Plantain farming is a very lucrative and high yielding agrobusiness enterprise which is becoming attractive for investors to cash in on.
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Plantains are a member of the banana family. They are a starchy, low in sugar variety that is cooked before serving as it is unsuitable raw.
Unlike starting other tree farms, starting a plantain farm and growing plantain are easier and less complicated.
Although growing plantain still requires ones attention, the level of skill required is not as intensive as other trees.
Here are a few guidelines in growing plantain and plantain farming;
Step 1. LAND PROCUREMENT.
The first thing to consider in starting a plantain farm is looking for the right climate. Plantain cannot thrive in an environment that is too hot or too cold. The proposed land/soil for your plantain farm must be a well drain land that is rich and naturally fertilized but If such is not available, you can create compost and add chicken manure to your existing land.
Now that you have the land what next?
Step 2. LAND CLEARING.
The next thing after land procurement is land clearing:
Land clearing is the process of removing trees, stumps, brush, stones and other obstacles from an area as required to increase the size of the crop producing land base of an existing farm or to provide land for a new farm operation.
You can do manual or mechanized land clearing depending on the size of the proposed plantain farm
Step 3; LAND PREPARATION.
When establishing a new plantain farm, certain actions need to be implemented to ensure the long term success of the plantation. One of these actions involve the initial land preparation which should be done prior to transplanting of the plant material suckers.
The purpose of land preparation is to provide the necessary soil conditions which will enhance the successful establishment of the young suckers.
Considering the nature of plantain one can not “save” on this operation and hope for long term of the plantation.
The aim is to enable the planter to plan and structure the implementation process in advance, ensuring the successful establishment of the plantain farm. Planning forms part of the initial preparation and will help to limiting unnecessary stoppages during the implementation phase.
Also See: Goat Farming in Nigeria – How To Start and Earn Big While At It!
Critical factors to consider in Plantain Farming and set up exercise are summarised as follows:
– Availability and quality of irrigation water;
– Field selection;
– Mechanical actions to be implemented;
– Chemical needs for pre-plant soil improvement;
– Tools and equipment needed for plantain cultivation;
– Labour needs;
– Irrigation design and installation;
– Leaching schedule;
– Hole preparation;
– Financial requirements and
– Time schedule.
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