10 Tips for Starting Dry Season Maize Farming.

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Dry season maize farming refers to the cultivation of maize during the dry season. This includes sowing corn seeds, maintaining the maize field, and harvesting maize cobs during the dry season. In the southern region of Nigeria, dry season maize farming takes place between October and March. Northern Nigeria practices dry season maize planting between September and April.

Since few farmers plant maize in Nigeria during the dry season, dry season maize farming can be profitable. The number of farmers planting maize in Nigeria during the dry season is relatively low due to a lack of rainfall and water source.

Get started with these tips:

1. Planning

For you to engage in dry-season maize farming in Nigeria, it is important to plan. Planning involves the writing of a business plan and feasibility study. You also need to sort out issues related to financing and availability of capital.

2. Choice of Farmland Site  

You need to get a good farmland for your dry season maize farming. Your soil should be rich in nutrients and not waterlogged. The farmland site should also have good and accessible roads so that your maize produce can be easily transported to the market.

3. Type of Maize Seeds to Plant  

The type of maize seeds to plant is one of the factors to look out for when engaging in dry season maize farming. Some maize varieties can tolerate drought better than others. Hybrid maize varieties are also more resistant to pests and illnesses than open pollinated maize varieties and have higher yields than them.

4. Land Preparation  

Land preparation involves the removal of trees, stumps, and weeds on the farmland. It also involves the ploughing, harrowing, and ridging of the farmland. For dry season maize farming, the soil should be plough several times so that it will be loose. This is because loose soil drains well and this can positively impact your maize crop. Use animals for these tasks for small farms, and tractors for larger farms.

5. Irrigation System  

For dry season maize farming, there are different types of irrigation systems that a farmer can use. Irrigation is needed for dry season maize farming in Nigeria. Examples of irrigation systems include: Drip Irrigation System, Rain Gun Irrigation System, Spray Tube Irrigation System, Thip Irrigation System, Drip Flood Irrigation System etc.

6. Labour Requirement  

You need to sort out labour issues to succeed as a dry-season maize farmer in Nigeria. When sourcing for labourers, engaging the services of 18 years and above farm hands is important. At the end of the season or at an agreed time, pay your labourers the stipulated price for their work.

7. Planting  

Planting of maize in the dry season should be done in September – April. Please note that the time for dry season maize farming in southern Nigeria is different from that of northern Nigeria.

8. Fertilizers  

You should do a soil analysis to reveal the nutrients profile of your soil before engaging in dry season maize farming in Nigeria. There are several types of fertilizer that can be used for dry season maize farming. They are:

  • NPK 15:15:15
  • Urea
  • Potassium Nitrate
  • Calcium Nitrate

9. Pests and Diseases’ Management  

Insects and flies are quite prevalent in the dry season in Nigeria. To engage in dry season maize farming in Nigeria, you need to manage pests and diseases efficiently.

The following can be used to manage pests and diseases in dry season maize cultivation in Nigeria:

  • Fungicides
  • Insecticides
  • Nematicides
  • Bactericides
  • Acaricides etc.

10. Harvest and Marketing  

Harvest maize when they are mature. Grains are usually more expensive when harvested and sold at the tail end of the dry season or the beginning of the rainy season.

In the dry season, the cultivation of maize is quite profitable. It is therefore important to pay attention to these tips for a good yield.

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From working as a lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, where he taught Economics, he joined the banking industry in 1985, and by January 2009 had risen to General Manager and Group Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria PLC, Nigeria’s oldest and biggest bank. Mallam Sanusi has been conferred with a National Award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and has also been awarded the “Global Central Bank Governor for 2010” by The Banker Magazine, a publication of the Financial Times.
 
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Before joining Babban Gona, Lola was the Director for Trust and Safety at OLX Group, working across 30+ OLX markets to ensure that buyers and sellers can transact safely and securely on the platform. Prior to her global role at OLX, Lola was the Country Manager for OLX in Nigeria where she was responsible for driving all elements of the business including Business Development, Product Localization, Marketing and other relevant functions. OLX Group is one of the world’s leading online classifieds players. Through its brands including OLX, Avito, dubizzle and letgo, OLX Group is the home of online classifieds in high-growth markets.

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Kola Masha

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 Prior to Babban Gona, Kola was a Managing Director and CEO of a major subsidiary in the Notore Group, one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural conglomerates, where he raised US$24 Million to develop an integrated agricultural trading, production and processing business.

Furthermore, he led the development and execution of Notore’s commercial strategy across West and Central Africa, preparing the company to sell one million tons of fertilizer and establish a modern seed business.

He led the effort to raise $130 million in equity and the restructuring of $360 Million in debt. Kola brings significant leadership experience in venture capital, corporate finance, business development, marketing and operations, across four continents with multiple global companies, including GE, Notore and Abiomed. In addition, Kola brings extensive public sector experience as Senior Advisor to the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture.

In recognition for his leadership in driving positive change on the African Continent, he has received several global awards including the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship, a leading leadership institute led by General Collin Powell and appointed to the Board of the African Enterprise Challenge Fund, a $250 Million fund that awards grants and repayable grants to private sector companies to support innovative business ideas in agriculture, agribusiness, renewable energy, adaptation to climate change and access to information and financial services. Kola holds an MBA (Honors) from Harvard and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Kola Masha

 

Prior to Babban Gona, Kola was a Managing Director and CEO of a major subsidiary in the Notore Group, one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural conglomerates, where he raised US$24 Million to develop an integrated agricultural trading, production and processing business.

Furthermore, he led the development and execution of Notore’s commercial strategy across West and Central Africa, preparing the company to sell one million tons of fertilizer and establish a modern seed business.

He led the effort to raise $130 million in equity and the restructuring of $360 Million in debt. Kola brings significant leadership experience in venture capital, corporate finance, business development, marketing and operations, across four continents with multiple global companies, including GE, Notore and Abiomed. In addition, Kola brings extensive public sector experience as Senior Advisor to the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture.

In recognition for his leadership in driving positive change on the African Continent, he has received several global awards including the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship, a leading leadership institute led by General Collin Powell and appointed to the Board of the African Enterprise Challenge Fund, a $250 Million fund that awards grants and repayable grants to private sector companies to support innovative business ideas in agriculture, agribusiness, renewable energy, adaptation to climate change and access to information and financial services. Kola holds an MBA (Honors) from Harvard and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.