Thread by @olusegunyemi

We complain so much about how farmers are not breaking even& why will FG will even choose to ban Maize at this time when we’re not producing more.

I came in contact on a write up done by @Femi_Farmer FEMI ADEKOYA.
If you plan to make it as a Maize farmer, please read this thread

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR PRODUCTIVE MAIZE CULTIVATION IN NIGERIA
@Femi_Farmer

So days ago, the Nigerian Government added maize importation into the "banned list" and this is with the promise that local production of maize can be allowed to improve in the absence of foreign competition.

However, this ban should not be considered as the ultimate solution but as one of the strategies to transform our local production. Now, farmers must focus on how to optimize their production in order to make maximal output per land area and also take advantage of the ban.

Nonetheless, achieving production optimization relies importantly on ensuring optimum #PlantHealth through careful implementation of several practices

By the way, I don't not intend to write down the 'A-Z' of maize production in this post.

But I seek to bring growers attention to salient notes that guarantee their crop health and help them ensure an optimized production

Have the knowledge of your soil fertility status. Select soil rich in organic matter and with a good level of CEC. Do basic soil test - it not that expensive - use the result to determine your crop fertilizer need. @adunmed @FarmsquareNg @WediFarms @Femi_Farmer

Maize is a heavy consumer of Nitrogen, serve your plant well. Also confirm land cropping history to inform nutrient or pest/disease Management decisions.

Seed Selection; the potential reward of your effort in production lies within the seed you plant. Select high yielding and resilient seeds. Go for Hybrid seeds. Get highly viable and vigorous seeds. Corteva, Seedco and some other companies have proven good.

Land preparation: you can't go wrong preparing your land very well. Maize crop need a good soil tilt to perform exceptionally. A well ploughed and harrowed land not only help in weed management but also give crop roots ability to explore soil well for nutrients.

Just like I did mention on cassava plant population,
@Femi_Farmer said Plant population: Ensure to achieve the recommended optimal plant stands per area on your farm. It's not how big your farm is, but how best you maximized your farm land. Agric is game of number + efficiency.

I'm not moved by how big you claim your farm is, efficiency is the language. Sow your crop at d optimal spacing. 25 -30cm within row&75cm to 90cm bet rows depending on plants per stand you go for. Avoid missing stands or week stands,this is why you must sow viable vigorous seeds.

Weed management: Hey! Don't joke with this point. Remove weed early. Maize crops are less competitive at 4 leaf stage around 3 weeks. After a good land harrowing allow time for some weed to grow out and spray with nonselective herbicides like paraquat or glyphosate.

Herbicides such as containing Altrazine, metalachlor, nicosulfuron, prosulfuron could be applied as post emergence weed killer @ the recommended application rate on label. However, choose herbicide based on information about weed resistant.

Consider the weeds that have proven or reported resistant to this pesticides. Don't waste money. However, the best weed management is to arrange for hoe weeding. Tractor mounted cultivator could also help in cleaning inter rows of crops.

Pest management; watch out for the notorious army worm. Again, don't spray pesticides prophylactically, do well to monitor and ascertain their infestation at early stage.

If your farm is ascertained to be infested with this larvae (with obvious damage still below economic threshold level), first manually remove their larvae and destroy them. After you may apply biopesticides like Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or Azadirachtin (from Neem oil).

Agrochemicals are also very effective against this pest, such as insecticide containing active ingredients like; Lamda-cyhalothtin, Emamectin Benzoate, Acetemiprid, Delthamethrin.

These ingredients could me mixed together or preferably spray them alternately to reduce the risk of INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE (this is not a small issue, farmers must be mindful of this). Besides, when spraying these agro-inputs do well to direct the nozzle into the funnel

leaves that is at the growing point of the crop. I also advice you spray very early in the morning or most recommended late in the evening. This is because the pest is most active during the dark times of the day. Ensure to wear protective gears too when applying agrochemicals.

This may not seem important to some, but it might be for some at some time: prepare for drought. Some few days drought significantly reduces the yield of maize crop, get a good water source and irrigate when necessary.

Ensuring to take these bits of advice, could turn the ban on maize importation in Nigeria for you as a big breakthrough/win instead of regrets.

Thanks to @Femi_Farmer for this information.

Go ye and plant MAIZE

Just like we say @DaystarNG . You shall succeed in Jesus Name.

@adunmed @FarmsquareNg @_feminator @sarnchos @dhot_man @KdffarmsLtd @Kolafolorunsho @Nig_Farmer @farmerscornerng @Samsonprolific @MadedorVictoria @ParminderVir @delemayo @FmardNg @ogadep

@threadreaderapp unroll

Here is a directory of credible organizations you could carry out your #soil analysis #test. Check in the link below👇🏼

niss.gov.ng/niss-inventori…