#Cashew Cultivation; Local and International prospects (Anacardium   Occidentale)

October 24, 2012waleflame Farm Animals Leave a comment

#Cashew Cultivation; Local and International prospects (Anacardium Occidentale)

Cashew is a plantation crop grown for a variety of uses. Its tree is derived from the family

Anacardiaceae. The Cashew is grown widely in tropical climate due to its cashew seeds & cashew

apples. Just like every other cash crop Cashew cultivation is a major financial crop. It provides

supplementary income for the family; it’s a great practice for those that are enthused to reap the full

potential of this cash crop.

Cashew is an attractive tree with large leaves and pink maturing flowers. Not until recently most

people believed that the Cashew apple or the pea as it’s sometimes called is the only economic part

of the cashew fruit, this notion is largely due to the fact that it can be consumed almost immediately

while neglecting the nut. In fact the Cashew tree was believed to have been grown more for the apple

than the nut. The nut is a kidney – shaped shell attached to the bottom of the Cashew apple. It is

edible as snacks when cooked and the Cashew juice can be processed industrially. Nigeria’s cashew

trading and export are currently worth N24 billion, still has room for more investors. To give boost to

cashew productivity you are encouraged to go into cashew planting today. Reports have it that Nigeria

loses about $40million dollar annually to poor quality cashew. The nuts are often un-dried and

ungraded, since the nuts are bought on the basis of weight (80kg per bags), some farmers don’t dry

the nuts before selling in order to obtain a higher weight. This is an unwholesome practice we all need

to guide against to ensure regular supply. Nigeria currently produces 120,000 tons of cashew nuts

and 95% of d annual production is exported as raw products. The challenges are there, but

government is intensifying efforts to subsidise jute bags and other materials from nursery to harvest.

The long neglect of the cashew industry has waned interests of farmers, this renewed effort will go a

long way in positioning Nigeria as a force to reckon with in the cashew republic. Cashew serves as an

ingredient for major food industries and pharmaceutical company. Clinically, cashew nut consumption

has also been proven to improve sperm count and reduce infertility among couples.

Preparation.

Pollination

Cashew grows like a weed, fairly drought resistant and grow well on marginal soils where other fruit

crops would not thrive. It can grow in wet/dry tropics, the best soils for growing cashews are sandy

soils. The main producers are Brazil, India, Peru and Vietnam, In Africa Tanzania and Mozambique

have an edge over other African country.Cashew can withstand an average day temperature of

around 25°C (77F) for optimum performance. Most of the cashew trees around are as a result of the

dispersal mechanism activities of agents such as wild birds and bats, they carry the apples and drop

the leftovers which forms a new a tree. This is an evidence that cashew trees can survive with little

water and fertilizer.

Planting

Fresh seeds that sink in water are planted in an upright position in a planting bag containing a loose,

sterilised soil mixture. Three to four seeds can be planted directly in the planting hole. The weak ones

are thinned out later and the strongest left to develop further. The seedlings are very susceptible to

Phytophthora root rot. The plant bags should be 350 to 400 mm deep, as the taproot grows very fast

and bends around as soon as it touches the bottom.

Grafting

Two grafting techniques, namely side grafting and wedge grafting are practiced with success. Grafting

should commence as soon as possible (seedlings of 3-4 months old) and planted out in the orchard to

prevent the taproot from bending.

Seedlings

Cashew seedlings are grown under shade (45 %) and hardened off before planting in the orchard. It is

very important not to disturb the root system during planting. Young trees should be supported for the

first 2 to 3 years so that wind will not blow the plants over.

The recommended planting distances for cashew is 8 x 5m. The trees grow vigorously in the first 3

years and as soon as the crowns touch each other alternate tree should be removed until the

permanent planting distance of 10 to 12 m is reached. Nitrogen and Phosphate fertilizers are required

in little quantities. In severe cases, cashew trees with Zinc deficiencies are treated with additional

200g Zinc oxide/100l water applied as a leaf spray. Irrigation and weed control should be carried out

at intervals. Once maturity sets in, harvested nuts can be dried in the sun for processing.

Packaging

• The kernels are dried to 3 % moisture content before they are packed.

• Drying is necessary to extend shelf life and prevent fungal and other infections.

• Dried kernels do not become rancid.

• Nut kernels of export quality are vacuum packed in tins.

The Cashew processing and shelling appears to be the most challenging aspect as far as production

for exportation is concerned. To overcome these problems farmers usually engage the services of

local labourers to get the job done professionally to meet international standards.

You may visit alibaba.com for contacts of suppliers and buyers of cashew.Share this:

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POULTRY 101 – Setting Up The Lucrative Business ~ By Yemi   Kareem

October 1, 2012waleflame Farm Animals Leave a comment

Quantitatively and qualitatively in #Nigeria, we either reason towards #oil or any available white-collar

jobs, believing it’s the ultimate. Wrong! #Agriculture was more potent! The Cocoa heaps of the West,

the Palm-oil barrels of the East, the Groundnut pyramids of the North; whatever happened to us!?

When you don’t sweat for your wealth, you are prone to be prodigal. Why did #Nigeria turn its back so

sharply from #agriculture – our one time glory? Reasonably, has the #oil done us more good than

harm? Structures built from the money accrued from #agriculture are still standing today. It’s hard to

point out a successful project #oil money has achieved. Oh, there is! It’s Project Corruption. Without

derailing, today, our tweetclass is on #POULTRY101: Setting Up The Lucrative Business, and we will

take you through the steps and teach you how to start a #poultry farm business and get a share on

the market.

#Poultry is known as raising birds domestically or commercially, primarily for meat and eggs but also

for feathers. #Poultry farming has proven to be very lucrative; hence the temptation might have been

there for you to start one as a form of business and source of income. Although, many have burnt

their fingers, in the venture! But there are success stories too…

Already, chickens have become an integral part of human life. They are one of the major sources of

animal meat, aside from pork and fish. Taking it as a business, they offer an opportunity for people to

earn big, that’s why there are many #poultry farms out there! The major customers of #poultry farmers

are the fast-food companies in the cities; Tantalizers, Mr Biggs, Mama Cass, Sweet Sensation, Big

Treat, etc. Although some of them have their own chicken farms to supply their needs, it’s a reason to

put you behind the profits. Start setting up your #poultry farms now! It is not hard to do, just be

attentive in the tweetclass and help us RT them to your followers. Save #Nigeria from #poverty.

#BackToFarm !

To set up a #poultry farm, it requires detailed research, equipments and start-up capital. It requires a

lot of money. Because, you would need an expanse of land, a hectare or more wide. You would also

have to procure a large herd of chickens more than 100s in number to generate the proper returns in

income. If you live in a town or city, seek a different location (outside the city) for your #poultry farm.

Your neighbours might not appreciate the crow of the rooster as much as you.

