INTRODUCTION

Emerging Trends In Agricultural Practices in NigeriaA practical Experience From Trans-Able Farms Katsina

Presented byAminu I. SafanaJanuary, 2016

INTRODUCTION

Agriculture is one of the most important pillars in development of a country. It is a source of livelihood as well as a source of income for a big population. It is also the biggest employer of both trained and untrained labour.Protected Agriculture (PA) can be defined as the modification of the natural environment to achieve optimum plant growth and can take a variety of forms such as:

Greenhouses

Tunnels

Shade houses

Greenhouse production of vegetables has enabled many countries to increase agricultural production. Greenhouse production, which is more intensive than in Open Field Agriculture (OFA), particularly for smallholders many of whom have restricted access to land.A greenhouse can provide advantages such as:

Optimum growing environment

Crops can be grown out of season and under controlled conditionsCrop growth can be manipulatedAttractive returns on investment

Faster crop growth with higher yield and better quality

Insects and diseases can be reduced drastically if not eliminated altogether

The technology is more sophisticated than OFA and thus requiring:

More diligence and precisionHigher start up capital and operational costMore technical skills required (regularity, timing, and level of attention)Continuous training of producers.

ProductionDepending on the variety, the output per stand is between 10kg 25kg for the whole harvesting period and it is dependent on the care and attention given to the tomatoes/plantFor tomatoes it normally takes 65 to 75 days after transplanting for harvest to start depending on the variety. While for capsicum and cucumbers it takes lesser duration.For indeterminate tomatoes the harvest window is between 3 6months in some cases up to 9months depending on the variety and care given to the plant.It is however important to note that to get the optimum production is not an easy thing, you have to from day one get the following right:

structuresIn selecting the site for the structure, attentionshould be given to orienting it for:Adequate lightVentilationProtection from rainInsect exclusionTemperatureRainfall Wind Access to waterAccess to labourNearness to marketExpansion of spacesEnvironmental hazards (pollution/contaminated water)

Structural Design

Materials WoodMetalPlasticsRoof coveringShade clothInsect meshconcrete

TEMPERATURE/WEATHERDay ---- 20-32ocNight---15-25 oc

Growing MediumVery important part of production systemSoilOrganic matter mixesNon-soil mixesCombination of several non-soil mixesWater (hydroponics)

Plant PropagationAcquisition of basic knowledge of plantproduction is very important. Emphasis must beplaced on crop and variety selection, method ofpropagation and plant careVarietal SelectionAppealing to the marketCompatible with the production systemNewly developed and satisfies specific needs

TOMATOE TYPESDeterminate

Indeterminate

Semi-determinate

MethodsDirectly seeded (Lower cost reducing chances of disease)

Transplanted as seedlings(early maturity)

Germination of SeedsGermination time depends on seed viability, the type of crop, the variety and environmental conditions.Seed propagation media should provide the following:Good level of moistureGood level of aerationFree from disease pathogensChemically inertFree from disease pathogens

TransplantingSeedlings should be transplanted when they have 4-6 true leaves.Seeding block 6cm30grm of fertilizer in each hole60cm spacing in zig zagWatering ofHeavy and medium soil (5days)Sandy soil (1 day)

Nutrition and ManagementMega nutrients Carbon, Hydrogen and OxygenMacro nutrients NPK, Calcium, SulphurMicro nutrients Iron, Copper, Zinc etc.

Fertilizers Chemical NPK are the most required in a green house primary nutrientsCalcium, magnesium and sulphur and usually supplied in lesser qualities

Organic

1st stage: 1 3 weeks NPK equally2nd stage: 4 5 weeks N & P (no K)3rd stage: 6 10 weeks NPK equally + Calcium4th stage: 11 30 weeks NPK (10-5-25) or higher

Application TechniquesFoliar FeedingPre-plantIrrigation SystemTop-downTubes/hoseSub-irrigation

Additional activities

Pruning

Trellising

Pollination

Plant Troubles

Spraying & FumigationLeaves dull & lifeless (sunlight directly)

Plants not growing (over watering or little sunlight)Small leaves (under or over watering/pests/light)

Brown tips or edges on leaves (overfeeding, incorrect watering)

Leaves curl and fall (over watering)Lower leaves dry and fall (over watering, heat or little light)

Leaves witting (over watering, drought, heat, disease, pests)

Flower buds fall (drought, too little light, pest, disease)

Holes & tears in leaves (insects damage, people brushing leaves)

No flowers (too little light, heat, inappropriate day light)

Leaves and stems rot (Fungus, bacteria, over watering)

Pest Attacks

Spider Mites

Aphids

White Flies

Beetles

Caterpillars

Leaf Miners

Snails

Nematodes

Diseases

Septoria Leaf Spot

Early Blight

Fusarium Wilt

Verticillium Wilt

Late Blight

Bacterial Spot

Powdery Mildew

Grey Mould

Leaf Mould

IPM ConsiderationsIPM is the use of number of compatiblepractices to minimize pest.

Marketing considerationResearch & SegmentationQuality managementManaging the harvestPost harvest handlingPreparing and sorting in fieldTransportationGrading and packagingPromotion and distribution channelsMarket informationPrice consideration

Major Constraints of Greenhouse Vegetable IndustryInconsistent supplyPoor record keepingLimited knowledge of the marketPoor market differentiationFew greenhouse vegetable producer groupsWeak linkages among stakeholders

FINANCES

ConclusionProtected agriculture (PA) or Greenhouse farming in particular offers producers of vegetables the means to earn attractive return on their investment, possibilities for environmental conservation as well as marginal land utilization. Besides providing opportunity for crop to be grown out of season, there is potentially a faster crop growth rate with higher yields and better qualityIt is also pertinent to point out that the care, time, resources, energy etc needed for it to give excellent result is quite enormous.Surely, a lot has to go into any Greenhouse project whether local or imported but all variables being constant and all parameters being equal, a lot more will surely be reaped.

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