Vegetable Production in Traditional Farming Systems in Nigeria

Abstract

Most increases in vegetable production come from areas under traditional agriculture, and small-scale farmers seldom adopt any intercropping technology that excludes vegetables in Nigeria, yet less attention has been paid to these crops in mixed cropping studies, compared with field crops. Vegetables are of good nutritional value, and have considerable potential as income-generating crops and as a supplement to diets consisting mainly of carbohydrates. To realize this potential, however, adequate information about the present system of production is essential, as well as improved cultivars and better crop management.

Preliminary Studies on Insect Pest Incidence on Tomato in Bama, Borno State, Nigeria

“…Tomato requires adequate sunshine and cool weather of about 24 °C day and 18 °C night mean temperatures for optimal growth, and as such, is largely irrigated during the cool off (dry)-season in marginal or unfavorable areas of production (Alamu, 1996). Although annually cultivated on over one million hectares during both rainy and off-seasons in Nigeria, (Aja, 2012; ATA, 2012), commercial tomato production largely occurs in parts of the northern region including Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Gombe, Sokoto, Bauchi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Borno, Plateau and Benue states, where off-season traditional or furrow irrigation is well practiced (Denton and Swarup, 1983;Olasantan, 1992;ATA, 2012). Fruit yields of tomato grown with both organic manures (swine, poultry, rabbit manure or sewage sludge) and NPK fertilizer have been reported to range between 20 and 44 tons per hectare (Olasantan, 1992 Besides its cultivation by peasant farmers across Borno state, tomato is mainly grown at commercial scale along the shores of the Lake Chad and Alau, and also in parts of Abadam, Kukawa, Mobbar, Bama, Dikwa, Konduga, Monguno, Jere, Biu and Askira/Uba Local Government Areas (BOSG, 2013).…”

“…Although annually cultivated on over one million hectares during both rainy and off-seasons in Nigeria, (Aja, 2012; ATA, 2012), commercial tomato production largely occurs in parts of the northern region including Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Gombe, Sokoto, Bauchi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Borno, Plateau and Benue states, where off-season traditional or furrow irrigation is well practiced (Denton and Swarup, 1983;Olasantan, 1992;ATA, 2012). Fruit yields of tomato grown with both organic manures (swine, poultry, rabbit manure or sewage sludge) and NPK fertilizer have been reported to range between 20 and 44 tons per hectare (Olasantan, 1992 Besides its cultivation by peasant farmers across Borno state, tomato is mainly grown at commercial scale along the shores of the Lake Chad and Alau, and also in parts of Abadam, Kukawa, Mobbar, Bama, Dikwa, Konduga, Monguno, Jere, Biu and Askira/Uba Local Government Areas (BOSG, 2013). Being an important cash and industrial crop, tomato production and trading not only creates employment and generates income to many of the inhabitants of these areas, they greatly contribute to poverty alleviation and food security in the immediate region and country at large (Denton and Swarup, 1983;BOSG, 2013).…”

INFLUENCE OF CASSAVA (MANIHOT ESCULENTA) INTERCROP ON GROWTH AND FRUIT YIELDS OF PEPPER (CAPSICUM SPP.) IN SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

“…Sombo is the best Capsicum frutescens widely grown in Nigeria (Olasantan, 1992). TMS 30572 on pepper cvs Sombo, Tatase and Atarodo.…”

“…Tropical vegetables generally respond favourably to the microclimate modifications produced by crop mixtures, although the extent of yield enhancement varies with the component crops, the growing environment and the season (Messiaen, 1994;Olasantan, 1992). Farmers attempting to increase production through early planting in pure stands risk losing the crop, because of hot weather and the adverse growing conditions.…”

Mineral Composition of Vegetable Biomass of Amaranthus L. Species

“…The use of plants of the genus Amaranthus L. today is a promising trend in vegetable growing. In the world, they are widely used in countries of Asia and Africa (Olasantan, 1992;Timothy et al, 1996;Kachigumaetal., 2015). For example, in South Korea, amaranth leaves are used in dried form and exported to the United States (Pemberton end Lee, 1996).…”