To cover these aspects of the business; (1) Start-up costs for the farm,

(2) Construction expenses,

(3) Animal feeds, and

(4) Operational expenses that demand being paid urgently, MONEY is essential. It is a good step

taken if you apply for loans from financial institutions that supports #agribusiness. #Poultry is worth

the risk. You should have an additional back-up for continuation, during contingencies like disease

outbreak or high credit leverage. The word of caution is “to have an insurance cover in place for your

live stock & equipment.” Even though it adds up to your production cost. One other important

preparation is to comply with regulations. Check with your local government agencies regulating laws

and regulations promulgated for #poultry farms. Register the #poultry farm as a business if you intend

to sell chickens, chicken meat, or eggs. Check business requirements in the state the #poultry farm is

located. More information on how to register a business can be found at the C. A. C. = Corporate

Affairs Commission, they are present in every state capital.

Decide whether your goal is to raise chickens for #meat or for #eggs. It makes a difference in the type

of breed you’ll purchase. Determine how large you want your farm to be and how many chickens you

plan to raise. A #poultry farm usually requires 10 square meters per bird. If you acquire too little land,

the chickens will end up trespassing into the neighbour’s yards. If you purchase too much land, it adds

unnecessary business expenses. Though, purchasing a larger portion of land allows you to expand

later on. Your chosen location should not be exposed to extreme climatic conditions especially during

summers where the temperatures soar & affect the profitability due to high mortality rates. Situate

your #poultry away from other poultry farms, preferably at a radius of 3-5kms!

Purchase chickens and a rooster from a reputable supplier to ensure your birds are healthy and well-

bred. Acquire #poultry farm supplies like coops, incubators, heat lamps, and chicken feed. #Poultry

farm supplies can be purchased from @AgroSolutions or from reputable chickens suppliers nearest to

you. Opt for the lastest feeding, watering & lighting equipments which will save on your labour cost.

Hire a good veterinarian to routinely inspect your flock. It is essential. A veterinarian will help keep

your flock healthy so it can continue to produce quality eggs and meats. Veterinarians also warn of

potential problems and instruct you on preventative measures to keep the flock from getting sick.

Always keep a schedule for vaccinations and medication in consultation with the veterinarians.

To write your success story, you have to be able to market your product well! You must have total

control on your selling price which is possible when you have your own marketing network. Carrying

out a local market survey or feasibility study helps to know the local demand for your product and the

market price. You should ‘produce’ what you can ‘sell’!

NOTE: Innovation and expanding your market horizons will be a key to your success.

If you so desire to get started without previous knowledge, you can seek help of a consultant. We will

also be of help if consulted privately. We wish you all the best as we courageously stride away from

#poverty.

Let us also know what you feel about us; and for further enquiries, please mention us on Twitter,

@BackToFarm9ja, or send us a mail backtofarmnigeria@gmail.com

You can also follow the author of this article on Twitter @Dukeof9jaVille

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PLANTAIN AND BANANA: The Unpopular Money Spinning Venture ~ By Yemi   Kareem

September 23, 2012waleflame Crop Plants Leave a comment

#Nigeria’s agricultural sector is a sorry case, and no individual is ready to take the bull by the horn;

agreed, we have a deafened government. Truth be told, nobody will help us revive this sunken sector

except we do it by ourselves. Yes, individuals can do it! In line with the existing policies – if there’s

one. While we all await the unyielding government to put things in place, nothing stops us from

attempting to go back to farm & sow something. This is a call from us (at BackToFarm Nigeria!) to the

#Nigerian youths especially, to stop begging at every office seeking the apparently non-existing jobs.

Creating jobs should be your goal – our goal. Can’t you see it? The land is green! Very green and

fertile, hopelessly waiting for cultivation.

There are several money spinning ventures in #agribusiness depending on which interests you the

most. On this space, we shall give you essential information that will help you delve into the world of

#agribusiness. Last week, we dealt with the topic #RaisingRabbits and we are pretty certain that

tweeps present learnt more about the ‘ordinary’ #rabbit they knew. Today, we shall deal exclusively

with the topic; Planting #Plantain&Banana. Like always, as we teach, we shall interact.

Planting #plantains&bananas does not take much effort, but it does require that you get a few things

right when you first get started. #Plantain&Banana are perennial crops that take the appearance of

trees as they mature. There is no formal botanical distinction between #Plantains&Bananas, and the

use of either term is based purely on how the fruits are consumed. However, plantain is identified as

“Musa balbisiana” while banana is termed “Musa acuminata”.

Throughout history, #Plantain&Banana has provided humans with food, medicine, clothing, tools,

shelter, furniture, paper, and handicrafts. It provides #foodSecurity and income especially for small-

scale farmers who represent the majority of producers. Plantain is firmer and lower in sugar content

than bananas. Plantains are used either when green or unripe (starchy) or overripe (sweet). Plantains

are cooked or processed while bananas are almost always eaten raw. #Plantain&Banana starch,

flour, and chips are processed #plantain&banana products whose markets are yet to be fully

developed. Averagelly, plantain has about 220 calories and is a good source of potassium and dietary

fiber.

#Plantains&Bananas are staple foods in the tropical regions of the world + #Nigeria, and has been

rated the 10th most important staple that feeds the world! #Plantain&Banana are rich in vitamin C, B6,

minerals and dietary fibre; also rich energy source, with carbohydrates accounting for 32% and 22%

of fruit weight for #plantain&banana, respectively.

In #Africa, #plantains&bananas provide more than 25 percent of the carbohydrate requirements for

over 70 million people! @UNFAO reports in 2009 that #Uganda was the top producer of plantain in

the world with 9.5 million metric tonnes harvest! The next four major producers of plantain, in

decreasing harvest were #Ghana, #Colombia, #Rwanda and #Nigeria. So, what hinder us from

topping the list as the world’s largest producer of #plantain&banana? You! Because, you won’t farm.

Interestingly, #plantains&bananas fruit all year round! This makes the crop a reliable all-season staple

food. #Plantain&Banana can produce for up to one hundred years! And are suitable for intercropping.

To plant them, vegetative propagation is necessary because they rarely produce seeds. It is advisable

to choose your planting site, particularly a site where the #plantains&bananas will get the most

sunlight. The ideal temperature range for #plantain&banana growing is around 26-30°C (78-86F).

Make sure it is protected from wind and cold weather as these elements can damage the

#plantains&banana. You need a lot of water to grow #plantain&bananas. The huge soft leaves

evaporate a lot, and you have to keep up the supply. #Plantains&Bananas also need high humidity to

be happy. You also need very rich soil. If you don’t have good soil to start with, make some.

Incorporate lots and lots of #compost and plenty of chicken manure before you plant your bananas.

Wood ash for extra potassium doesn’t hurt either, and then mulch them very thickly. And keep

#mulching and feeding them! Plant the rootstocks (or rhizomes) in well-drained soil (if not, the

rootstocks will rot) during the later part of the dry season when the climate is warmer. You can find the

rootstocks or rhizomes at a reputable nursery or visit any Agro-allied outlet.

Watch the plantain stalks grow upward in about nine months after planting them. Leaves will

eventually bloom, making the banana plant look similar to a palm tree. Flower clusters develop to

produce the fruit. They reach their mature height of about 15 to 30 feet. Some varieties will grow to a

height of 40 feet. The plants grow new shoots, often called suckers, pups, or ratoons, from the

shallow rootstocks. They continue to produce new plants generation after generation for several

decades. From the stems, that are about 12 inches thick, flower shoots begin to produce the fruit.

