HOW TO GROW MAIZE (Zea mays) FOR INCOME

Are you thinking of going into maize farming? Do you know that many are making millions every year from maize farming business? Many still see farming as a low mentality concept and prefer to go for low paying jobs than go into maize farming process.

Maize farming is one profitable agricultural business with low capital that anyone can venture into and make good money. And it is one common crop that is popularly eaten by people around the world.

Starting a maize farm is very easy if you have the knowledge of what you need to do to achieve success in the business. Though it is a seasonal crop but it has the potential to make you millions yearly and it does not involve any intensive training like other farming business.

I will share with you here how to start maize farming and I want you to give it your attention if you really are interested in starting a farm.

How to Start Profitable Maize Farming
1. CHOICE OF LAND AND PREPARATION
Maize can be well in a well-drained sandy loam or loamy soil. Use any method (Mechanical, Chemical or Manual) that can adequately remove weeds and keep the soil loose for good seedbed. Plant seeds immediately after land preparation to allow maize to get ahead of weeds.

The land should have adequate drainage. To grow maize, you must first choose the best spot to grow it. The soil should be wind sheltered, exposed to direct sunlight, well sourced with a good drainage system and sufficient humus to ensure that the ground will not dry quickly.

The top layer of the soil must be fertile and slightly acidic. You must put a substantial grade of compost into the soil complemented with a reasonably good source of fertilizer two weeks in advance to sowing the seeds.

2. TIME OF PLANTING
There are no specific dates to plant your maize. However, it is best to plant after it has rained consecutively for 2 times.

Early Season
In the Forest zone, the optimum planting date is between March and April, although planting could be done as soon as rainfall becomes steady.
In the Derived Savannah zone, plant as soon as the rainfall becomes steady, between 1-30 April.
In the Southern Guinea Savannah zone, planting could still be done as late as May and June, depending on rainfall.
Late Planting
This is done early august which is not appropriate.

Poke holes that are 1 inch deep for heavy soil and 2 inches or less in sandy soil. Make straight rows that are 2 to 3 feet apart. The distance allows the roots room to grow. This pattern will help in proper pollination and provide wind protection as well. The seeds must be directly planted in the soil rather than in trays and pots since corn is difficult to be transplanted.

Plant 3 or 4 seeds per hole and cover each hole with soil. Looking after and tending to each seedling individually is of the utmost importance. Netting must be provided to shelter the saplings in order to protect them against birds and the weeds must be kept low.

3. FERTILIZER APPLICATION
Fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen is the best for maize to grow healthy. Maize needs a lot of nitrogen to grow and do well. A 4 bag fertilizer of NPK 25:10:10 (200 g) per hectare for proper growth.

Note that it is ideal to carry out soil test before applying fertilizer. It is important because that same fertilizer may have been used on that same land for years which might affect the growth.

4. WEED CONTROL
There are many types of weeds, pests and diseases that affect maize plants. Weeds do not only choke the crops, it also zaps off soil nutrient that is meant for the crops.

Hand Weeding
Carry out the first weeding 14–21 days after planting or as soon as necessary. A second weeding may be done if necessary before the second application of fertilizer.

Herbicide Application
Fortunately, there are several herbicides you can apply to prevent a breakout on your farm. Apply Atrazine pre-emergence at the rate of 3 kg ai/ha on a clean seed bed. 4 For 50% flowable (PW), rate is 3.0 kg active ingredient per hectare.Local unit is 1 small tomato tin full/4.5 liters (1 gallon) of water. For type 80% wettable powder, rate is 3.0 kg active ingredient per hectare. Local unit is approximately one standard match box full/4.5 liters (1 gallon) of water.Volume of Water to be Used:Ideally, the sprayer should be calibrated to determine the spray volume.

5. DISEASE AND PEST CONTROL

Diseases

Some important diseases of maize are Maize Streak Virus, Downy Mildew, and Highland Blight among others. Planting early can also help minimize the attack.Rodents, birds and termites are also another threat to maize farming in Nigeria. Termite hills in the field and surrounding area should be located and destroyed.

6. HARVESTING

When the cobs are ready for harvesting, each cob should be tested to see its ripeness. This is usually carried out when the tassels have turned a dark brown and the rear part of the sheath is pulled to check quality of the liquid squeezed out from a couple of grains.Harvest your maize when the plants are mature. The amount of maize that can be harvested per hectare depends on the variety you planted, amount of rainfall, sunshine, weed, pest and disease control management that was applied.It is said that corn is at its best when cooked within 10 minutes of its harvest. However, even if you don’t get the corn right after harvesting, quality grown corn is still good and very fresh to eat. Good corn always tastes good.Hope you have learnt how to start a maize farming today?

