Vegetable farming is the growing of vegetables for the purpose of consumption by human beings.
Vegetable growing is a practice that began in several parts of the world many years ago. Initially, humans could only grow vegetables via manual labour, but as civilization came, livestock were domesticated and used to plough the farms, for vegetable plantation.
In Nigeria, vegetable farming is one aspect of farming with the ability to generate income and profits year round.
A mechanized farmer, Mr. Idris Sambo, said vegetable farming is one of the easiest agricultural engagements a farmer can venture into, and the demand for edible vegetable is year round, creating a veritable stream of income for the would-be farmer.
Sambo said, “We have various kinds of vegetables, such as the leaf vegetables, root vegetables, fruit vegetable, pod vegetables, seed vegetables, flower vegetables and bud vegetables.
“All these vegetables have their different benefits and nutrients, as well as some common features and nutrients,” he said
How to start a vegetable farming business
Just like any other profession, one needs to be tutored on how to excel in vegetable faming; for instance, a farmer must consider the fact that most vegetable crops are highly perishable, and he would therefore first need to develop suitable markets for his produce, even before he starts vegetable cultivation.
Most startup vegetable operations for the most part flop because of the absence of market development and marketing skills, therefore for a vegetable grower who is keen to succeed, there is the need to first develop a line of middle men who will ensure that his produce get to the selling point on time.
Vegetable site selection:
Once the market for the produce has been well thought-out and developed, a farmer must then embark on proper field selection. When considering sites for the purpose of cultivating vegetables, the farmer must take into consideration field topography, soil type, and water availability and quality.
Topography has to do with physical attributes of the farm site and takes conditions such as contour, soil depth, water and air drainage, and, the presence of rock out cropping and trees into consideration.
Soil type refers to the physical composition or properties of the soil while water availability refers to the ease to which water can be accessed.
Vegetables usually need more water than most other agronomic crops do, and this should be accounted for during site selection. Only fields that have easy access to an abundant water source should be considered for vegetable production.
Crop selection:
Another important factor to consider when going into commercial vegetable farming is crop and variety selection. The greatest limiting factor to successful vegetable production from a pest stand-point is the high incidence of disease outbreaks. There is therefore a great need to cultivate mainly disease resisting species, to greatly increase the chance for success.
Types of commercial vegetable farming in Nigeria
Fluted Pumpkin: This is popularly known as Ugu leaf. Ugu leaf is perhaps the most consumed vegetable in Nigeria, used to prepare a host of dishes by almost every tribe in the country. It is valued for its high nutrient value when cooked, and its blood volume enhancing ability when consumed raw.
This is one of the vegetables that can be cultivated in every part of Nigeria due to its tolerance of drought and poor soil conditions.
Okra; vegetable farming
Green okra, also known as gumbo and lady’s finger in many English speaking countries, is an edible green pod vegetable well known for its high nutrient content. Containing a significant level of Vitamin A and well known for its antioxidant properties, it is also rich in Vitamin-C, Vitamin-K, and some form of Vitamin-B Complexes. It is a hardy vegetable and can be grown on almost any kind of soil.
Cabbage; Vegetable farming
Popularly used to prepare salads and coleslaws, cabbage is another popular vegetable in Nigeria. It is traditionally consumed raw, but can also be used in a variety of dishes. Compared to other vegetable produce in Nigeria, it is relatively expensive for the end user, and this is because it requires more effort to cultivate than the others.
Cabbage fares better in colder climates; it grows well on fertile land, well drained, and properly-fertilized soil. It must also get at least 6 hours of sunlight every day.
Cucumber vegetable farming
Cucumbers are usually consumed raw, but are also used for preparation of many kinds of food in Nigeria. It is also marketed as a cosmetic product. It is said that the human skin and cucumbers share the same level of hydrogen content, which makes it easier for cucumber to deal with the skin problems by engulfing them.
It is therefore a vegetable produce that is in high demand by cosmetic companies. This is a vegetable that thrives on soil that is well drained and rich in organic matter, and is relatively easy to grow. Just make sure they have full sunlight and soil that is rich in organic matter.
Jute leaf vegetable
Known as Ewedu in Yoruba land, the jute leaf is probably the most popular vegetable among the Yoruba people of Western Nigeria. It is a hardy vegetable that grows almost anywhere, in any condition. When it is grown on a properly irrigated piece of land, it matures quickly and is a fast seller.
However, the start-up capital required to grow vegetables will depend on the scale of operations envisaged by the farmer. To begin cultivation of vegetables on a piece of land of between one and two hectares of land, experts put the startup capital at between N50, 000 and N70, 000, depending on your location. This would include payment for seedlings, pesticides, manure and
labour.