Prop up the plants with braces as they grow. Propping prevents the plantain plants from swaying or

tipping over. Though large and thick, the stems are not strong and woody like most fruit trees and can

break under the weight of many bunches of #plantain&banana.

Water the plants at least a couple of times per week to help the plantains grow. Apply some mulch to

the soil to cover the roots and to keep the plant from drying out. Use an NPK fertilizer, or a fertilizer

mixed with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. Fertilizing the plantains once a month will stimulate

growth. The fertilizer should be placed evenly in a circle that is four to eight feet from the trunk. Prune

excess shoots from the plantain as soon as they are noticeable. Trimming helps to increase fruit

production.

NOTE: Plantains grow best in warmer weather, and therefore should be planted in the dry season.

However, once the roots have been established, plantains are available year-round.

#Plantains&Bananas are mature about three months from the time of flowering, with each bunch

producing about 15 “hands” or rows. Each hand has about 20 plantains or bananas while each bunch

will yield about 200 “fingers”. An average bunch of bananas can weigh between 80 and 125 pounds

(35 to 50 kilograms). Two-man teams harvest the #plantains&bananas. While one man whacks the

bunch with his machete, the other catches the falling bunch onto his shoulders. Though bananas can

be left to ripen on the plant, they would perish too quickly. It is important that they are harvested in the

green state at just the right time. If harvested too early, they would develop a floury pulp instead of a

delightfully sweet flavor. Right after harvest, the giant stems are cut down to provide rich humus for

the next crop that has already begun to sprout new shoots.

Thereafter, you may go ahead to sell your produce, and of course smile to the bank.

BENEFITS

*They make great windbreaks or screens,

they can keep the sun of the hot western side of your house,

*They utilize the water and nutrients in waste drains (think washing water or outdoor shower),

*The leaves can be fed to horses, cows and other grazers,

*The dried remains of the trunks can be used for weaving baskets and mats.

*Oh, and they give you bananas. Lots of bananas!

REQUIREMENTS

*Rich, dark, fertile soils.

*Lots of mulch and organic matter. LOTS. Just keep piling it on.

*Lot of nitrogen and potassium. (Chicken manure!)

*Steady warmth, not too hot and not too cold. (Bananas are sissies when it comes to temperatures…)

*Steady moisture, in the ground and in the air.

*The shelter of other bananas! This is the most overlooked aspect by home growers.

DISLIKES

Strong winds.

Extreme heat or cold.

Being hungry or thirsty.

Being alone and exposed.

Thank you for reading through. We hope this benefits majority of the ordinary #Nigerians as we stride

away from #poverty. Let us also know what you feel about us and if you need additional information or

further assistance, mention us on Twitter @BackToFarm9ja or send us a mail

backtofarmnigeria@gmail.com

You can also follow the author of this article on Twitter @DukeOf9javille

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RAISING RABBITS: A Very Big Return From A Small Investment ~ By Yemi   Kareem

September 15, 2012waleflame Farm Animals Leave a comment

A very good evening to all at TweetVille! We do hope you have been enjoying our #Agribusiness

series in the past few months. We unreservedly regret not coming up recently, due to some technical

problems undergone by our experts and unavailability of some research materials. Ultimately, we

hope you are learning and putting our lectures into practice. Should you encounter problems, please

feel free to contact us. Mail usbacktofarmnigeria@gmail.com or visit our

blogpagehttp://www.backtofarmnigeria.wordpress.com for more info. We shall continue the legacy of

instilling and edifying #agribusiness interests in #Nigerians. We are doing this essentially to open the

eyes of all that “#Oil is not the ultimate salvation to breaking lose the bond of #poverty, but

#agriculture”.

Today, our pivot is set on #RaisingRabbits which gives a very big return from a small #investment.

#Rabbit is a good and healthy source of #food. The flavour and texture is excellent! So can you make

it your source of income, esp in an emergency. A mature #rabbit sells for 2,000+ naira!

One male and two females will produce in a year as many as fifty more #rabbits. That’s 100,000!

Imagine having more males and females!!! #RaisingRabbits is much cheaper, more efficient, and

more productive than raising #chickens.

#Rabbits are clean & quiet animals, easy to rear. To raise #rabbits, you need neither a lot of room to

harbour them nor a lot of money to feed them. Because #Rabbit meat is high in protein and low in fat,

it is mostly recommended as white meat for hypertensive patients and older people. You do not have

to be a farmer to raise #rabbits. You can raise them anywhere – even in the city! There are about sixty

different kinds, breeds and varieties of #rabbits varying in size and body shape. The common ones

are; California, Rex, Lop, Chinchilla, Dutch or New Zealand. #RaisingRabbits

Healthy and productive #rabbits need clean, dry homes. Keep them in cages raised above the ground

on posts or on a fence. The bottom of the cage should be three to four feet above the ground – a

convenient height for you to work with your #rabbits. Some people save space by building shelves on

a wall for the cages. Keep each adult #rabbit in its own cage. This is very important as #rabbits

penned singly in a room-cage do very well and do not “eat little or nothing.” Singly penned #rabbits

are healthy and do not have the problems shown by many #rabbits such as gut stasis and tooth

spurs. Each cage should be three feet square, and about two feet high, large enough for a #rabbit and

its young to move around a little bit.

Put the cage in a place that is protected from rain, wind, and hot sun. Keep the cages clean. Dirt,

droppings, and urine from #rabbits can contain germs that will make them sick… and a dirty cage will

attract flies. You will find it easier to keep a #rabbit cage clean if the floor of the cage has holes just

large enough for dirt, droppings, and urine to fall through. If the spaces are too large, it is

uncomfortable for the #rabbit’s feet, and baby #rabbits’ feet may be injured by slipping through the

holes. You can make the floor from wire mesh. Thick wire, with holes that are a 1/2 in. square, is best.

Do not use old, rusty, or broken wire mesh. And do not use chicken mesh, because it is too thin and

will hurt the #rabbit’s feet. The walls should let in plenty of fresh air to keep the #rabbits from getting

too hot. The walls can have larger spaces in them than the floor. The door on your cage should be big

enough so that you can reach in easily to feed the #rabbits and clean every part of the cage. You

might want to build a cage with a roof that comes off instead of a regular door. That will be your

decision.

Note: Never stack cages above one another. I wouldn’t want droppings on my head, would you?

#RaisingRabbits

A #rabbit’s main diet consists of the store-bought rabbit food and hay. The #rabbit pellets come in

large bags and look like brown pellets. This is the main source of nutrition for your #rabbits. This food

(pellets) has all of the vitamins and minerals that will keep your #rabbits healthy. The hay e.g. Timothy

hay and Alfalfa hay, are good for the #rabbit’s digestive system and will keep them healthy. This (hay)

is good to give to your #rabbit as a treat, but not as the main food supply. #Rabbits also eat a number

of other foods like lettuce, carrots, apples and bananas. They also like pears, strawberries, sunflower

seeds and a number of other vegetarian food. Fruits and vegetables should be given to yours once a

day. You can as well feed your #rabbit #forage and scraps from a garden. Vary what you give your

#rabbits and remember to only let the #rabbits eat as much as they want and then take the food out of

the cage. If remnants are left in the cage it can spoil and the #rabbits may get sick. When you give

your #rabbit forage, like hay, keep the forage off the cage floor by tying it together in a bunch and

hanging it from the ceiling or wall of the cage. Be sure not to put your #rabbit feed directly on the floor

of the cage where it will be dirtied by urine and droppings. Dirty food can make a #rabbit sick. Limit

the number of fruits your #rabbit eats, these are high in calories and make your bunny chubby.