"When you leverage on the experience of the professional, success is guaranteed"

Please I will like to hear from you through the whatsapp on: +2348098122340 or via email: tjconcepts@hotmail.com, tjconceptz@gmail.com

Plantains Plantation

How to start plantain farming

Step #1: Purchase suitable land to start your own plantain farm

Plantain needs the right kind of climate to grow- for it cannot survive in too hot or too cold environments. If you already have land you need to ensure that it meets these basic conditions.
Plantains grow best in conditions where the soil retains water, that’s why plantain plantations in Nigeria are irrigated. You may not have the means to carry out irrigation so you should consider soils that retain water, have a good humus layer and you should always improvise by incorporating animal manure to the soil to improve on the humus and texture of the soil to retain water. You can also make your own compost by using chicken manure to increase its fertility.

Step #2: Clearing the land

Once you have purchased your land, you will need to clear it.
Clearing of land includes removal of trees, brush, stumps and stones amongst other obstacles. This is necessary to increase the area of the land base for producing crop, or to make your land suitable for plantain farming operation.
Depending on your budget, available equipment and the location of your plantain farm, you can go for either manual or mechanised clearing.

Step #3:  Land Preparation

Once the land for your plantain farm is cleared, you will need to take certain steps for making the land suitable for growing plantain. This is necessary for creating the right soil conditions for a healthy growth of these young plants, and to ensure that your plantain plantation is successful in the long run.
Land preparation should be done long before you start the process of transplantation of the plant suckers. Although this step may require significant efforts and investment, you cannot skip it, or you will have an unsuccessful harvest, which will set back your plans of owning a successful plantain farm.
Prepping the land will also enable you to structure and plan your farming operational processes and procedures.
The areas that you must consider are:
√The availability as well as the quality of water for irrigation that you have
√Mechanical actions that will need to be implemented and how they will be implemented
√Selection of land
√Any chemical requirements for improving the soil before transplantation
√Equipment and tools that will be required for the cultivation of plantain
√Labor and manpower requirements
Leaching schedule
√Time schedule
√Financial requirements
√Hole preparation

Step #4: Purchasing Plantain Suckers

Plantains are propagated vegetatively, from corms, which are underground bulbs or rhizomes or from suckers, which are shoots that grow from the bud that is at the plant base.
Since the use of the entire corm is quite laborious, the more common method is to grow those using small corms. The mother plant makes three kinds of plantain suckers, namely sword suckers, maidenheads and water suckers.
Sword suckers come with a short pseudostem and have narrow leaves, similar to blades, along with a narrow base. When they mature, they have fruitful and healthy pseudostems.
Maidenheads come with a pseudostem that is large and does not produce any fruit; white water suckers have broad leaves with short pseudostems.
Water suckers do not have a strong attachment to the rhizome, and produce less fruit with weaker plants. They are less preferred in comparison to large sword suckers and maidenheads.
It is essential that you purchase suckers only from a farm that is reputable and trusted. There is no fixed price for these, a conventional sucker can cost anywhere around N50 to N100, while a hybrid will cost around N120 to N200. This price may again, vary depending on where you procure it.

Step #5: Planting

It is essential that before you begin your plantain plantation, you eliminate any grass or weed competition. To prevent any re-growing of weed, you can use mulching.
However, for turf grass, you will need to either use herbicides or go by the hoeing technique. If you are planning to plant for producing fruit, there should be a space of at least 8-10 feet in between. Irrigation needs to be applied at regular intervals to keep the soil moist. Ensure that there is no standing water since plantains are not tolerant to wet conditions.

Step #6: In-organic and organic fertilization

After planting, you will need to manure them using a combination of household waste, poultry manure and woodash for improving the growth and yield of plantains. It will also help to reduce the infestation by nematodes and borer weevils.
Organic manure helps maintain the temperature of the soil, conserve its moisture content and help regulate soil acidity. This will help you make the most of your efforts for plantain farming in Nigeria.

Step #7 Harvest

Plantain trees produce large bunches of heavy fruit, which may cause the tree to slump or droop. If you find that your plantain tree is struggling to stand up due to the weight, use string and bamboo poles to tie and prop the tree.
Fruits appear within 90 to 120 days after the tree flowers. Upon fruiting, plantains are typically ready for harvest within 6 to 8 months.

Step #8 Market

As a farmer or producer of plantain your ultimate aim is to secure buyers for your produce. In most instances this should be straight forward as there is currently a high demand for plantain.
Buyers can range from the mama in your local market to large companies/industries. However, since industries do not buy small quantities and require that plantains meet international standards, you will only gain access to this important market if your production is to industry specification, both in terms of quantity, quality and time.

