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Learn the ‘HOW TOs’ of Agriculture sectors in Nigeria.
One of the biggest challenges that confront beans and grains farmers and merchants in the country is how to effectively control weevils and beetles in their stored products. This has led to the indiscriminate use of excessive chemicals by many grains farmers and merchants to preserve these produce for future sale; as a result, most […]
Egg breakage by layer chickens is something most poultry farmers are familiar with. An expert, Musa Abdulrahman of National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), noted that the trend is an acquired behaviour which doesn’t necessarily have a causative agent, adding however that a number of reasons could lead to it. Abdulrahman pointed out that the […]
Catfish farmers using earthen ponds, surface tanks, plastic tanks etc. often face the challenge of high fingerlings mortality rates when raising them. As such, utmost care need to be exercised in handling these fragile fishes in order to optimise production and profit. A healthy pond grooms healthy fishes. Prior to stocking, 250kg of lime should […]
Agricultural experts believe many farmers make the following mistakes: Farmers growing too many crops. Your farm will fail if you refuse to focus specifically on crop that bring you the most cash. Cultivating too many crops that are not economically viable will soon put you out of business because at the end of the day […]
Castor Seed (Ricinus communis L.) is cultivated around the world because of the commercial importance of Castor oil. India is said to be the world’s largest producer of castor seed and meets most of the global demand for castor oil. Nigeria imports over N30 billion worth of castor oil every year despite having arable and […]
The following 15 pointers will help you get the most from your phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer investment. They come from Dan Kaiser, University of Minnesota Extension nutrient management specialist. 1. Soil-test regularly and follow those recommendations. Although soil tests aren’t perfect, they’re your best indicator of nutrient sufficiency. 2. Monitor soil pH, the […]
Onions is a perishable crop which needs to be carefully handled to preserve its freshness and taste. Freshly harvested onions should first be dried on a dry, warm, and well ventilated shed, and not directly under the sun. The onions should be spread out on a clean and dry surface for two to three weeks […]
Rain water harvesting is one of the most effective methods of water management and water conservation. It involves collection and storage of rain water at surface or in sub-surface aquifers, before it is lost as surface run off. Water collected could be used for domestic needs, livestock, agroforestry and small-scale farming in order to overcome […]
Nigeria’s indigenous cattle breeds, largely owned by Fulani nomads, are the predominant source of milk for the ordinary Nigerian and often characterised by low milk production mainly due to inadequate feed supply, poor management practices among others. The few commercial dairy farmers on the other hand prefer importing exotic breeds of cattle with higher milk […]
Passion fruit farming has been touted as the next big business venture for Sub-Saharan countries such as Kenya. In fact, according to statistics, passion fruits contribute an average of $27 million yearly accounting for 1.1% of Kenya’s domestic value of horticultural produce. Here is a brief guide that has been prepared exclusively for you by […]
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has begin a training programme for farmers in Katsina on how to make biopesticides and fertiliser from neem. The programme is holding at UNIDO Neem Biopesticide Centre at Hasan Usman Katsina Polytechnic. About 50 farmers took part in the pilot phase of the scheme. Neem or nimtree (azadirachta […]
There are different edible mushroom varieties like oysters, shiitake and button mushrooms. One may choose the variety to grow depending on the taste he/ she seeks. Spawn: As a beginner, you need to buy spawn (mushroom mycelia) which is similar in function to plant seedling and not spores for experienced growers. Growing medium: Next is […]
Can Nigeria grow its cashew export market? Yes, says the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) National Publicity Secretary, Sotonye Anga. He expects a major jump from last year’s 160,000 metric tonnes of raw cashew export worth $300 million. He however noted that the deficit in transport infrastrcuture may be a problem. Noting that shipping […]
Top 10 Concerns Of Young Farmer, At any roundtable of young and beginning farmers, a few common themes seem to bubble to the surface as folks share stories and concerns. Here are 10 of the biggest top-of-mind challenges, along with some ideas on how to deal with them. 1. WHEN LAND IS NOT AVAILABLE An important […]
How to Grow Carrot or Carrot Farming, Carrots are very easy to grow as long as you appropriately prepare the soil before planting, your carrots will thrive in almost any climate. Carrot takes between 70 to 80 days mature. Choose a variety: There are varieties of carrots that contain several types, which farmers buy. Chantenay: […]