Going into carrot farming to earn extra money could be a source of revenue yielding investment. Since there is high demand and market for it, investing in this farming would help to enlarge the coast of your bank account.
Though carrot can grow in many states in the country, but it largely cultivated in Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Jos, Kwara and so on.
Dr Keita Abdulahir, a lecturer who has a farm of carrot in Jos North LGA, notes that, “growing carrot has its own hiccups as carrot farming might turn out to be discouraging if the farm is not well protected against pest and insects that can attack either the roots or the stem, thereby, reducing the yield or even destroy the entire fruits.
Since it will only take 4 to 5 months from planting to harvesting, one can farm all year round, provided there is much water to wet it.
Carrot Farming
“Water the carrots each morning and evening until it germinates after about 10 days. Remove the weak and overcrowded plants after germination. Continue watering until they are mature after 4 to 5 months.
Carrots, he says, should be sown directly into light, sandy, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade because they hate being transplanted but for an early start, they can be sown in a greenhouse, in deep containers which can later be moved outdoors. Insufficient water, he notes, causes shallow root development and stresses the plants. Carrots are 88% water, so, no water equals, no carrots.
Challenges
The major concern is how to produce a disease-free and cosmetically clean carrot root. The main problems associated with carrot production are root-knot nematodes and diseases caused by fungi and bacteria. Carrots should be planted in well-drained, litter-free, deep turned soils.
To checkmate attacks, he says, “one can plant garlic, chives, or leeks as they could act as tools to drive the pest away through the strong allium aroma.”
As the seedlings grow, keep them watered regularly without soaking the soil.
As seedlings grows, carrots are fairly weak and tender. If the soil surface is hard and compacted, the sprouting seed will struggle to break through before rotting in the soil. Prepare your soil thoroughly before sowing, raking it to a fine tilth.
According to Kaita, the bottomline for a beginner in carrot-farming is to learn from experienced hands.
Business Capital/Profitability
You can spend N50, 000 in the farming and make N300,000 or even N400,000. According to him, anyone interested in carrot farming could understudy an existing carrot farmer to avoid mistakes. “Carrots germinate fully within 3-4 months, and they are ready for harvest. It is very much possible to make more than 50% of the amount you invested in carrot farming from the sale of the product yield,” he says.
