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These days, I get questions from hundreds of people asking me to recommend a crop they should plant on their farm.
Having thought about this very well over the last few days, these are my ideas on how you can decide.
#Thread
Having thought about this very well over the last few days, these are my ideas on how you can decide.
#Thread
You will need to decide on your time frame for cultivation and harvest.
There are various types of crops.
Trees take from years and upwards to grow, eg: citrus, mangoes, palm fruits, coconuts, mangoes, etc
We have other fruit crops such as: cucumbers, melons, okra, maize, etc
There are various types of crops.
Trees take from years and upwards to grow, eg: citrus, mangoes, palm fruits, coconuts, mangoes, etc
We have other fruit crops such as: cucumbers, melons, okra, maize, etc
We also have leafy vegetables such as pumpkin leaves, spinach, lettuce, spring onions, amaranth, jute, etc
Then we have roots such as yams, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, cassava, coco yam, carrots, etc
Another kind of crop is the bulb, examples of which are onions and garlic
Then we have roots such as yams, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, cassava, coco yam, carrots, etc
Another kind of crop is the bulb, examples of which are onions and garlic
Apart from the above classification of crops, we can also group them according to their cultivation cycles
This helps to narrow your choice based on the turn around time of investment and returns.
The fastest crops to mature and yield harvest are leafy vegetables
This helps to narrow your choice based on the turn around time of investment and returns.
The fastest crops to mature and yield harvest are leafy vegetables
Eg spinach - 6 weeks
Pumpkin leaves - 4 weeks
Spring onions - 2 weeks
Jute - 3 weeks
Lettuce - 6 - 8 weeks
Amaranth - 2 weeks
For the above, you need to sell quickly, because the crop starts to rot within a few days after harvest
After leafy vegetables, next are fruit crops
Pumpkin leaves - 4 weeks
Spring onions - 2 weeks
Jute - 3 weeks
Lettuce - 6 - 8 weeks
Amaranth - 2 weeks
For the above, you need to sell quickly, because the crop starts to rot within a few days after harvest
After leafy vegetables, next are fruit crops
Cucumber 2 - 3 months
Melon - 6 months
Watermelon - 3 months
Okra - 2 months
Maize - 3 months
Soybeans - 3 months
These crops last longer than leafy vegetables after harvest, but they are also hard to store for long periods, hence they need to be sold quickly after harvest
Melon - 6 months
Watermelon - 3 months
Okra - 2 months
Maize - 3 months
Soybeans - 3 months
These crops last longer than leafy vegetables after harvest, but they are also hard to store for long periods, hence they need to be sold quickly after harvest
Roots
Yam - 9 months
Cassava - 11 months
Sweet potatoes - 3 months
Irish potatoes - 2-3 months
Cocoyam - 8 months
Carrots - 4 months
Trees
Mangoes - 3-4yrs
Oranges - 3-4yrs
Palm fruits - 3-5yrs
Avocados - 3-4 yrs
Coconuts - 2-4 yrs
Pawpaws - 9-11 months
Cocoa - 3-5yrs
Yam - 9 months
Cassava - 11 months
Sweet potatoes - 3 months
Irish potatoes - 2-3 months
Cocoyam - 8 months
Carrots - 4 months
Trees
Mangoes - 3-4yrs
Oranges - 3-4yrs
Palm fruits - 3-5yrs
Avocados - 3-4 yrs
Coconuts - 2-4 yrs
Pawpaws - 9-11 months
Cocoa - 3-5yrs
Other crops such as:
Plantains - 9-12months
Pineapples - 16-24 months
Needless to say is that a key aspect of decision making in crop cultivation is:
HOW you will sell the harvested crop,
To WHOM, and at WHAT PRICE?
Its always best to start small especially when you are
Plantains - 9-12months
Pineapples - 16-24 months
Needless to say is that a key aspect of decision making in crop cultivation is:
HOW you will sell the harvested crop,
To WHOM, and at WHAT PRICE?
Its always best to start small especially when you are
inexperienced, and prepare for a disappointing 1st and 2nd season, until you are adept at cultivating the crop.
Most importantly,
NEVER BORROW MONEY TO FARM AS A BEGINNER
at best partner with others to experiment on a very tiny level until you fully understand the scope
Most importantly,
NEVER BORROW MONEY TO FARM AS A BEGINNER
at best partner with others to experiment on a very tiny level until you fully understand the scope
Remember,
Mastering how to sell your crop is far more important than mastering how to cultivate the crop.
This is where farmers cry the most.
If you can't sell it, don't plant it.
End!
Mastering how to sell your crop is far more important than mastering how to cultivate the crop.
This is where farmers cry the most.
If you can't sell it, don't plant it.
End!
