“At the centre of this emerging transformation is Joshua Temile Farms, an agribusiness enterprise now making bold moves within Nigeria’s developing sunflower industry”.
Simeon Shodimu
As Nigeria continues to search for sustainable pathways to food security, industrial growth, and economic diversification, attention is gradually shifting toward alternative crops with high commercial and industrial value.
Among the crops gaining fresh relevance in the country’s agricultural landscape is sunflower — a globally recognised cash crop valued for its edible oil, livestock feed, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications.
Across major agricultural economies, sunflower cultivation has become a strategic component of food systems and agro-processing industries. In Nigeria, however, the crop remains largely underutilised despite rising local demand for vegetable oil and the country’s increasing need to reduce dependence on imports.
Agricultural analysts say this presents a major opportunity for investors willing to embrace large-scale cultivation, mechanised farming systems, and value-chain development. With the country seeking viable alternatives to traditional agricultural commodities, sunflower farming is steadily emerging as one of the next frontiers for agribusiness expansion.
In the South-West, Ogun State is gradually carving out a place within this evolving agricultural narrative. Renowned for its fertile land, growing agribusiness ecosystem, and strategic proximity to commercial markets, the state is witnessing increasing investments in commercially viable farming ventures capable of transforming rural economies.
At the centre of this emerging transformation is Joshua Temile Farms, an agribusiness enterprise now making bold moves within Nigeria’s developing sunflower industry.
The company recently acquired 100 acres of farmland dedicated to sunflower cultivation, with 40 acres already cultivated under the first phase of the project. Preparations for the second phase are currently underway, signaling an ambitious expansion plan that stakeholders believe could significantly contribute to Ogun State’s agricultural economy.
Beyond the scale of cultivation, industry observers say what distinguishes the initiative is its structured technical execution and long-term agribusiness vision.
The project reportedly to cover the entire agricultural process chain — from land acquisition and clearing to tree excavation, nursery development, transplanting, and crop nurturing.
The success of that initiative laid the foundation for the expansion into large-scale sunflower cultivation.
Stakeholders within the agricultural sector note that one of the major challenges limiting commercial farming in Nigeria is not merely access to land or financing, but the absence of technically coordinated farm management systems capable of ensuring productivity, sustainability, and profitability.
Rather than approaching agriculture as subsistence farming, Temile Farms is adopting a model built around technical planning, mechanisation, phased implementation, and long-term scalability.
By the second phase of the project Joshua Temile Farms intends to create an enabling environment for youth mentorship programs via its long standing relationship with (YAN) Youth assembly of Nigeria Ogun state chapter, mentorship such as farm setup, nursery setup, planting practice, irrigation setup, process and packaging, entrepreneurship, vocational training etc.
The vision behind the sunflower expansion project, experts described the initiative as part of a broader effort to position Ogun State as a major player within Nigeria’s emerging sunflower value chain.
The vision behind the sunflower expansion project, experts described the initiative as part of a broader effort to position Ogun State as a major player within Nigeria’s emerging sunflower value chain.
The project is designed not only to support food production but also to stimulate local economic growth, create employment opportunities, and encourage greater youth participation in agribusiness.
