How to start groundnut farming in Nigeria.
Groundnut is a highly nutritious seed and an essential source of edible oil.
Groundnut farming is one of the most lucrative business in the country and you’re able to generate up to 5 metric tonnes per hectare of land.
Interestingly, groundnut could be cultivated in a diverse selection of environments. But, it is largely planted in the Northern region of Nigeria because they have a tendency to do quite well in the arctic or semi-arid regions.
As a way of assisting you through the procedure for starting this lucrative business, this guide will take you through a step-by-step manual in groundnut farming.
Land Selection
Additionally, the plant requires an acidic soil to thrive preferably a pH of roughly 6-7. They want about 5 weeks of warm weather and an yearly rainfall in the range of 500 — 1000mm or its equal in irrigation water. The soil temperature needed for germination is about 30C.
Planting
The planting usually commence throughout the rainy season. This ought to be around late March. The seeds need optimal moisture content thus the soil must have experienced a few rain falls before the seeds are planted. The seed may be planted either on a ridge or on a level surface. The seeds need to be put at a 5 to 6 cm depth. The spacing dimension is 75cm between rows and 25cm within rows. Groundnut can be rotated with other crops like cereals and wheat germ. This can make the process of nutrient use efficient as well as decrease soil borne disorders.
Furthermore, potassium or phosphorus based fertilizers can be applied before and after planting. Steak or farmyard manure may also be applied at least one month before planting. This improves the construction and aids to promote crop development.
When it comes to post planting care, 1 disease to guard against is your groundnut rossette disease. This disorder is one of the most devastating diseases that can influence a groundnut farm. In reality, it could make you lose 100 percent of your return as a farmer.
Groundnut plants can also be vulnerable to pest like aphids, beetles, groundnut borers and caterpillars. In recent times, new kinds of groundnut seeds have been developed that are immune to this rosette disease. Also, these varieties tend to have drought resistant and high harvest generating qualities. Weeds may also cause damage especially within the first two months of planting.
Harvesting
Generally, harvesting include a collection of processes which include digging, lifting, stocking and threshing. The harvesting of groundnut is quite a tedious process and it is also expensive. The pods are pulled out from the ground after digging
The inner rib of this plant turning brownish is also an indicator the plant is ready to be harvested.
If you have been using a irrigation system such as the sprinkler irrigation onto your farm, you may use this system to ease the process of harvesting. First, you’ll put on the irrigation for a single hour; after which you permit for mild surface irrigation to get a few days. Then cut the plant roots about 12 to 15 cm under the ground suface using a blade and manually pull the plant out.
In the absence of irrigation, you can use a tractor driven digger to loosen the dirt then you’re able to pull out the plant.
