How To Start Okra Farming Business in Nigeria:
Okra is a tasty and healthy vegetable that is used to prepare a lot of popular Nigerian soups. Okra is packed with nutrients particularly vitamins A, B, K and C. In addition, it contains iron, calcium and zinc. Okra can reduce blood sugar levels in addition to stabilize cholesterol levels. The vitamin A within okra helps to improve immunity and also improves eyesight.
Okra farming business quite enticing with a the fact that it’s not capital intensive and it’s extremely rewarding. Additionally, okra does nicely on most soil types .
Land Preparation:
The Land to be utilized for okra farming demands tilling in preparation for the planting period. All rocky or stony materials and other unwanted materials must also be removed.
Additionally, it’s necessary that the property to be utilized for okra farming is nicely exposed to sufficient sunshine. It doesn’t matter whether it is merely a little garden or a huge part of property, it’s necessary that you ensure there are nothing that prevent adequate exposure of the ground surface to sun.
Okra does badly on waterlogged soil so it’s essential that the soil you will be using is well drained. A Superb Method of preventing waterlogging because of excess rain or watering is by producing station of leave for all these water
planting:
The planting season ought to commence from the dry season once the weather remains warm and bright. Normally, cold weather or temperature impacts germination negatively; nevertheless you can shield the seedlings by covering them with plant substances
Before planting, the seeds must be soaked in water for 1 or two days. This helps to accelerate the procedure of germination.
Additionally, it’s ideal to plant your own okra on higher beds. The plant will flourish better on a bed that is raised than once planted on a set soil. Moreover, you do not need to plant okra alone; it may be intercropped with other crops like maize, beans,vegetables and berries.
After planting the okra seeds, then the plant ought to be watered once each week. Though, these crops can perform well even in small water, routine water will help to enhance the growth.
Thinning can also be significant when the plants start to sprout. The Perfect spacing between plants must be approximately 1 foot
Harvesting:
On the other hand, the technique of harvesting depends on your final product. As an example, if the aim is to harvest the pods for ingestion purpose then you can begin harvesting after the pods remain tender. The pods in this stage of harvest are approximately 2-3 inches in length. It isn’t a good idea to wait no more than those or you’ll get fibrous and inedible pods. Ideally, harvesting ought to be performed every two weeks; this also can help to stimulate the production of more pods.
