100 and above, depending on the size. It grows in a warm or hot temperature of about 36°C.

Most African countries import apple from South Africa and Israel. The cost of importing them down increases the price. It was because of this challenge that Wambugu a Kenya man formerly a mechanic started searching for solutions because the seedlings imported from Israel couldn’t grow in Kenya. In his quest he went to the forest and cut the natural apple; grafted it with the seedling from Israel, boom! Wambugu apple was birthed; the yield was more than the imported.

Wambugu apple became the first apple tree that can be grown in warm regions . As such West African Countries can now conveniently cultivate apple successfully.

This is a golden opportunity for farmers and investors to go into apple farming for cool business. The number of people consuming apple keeps increasing every day as the knowledge of the benefits grows. Before now it was mostly consumed by the highs class and middle class but now almost everyone craves for apple. It is said “one apple a day keeps you away from a Doctor”.

HOW TO CULTIVATE WAMBUGU APPLE*

Wambugu apple can be grown in any soil type and weather but not in a waterlog area. For optimum growth and yield plant them in a sandy-loam soil.

LAND PREPARATION

Clear the land by removing trees, shrubs, grasses and other weeds. You can keep them in one place for compost manure. Dig a hole of about 60cm by 60cm or a hole of 2 feet by 2 feet. Before starting prepare the soil by mixing organic manure with top soil in an equal ratio of 1:1 with water.

Apply 30kg of the fully decomposed manure in each hole.

PLANTING

Soak the roots of the seedlings in water for an hour before planting to hydrate them. Sow the seedlings into the already dug hole at a depth of 2 inches above the soil level. Mulch the root area with the compost manure. The spacing should be 5m by 5m for optimum growth.

Transplant them very early in the morning or later in the evening but first of all loosen the soil before planting. Don’t shed the seedlings allow them to grow in the open sunlight. Prune the apple 2-3 years after planting for a good and healthy structure.

An acre requires 310 seedlings.

FERTILIZER APPLICATION

Top dressing should be done 6 months after planting. Wambugu apple can be grown completely with farmyard manure. Where there is need for additional nutrient you can add 150g of organic fertilizer to boost growth.

IRRIGATION

Apply water 5-10 litres daily. But where the rain keeps falling every day stop watering to avoid root rot and do so when there is drought.

PEST/DISEASES IN APPLE FARMING

The common pests are aphid, thrips, fruit fluid, spider mites, apple scalp, root rot, powdery mildew. As it is often said prevention is better than cure. So prevent pest and diseases by using disease free seedlings.

HARVEST/YIELD

Ordinary apple trees matures within 3 years after planting. Grafted seedlings or the improved variety like the wambugu apple, matures and fruit between 9-14 months. A tree can produce 1,000-2,000 fruits. This is achievable after 3 years with good farming and cultural practices being but in place. The first fruiting will be few numbers just to taste water before the main fruiting.

Pluck the fruit with your hands when the are still very fresh into a basket. It should not be rough handled or brush on the ground to avoid abrasion that can quickly destroy the fruit. The plant can live and produce for more than 45 years.

It has 2 seasons within a year; July August and December-January. Delay in harvest will invite, insects and pests to the fruits.

MARKETING

Supermarkets, big shopping malls and big institutions buy apple in large dozens, locate them and supply. Sell to market women and men.

Advertise your apple business online and offline and you will see people coming to you for a purchase rather you going to them.

PROFITABILITY IN WAMBUGU APPLE FARMING

In this analysis I shall be using an acre for sample. As previously started an acre will accommodate 310 trees.

Lets say a tree produced 1000 fruit, lets also assume an apple is #50 So 50×1000=#50,000. That means one tree will give you that amount.

50,000×310 trees=#15,500,000 for an acre. Since apple has 2 fruiting season we have 2×15,500,000=31,000,000. Can you beat that, here is the reason to start wambugu apple farming.

CONCLUSION

Wambugu apple can grow any where in the world including West African countries and Nigeria. It grows with minimal maintenance. If you ask me between apple farming and orange farming which will I go for… hmmmm. Your guess is as good as mine.

Contact me through the project director Mr Asuni Adeshola for your wambugu seedlings today. *A seedling costs #7,800…. Thanks