Farming is generally lucrative irrespective of the
produce. It does not matter what you grow because there is always a market for
agricultural products.
Peanut is an important cash crop that attracts good
prices. This is because it is used in manufacturing and industrial
applications.
To grow the legumes it is important to maintain proper
soil PH level and nutritional requirements for the crop. Derivatives of peanut
are peanut flour, peanut butter or processed peanuts.
Peanut are
grilled, fried, boiled or baked and the crop takes about 5 months to grow
before harvesting. Here are a few ideas on how to start a peanut farm.
Research
You need to know what it takes run a groundnut farm.
Understudy peanut farms in your area and learn through practical experience.
Gather knowledge through books, online courses and
websites. Attend seminars, agricultural workshops and agricultural institutions.
You need to
understand both the farming and business aspect to succeed. Things to consider
include funding, marketing, storage and preservation.
What do you want to do with the peanuts sell to
wholesalers, companies, export or process the nuts? The answer will guide you
through the farming and marketing process.
Business
Plan
To launch your enterprise you need a business plan. The
business plan will provide a template for your enterprise.
The plan should focus on funds, landed property, and
workers wages. Other things in your plan
are future growth, goals and management structure.
You can include a
feasibility study to find the best locations and competitors in your locality.
Soil
and Agricultural Land
Buy agricultural land in a rural area suitable for
growing peanuts. Once you have located and purchased the land you need to
prepare it for farming.
The process of soil management, tilling and planting are
labor intensive. The soil composition could be sandy clay or sandy loamy soil
with optimal temperature at 30 degrees centigrade.
The soil should attain a PH level of 6.8 for germination
to occur. Carry out a comprehensive soil analysis to find fertile land for
groundnut production.
You also have to provide adequate water supply through a
borehole, well or nearby stream. Other ways to sourcing water is through irrigation
or buying from water tankers or natural ponds. Use crop rotation, weeding and
organic pesticides to combat pests and soil fertility.
Fertilizer
Hire a professional to study the nutrients in your soil
composition. The application of fertilizer depends on the prevalence and amount
of elements in the soil.
Essential nutrients found in soil include calcium,
magnesium, phosphorous and potassium. Once the nutrients status of the soil is
established the soil manager applies fertilizer according to requirements.
Make sure the composite used should be bio degradable and
organic.
Seed
Preparation
During seed selection process avoid shelling and storage
for extended periods. The viability of a seed is predicated on used with a
week.
Select bold kernels for better yield than their smaller cousins.
Make sure you buy high quality seeds for better result and quality nuts.
You can identify a good crop through its physical
features or attributes such as the seedlings, roots, leaves and abundant yield.
Control pathogens through seed treatment by coating the seed before sowing.
You can employ machinery to sow your seeds or employ
labor to manually plant them.
Things
to Consider before sowing you Seedlings
Once you have established the nutritional value and
bought bold seedlings then the next step is sowing. Sow the seeds before the
unset of rainy season and plant in a 6cm depth soil.
Make sure your
farm is well watered because a watering deficiency could cause many problems.
Provide an effective irrigation system to water your crops.
Other serious considerations are weed control and casual
labor costs.
Harvesting
You need a proper storage facility for your produce. The
storage facility should be dry and resistant to pests and diseases.
The storage facility should be well ventilated and
accessible. Harvest your peanuts through mechanized machines or manually.
You can store in open sacs but properly elevated from the
ground. This is to prevent contact with wet surfaces.
Ways to harvest your crops includes manually pulling
plants and the use of diggers. Other methods of harvesting are tractor-diggers,
plow, blade harrow to cut roots and pulling plant from soil. Before striping
the pods stack the harvest in the field for a few days.
Marketing
You can sell after harvest or process the groundnut for
the end user. Sell to wholesalers, retailers and grocery stores.
Secure contracts with manufacturing firms for your produce.
Advertise your products through electronic media, print media and a blog or
website.
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