Vegetables are better for your #rabbit because they do not have as many calories and are a good

source of roughage for your #rabbit. Keep your #rabbit’s forage dry, especially in hot weather. If your

#rabbit eats wet forage it may get sick with diarrhea and even die. If #forage is wet when you cut it, let

it dry for a few hours before you give it to your #rabbit.

Each room should have fresh water. The water containers should be heavy so the #rabbits cannot

turn them over. Or you can tie the containers to the wire. Your #rabbit needs clean water at least twice

a day. You should also clean your #rabbit’s water container or bowl often.

Note: #Rabbits are subject to dehydration, so make sure they always have plenty of water.

#Rabbits are extremely adaptable in their dietary needs and when proper information is given to the

owners, they can thrive in almost any circumstances. #Ghana, for instance, has been very successful

in promoting #rabbit as a vital source of #food.

When it is time to breed the female #rabbit, put her into the cage with the male in the early morning or

evening. After they have mated, put her back in her own cage. Her litter will be born about a month

later. About a week before your #rabbit’s babies are born, give her a nest box where she can give

birth. The nest is also a warm, dry place for the young #rabbits. There are 6 to 10 babies in a litter.

Their eyes will not open until about two weeks after they are born. Do not touch any of the baby

#rabbits until they are 7 days old. If you do, you will change the way they smell, and the mother will

not feed them. If you need to check the baby #rabbits, rub your hands over the mother first. The

babies will smell like their mother instead of smelling like your hands. When they are two months old,

baby #rabbits should be weaned from their mothers. You can breed the female again once her litter

has been weaned. Feed them for another two months. Then, when they weigh about 4.5 lbs, they are

big enough to eat or sell and you can start making your money.

Thank you for staying with us. We hope this benefits majority of the ordinary #Nigerians as we stride

away from #poverty.

Let us also know what you feel about the #TweetClass by sending us a mail

backtofarmnigeria@gmail.com or visit our blogpage.

BENEFITS OF RABBITS

1) A doe can produce up to 1000% her body weight in food per year.

2) Rabbits can be raised in confinement, whereas chickens need much more space.

3) Chicken reproduction is “light sensitive”, whereas rabbit reproduction is opportunity sensitive.

4) It is much easier to raise food for rabbits than it is food for chickens.

5) Since rabbits are raised in confinement, it drastically reduces the threat to your herd from

predators.

6) You can skin and butcher 5 rabbits to every chicken given the same amount of time.

7) Rabbit fur can be a separate barter item.

Rabbit meat tastes good too, some people say that it taste much like poultry. Rabbit meat is mild and

savory, never gamy. It is extremely lean, making it perfect for cholesterol-reducing diets. Cooking with

liquids keeps rabbit dishes moist and tender. If you’re not minding your fat intake, you may want to

choose recipes that use oil to maintain juiciness. You can look for rabbit recipes in wild game

cookbooks, but most of these just rehash the familiar methods of stewing, frying and baking.

Besides providing you with meat, rabbits produce dung, which makes a good fertilizer. Rabbit skins

and fur have many uses. Rabbits also make good company by raising them as pets.

RABBITS ARE TERRITORIAL

Rabbits are extremely territorial.

In the wild, rabbits’ territorial behavior includes depositing marking pellets at the boundaries of their

territory, chinning, urinating, and aggressive behavior such as digging, circling, and fighting. Wild

males tend to defend larger territories while females concentrate on their nests. Thus, when

introducing new rabbits, territory must be considered. What you are trying to do is eliminate the

possibility for there to develop any territorial behavior in the rabbits.

Use a water bottle (with the nozzle set on “stream”) to break up any fights if they occur. It’s best to

spray the instigator before a fight actually occurs (watch for aggressive body language) rather than

work on breaking up an existing fight.

INTERPRETING BODY LANGUAGE AND BEHAVIOUR OF RABBITS

Rabbits have a language all their own. here are some tips on interpreting your bunnies hops, kicks

and grunts.

SNIFFING: May be annoyed or just talking to you.

GRUNTS: Usually angry, watch out or you could get bit!

SHRILL SCREAM: Hurt or dying

CIRCLING YOUR FEET: Usually indicates sexual behavior.

SPRAYING: Males that are not neutered will mark female rabbits in this manner as well as their

territory. Females will also spray.

CHINNING: Their chin contains scent glands, so they rub their chin on items to indicate that they

belong to them. Same as a cat rubbing it’s forehead on people and objects.

FALSE PREGNANCY: Usually unspayed females may build a nest and pull hair from their chest and

stomach to line the nest. They may even stop eating as rabbits do the day before they give birth.

BUNNY HOP DANCE: A sign of happiness.

BEGGING: Rabbits are worse than dogs about begging, especially for sweets. Beware of giving the

rabbits treats. Overweight rabbits are not as healthy as trim rabbits.

TERRITORY DROPPINGS: Droppings that are not in a pile, but are scattered, are signs that this

territory belongs to the rabbit. This will often occur upon entering a new environment. If another rabbit

lives in the same house this may always be a nuisance.

PLAYING: Rabbits like to push or toss objects around.

DON’T REARRANGE THE CAGE: Rabbits are creatures of habit and when they get things just right,

they like them to remain that way. Rabbits often are displeased when you rearrange their cage as you

clean.

STOMPING: He’s frightened, mad or trying to tell you that there’s danger (in his opinion).

TEETH GRINDING: Indicates contentment, like a cats purr. Loud grinding can indicate pain.

WARNING!

Don’t let your kids play with the bunnies or they may not eat ‘em at dinner time!

Thanks for reading through.

If you need more information or further assistance, mention us on Twitter @BackToFarm9ja or send

us an e-mail backtofarmnigeria@gmail.com

You can also follow the author of this article on Twitter @DukeOf9javille

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Making Agriculture Attractive To Youths – By Wale   Bakare

May 2, 2012waleflame Farm Animals 2 Comments

Can Government Make Agriculture Attractive To Youths?

The rate of youth unemployment is quite alarming and millions of youth are facing a daunting

challenge to overcome these perilous circumstances. More than one third of the youth are

unemployed. For young people, finding a stable paid job has become a priority at the expense of

creation of self sustainable livelihood. The government lackluster attitude towards Agricultural

development has forced many of us to shift our attention away from farming.

In the early 90s Agriculture was the most vibrant sector of the Nigeria`s economy engaging about

70% of the labour force producing about 80% of the total food. Today only a fraction of the youth is

actively engaged in farming as a result of its unattractive nature. Young school leavers have often

been appealed to go back to farm but the lack of a cohesive structure in recent times has undermined

any government seriousness in tackling the unemployment rate.

