SETTING UP A SMALL HOLDER FARM 1

There has been this national drive to diversify the Nigerian economy from oil and one of the targets is agriculture. A major challenge to achieving this feat is the lack of a comprehensive data base of clusters of small holder farms. In my domain situate at Obafemi owode local government in Ogun state, there are well over 13 small crop and animal farms ranging from 3 plots(about1900sqmt) to 5 acres cultivated by individuals.

One of the ways to really have a home run on consciously reviving the agricultural sector is to encourage clustered small farms and have a comprehensive data of their produce and activities. I strongly advice entrepreneurs who have not tried their hands on green collar(farming) to start small. Ranging from 1plot to 3acres for easy management, irrespective of the type of farming activity(Animal husbandry or crop cultivation).

As earlier mentioned in my post some years back, it is imperative that you have a well details business proposal on the farming structure/venture being chosen. Lets pick on Maize cultivation for this discuss.
Zea mays  popularly called corn is a crop abundantly available during the beginning of the rainy season till the end of the season. Yet it can be cultivated all year round with the appropriate weather condition.

The cost and experience given below is based on my own venture on a small sized 1acre farm land within my locality. It could vary for different areas.

Setting up a small maize farm.

Size of farm land    3plots
Seedlings     1kg     = N400( local breed).
Clearing of stumps/making of heaps = N15,000
Herbicides/ Altrazine = N2,900.

Most local farmers within my area argued that its best to just clear the farm land and then cultivate at the appropriate spacing at 3 seeds per hole. As a business considering the rudiments and practice of cost optimisation I prefer making heaps/ ridges as this will help to reduce the emergence of weed and make mechanical as well as manual weeding easy after 1 month.

I strongly recommend making heaps or ridges has it aligns the farm land and makes it easy to manage and take stock during gestation period and at harvesting.


Planting space.

60cm by 120cm is prefered, that's the size of 2 table rulers. This spacing helps the leaf to broaden out and have better aeration. 3 to 4 seeds per hole is ideal. Any tool can be used for plating, trowels, cutlass, pole etec. However there is an invented planting wheel by a young lad in Ibadan and is sold for N90,000. Its best used on ridges and makes planting very easy and fast.

Seed Preparation
I had a very terrible experience with my maize seedlings as I noticed after 5days they didn't grow only a few. I looked close and notice foot prints of grass cutter around the ridges. They had dug up the seedlings and calmly eat them up. They had the guts(annoying) to uproot the seeds that had grown ate up the roots and left the leaves on the spot(painful).

I was advised by an older native friend who has had this several experience back in the village to ensure when the seeds are planted I should give the seed a had pressed closing it up rather than leaving it fairly closed for aeration. He advised I also soak the seed in water for 2 hours using seed treatment chemicals( i preferred using antibiotics at 1 capsule per kg of soaked seed) and dry up in the sun for some hours before planting the following. It worked and still working till date( cannot rule out native knowledge).

Cultivation/ Gestation

It's best to ensure immediately the land is cleared and prepared to use herbicides to hold off any emergent weed that may arise after the rains(depending on the weather condition). From experience the rains could begin immediately or during clearing activities. If you use a good android device with the weather app you could detect the rain fall pattern in your area(it works technology cannot be ruled out).

Ones you notice the seeds start germinating after 4- 6 days at most ensure you monitor the rain patterns closely. During a heavy or light down pour of a  minimum of 1 hours the soil can remain moist all day long in as much as sunlight is not above 32 degrees for a long period. All these you can monitor from the comfort of your home using your android phone.

Each time I cultivate and noticed that rainfall has not been prevalent for 3 days on, I ensure  the crops is wet deeply by artificial irrigation(water hose) or use of watering can. It is important that your maize get the right amount of water(moisture in the first 2 weeks of germination.

Predators/pests

The common predator I have encountered is my neighbours goats and grasshoppers. Its not really cost effective barricading the farm if the resources for such was not factored in more so goats are excellent climbers too. I often times have to physically chase them away as the leaf of maize is very juicy and a favourite for ruminants such as goats.
However I noticed that this same goats do not tamper with their owners leaves. She smiled and showed me what she did. She just swept all the goat excrete, soak it into water made a large bowl of it and used it to wet the entire maize crop she had. Till she harvested they never made any attempt to east up the leaves nor did she have much issues with grasshopper(another native biological knowledge)...... to be continued