Dry season maize farming means the planting of maize seeds, maintaining the maize field and harvesting the maize combs during summer.
Dry season maize farming can be profitable venture since few farmers grow maize during this time. Inesting in it in view of the hardship and food scarcity will yield more economic benefits to the general public and triggers revenue to prospective individuals.
Since Maize, when harvested, can be sold cooked or roasted, even as it is also being used in corn flakes, pop corn, starch or as pap which are common delicacies in hospitality industry, investor would make more money in this investment as most eateries will readily patronize roasted or cooked corn and large eateries will also try to enjoy the naturally produced crop.
Borno, Niger, Plateau, Katsina, Gombe, Bauchi, Kogi, Kaduna, Edo, Oyo, Lagos and Taraba states are well known for maize farming.
With little capital, one can go into maize farming provided there is a land to plant.
The main difference between wet/raining season maize farming and dry season maize farming is that, whether such is backyard gardening or large scale farming,
one will need to have adequate irrigation systems in place with which the crops can be watered especially done when the hot sun is gone down. That is, watering the Maize should be done when the sun has gone down and this will give the farm some refreshment for the next day. The maturity period of Maize is between 65 to 120 days.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend, a maize farmer, Mr Adewale Adeniji, who is also a Civil Servant based in Ondo State said, there is no big deal in Maize farming because it is one of the most friendly crops that anyone can venture into. However, going into commercial Maize farming, he said, an investor will need large land.
To him, “But for small scale Maize farming, one can use the space within the compound as Maize farming land. And since it can be grown side by side with other crops, one can feed the entire family with farm products. So, the main area where an investor will need capital is acquisition or hiring of land and for cultivating the land.”
Profitability
According to Adewale, “investor in Maize farming can get the seeds from market with as little as N5,000 which can be planted on acres of land. And the profits from such plantation is much because buyers use to come for the harvest on their own or you can look for companies that use Maize as part of their production. From that seedlings of N5, 000, one can realise N500,000 to N750, 000 income per season.”
Adewale, moreover, warned investor in Maize farming against birds that often invade Maize farms. ‘You can erect poles and fly cloths or other things on those poles which will keep off the birds that are always reading to feed on the matured corn,’ he advised.
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