Banana yields well in Abuja

People think banana will not do well in the FCT, how did you start banana farming?I started banana farming five years ago through the guidance and counseling of my father. It was my father who was doing it before but, due to old age, he asked me to take over and I did. Even when […]

People think banana will not do well in the FCT, how did you start banana farming?
I started banana farming five years ago through the guidance and counseling of my father. It was my father who was doing it before but, due to old age, he asked me to take over and I did. Even when I was younger, I used to follow him to his banana plantation, where he also grew other crops, and watched him farm. That made me to develop the passion of being a farmer. I have elder brothers, most of them are civil servant, some self-employed, or engaged in one way or another. I am the one staying with him at the moment. I am doing it with vigor and vim. I had both my primary and secondary school education in Abuja; I am now looking for admission into a tertiary institution to further my studies.
Will getting admission stop you from continuing with farming?
Farming has become a part and parcel of me. If possible, I want to study agriculture. Even if I didn’t get the opportunity to study agriculture it wouldn’t stop me from farming. I love it; it is in my blood.
What are the factors considered before starting banana farming?
First and foremost, you will select your plantation site. In doing that, make sure the land is large enough to accommodate the size of the banana plants.  Then you will clear the land by removing weeds and anything that will hinder the growth of the banana plants. After that you will dig holes where you want to put the banana. You will first put fertilizer, preferably organic fertilizer though the inorganic fertilizer will also do well. After that you will plant your banana. Make sure you remove the old and broken roots of the stems you are planting and ensure that you cover it with soil. You will start watering it, either by using sprinklers or watering can or any other method of watering plants. You will do this daily. You will again apply fertiliser every month until it grows. When it starts growing, you will see some of its leaves drying, and then you will remove them. If some are affected by insects, you will use insecticides. If some leaves are affected by disease then you will uproot them. After that you will continue watering your plants regularly. If it is a place where wild wind disturbs a lot, you will use sticks to support the plants. When the plants start to produce fruits, especially when the fruits are about two months old, you will use nylon or big leather or sack to cover it. Covering the whole banana fruits makes them to grow bigger and also protects them from birds, bats and squirrels. You will harvest the bunch of banana 80 days after covering it.
What are the challenges of farming banana in the FCT?
Lack of fertiliser has been the biggest challenge I face since I started banana farming. I spend huge amounts of money on fertiliser. Banana farming is an annual event. If you don’t have patience and the money to take care of your farm, everything can be lost at the end. That is the reason I also grow moringa, maize, tomatoes, pepper, onions and garden eggs to support the banana plantation. I use the money from other vegetables and crops to finance the banana farming. I also buy fuel to power in my generator for watering of the plants, mainly the banana. Sometimes, during harvest, thieves will steal our farm produce. It happens very often in this area. You know, some of the farm produce like tomatoes, onions and pepper are perishable goods that can easily spoil due to lack of storage facilities. That is another challenge we are facing which is giving us serious concern. We need government’s support to enhance agricultural production in the FCT.
After harvesting, how and where do you sell your farm produce?
Many people come to my farm to buy; I also transport some to the market. One thing I find very interesting about marketing farm produce is the joy in seeing people coming to buy for local consumption. I am always happy selling to families and they are also happy getting it cheaper from me, the producer.
Where do you see yourself in the near future?
The thought of growing bigger to feed others always makes me happy. If I have all the necessary materials required and if things go well; I will be one of the major suppliers of banana in Abuja. That in itself keeps me happy and makes me to always think big.