Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #25

@xkool24 @ruthjoe @ahsansharif @ninapenda
@muhammadahmad @djanita @imohmitch @huraira50 my humble appreciation goes out to this amazing esteem Steem Agro team and to @hive-118902 who organized this contest I humbly 🙏🙏 for this is a moment to write feelings of what I experience.

This link tells of my experience👇
https://steemit.com/hive-118902/@berda01/mydiarygame-or-or-between-7-8-march-2025-or-or-manual-procedure-in-processing-cassava-to-have-garri-as-finish-product

Now, Proceeding Into The Contest

Tecno BG6

Hello My Esteem Steemians!

As someone who is passionate about agriculture and the strength of local farming, I wanted to share a short write-up on a crop that has silently shaped the lives of millions of Nigerians.

In Nigeria, cassava is more than just a crop. It is the most widely planted food crop across the country, from the South to the Middle Belt and even parts of the North. Many rural communities rely on it not only as a source of food but also as a source of income. But what exactly makes cassava thrive so well in Nigeria?

One of cassava’s biggest strengths is its ability to grow in poor soil. South, middle belt and part of northen Nigeria cultivate cassava even in areas where the land isn’t fertile, cassava finds a way to survive and yield results. This is a major advantage for local farmers who can’t always afford fertilizers.

Whether it’s too much rain or not enough of it, cassava still grows. This makes it a very reliable crop in Nigeria’s unpredictable climate.

Cassava is incredibly useful. We process it into garri, fufu, tapioca, starch, flour, and more. Even the leaves are useful for feeding livestock. That means nothing is wasted.

One thing Nigeria farmers and my self love about cassava is that once it matures, it can stay in the ground for months without going bad. This gives farmers the flexibility to harvest when the market price is good or when they need it for food.

Cassava is a major staple food in Nigeria as 90% of Nigerians can't go a day without swallow and the garri, fufu used in swallowing are all cassava process products. Cassava fills the belly, provides energy and supports food security across the country. For many homes, it’s a daily part of their diet.

Cassava is truly a lifeline for many Nigerian families especially in the rural areas. Most of them are into subsistence while another greater part are into commercial aspect of cassava cultivation. Its ability to thrive under tough conditions, feed households and provide income makes it a treasure in our agricultural landscape and a enough reason cassava cultivation keep surviving in Nigeria.

Agriculture is supposed to be one of the strongest economic parts of my country, Nigeria. Because we have fertile land and many people who are ready to work. The narrative change a bit over the years has farmers begin facing many serious problems, and they’re making it hard for farmers to grow cassava or even make money from their farms.
From what I’ve seen and experienced in my own community and major news headlines across my country Nigeria, here are some of the main challenges we face in agriculture:

One big problem is that most farming areas don’t have good roads which is essential in easing farm work in terms of mobility. After harvesting, farmers struggle to take their goods to the market. Sometimes, they lose most of the crops on the way or they spoil before even getting to public spevae it can be sold. There are also no proper storage places, so things like tomatoes or vegetables go bad quickly.

Cause: This happens mainly because the government hasn’t focused enough on rural development. Basic infrastructure is missing in many villages.

Many farmers don’t have the money to buy fertilizers, improved seeds, or even tools. But when they try to get loans, banks usually turn them away. I’ve heard stories of people being asked for documents or collateral they don’t even have.

Cause: This is because banks see farming as too risky, and there are not enough programs that support small farmers directly.

These days, insecurity has become a big issue, a typical example is about the headline in Edo state that involve jungle justice Edo people hold in high esteem has justice regarding Fulani herdsmen invading their farmland with their cows and killing farmers who confronted them. In some parts of the country, farmers are scared to go to their farms due to bandits or clashes with herders. I know someone who had to leave his farmland after a serious attack.

Cause: The government hasn’t done enough to protect rural areas, and there's no clear way to resolve land and grazing issues.

The weather is not like before. Sometimes rain comes too much, sometimes not at all. This confusion affects planting and harvesting times badly.

Cause: Climate change is the major reason for this, but things like cutting down trees also play a role.

A lot of farmers are still using hoes and cutlasses. It makes farming very hard and slow. Only a few people have access to tractors or machines.

Cause: These tools are too expensive, and most farmers have not been taught how to use the modern ones.

There are always big announcements about helping agriculture, but after a few months, everything just dies down. Sometimes only a few people benefit, while real farmers are left out.

Cause: Corruption, poor planning, and lack of follow-up are the main reasons.

Farming in Nigeria has a lot of challenges, no doubt. But I also believe there are ways these problems can be solved if we take them seriously. I’ve seen some of these things myself, especially in rural areas, and here are a few ideas that I feel can really help.

One of the biggest problems is bad roads. Sometimes, you’ll see farmers carrying their crops on bikes or wheelbarrows, struggling to get to the nearest market. If government can just fix roads leading to farms and maybe even build small storage places in each local government, things will improve. Even just basic dry storage can help reduce spoilage.

Most farmers don’t have money to buy fertilizer or good seeds. Like myself who has been dreaming of getting Cocoa seed to cultivate. If they can get loans without all the stress and plenty paperwork, things will be easier as most farmer in Nigeria are not educated. The loans don’t even have to be big, just enough to support planting and harvesting. And it should go directly to the real farmers, not corrupt politicians.

A lot of farmers now are scared to go to their farms because of bandits or herdsman who go about with guns and cutlass to herd their cows in farmers cultivated farmland. If you’re not safe, how can you farm? There should be more security in the rural areas. Even if it means training local youths to protect the community, it’s better than doing nothing.

We all know that the weather has changed due to climate change effect. Though most farmers are very skilled and familiar with weather conditions, Sometimes rain comes late, sometimes it floods everything. Many farmers are still using the old calendar. If they are taught when to plant and what kind of crops to use in dry times, it will help. NGOs and extension workers can do this if they actually come to the field and not just sit in offices.

Using hoe and cutlass in this time is too hard most time I do get my hands peel with blisters. If farmers can at least rent tractors or get support from cooperatives that buy equipment, it will help. Even simple machines like planters or threshers can make a big difference.

Too many times, farming support goes to people who don’t even have farms and this is as a result of corruption. That’s why the people who really need it never see it. There should be a way to monitor and make sure that help goes directly to farmers in the villages.

Farming is a strong backbone to any country economy and can feed the whole country and also create jobs. But if we keep talking without action, we’ll stay stuck. These solutions are not magic, but they can work if we’re serious.

This is just my own small take. Maybe you’ve seen something different in your area feel free to share it in the comment section of this post. Let’s keep talking about it.

I invite on this esteem steemians to participate in the contest @bossj23 @basil23 @edu-chemist