Over reliance on crude oil has stemmed up any serious commitment from the government. They

continue to undermine the significant potential of Agriculture to provide solution to the current

increasing unemployment. Corruption in government has also warded off serious contenders with the

fear of being neglect to bear the brunt alone. Lack of policies to restrict importation of certain product

has led to the dearth in food sufficiency. Government needs to map out strong policies to empower

farmers; A situation where there is an available program to absorb the youth into Agricultural

graduate-training program fully funded by government rather than seeking white collar jobs. This

academy-sort of thing would help government channel its fund to actualize its vision 2015 towards

food sufficiency.

The Minister of Agriculture Dr Akinwunmi Adesina under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda

(ATAP) promised to take decisive steps to ban importation of some major food items notably among is

Rice which an estimated N365 billion is spent annually on importation. The Ondo state government

has also taken proactive steps by providing commercial Agric credit scheme loan to farmers. Kwara

indigenes can as well afford a smile if the ex governor of the state Senator Bukola Saraki deliver on

his desire to set up a revolving loan scheme for youth. Considering the overwhelming population of

the unemployed, more of such gestures are highly anticipated from government and private sectors

alike if such program is to make any meaningful impact.

In the past, successive government has paid lip service to Agriculture which account for our

backwardness in food production. We do not produce enough food to meet our demands, fewer

incentives to farmers to grow food locally when imported foods are cheaper and more palatable. What

do we get? A decreased output as farmers are forced to reduce prices and this affects our overall

growth. Government can make Agriculture attractive to youth by engaging Agric-students in

scholarship program in which selected students engage in extensive training and research which they

use to develop and implement innovative solutions to the agricultural problems facing the local

communities they work in. Subsequent upon this the villagers can adopt such trial to better their

welfare.

Small scale farming would do the magic in making farming and Agriculture as a whole more attractive

and profitable to get more people into food production. The power of the young people in Nigeria

cannot be unleashed towards Agriculture until the government is ready to create institutional

structures and policy instruments put in place to provide necessary training, extension services,

access to finance and mentoring to help influence their vision and change our perspective to

Agriculture.

Imagine an Agricultural program where one million youth can access about 10million hectares of land

in say the next 10years with the fulfillment of the above conditions. Our leaders can look inward to

break these barriers and take Agriculture back to its green lofty days. Agriculture with its diverse role

aside creating employment may just be the required succor to the niggling crisis and youth unrest

Nigeria is facing currently.

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Reap The Benefit In Cassava Cultivation Today! By Wale   Bakare

May 2, 2012waleflame Farm Animals 2 Comments

Cassava (Manihot esculentus) is an annual crop cultivated extensively for its Starchy, tuberous root

and a major source of carbohydrate. The dried starchy powdery extract is called Tapoica and the

fermented flaky version is named garri.

Nigeria is the world largest producer of cassava closely followed by Brazil. Cassava is a shrubby,

tropical, perennial plant that grows tall, sometimes reaching 15 feet with leaves varying in shape and

size. Cassava thrives better in poor soils than any other major food plant – this singular reason

accounts for the crop success in most States in Nigeria. Benue and Kogi State in the North Central

Zone are the largest producers of cassava, while in the South West Ogun, Ondo, Oyo and Kwara hold

the ace (IITA).

Cassava can survive during the dry season when the soil moisture is low since most of the cultivars

are drought resistant. The Cassava industry in Nigeria is currently on the boom as there has been an

influx of young farmers encouraged by the low mechanisation level involved in cassava production.

Cassava has evolved from a mere food security crop to a cash and industrial crop. The high yielding

varieties recommended by IITA for its processing quality are TMS 00/0203, NR 01/0004 and CR 41-

10 amongst others. The government in partnership with IITA scientist has continued to develop

improved cassava varieties which are disease- and –pest resistant, low in cyanide, early maturing and

high yielding. However, there is a need to make these varieties available to local farmer at an

affordable rate to meet the carbohydrate demand.

In Nigeria, cassava is mainly a staple food produced in form of garri, lafun and fufu. Due to its high

demand for consumption cassava is hardly used in the agribusiness sector as an industrial raw

material; It can however be processed into several secondary products such as pellets,

flour,adhesive, chips, alcohol , starch and glucose syrup. These products are tradable in the

international market and also as a major raw material in livestock breed.

A young farmer who desires to venture into cassava farming would no doubt require a bit of skills and

techniques to manage the cassava farm effectively from the date of production to harvest. However,

cassava production is inexpensive depending on the type of farming scale production to be adopted.

For instance, about N100,000 will suffice to produce 25tonne of cassava in one hectare of land.

The breakdown is as follows:

1. Land Preparation = N10,000

2. Cassava cuttings (60 bundles@ N300/bundle) = N18,000

3. Planting (8pd at N500/pd) = N4,000

4. Pre-emergence herbicides (5litres at N1000/l) = N5,000

5. Fertilizer (20:10:10, 9 Bags at N2500/bag) = N22,000

6. Insecticides (2 litres at N1000/l) = N3,000

7. Application of Herbicide = N3,000

8. Application of Insecticide = N3,000

9. Application of fertilizer (8 pd at N500/pd) = N4,000

10. One weeding (20pd at N500/pd) = N10,000

11. Harvesting (35 pd at N500/pd) = N17,500

TOTAL = N100,000

Pd = person days. Farm labour wage rates vary by location

Note: Fixed capital investments are not included. Such capital investments include knapsack or boom

sprayers, tractors or power tillers, stem cutters, planters, and harvesters. With planters and

harvesters, manual labour use can be minimized. Source – (Integrated Cassava Project).

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CITRUS (ORANGE): Planting And Management ~ By Yemi   Kareem

May 1, 2012waleflame Crop Plants Leave a comment

To be successful in whatever you are doing (/want to do), something must drive you, there must be a

passion – you must love it. Loving what you are doing is the first step to a guaranteed achievement.

And of course if you are not lazy, if you keep harnessing your dreams, you will fulfill it. Nothing pays

better than hard work.

The dream of an average Nigerian youth is to finish school, be employed and assigned behind a desk

signing papers and documents. This is wrong! Majority also crave Oil companies’ employment. Not a

big deal though, but is anything wrong in being your own boss rather than been boss around? We all

yearn for a New #Nigeria, we clamour for our glorious past. What made us successful in the past was

hard work focused on #Agriculture devoid of corruption. To secure #food is to secure life, so is to

preserve them.

One of the many natural resources #Nigeria is endowed with is fertile Land. Many of which are lying

fallow – uncultivated. I am convinced that there is no family in #Nigeria that doesn’t have access to

cultivable land, either inherited/gifted or purchased/leased. “There is no short-cut to the palm tree top”

– There is no short-cut to a developed nation. A hungry nation is a poor nation. Go to America, tour

Europe and make an adventure to Asia, be convinced that THEY DON’T JOKE WITH

#AGRICULTURE.

Now, think of many fruit juice companies. Have you ever pondered on who supply them with raw

materials? – Pineapple, Mango, Guava, Banana, Orange, etc. Well, our #Agribusiness TweetClass

today shall treat all about Citrus (Orange) – Citrus spp.

