Economic hardship: How garden farming can help solve challenges of ravaging hunger in Nigeria
As prices of farm products increase daily and people can hardly afford a tuber of yam, basket of fresh vegetables and others due to the current economic hardship in Nigeria, NewsClick Nigeria unveils below how garden farming can help ameliorate the pains and hardship faced by Nigerians.
What is Garden farming?
Garden farming is a practice of growing a variety of plants and animals in a home garden.
It can provide a source of food and income for the household.
Garden farming involves choosing a location, planning the garden beds, preparing the soil, selecting the seeds or plants, and planting and caring for them.
Garden farming can produce fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices, and other products.
Follow Steps below to Take to Start Yam Sack
The following are the steps to take to start yam sack farming
Site Selection
Choosing the best place or site is the first step to take to start yam sack farming in Nigeria.
You can use your backyard, garden, rooftop or farm to practice yam sack farming. The site must have abundant sunshine and it should not be waterlogged.
Get Sacks or Bags
Sacks and bags are needed for sack farming. The yam cuttings or setts will be placed in the sacks or bags. Cleaned cement bags can also be used for yam sack farming.
Jute sacks, polythene bags, HDPE bags and sacks made with kenaf fibre are some of the types of sacks that can be used to grow yams.
Soil or Other Growing Medium
Top soil should be used for growing of yam in sacks or bags. The top soil should be mixed with well cured manure or compost. The soil may be solarized in order to kill the harmful microbes in it.
Coco peat, perlite and other growing media can also be used for yam sack farming. Pebbles and stones are usually added to the sack for easy draining of the growing medium.
Manure or Compost
Animal manure like chicken manure should be mixed with the growing medium in the sack. The manure should be well cured. Compost can also be used to mix with the soil or growing medium.
Irrigation
You may need irrigation systems like drip irrigation for your yam sack farming venture.
The irrigation system will ensure that the yam plants do not lack water. Irrigation can also increase the yield of the yam crop.
Planting
Get a yam tuber, cut the tuber into small sizes. The size of the cut should be 6cm by 6cm. You can use a small match box to measure the yam cut to use for planting.
Each yam tuber cut should have the back or peel of the yam tuber. Without the peel or back of the yam tuber, the yam cut will not germinate or grow.
Place the yam cut into the soil in the growing sack. Ensure that the back of the yam cut makes contact with the soil or growing medium.
Wet the soil in the sack before placing the yam cut in it.
Fertilizers
Depending on the fertility of your soil or growing medium, you may need fertilizers like NPK 15:15:15, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, chelates, foliar fertilizers and potassium sulfate etc.
Yam does well with NPK fertilizers and manure.
Pesticides
Yam like other crops is susceptible to pests and diseases. Pesticides like fungicides, insecticides, bactericides and acaricides etc should be used to manage pests and diseases in yam sack farming.
Wooden Stakes
Wooden stakes like bamboo should be used as stakes for the yam vines. Sturdy vines can also be used to hold the growing yam vines.
Stakes are important for yam farming.
Stones or Pebbles
Stones or pebbles are needed to be placed in the sacks or bags. These stones make it easy for the sack to drain excess water.
Harvesting
Yam reaches harvest after 5 – 7 months of planting. You need to gently dig the soil in the sack in order to harvest the yam tuber.
You will know that the yam is ready for harvest when the leaves and the vines begin to dry up and turn to brown.
Tools and Inputs Needed for Yam Sack Farming
The following are the tools and inputs needed for yam sack farming:
- Sacks
- Digger
- Shear
- Knife
- Drip Tapes and Fittings
- Watering Cans
- Wooden Stake
- Hoses
- Organic Soil
- Growing Medium etc.
To plant vegetables in a garden, you need to do these:
- Choose a sunny location with moist, well-drained soil and enough space for your veggies.
- Select your veggies based on the planting dates and the climate of your area.
- Prepare the soil by adding compost or fertilizer and loosening it with a rake or a hoe.
- Dig holes with a garden trowel and put your plants or seeds in them. Cover them with soil and press gently.
- Water your plants or seeds regularly and keep the weeds out by mulching or hoeing.
To plant peppers in your garden, follow these steps:
- Choose the right time: Plant pepper seeds directly in the garden 10-14 days before the last frost date or start seeds indoors about eight weeks before planting outside.
- Prepare the soil: Work organic matter into the soil and dig holes deep enough to set your plants at the same level they were in their pots.
- Transplant or sow seeds: Transplant sturdy pepper plants outdoors after nighttime low temperatures are above 50°F, or sow seeds directly in the garden.
- Water and fertilize: Water thoroughly after transplanting, and use a continuous-release fertilizer.
- Mulch and protect: Cover the soil with organic mulch to retain moisture and control weeds, and protect plants with row covers or hot caps if transplanting before the frost-free period.
