Post by Trade Coach on Aug 18, 2021 18:14:58 GMT 1
Practical Step By Step Guide On How To Start And Profit From Lucrative Moringa Farming Business In Nigeria
Moringa plant is one plant that nature put in poor and developing nations of the world to use in fighting poverty, but majority of the countries are not aware of its existence.
Though Moringa originated from India, but the plant does well in many other countries too; Nigeria is one of the countries that Moringa performs very well.
Many people take pride in calling the Moringa tree the tree of life which is also known as the drumstick because of its numerous health benefits to mankind.
The tree comprising the leaves, roots, bark, and fruits are very useful to mankind. Hardly do you waste any part of the tree; it is really the tree of life or super food.
The business of Moringa has continued to rise over the years for both the developed and developing nations. The numerous health benefits cannot be ignored as research has shown that the health benefits are too numerous.
Demand for Moringa products is growing daily; nations are keying into the business for both health and wealth reasons.
India is the largest producer in the world with an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tonnes from an area of 380 square metres.
Moringa is very easy to plant and maintain. There is a huge market for the product both locally and internationally. Many farmers have made millions farming this wonder crop over the years.
Let us dive into the farming of Moringa:
Land Preparation For Moringa Planting:
Farming of Moringa is better done in a sandy-loamy soil. The soil has to be rich in organic matters and well drained.
The Ph level which indicates the level of acidity and alkalinity of the soil should be between: 6.0-7.0; this level is good for the proper growth of the plant.
But don’t allow what you consider to be an infertile soil discourage you, Moringa can still grow in less fertile soils, but it is better you increase the fertility of the soil if you want to farm Moringa as a business for maximum returns.
Soil Preparation Before Planting Moringa:
You will have to prepare the soil by tilling the ground, dress the soil with manure where you feel that the soil needs it.
Planting of Moringa Seeds:
Some people prefer planting their seeds directly in the soil of the main field. That is, the final place for the plants. But majority prefer carrying out the planting process through nursery.
How Do You Raise Moringa Nursery?
You will have to buy nursery biodegradable bags from agro shops; fill the bags with the prepared soil as earlier specified.
Drop the seeds in each of the bags 1-2 cm deep in moist sand without water being logged in there.
The seeds are expected to germinate within 5-14 days. The environment must be sunny with temperature of about 70-90 Degrees Fahrenheit.
There are many different methods of planting with nursery used by different people; you are free to use the one that works best for you after you must have gained practical experience.
Some people even soak the seeds in water for about 24 hours before planting them in the nursery bags.
The ones I have in my compound were done through this method I explained here and they have been doing fine all over the years.
Check your nursery bags every 2 days to see when they have germinated. When the leaves have broken loose from the winged shell, you will notice two shoots protruding from the seed.
One of the shoots will have some ruffled growth at the extremity, that is the shoot that contains the first leaves, and it should be the one to be exposed to the sun when transplanting.
Plant the seeds about ¾ inches beneath the soil surface with the ruffled extremity exposed to the sun.
It is however advisable to grow the plants for 8 weeks or longer before transplanting to the final ground.
Space the plants 7-10 feet apart for optimum access to the mature trees; that is when you want to move around the plantation for easy movement.
Stay with us as we will surely continue with more practical steps in Moringa business. We will give you all it takes to makes success of Moringa business in Nigeria.
In our earlier article on Moringa, we brought you news that a Moringa processing company in Abuja is guaranteeing Moringa farmers a minimum of N500,000 monthly for the farming and supply of Moringa leaves to their factory.
Don’t forget that we train exporters at our training centre to acquire all the necessary knowledge they need for success in the business.