Different crops have different cultivation seasons and could be cultivated outside of these periods (off-season). Off-season vegetable production is vital for vegetable farmers. Why is it essential for farmers and potential farmers to be aware of cultivation seasons? Let us dive in!
What is cultivation seasons
The crop production season is usually considered to be the period during which all necessary climatic and environmental requirements for the proper germination and development of certain crops are readily available with little or no need for improvisation.
A significant amount of crop is produced during this period in Nigeria and other parts of the globe where the majority of the farmers cannot afford irrigation and other expensive technologies for offseason production.
Vegetable production and challenges in Nigeria
Vegetable primary production for Nigeria in 2018 was 16.4 million tonnes1. Due to short production cycles, some vegetable crops are grown more than twice a year. In the Nigerian market, the production period of crops mostly witnesses a situation where supply is more than demand.
This is a situation where farmers are compelled to sell their produce at ridiculous prices and sometimes unable to recover their production costs. This is a common experience of some crop farmers, especially vegetable farmers.
It is common in vegetable production because of the limited shelf-life of most vegetables and lack of technical knowledge for preservations. The production of crops outside their designated production seasons are termed off-season production.
Off-season vegetable production
Off-season vegetable farming is the production of vegetables after or before their normal production period (raining season). Although yield is usually higher during the rainy season, the total revenue obtained under off-season cultivation is higher2. Understanding what production of vegetables during off-seasons may help furnish intending farmers with the technical know-how of production in these periods and its efficiency.
Vegetable crops produced outside their production seasons are faced with numerous but surmountable challenges. Off-season vegetable production has a lot of advantages that make it worthwhile to learn its “what’’ and “how-to”.
The concept of off-season vegetable production
- Use of different agro-climatic conditions
- Adjusting planting time and other agronomic management practices
- Making selection of improved varieties
- Use of controlled environment
As mentioned, there are many challenges facing off-season vegetable production, including pests and diseases, which usually increase the cost of production. The infestation of pests and diseases during off-season cultivation is usually higher than what is ordinarily experienced during the actual production season.
Due to the limited number of farms during this period, sometimes pest invasion and disease outbreak culminate to major challenges. However, considering the enormous benefits of offseason vegetable production, farmers and intending farmers need to learn some production techniques that could guarantee profits.
Benefits of off-season vegetable production
- Production of vegetables before and after their normal production season usually helps farmers learn specific vegetable production techniques.
- It develops their confidence in production.
- Ensures the supply of fresh vegetable round the year
- Creates employment for farm labourers all year round and ultimately gets farmers higher profits
- Small and poor resource farmers can practise it.
- Better utilisation of farm resources
- Best for seed production
- Availability of fresh vegetable year-round
- Improve the living condition of farmers
One of the essential resources for vegetable production is water. Proximity to water should be the foremost resolved issue, and water quality is another important consideration. Sources of water could be streams, rivers, lakes or well for vegetable cultivation.
Besides, vegetable farmlands must have good structure, texture, and fertility. Land preparation for off-season vegetable production must be taken seriously as the activities and investment’s success lies in all the processes involved, from land preparations to marketing.
Different offseason vegetable production
There are different offseason vegetable production methods, but this article will be limited to the following.
Open field methods: This is a natural cultivation method of off-season vegetables. It involves preparing and opening land for vegetable production during the off-seasons. For this cultivation method, farmers need to adjust planting or sowing time, make beds, and use different agronomic management practices depending on the crop type.
This method requires good soil evaluation, and the farm must be kept away from the reach of pests and human theft or destruction. Examples of vegetables that will do well in this category are Potato, Onion and so on.
Protected or covered cultivation methods: This method involves making protective coverage such as green-house, tunnels, Poly house, Mulching, Net house for the vegetables. Examples of vegetables that will perform well in this system are Pepper, Cucumber, Tomato, etc.
Conclusion
Off-season vegetable production is one of the best options for farmers to increase farm income, ensure year-round fresh vegetables, contribute to food security and ecological security, and poverty alleviation for low-resource farmers.
Reference
- https://knoema.com/atlas/Nigeria/topics/Agriculture/Crops-Production-Quantity-tonnes/Vegetables-primary-production (accessed, 20th December 2020)
2. A. S. Bamire & J. T. O. Oke (2004) Profitability of Vegetable Farming Under Rainy- and Dry-Season Production in Southwestern Nigeria, Journal of Vegetable Crop Production, 9:2, 11-18, DOI: 10.1300/J068v09n02_03