JF RABBITS: FOREMOST RABBIT BREEDER IN NIGERIA

As I write this piece I am overwhelmed with joy because every day we keep getting new people into the rabbit industry, starting to raise their own rabbits in pairs and sometimes in hundreds.  Some new entrants in their own little way want to do just what I call ‘ Augmentation ’ of their income through the profit they will be making in their new venture. Others just want a new meat source; having lost their loved ones and country men to herdsmen carnage. Others just want to make good profit and others want to make huge and unrealistic profits from rabbit farming within a very short period of time. The last group of new entrants into the rabbit farming industry in Nigeria just want companionship and attachment to the furry creatures, in the ears of whom they can safely whisper their hearts. You  might be wondering what precisely I am talking about today. Well, am simply just want to appeal to you my dear reader to keep reading, whether you are newbie, and old...

Try to imagine 80 million people packing the Abuja national stadium, throughout the street and the city, across the bridges, down on the highways.   It's hard to imagine but these are the people who will not get enough to eat today, these are the people on the brink of starvation. And what we don't realize is that our prospects of being able to address this challenge are getting worst and if the Nigerian farmers are unable to make a significant change, the situation could be getting far worst. Let me explain why.

What is a recession? A recession is when the economy declines significantly for at least six months. That means there’s a drop in the following five economic indicators: real GDP (Gross Domestic Product), income, employment, manufacturing and retail sales. People often say a recession is when the GDP growth rate is negative for two consecutive quarters or more. But a recession can quietly begin before the quarterly gross domestic product reports are out. A recession is usually underway when there are several quarters of slowing but still positive growth. Often a quarter of negative growth will occur followed by positive growth for several quarters, and then another quarter of negative growth. When recession hit my rabbit farm On the evening of Aug 31, 2016 I was at a local restaurant near my apartment. A plate of pepper soup has just been placed in front of me when the voice from a television set announced that Nigeria was in a recession.

  Rabbit farming in Nigeria is an undertaking in the agricultural industry which is one the biggest sector of the economy. Many youths ignore the Nigerian agricultural sector due to lack of support and encouragement from the Nigerian government and most especially the political class who in my view do not need empowered youths but rather educated and employable youths to till their empires. Thus, in Nigerian agricultural sector only some select smile to the bank while the primary producers remain in poverty with no whole heart support whatsoever from the Nigerian government. Animal husbandry is usually differentiated depending on the type of animals one keeps since each animal has its own requirements. Rabbits have fewer requirements compare to other forms of livestock in relation to capital operating costs and maintenance. Quick returns and high demand are additional factors that place rabbit farming in Nigeria on the profit side.