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How To Begin A Profitable Cocoyam Farming Business in Nigeria
Cocoyam is a popular food crop in Nigeria and a staple food for
many communities in Nigeria. It is also popular in most tropical
regions of the world.
This tuber crop comes in several varieties. Some varieties are
used for soup, others are boiled, while some are used to make
porridge among a long list of recipes. Little wonder that this
crop has continued to grow in popularity among Nigerians and
Africans.
Some people would like to know why cocoyam farming is
attractive. Well, before now, cocoyam farming was popular among
small scale/subsistence farmers. These only cultivated it for
personal consumption. The little left was sold at the market.
All these changed as knowledge increased about the health
benefits of cocoyam. As societies became more cosmopolitan,
cultures were shared and people learnt a great deal about the
way of life of each other. The exchange of food recipes formed a
dominant part of this relationship. This made people discover
newer ways to prepare this food crop. A result of this is the
high demand for cocoyam across Nigeria.
Basic Requirements
Commercial cocoyam farming requires sizeable farmland. A major
part of production costs goes into land acquisition. However,
owning or already having access to available farmland will
significantly reduce your expenses. Well-drained sandy-loam or
loam-clay soil will be best for cultivation. Getting your
seedlings ready are an important requirement as well.
Cultivating your Crop
The next action to take is farming or cultivating your crop.
This requires tilling the soil. And you can choose to use either
mounds or ridges.
It is good to apply enough compost manure when farming your
crop. There should be adequate spacing to encourage proper
growth. Proper space management is also important. This ensures
proper utilization of farmland and as a result, encourages
bumper harvest. Higher ridges will encourage deeper penetration.
Time of planting: Immediately the rain is steady in the area
suitable for its cultivation. In Nigeria, planting dates for
cocoyam vary from March/April to April/May.
Variety: There are two main varieties, white and pink varieties.
Spacing: Plant on the crest of the heaps or ridges at 1m apart
on row. A whole cormel or cut sett from corms is planted at
about 15-20cm deep. The sett or corm should not be too big or
too small. The cut surface of the sett should face upwards in a
slanting position. A whole corm or cormel can be cut into setts
for planting. About 10,000 corms can be planted per hectare.
Planting Guide
Seed Depth: Plant
small pieces of tubers or suckers about 6-9 cm (2-4 inches) deep
in warm soil. Can be grown in large pots
Space between plants: Space plants about 80 cm (2-4 feet) apart.
Harvest Time: Harvest in about 25-30 weeks, when the leaves
start to die off
Hints: Does best in full sun in cooler areas, but can grow in
partially shaded areas as well
Frost tender, and frosts will kill the plants
Does best in deep, rich, well-drained soil with neutral to
slightly acid pH
Furthermore, tending your crop is necessary for bumper harvest.
This involves weeding, as well as piling more soil to the base
of the stem. Adequate spacing will make it easier to do this.
This process ensures your crops get the perfect conditions.
Additionally, you can choose to cultivate in the dry or rainy
season. Irrigation farming is widely practised too, for those in
a region without proper rainfall. However, the same care process
applies to all.
Profit Potential: The profit potential of cocoyam farming is not
in doubt. But although this is the case, work is required.
Part of this work is marketing your products effectively. There
are several farmer cooperatives that seek to protect the
interests of farmers. Joining one of these is the first step. If
there is none around, you can form one with other farmers. This
gives you a leverage for adequate pricing. These groups also
help in sharing information about buyers. There’s a lot you can
benefit from such associations.
The high demand for cocoyam is good for business. In addition to
this, the few who have ventured into the business have not
regretted their decisions.
Taking a stroll into any market will reveal that it is not
always available all year round. This presents an opportunity to
exploit! Therefore, taking the bull by the horn is necessary. Get Our Practical Guide on Coco Yam Farming in Nigeria. Our focus in this training is to guide you on how to start a profitable cocoyam farming business in Nigeria. There is no better time than now as the opportunities it offers are tremendous! Using our guide, you have the chance of reaping bountifully as there is currently a huge supply deficit.
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