Logistics
Local produce delivery
Moving fresh produce from farms and collection points to nearby markets, shops and buyers.
- Starting complexity
- Low
- Capital intensity
- Low
- Skill requirement
- Basic
- Infrastructure
- Minimal
Non-farm-based
Beyond the farm
Build a business around agriculture without owning a farm.
Agriculture creates opportunities before, during and after production. Every need a farmer has can be a business for someone else.
Need → business
Logistics
Logistics
Agricultural logistics and route coordination
Organising transport for agricultural loads over longer distances, including coordinating other people's vehicles.
- Starting complexity
- Medium
- Capital intensity
- Medium
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Moderate
Non-farm-based
Cold chain
Cold chain
Cold-chain transport and storage
Keeping temperature-sensitive produce, fish, dairy or meat cool from farm to buyer.
- Starting complexity
- High
- Capital intensity
- High
- Skill requirement
- Specialized
- Infrastructure
- Significant
Non-farm-based
Distribution
Distribution
Motorcycle-based agricultural distribution
Using motorcycles or tricycles to move small loads where larger vehicles cannot easily go.
- Starting complexity
- Low
- Capital intensity
- Low
- Skill requirement
- Basic
- Infrastructure
- Minimal
Non-farm-based
Agro-inputs
Agro-inputs
Agro-input retail
Selling seeds, tools, feed and other inputs to farmers close to where they farm.
- Starting complexity
- Medium
- Capital intensity
- Medium
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Moderate
Non-farm-based
Agro-inputs
Agro-input distribution
Supplying input retailers and cooperatives in bulk across a region.
- Starting complexity
- High
- Capital intensity
- High
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Significant
Non-farm-based
Aggregation
Aggregation
Produce aggregation and market access
Combining produce from many small farmers into volumes and qualities that buyers want.
- Starting complexity
- Medium
- Capital intensity
- Medium
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Moderate
Non-farm-based
Storage
Storage
Grain storage and drying
Drying and safely storing grain and similar products so farmers and traders can sell when prices and quality suit them.
- Starting complexity
- Medium
- Capital intensity
- Medium
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Moderate
Non-farm-based
Warehousing
Warehousing
Warehouses and aggregation centres
Operating larger storage and distribution hubs.
- Starting complexity
- High
- Capital intensity
- High
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Significant
Non-farm-based
Processing
Processing
Staple and snack food processing
Turning raw crops into products such as garri, flour, peanut butter, tomato paste and red palm oil, then packaging them well.
- Starting complexity
- Medium
- Capital intensity
- Medium
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Moderate
Non-farm-based
Processing
Fruit and juice processing
Turning seasonal fruit into juices, pulps and dried products.
- Starting complexity
- Medium
- Capital intensity
- Medium
- Skill requirement
- Specialized
- Infrastructure
- Moderate
Non-farm-based
Packaging
Packaging
Packaging supply and design
Supplying or designing crates, bags, jars, labels and branded packs for food and farm products.
- Starting complexity
- Medium
- Capital intensity
- Medium
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Moderate
Non-farm-based
Waste-to-value
Waste-to-value
Eco-friendly agricultural products
Exploring biodegradable or natural products made from agricultural fibres and by-products.
- Starting complexity
- High
- Capital intensity
- Medium
- Skill requirement
- Specialized
- Infrastructure
- Moderate
Non-farm-based
Waste-to-value
Organic waste to compost and feed
Collecting crop residues, peels, husks and droppings and turning suitable material into compost, feed ingredients or fuel products such as briquettes.
- Starting complexity
- Low
- Capital intensity
- Low
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Minimal
Non-farm-based
Consulting
Consulting
Agricultural consulting and advisory
Selling practical agricultural and business knowledge to farmers, processors and investors.
- Starting complexity
- Low
- Capital intensity
- Low
- Skill requirement
- Specialized
- Infrastructure
- Minimal
Non-farm-based
Training
Training
Agricultural training and workshops
Teaching practical skills in processing, farming, business and marketing.
- Starting complexity
- Low
- Capital intensity
- Low
- Skill requirement
- Specialized
- Infrastructure
- Minimal
Non-farm-based
Training
Digital knowledge products and market intelligence
Packaging expertise as guides, courses, templates or market information.
- Starting complexity
- Medium
- Capital intensity
- Low
- Skill requirement
- Specialized
- Infrastructure
- Minimal
Non-farm-based
Training
Agricultural content: blogging, video and podcasts
Teaching and informing people about agriculture through writing, video or audio, and building an audience.
- Starting complexity
- Low
- Capital intensity
- Low
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Minimal
Non-farm-based
Equipment rental
Equipment rental
Equipment rental and equipment-as-a-service
Renting processing, drying, milling or farm equipment to users who cannot buy it.
- Starting complexity
- Medium
- Capital intensity
- High
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Moderate
Non-farm-based
Export
Export
Export and cross-border trade
Selling to buyers in other countries, within Africa first and later worldwide.
- Starting complexity
- High
- Capital intensity
- High
- Skill requirement
- Specialized
- Infrastructure
- Moderate
Non-farm-based
Trading & brokerage
Trading & brokerage
Commission-based brokerage
Connecting legitimate buyers and sellers of agricultural goods, including export brokerage, and earning an agreed commission.
- Starting complexity
- Low
- Capital intensity
- Low
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Minimal
Non-farm-based
Technology
Technology
Agricultural technology and digital services
Software, data, payments or tracking tools that make agricultural work easier.
- Starting complexity
- High
- Capital intensity
- Medium
- Skill requirement
- Specialized
- Infrastructure
- Minimal
Non-farm-based
Marketing
Marketing
Agricultural marketing and market linkage
Helping producers brand, present and sell their products to the right customers.
- Starting complexity
- Low
- Capital intensity
- Low
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Minimal
Non-farm-based
Marketing
Agro e-commerce and direct-to-buyer delivery
Connecting farmers directly to households, offices and restaurants through a simple online or messaging-app shop.
- Starting complexity
- Low
- Capital intensity
- Low
- Skill requirement
- Intermediate
- Infrastructure
- Minimal
Non-farm-based
Equipment
Equipment
Selling and importing processing machines
Supplying oil extractors, mills, cassava graters, juice machines and similar equipment by importing or by partnering with local fabricators.
- Starting complexity
- High
- Capital intensity
- High
- Skill requirement
- Specialized
- Infrastructure
- Moderate
Non-farm-based
Many of these ideas were inspired by a popular video on agribusiness ideas that don't require farming. Claims about income in such videos are not verified here, so treat them as ideas to investigate.
These are opportunities worth investigating, not guaranteed businesses. Learn the requirements, test small and verify local rules.