Please I will like to hear from you through the whatsapp on: +2348098122340 or via email: tjconcepts@hotmail.com, tjconceptz@gmail.com

Image courtesy Lesgupnigeria

Plantains Plantation

How to start plantain farming

Step #1: Purchase suitable land to start your own plantain farm

Plantain needs the right kind of climate to grow- for it cannot survive in too hot or too cold environments. If you already have land you need to ensure that it meets these basic conditions.
Plantains grow best in conditions where the soil retains water, that’s why plantain plantations in Nigeria are irrigated. You may not have the means to carry out irrigation so you should consider soils that retain water, have a good humus layer and you should always improvise by incorporating animal manure to the soil to improve on the humus and texture of the soil to retain water. You can also make your own compost by using chicken manure to increase its fertility.

Step #2: Clearing the land

Once you have purchased your land, you will need to clear it.
Clearing of land includes removal of trees, brush, stumps and stones amongst other obstacles. This is necessary to increase the area of the land base for producing crop, or to make your land suitable for plantain farming operation.
Depending on your budget, available equipment and the location of your plantain farm, you can go for either manual or mechanised clearing.

Step #3:  Land Preparation

Once the land for your plantain farm is cleared, you will need to take certain steps for making the land suitable for growing plantain. This is necessary for creating the right soil conditions for a healthy growth of these young plants, and to ensure that your plantain plantation is successful in the long run.
Land preparation should be done long before you start the process of transplantation of the plant suckers. Although this step may require significant efforts and investment, you cannot skip it, or you will have an unsuccessful harvest, which will set back your plans of owning a successful plantain farm.
Prepping the land will also enable you to structure and plan your farming operational processes and procedures.
The areas that you must consider are:
√The availability as well as the quality of water for irrigation that you have
√Mechanical actions that will need to be implemented and how they will be implemented
√Selection of land
√Any chemical requirements for improving the soil before transplantation
√Equipment and tools that will be required for the cultivation of plantain
√Labor and manpower requirements
Leaching schedule
√Time schedule
√Financial requirements
√Hole preparation

Step #4: Purchasing Plantain Suckers

Plantains are propagated vegetatively, from corms, which are underground bulbs or rhizomes or from suckers, which are shoots that grow from the bud that is at the plant base.
Since the use of the entire corm is quite laborious, the more common method is to grow those using small corms. The mother plant makes three kinds of plantain suckers, namely sword suckers, maidenheads and water suckers.
Sword suckers come with a short pseudostem and have narrow leaves, similar to blades, along with a narrow base. When they mature, they have fruitful and healthy pseudostems.
Maidenheads come with a pseudostem that is large and does not produce any fruit; white water suckers have broad leaves with short pseudostems.
Water suckers do not have a strong attachment to the rhizome, and produce less fruit with weaker plants. They are less preferred in comparison to large sword suckers and maidenheads.
It is essential that you purchase suckers only from a farm that is reputable and trusted. There is no fixed price for these, a conventional sucker can cost anywhere around N50 to N100, while a hybrid will cost around N120 to N200. This price may again, vary depending on where you procure it.

Step #5: Planting

It is essential that before you begin your plantain plantation, you eliminate any grass or weed competition. To prevent any re-growing of weed, you can use mulching.
However, for turf grass, you will need to either use herbicides or go by the hoeing technique. If you are planning to plant for producing fruit, there should be a space of at least 8-10 feet in between. Irrigation needs to be applied at regular intervals to keep the soil moist. Ensure that there is no standing water since plantains are not tolerant to wet conditions.

Step #6: In-organic and organic fertilization

After planting, you will need to manure them using a combination of household waste, poultry manure and woodash for improving the growth and yield of plantains. It will also help to reduce the infestation by nematodes and borer weevils.
Organic manure helps maintain the temperature of the soil, conserve its moisture content and help regulate soil acidity. This will help you make the most of your efforts for plantain farming in Nigeria.

Step #7 Harvest

Plantain trees produce large bunches of heavy fruit, which may cause the tree to slump or droop. If you find that your plantain tree is struggling to stand up due to the weight, use string and bamboo poles to tie and prop the tree.
Fruits appear within 90 to 120 days after the tree flowers. Upon fruiting, plantains are typically ready for harvest within 6 to 8 months.

Step #8 Market

As a farmer or producer of plantain your ultimate aim is to secure buyers for your produce. In most instances this should be straight forward as there is currently a high demand for plantain.
Buyers can range from the mama in your local market to large companies/industries. However, since industries do not buy small quantities and require that plantains meet international standards, you will only gain access to this important market if your production is to industry specification, both in terms of quantity, quality and time.

Please I will like to hear from you through the whatsapp on: +2348098122340 or via email: tjconcepts@hotmail.com, tjconceptz@gmail.com

Image courtesy Lesgupnigeria