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How to Verify Farm Projects in Nigeria as a Diaspora Investor
(And What to Do If Farming Feels Too Risky)
Many Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly in the UAE are interested in investing in agriculture in Nigeria. However, distance introduces real risks: misinformation, weak oversight, poor management, and capital loss.
Verification is therefore the single most important step before committing funds to any farm project.
This is especially true for Nigerians in the UAE, where interest in African agribusiness and agricultural exports is growing, but on-ground visibility is limited.
How to Verify Farm Projects in Nigeria (A Practical Checklist)
1. Verify the Business, Not Just the Farm
Ensure the project operates as a registered Nigerian business, not an informal arrangement. Request CAC documents and clarity on ownership, governance, and decision-making authority.
2. Demand Operational Proof
A legitimate farm should demonstrate past production, not just projections. Look for time-based photos, videos, yield records, and evidence of completed farming cycles.
3. Understand Financial Control
Confirm who receives investor funds, how money is deployed, and whether expenses and performance are tracked and reported. Poor financial structure is a major red flag for diaspora investors.
4. Clarify Risk and Responsibility
Agriculture involves weather variability, pests, logistics, and price volatility. Any project that avoids discussing risk openly is not credible.
5. Avoid Emotion-Driven Decisions
Agricultural investments should be assessed as business decisions, not emotional commitments to “help back home.” Good projects withstand scrutiny; weak ones rely on sentiment.
If Farming Feels Too Risky: Consider Agriculture Through Exports
Not every diaspora investor needs to own or fund farms to participate in agriculture. An alternative approach is engaging in Nigeria’s agricultural export value chain, particularly relevant for Nigerians in the UAE, where demand for African commodities continues to rise.
Products with consistent international demand include:
- Cocoa
- Sesame seeds
- Fonio grains
- Dried okra
- Soybeans
- Oil palm products
In this model, investors participate as connectors, facilitators, or trade intermediaries, leveraging networks to link buyers with credible suppliers.
At Cedar Equities, we support structured agricultural exports by sourcing competitively priced products from Nigeria and West Africa and facilitating shipments ranging from 500 to 50,000 metric tons, depending on commodity and destination.
This model allows participation without farmland ownership, long-term capital lock-in, or farm management risk.
Final Thought
Agriculture is not just about farming; it’s about verification, structure, and risk clarity.
Whether investing directly in farm projects or participating through exports, diaspora investors must prioritise transparency over promises.
Distance should not force blind trust.
It should demand better systems.
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