Citrus trees (lemons, oranges, grapefruit etc..) require more care to plant than most other fruit trees as

they are a little more sensitive to environmental conditions. There is no big deal in planting Citrus, it

can be planted almost all-year-round if done with care. Citrus trees require light well drained soils, hot

Summers and relatively mild Winters to thrive. They do not like being exposed to wind. Plant citrus

tree in a sunny but sheltered spot, such as on the North side of a house. Do not plant in a boggy area

as they don’t like wet roots. Citrus trees are planted out in Spring. Do not leave too late in the

season as any young tree has difficulties establishing itself in hot weather.

To plant the seedling after been nursed, dig a hole at least 2 feet wider and deeper than the root ball

of the new tree and flood with water. Acidify the bottom of the hole with a handful of soil acidifier.

Amend backfill soil with 30% mulch, then refill to the depth of the root ball and place the tree in the

hole. If in a plastic pot, cut out bottom of the container first. Next, place the tree in the hole and cut pot

off. Fill the bottom of hole and place the tree in it so that the top of the pot bound section sits slightly

above ground level. Cover the base of the tree with sand and the rest of the ground with mulch (this

helps to retain soil moisture), firming as it is being filled. This step is very important. Now form a 3-4

inch deep watering basin around the tree. Water the tree regularly for at least six weeks after planting.

To water properly, fill the water basin and keep it filled for approximately one hour or until you are sure

the water has gone down past the root ball. For established trees, water deeply every 7 days in the

summer and once every 2-4 weeks in the winter. Applications of some liquid manure will also help. 

Citrus trees are shallow rooted, so try not to cultivate the ground under the tree and don’t plant any

ground cover near it. Once established citrus trees can get by quite well without fertilisers, but, of

course, they will do better if some is applied. A couple of spadeful of manure each year is good.

Other useful management hints include;

*Protect tree trunks from sunburn by using tree wrap or trunk paint.

*Keep water basins around young trees free from grass and other plantings.

*Prune off all sucker growth from below the bud union.

*Be careful not to over-fertilize your new citrus.

Thank you for sparing your time.

If you need more information or further assistance, mention us on Twitter @BackToFarm9ja or send

us an e-mail backtofarmnigeria@gmail.com

You can also follow the author of this article on Twitter @Dukeof9jaVille

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BEEKEEPING/HONEY PRODUCTION ~ By Yemi   Kareem

April 13, 2012waleflame Farm Animals Leave a comment

“An idle hand, is the devil’s workshop”. These are words of wisdom. Trail blazers are hard-working

fellas. They don’t sit and expect money to rain without working for it. The main secret of success lies

in the daring attitude of the success hunter. Shifting the blame always on government won’t and will

not take us anywhere unless we take up the responsibility of our very existence. We are our own

government. Right from individuals to families to clans to tribes, etc. Our fates and destinies await

being touched by our actions and inactions. Questing ceaselessly for government’s silver spoon only

make us liabilities rather than assets. We can always decide which one to be. The

Facebook/TweetClass agribusiness series by @BackToFarm9ja for today shall be on Beekeeping

and Honey Production.

Beekeeping or apiculture is the maintenance of honey bee colonies, commonly in hives, by humans,

to collect honey and other useful products (bee wax, propolis, pollen & royal jelly) from the hive.

Collecting honey from wild bee colonies is one of the most ancient human activities, dating back to

around 13,000BCE. Today, bees are domesticated for financial gains. And if you already love nature,

you are a potential apiarist (beekeeper) and honey producer!

I suppose, if not always, you at least per chance in your existence have tasted honey. How does it

taste?! Isn’t it the sweetest you ever tasted? But have you ever questioned how it is been made?

Honey is an excellent source of energy, as well as an effective antiseptic, that requires little human

and fuel energy to produce. It requires no processing once harvested. One hive can produce around

30 lbs of honey per year, enough for about 5 adults. Although bee hives can be made out of anything

hollow, building a standard box hive makes it possible to harvest the honey without needing to destroy

the structure. The hive consists of open boxes called supers in which the frames are hung. As bee

populations grow and more room is needed, extra supers are stacked on top, building upwards. Since

bees feed on forage plants and flowers, select a location within a 1-2km radius of plants. Bees like

alfalfa, clover, dandelion and sage blossoms.

In setting up, prevent mold and disease from a damp environment by placing the hive in a spot with

good drainage, such as on a gentle slope. Avoid hollows or low spots where water can collect. It can

help to raise the hive above the ground on bricks as well. The hive should be sheltered from wind, as

even a mild breeze can chill the bees. An effective windbreak for the winter months is important. At

the same time, the hive requires enough sunlight to keep warm, maintaining a temperature of 34°C. In

excessive heat, the hive needs shade to prevent overheating.

When tending to bees, wear protective clothing. A broad-rimmed hat with wire veil will protect the

head, face and neck. Light-coloured coveralls and long-sleeved shirt will protect from stings and not

agitate bees. Wear loose-fitting gloves and stout boots to protect hands and feet. Equipment needed

includes a smoker for quieting bees, a hive tool to pry open frames, and a large kitchen knife.

To extract honey more effectively from the frames, you can build a centrifugal extractor to spin the

frames within a metal drum to collect honey from the sides. Begin with a small swarm of bees either

captured in the wild or acquired from one of the city’s existing apiaries. The queen bee should be in

her own small cage box, lodged between frames near the top of the box. Remove a few frames from

the box to allow bees to enter the hive. Pour the package of bees over the queen cake and the

opening from the removed frames. Use a smoker to control bees by blowing smoke where you want

them to move from.

NB: Late afternoon and early evening is when bees are most docile.

Plants yield nectar in two main flows.

THE SPRING FLOW starts with the blossoming of dandelions and fruit trees and lasts into July. THE

FALL FLOW begins around September and ends when hard frost kills the last flowers.

Honey can be extracted after each flow, especially at the end of autumn.

Honey can be extracted from the frames by letting it drip into a clean pan. For greater efficiency, build

a centrifugal extractor to spin the honey out of the frame. Harvest honey from the frames on sunny,

windless days. Drive the bees away from the honeycombs by blowing a few puffs of smoke through

the hive. After a few minutes, pry loose the outer cover and then the inner cover using the hive tool or

crowbar and lift it off. Use more smoke as needed. Gently pry a frame loose and remove carefully

without crushing any bees. Gently brush off bees that cling to the frame. The comb is ready to be

harvested if it is 80% sealed over. Take the frame to a tightly screened “room” and slice off the comb

surfaces with a large, sharp kitchen knife that’s been pre-warmed in hot water. Place the frame in a

pan for dripping, or use in a centrifugal extractor.

Newly extracted honey must be strained through cheesecloth to remove wax and impurities. Let the

strained honey stand several days. Scrape off the air bubbles that will rise to the surface. Pour the

honey into clean, dry containers with tight seals, such as mason jars. Store honey in a warm, dry

room. To prevent fermentation and slow crystallization, heat the honey to 60°C in a water bath before

bottling it. Check temperature with a thermometer to prevent overheating.

NOTE: Unpasteurised honey has enormous health benefits but will crystallize in time. Crystallized

honey can be liquefied by heating the jar in warm water and stirring.

Isn’t agribusiness truly a good panache to food sustainability? Don’t doubt, invest now and harvest

soon!

