Potato planting is another farming produce that, aside providing food security, can yield good investment returns.
Potato is another family of botanical species, Solanum tuberosum, the tubers come in thousands of varieties. Potato is a plant that is friendly with the environment, hence, it is easy to grow and it can produce abundant harvests.
Aside eating as food, potato can also be used for starch making. The starch extraction can be profitable, especially, if you can access a steady supply of potato. You can be supplier of Potato to starch-making industries as it’s critical in pharmaceuticals and textiles.
Since potato is the third most important food crop globally after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption, having potato farming can help to create jobs for some people.
In potato farming, one can use personal compound or can get a large land on lease. It can be grown in Nigeria around April till August and can also be grown in dry season, from September to March. Potatoes require between 90 and 120 days to grow into full size. Full-sized potatoes are usually ready about 120 days from planting.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend, Mr Oluwayemi Adewale, a civil servant who uses most of his extra time after office work in his farm in Ondo State, noted that, though Plateau State and some northern states are known for potato production, but other states in the Western side are also producers.
Business Capital According to him, an investor can start with N5,000 for sizable potato farming and such can become profit of N150,000 to N30, 000 per season. There are two main types, Irish potato, popularly known as white potato and sweet potato.
“Because Irish potato is more friendly and accommodate virtually every weather, most shopping malls do have section for it unlike sweet potato that can spoil within few days. It can take take 75 to 135 days, for maturity. Whenever you see the leaves going brown, It means it is ready for harvest.
“And when harvesting, you may use hands to pull it from the ground, but do not leave the potato sitting in the sun; they will turn green and inedible. If you harvest any green potatoes, throw them out or replant it.
Likewise, Malam Mose Kaita, a farmer in Plateau State, said most Northern State are well known as hot base of potato, yet it can be grown in other states.
According to Kaita, who transports his harvest to Lagos after harvesting his crops, “you can increase food production and food security by having potato farming inside your compound from where you can sell some of the yields. As it is more prone to insects attack, one can use water spray or any insecticide against them.
“You need to study to know which potato can grow in your environment.The time it takes for the plants to reach maturity depends on the variety of potato you have chosen to plant as some may take 75 to 135 days, for maturity. But try to select variety for your area. Also you must not only study how best you can use to transport the seeds from farm to the market but must study how best you can protect them from spoiling while in market waiting for buyers.”