Revenue in agribusiness is vanity if costs consume the profit – Adeniyi

Sola Bunmi Adeniyi, chairman, Highhill Group, a conglomerate of five companies operating across real estate, agribusiness, education, human capital development and technology. In this interview with JOHN SALAU, Adeniyi speaks to some of the challenges confronting Nigerian farmers and what must be done in making agribusiness a future-proof enterprise. Excerpts:

The 2026 World Food Day theme was ‘Innovate today; nourish tomorrow. As a farmer, what is your view on the theme?

Innovation is essential to Nigeria’s food security. We must combine agricultural experience with technology, knowledge and investment. This includes improved seeds and breeds, efficient irrigation, soil testing, climate-smart practices, record-keeping, modern storage and stronger market connections. A farmer who reduces mortality, improves feeding, keeps accurate records or connects directly with buyers is already innovating. With climate change, population growth and post-harvest losses increasing pressure on food systems, innovation must reach every stage of agriculture and remain accessible to smallholders through training, credit, insurance, extension services and reliable markets. If we invest in knowledge, technology and responsible agricultural entrepreneurship, we can produce more food, reduce waste, create jobs and improve farmers’ incomes.

How can Nigeria innovate its agriculture value-chain to feed the nation?

We must stop treating agriculture as planting and harvesting alone. It is a complete value chain covering production, processing, storage, transportation and marketing. Nigeria must grow more food, waste less, process more and distribute more efficiently. This requires quality inputs, improved breeds, mechanisation, irrigation, finance and practical extension services. Aggregation centres can organise scattered smallholder production, strengthen bargaining power and connect farmers with processors and large buyers. Local processing offers major opportunities. Cassava can become flour and starch; fruits can become juice and dried products; livestock and poultry can be processed and packaged to higher standards. This creates jobs, reduces losses and gives farmers more stable markets. We also need cold chains, warehouses, drying facilities, better rural roads, efficient transport and digital platforms linking farmers with buyers and market information. Agriculture must become demand-driven, with production connected to reliable markets.

How can we bridge the cost differential of farm-to-table; to make farmers the ultimate beneficiaries?

Farmers often earn the least while consumers pay the most because of poor roads, storage gaps, transport costs and weak market systems. We need cooperatives, aggregation, direct market access, modern logistics and transparent pricing. The farmer should earn more, the consumer should pay less, and inefficiency should take the cut. We should not blame every middleman. Traders provide financing, aggregation, and transport and market access. The deeper problem is limited competition and inefficient systems. Cooperatives can help farmers buy inputs cheaply, negotiate contracts and sell in larger volumes. Storage and affordable finance are equally important. Farmers who cannot preserve produce are forced to sell when prices are lowest. Better warehouses, cold rooms, drying facilities and agricultural finance can improve their bargaining power. Digital platforms, commodity exchanges and transparent contracts can reduce information gaps. Government must improve roads, electricity, security and transport infrastructure, while private investors and financial institutions also have important roles in the value-chain.

What would you say are the benefits of duck production/consumption?

At Highhill, we began rearing ducks in 2020 because duck farming can diversify Nigeria’s poultry industry. Duck meat provides quality protein, iron and vitamin B12, while the sector offers opportunities in meat, eggs, breeding and processing. Ducks can support integrated farming through manure production and provide additional income for farmers at small, medium or commercial scale. Proper housing, nutrition, clean water, biosecurity and veterinary care remain essential. The value chain can create jobs in hatcheries, feed supply, farming, processing, packaging, transport, restaurants and retail. Products such as smoked duck, frozen portions and ready-to-cook meals can expand consumer choice. Consumer education is important because many Nigerians are more familiar with chicken. Duck farming is an opportunity to diversify our food supply, create jobs and build wealth.

What are the challenges involved in duck production and how can we fix it?

The main challenges are high feed costs, limited access to quality breeding stock, inadequate technical knowledge, disease risks and weak market demand. We need training, veterinary support, better breeding systems and stronger market linkages. Farmers need affordable, quality feed and reliable ducklings with strong growth or egg-laying potential. They also require practical knowledge of housing, sanitation, nutrition, disease prevention, quarantine and veterinary care.

Market development is equally important. Farmers should identify customers, calculate costs and build relationships with restaurants, retailers, processors and households before expanding. Branding and packaging can strengthen consumer confidence. Financial institutions should design products around duck production cycles, while insurers, government and private organisations can support training and demonstration farms. We must build the market as we build the farm; production without a market is a recipe for loss.

Earlier, you spoke about stronger market linkages; can you give more details on this?

In Nigeria, the problem is not just producing food; it is connecting the farmer who produces it to the consumer who needs it at a price that benefits both. Farmers face high transportation costs, poor rural roads, expensive storage and unpredictable markets. Consider a duck farmer in Ogun State who has market-ready birds but cannot find enough buyers, while a restaurant in Lagos struggles to secure a reliable supplier – that is a market-linkage gap. We farmers must organise ourselves into cooperatives, aggregate produce, establish supply agreements with hotels, restaurants, caterers and retailers, and use platforms like WhatsApp to coordinate orders and deliveries. We must also educate consumers about duck meat and improve access to hygienically processed, conveniently packaged products. Government must support this with better rural roads, electricity, storage and affordable agricultural finance, while private investors build processing and distribution networks. My message is simple: build the market alongside the farm, not after production. When farmers have reliable buyers, consumers have better access to food, and agriculture becomes a profitable business.

Finally, can you walk us through the economics of duck production in Nigeria?

Duck farming can generate income from meat, eggs, ducklings, breeding stock and manure, but profitability depends on feed costs, mortality, management and selling price. My advice is to start strategically, keep accurate records and secure buyers before scaling up. A realistic business plan should cover housing, equipment, ducklings, feed, labour, medication, utilities, transport, processing, marketing, mortality and unexpected costs. Farmers must know their cost per bird, cost per kilogram and expected selling price. Good records reveal feed consumption, growth rates, mortality, medication, labour and sales, enabling better decisions. Farmers can diversify through table birds, eggs, ducklings, breeding stock and manure, but should prioritise quality and consistency. Scale should follow competence and market access. A well-managed small farm can outperform a poorly managed large one. Farmers should understand seasonal demand, add value where viable and expand gradually. In agribusiness, revenue is vanity if costs consume the profit. We must farm with both our hands and our heads. Nigeria has the potential to become food-secure, but potential alone cannot feed people. We need innovation, investment, committed farmers and efficient markets. Agriculture is not merely about feeding a nation; it is about building one through food, jobs and wealth creation. Food security requires collective responsibility. Farmers must adopt better practices; the government must provide infrastructure, security, research, extension services and sound policies; financial institutions must understand agricultural realities; and private investors must support processing, storage, logistics and technology.

Young people should see agriculture as a modern business, with opportunities in farming, data, engineering, veterinary services, processing, packaging, marketing, logistics and financial technology. Our experience in duck farming and agribusiness has reinforced the importance of patience, discipline, innovation and value-chain thinking. Nigeria can feed itself and become a major food-producing nation if we reduce waste, improve productivity, support farmers, develop local processing and build markets that reward quality. If we innovate today, invest wisely and work together, we can nourish tomorrow and create a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria. At Highhill Group, we believe the time to transform agriculture is now.