For more enquiries, mention us on Twitter @BackToFarm9ja or send us an e-mail:

backtofarmnigeria@gmail.com

You can also follow the author of this article on Twitter: @DukeOf9javille

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VEGETABLE FARMING ~ By John   Durosinmi April 7, 2012

waleflame Farm Animals Leave a comment

Vegetable cultivation is a profitable business that requires little capital and labour. There had been

increased trade/commerce activities surrounding this commodity. Vegetables are of great nutritional

value. They are important source of vitamins and minerals, thus an essential component of human

diet.

Per capital consumption of vegetables in the developing world is only 100g compared with 220g in the

more advanced countries! Nigeria alone produces over 3.8million tonnes of different types of

vegetables annually, which is short in the requirement compared to other developed countries. Hence,

the need for increase & improve production of vegetable. Vegetables can be produced all year

round(dry or raining season) and requires little capital and less labour. There are different types of

vegetable that can be planted; Cocorus olitorus(Ewedu), Telfera(Ugu), Amarantus spp(Tete and

Shoko), etc.

Soil texture and type should be forth considered, climate and market should be put into consideration

also. Complete land tillage practice should be done to avoid competition with weeds while vegetable

grow. Mind you, most leafy vegetables take 4 weeks. With good tillage practice you mite not need to

weed till the period of harvest. Vegetable farming is that simple. Viable seeds can be bought from any

market and they are very cheap. A seed worth #100 can serve a bed.

Best way to control pest and disease is to harvest early. e.g. Amarantus should be harvested 4 weeks

after planting. They are fresh & soft then. By allowing it stay longer makes it loose its palatability,

freshness and appeal to eyes and this will affect price and customers patronage. Harvesting should

be done by uprooting. Subsequent harvesting can be done by knife cutting.

NB: They continuously sprout. As long as you continuously wet – morning & evening.

Most time, farmers get tired of harvesting and so have to destroy the farm to stop them from

sprouting. Price are fixed depending on the season of planting. They are more expensive during the

DRY season than in the raining season. Dry season is the best time. A N100 worth of seed can fetch

you over N1500! Season and soil type put into consideration. There are ready made markets for

vegetable and there is no religious barrier to its consumption. You can also practise at your backyard

or side of the house.

Why allow that “small” portion of land waste when you can get over 10k with less labour and capital

from it!? 9jaLetsGoBackToFarm!

Thanks for reading through.

For more details mention us on Twitter @BackToFarm9ja or send us an e-mail:

backtofarmnigeria@gmail.com

You can also follow the author of this article on Twitter: @mcst_john1

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KOLANUT TRADING ~ By Wale   Bakare April 1, 2012

waleflame Crop Plants 2 Comments

How time flies! It’s the third week running since our Facebook/TweetClass debut and here we are with

our third article on the Agribusiness series. Kolanut trading ordinarily would not strike your mind as a

money spinner considering the fact that it is now a social habit to chew Kolanut. This act is mostly

practised by northerner for different purposes.

Kolanut is a very hot export commodity; its high stimulating effect makes it the basis as a major

ingredient for all Cola Soft drinks. Most European countries and U.S Soft drink manufacturing

company needs Kolanut as flavouring for their products, hence its high demand all year round. On the

local scene Kolanut is an important economic cash crop and its demand are barely met locally. It has

been reported that about 90% of Kola produced in Nigeria is consumed within the country. Kolanut is

readily available in Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Edo State. You can as well sort the product in

neighbouring countries like Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon. The two common types of Kolanut in

Nigeria are Cola nitida and Cola acuminata. It is interesting to note that Nigeria produces 88% of the

world’s Cola nitida crop and like I mentioned earlier 90% is consumed locally mainly in the Kola

chewing areas of northern States.

Kola can be used in the production of energy drink, wine production, production of sweet and chewing

gum, kola powder, and it is used to produce various drugs and body creams. However, the production

level is still very low in Nigeria which account for the reason why it’s an export target.

In Nigeria, you can purchase your Kolanut wholesale in Ogun, Osun, Oyo and you have a ready

market once you have enough in stock. Hausa communities in different parts of Lagos would be your

major local market; especially those in Bariga, Agege, Mazamaza along Mile 2 road. The ideal time to

purchase the Nigeria wet Kolanut is from March to November.

Kola nuts are prone to fungal disease if not properly preserved. Edible salt and wood ashes serves as

protection shield. Sacks and leaves are also good way of preserving and transporting.

Basket is most preferable for storage in retails and sacks for wholesale, ensure occasional moistening

constant wetting usually done for about four to five days.

Determining the average market price of Kola isn’t a problem from the market survey a kilogram of

Cola nitida is N500, while that of Cola acuminate is N2500. The export price for Cola nitida is about

$17 per kilogram, this translate to about N2700 per Kg! It is very much possible to make a lot of

money from the export.

The profit potential is enormous; assuming you get a bag for N27,000 you can sell it to Northern

buyers for about N50,000, and the profit margin will be N23,000! If you invest buying from Abidjan at

about N300, 000, you can sell for N450,000, pocketing N150,000 profits!

So, smart up! Because no one is waiting for you to make it big.

If you require additional information or the comprehensive guide on how to start trading Kolanut,

simply send us an e-mail: backtofarmnigeria@gmail.com.

You can also follow the author of this article on twitter: @waleflame

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TOMATO CULTIVATION by Yemi   Kareem March 22, 2012

waleflame Crop Plants 7 Comments

Because we all want quick money, because we all are lazy to work, that is why corruption deepens.

Erasing the believe in the virtuality that Oil money is the ultimate will help a long way to retrace our

lost green path. Our ailment is nothing but the quest for white and blue collar jobs. Whatever

happened to the GREEN ones?!

Permit me once again, to introduce to you one of the world’s oldest professions – Farming. Last week,

we discussed #SnailFarming. Today, we shall talk in detail about #TomatoCultivation & marketing. For

smart guys, growing Tomatoes has become a yearly tradition. I started #TomatoCultivation back when

I was in high school using the fallowed backyard of our quarters, and I made handsome money – in

addition to stipend from parents!

Tomato is one of the most commonly grown food producing plants in backyard gardens today.

Tomato plants have a very high return on investment. Quote me. To you, it might sound odd to

compare tomatoes to a financial investment, but think of it; if you go to the market/store and buy

tomatoes, you’ll likely pay N200 – N500 per Lambebe (pack)! ℓ☺ℓ…

So, with a minimal investment of time and money, raising tomatoes in your backyard makes a lot of

economic sense! Tomatoes can easily be grown in containers or hanging baskets as well as in

traditional gardens – it is that simple! The good news is that tomatoes can be cultivated anywhere

across Nigeria, and this is because our tropical condition is favourable to the survival of tomatoes.

The Yorubas predominantly cultivate the pluvial tomato. Today, the Hausas grow it more! There are

many varieties though. The greater part of tomato production in Nigeria is undertaken in the North of

the country. Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto, Plateau and Bauchi states. What is wrong with

other states? Laziness!

Tomato production is beset with many problems e.g. diseases, nematodes, insect pests, high flower

drop, etc which result in low yield and poor quality fruits. These production problems can be checked

easily by proper management and care.

Tomato is generally cultivated by transplanting seedlings on the vegetable bed to ridges & furrows.

