THE BENEFITS OF SMALL FARMING

One peculiar notion quite a number of people have about agriculture is that it still can be the main stay of any economy especially ours in Nigeria, which obviously is still agrarian. This fact has always made series of governments in the time past have agriculture as top in its agenda when it relates to diversifying the economy.

small scale maize farm

The political will to follow through this cause may not have being too conspicuous but this doesn't negate the fact that it is a thriving venture both small and in large scale.

Starting a small scale farm involves as much planning as starting a commercial farm. At some point, the need for expansion would definitely arise and you need to have all that well planned out. Every farming venture however small has got its own challenges that are common to all and also divergent from farm to farm, depending on the mode of operation as well as location.

For instance in crop farming, it varies based on the soil type available in the area you may have chosen to have your crops grown. Bear in mind that no land is barren. With the appropriate soil mix and fertilizer organic or inorganic, the soil contents can be improved to support the growth of your crop.

A small scale holder farm could range from 1 plot to 3 acres, which invariable could give you some reasonable source of income. the weather conditions hear in Nigeria supports crop growth all year round, coupled with indigenous knowledge and ingenuity applied to your farm process.

It is adviceable from the onset of setting up your small holder farm, have it in mind that expansion should be part of your goals and you need to put the appropriate measures in place for such to happen when the time comes. For instance, it is not just enough to cultivate a plot of maize farm and leave the growth to nature to have its course. This has always being the bane in Nigerian farming system and at the end, yield would be rather small and huge losses experienced always at harvest and post harvest periods.

From the seed type to the day it is planted as well as pre-planting and post -planting activities, all should be well documented. Keep records of periods when weeds were sighted and cleared out in your small holder farm. These records will come in handy when you choose to expand. It would give you a clear guide on the expenses you are likely to incur on a larger scale at some time in the planting process.

Starting small, I have had a lot of hard knocks and could accommodate every mistake made even if some thousands of Naira were invested. It's worth the loss, knowledge and experience on a small scale. This has given me a broader perspective and better route to starting the process again better and cheaper. Guess worth, farming, however big or small is not about the capital but management process.

We would be looking at setting up a small holder farm sometime later. Now is the best of times to invest in your small holder piece of farmland.