Farming is not always one of the businesses or occupations that’s in the minds of Nigerians. However, it is a lucrative business, and maize and cassava are good crops you can cultivate to make gain. In this post, we’ll be examining how to start a profitable cassava and maize farm in Nigeria with 1 million Naira and above.
There are several steps one can take to get the cultivation of cassava and maize right. There are tips and ways it can be done to yield great money for you.
How to Start a Profitable Cassava and Maize Farm in Nigeria with 1 million Naira and above
1. Learn the Farming Process of Cassava and Maize
The first step to achieving a profitable maize and cassava farming business is when you learn the farming process right. There are tips and tricks you have to learn from a successful cassava and maize farmer. You need to read from agricultural experts in your country, and learn from farmers practising good agronomy, for at least, one farming season.
2. Get the Capital
Before you set out learning the process of this farming, you should have the capital required at hand. You can also get it while and after learning. For cultivation of maize profitably, at least 1 million naira and above should be enough.
3. Source for Fertile and Secure Land
The next step after having your capital is sourcing for a fertile and secure land for the cultivation. You need to ask questions, ask the agriculture extension agents in your area, and the old farmers on issue of fertile and secure land in your locality. The land you are planning to farm on has to be fertile and safe for optimum harvest at the end.
4. Get Good and Hybrid Seedlings
The next step after getting a good land is to get good and hybrid seedlings. There are maize seedlings and cassava stems that are productive, drought-free, and not prone to diseases and pest attacks. You’ll need to get these.
For maize seedlings in Nigeria, Seedco, Delkab, and Pioneer maize seeds are very great. On the other hand, IITA Ibadan cassava stems are very good for your farm. You can source these two around you.
5. Knowledge of Planting, Management, and Harvesting of Cassava and Maize
The next important thing you need to have is the knowledge of planting, management, and harvesting of cassava and maize in Nigeria. This is why we suggested learning the process. Once you learn it properly, and apply what you have learned from old-time successful farmers in the field, agricultural experts, and so on, you’ll get it right
Now, what are these facts or tips you should know in the planting, management and harvesting of cassava and maize in Nigeria?
The Facts or Tips you should know in the Planting, Management and Harvesting of Cassava and Maize in Nigeria?
We’ll be using 1 hectare as a sample. This is because to farm Cassava and maize profitably, you’ll have to do it in large quantity, starting from a hectare and above. A hectare is 15 plots of 50 by 100 feet per plot. Now, the facts:
1. The two crops can be planted at the same time or at slightly different times. They are usually planted at the beginning of the farming season in March/April/May. The earlier the better.
2. The land has to be cleared first and treated of pests and diseases before it is tilled. After clearing, the farmer can spread organic manure on the farmland to improve the fertility of the soil. Spray your herbicides/pesticides/fungicides, and so on.
3. After tilling, the planting should be done. The plant spacing is 1 meter between Cassava, and 25cm between maize plants. With this spacing style it means, around 10,000 cassava plants should be on your farm, and over 35,000 maize plants.
The maize can be planted first. After a month or a few weeks, the cassava should be planted, during the first weeding of the farmland.
4. After three or four weeks, manure or fertilizer should be applied, after weeding. For this weeding, you can save money and time by spraying pre-emergence herbicide on the farm before the weed starting getting out.
5. You can also choose to apply manure or fertilizer in the eight week of the maize just when it’s beginning to produce fruits. However, to cut cost, spread enough chicken manure before tilling the soil, and then apply fertilizer at the third or fourth week of the maize plant.
6. The best manure for Maize in Nigeria is Chicken manure, and the best fertilizer in Nigeria for maize is NPK. For NPK fertilizer, the Nitrogen should be 40% of the fertilizer for better delivery. You also need to buy some Urea fertilizer to apply later in the farm.
7. If you are using manual weeding on your farm, you can weed again at the 8th to 10th week.
8. Harvest your maize when it is dry, shell them, and bag them for sale. Then, you dump the dry maize sticks in between the ridges of the cassava.
9. You weed the cassava farm at the 4th month, and apply manure if you want to.
10. Guard your cassava against bushfire during dry season by clearing all around it and reducing it to the ground.
11. Between February and April next year, you harvest your cassava for sale, and you are good to go.
What’s the Expected Expenses and Profit for Cassava and Maize Farming in Nigeria?
Expenses
Land Renting – 80,000 naira per hectare
Tractor and Labourers – 350,000 naira
Manure/Fertilizer – 300,000 naira (10 bags of Chicken Manure, 4 bags of NPK and 2 bags of Urea).
Herbicides/Fungicides/Pesticides – 150,000 naira
Seedlings – 150,000 naira (25kg of Maize Seedlings and 60 Bundles of Cassava Stem)
Miscellaneous – 200,000 naira
Total Expenses = 1.3 million naira
Expected Returns, Income, and Harvest
1. Maize – 3 tonnes of 520,000 naira per ton = 1,520,000 naira
2. Cassava – 20 tonnes of 50,000 naira per ton = 1,000,000 naira
Total Profit/Income = 2.5 million naira.
Conclusion
This is it on how to start a profitable cassava and maize farm in Nigeria with 1 million naira and above.