First, you must gather dry seeds of tomato and prepare a vegetable bed to nurse the seeds to

seedlings. Make it neat. Pre-wet the bed before sprinkling the seeds on the prepared bed – and wet

again! Do this early morning or late evening, and continue wetting in this routine till it grows for 2

weeks.

Transplanting is done from the nursery to the traditional garden made into ridges or furrows. Plant

them 4 feet away from any plant, including other tomato plants to give enough room for you to walk

around the plant when fully grown. It will also lessen the chances of disease development. If the

plants are placed too close together, they will end up fighting for those vital nutrients and the quality

and quantity of fruit will suffer.

*Always remember, when planting tomatoes – PLANT THEM DEEP!

DEEP because the fragility of tomato is prone to be uprooted by wind, rain and other environmental

disturbances. Planting them deep will also keep the plant rigid when it start producing fruits. Adding

dirt / manure(e.g. FYM) / Compost to the seedlings transplanted will help the process of germination a

great deal. If need be, ensure you supply stake to keep the fruits off ground. Else, fruits touching

ground will rot quicker than expected or even be eaten by nematodes. Continuous wetting of tomato

stop when it starts flowering.

At the beginning of fruit production, still unripe, smart up! Meet the store attendants, market women or

grocery sellers to notify them of your product. Who is that being that has never eaten tomatoes?! Must

be alien. Hag out the price it will be sold with your customers. Here, display your marketing prowess.

Hello, do you know you can add value to your product by processing it to paste or powder? That will

be topic for another day. Just go on, keep planting and producing tomatoes. Trust me, you are on

your way to make REAL, COOL MONEY!

For more enquiries, mention us on Twitter @BactToFarm9ja or send us an email:

backtofarmnigeria@gmail.com

You can also follow the author of this article on twitter: @Dukeof9jaVille

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SNAIL FARMING/PRODUCTION ~ By Wale   Bakare March 15, 2012

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#SnailFarming, our first in the series of agribusiness will no doubt move to break the underrated

barrier as far as snail farming is concerned. Snail farming unknown to many, is a profitable venture if

well harnessed. The techniques involved are very simple and easy-to-follow. Once you have the

desire to rear snail you are most likely to overcome the common barriers often associated with its

production. You have probably come across live snail in the market or better still savoured it as a

special delicacy on one of those memorable occasions. The plain truth is that snail is most sought

after locally and as a major export commodity. The basic methodology to a successful snail rearing

has often been shrouded in secrecy by the established farmers; thus giving the impression that

expertise is involved. Contrary to such believe Snail farming is a simple process, you can do it on a

part time basis as it does not require much time.

The global demand for snail is on the increase due to its variety of uses. It is a major raw material

used for the production of some certain drugs. Snail is high in protein and low in cholesterol. Often

regarded as permanent replacement for red meat to prevent high blood pressure, stroke, asthma and

acute anaemia. Another advantage of snail production is its relatively low start up cost.

The major expenses are pen construction and labour, if you opt for commercial production. The pen

should be triangular shaped covered with net to prevent external disturbances. Otherwise you can

start with pots, small containers and drums if you intend to rear on a small scale. Pen construction is

inexpensive; this shouldn’t be a barrier to a successful farming. It does not require much expense in

the area of feeding. They usually feed on rotten pawpaw, pawpaw leaves and cocoyam leaves.

In the local market a snail sells for between 500 – 1000 naira, yet the demand is not met!!!

Snail requires humid temperature with a loamy soil and possibly a pond or source of water.

Reproduction takes place during rainy season with high egg proficiency. A single snail is capable of

producing 100 eggs snails. 200 snails can produce about 1Million snail in one year worth over 5Million

naira!!! As it reproduces twice a year with the prolific species – ACHATINA- ACHATINA which

matures between 5 to 8 months.

Snail requires constant care and attention, ensure that the pen is free from toad, frog, lizard and

nematode attacks. Also protect it from sunlight and noise. Constant wetting of the pen is required to

lower the temperature most especially during the dry season. Excessive heat can lead to death of

snail.

Remember that being smart is getting into profitable niche early enough.

Take advantage of this article and begin a life changing experience in snail farming. Whilst wishing

you success in your new ventures we await your testimonies soonest.

For more enquiries, mention us on Twitter: @BackToFarm9ja or send us an email:

backtofarmnigeria@gmail.com

You can also follow the author of this article on twitter: @waleflame

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GO GREEN NIGERIA! ~ By Yemi   Kareem March 14, 2012

waleflame Issues, Opinions & Solutions 2 Comments

After school/NYSC what next? White collar job? In Nigeria, it has become an illusion. But,

here’s the goodnews, you can create jobs through Agricultural business – Agribusiness!

Investing in Agribusiness costs very less than you can imagine & you will earn more. Trust

me! Apparently, our over dependence on Oil is what brought us this far in corruption, had we

alternative in Agribusiness, we’d have gone BackToFarm. Ever seen a farmer lack food on his

table? Hunger is always in captivity in farmers’ ville. Don’t wait for salary! It is pathetic, the

exodus of youths into the entertainment industry! I hope it won’t be late when hunger flogs

you BackToFarm. We’ve got no excuse becoming whatever we wanna be – living comfortably.

Blaming government won’t always help. Invest in AgriBusiness, NOW!

The knowledge of Agribusiness is a veritable tool to achieving individual financial freedom

and national development, if explored extensively through investment. Shall we deviate from

oil for a while? By Agribusiness, we mean, agricultural businesses like food production (which

includes both crop and animal production), seed supply, agrochemicals, farm machinery,

wholesale and distribution processing, marketing and retail sales, etc.

FOOD PRODUCTION solves the problem of hunger! Cultivation of land for the propagation of

crops like maize, beans, rice, yam, cassava, plantain/banana, etc.

Food production also encompasses rearing of animals, esp domesticated ones viz-a-viz

sheep, goat, rabbit, etc. Their feeding & health management practices. People invest here &

make handsome income!

SEED SUPPLY is the cultivation of land solely for the production of seeds which are made

available for farmers for continuous farming, & seed geneticists/technologists for proper seed

improvement. With your investment, you can be creative & dynamic in this aspect!

AGROCHEMICALS are crop protection chemicals that are manufactured for farmers either for

protection of crops or its improvement & better performance on the farm. Opening a shop or

kiosk that sells these won’t be a bad idea!

FARM MARCHINERY any equipment used on the farm to help with farming. You can invest in

this too & earn your cool money!

WHOLESALE & DISTRIBUTION PROCESSING investing in agricultural products wholesale

market, like bulk food ingredients, machinery, etc & creating distribution channels to move

products & services from businesses to retailers/consumers. Be smart fellow compatriot!

MARKETING & RETAIL SALES help to improve food & agricultural product distribution. An

intermediate link between producers & consumers. You can be this intermediary!

Talk to us, now!

You’ve got nothing to lose from trying.

““Oil will soon dry” Have we alternative to oil? Yes, Agriculture!” – Yemi Kareem.

“Pile up all the cash you can. You can only eat food, not money.” – Wale Bakare.

“How long are we gonna cry about unemployment? Smile to the bank daily, weekly, monthly,

even annually.” – John Durosinmi

For more enquiries send us an email: backtofarmnigeria@gmail.com