‘Key factors to healthy horticulture’

Alhaji Ibrahim Musa, Managing Director of Yarib Garden in Jos, in this interview with Daily Trust, speaks on factors to be considered before having a successful horticultural farming. He also highlighted the importance of horticulture. Excerpts: How would you rate horticultural business in Jos? We thank God, it is going gradually, people are getting aware […]

Alhaji Ibrahim Musa, Managing Director of Yarib Garden in Jos, in this interview with Daily Trust, speaks on factors to be considered before having a successful horticultural farming. He also highlighted the importance of horticulture. Excerpts:

How would you rate horticultural business in Jos?
We thank God, it is going gradually, people are getting aware of the importance of horticulture and they understand the importance of plants based on their usefulness.
What are the challenges facing the business?
There are a lot of challenges, but our major bottle-neck is inadequate water supply to water our plants. We dig wells to water our plants but during the dry season they dry up and we have to buy water. During the dry season, every week, we spend a minimum of N8,000. During the rainy season, we don’t have the problem of water, the challenge is that of time to take care of the plants. There is also lack of capital to expand our business. Lack of awareness on the importance of plants by the people also is a setback and it affects our business negatively.   
 Let us talk about patronage, are people buying plants?
People are trying, even though there is scarcity of money in town. People do come and buy one or two potted plants and moringa among others.
What is the importance of horticulture in our society?
I want to tell people that horticulture is good, it beautifies environment; it gives clean and fresh air, it also serves as a place where you can relax and think positively. Due to the importance of horticulture, you will see people relaxing at gardens and parks. When you grow plants and trees they give green environment by reducing global warming as a result of pollution.
The trees within the house give protection to the house whenever there is wind or excessive rainfall.  Also, when you have flowers and trees in your house and you have an event there is no need to hire canopies, because those trees will serve as shade. Some of the plants we grow like moringa, aloe vera, alcaria are medicinal. For instance moringa leaves, stem, seed and roots are medicinal.
How does one start horticultural farming?
There are many factors to be considered before starting horticultural farming. First, you have to understand the climate of your area – is the weather favourable? You will then devise a plan on the types of plants you want to grow. Make sure you have written down your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT Analysis) and this analysis also involves your farm’s weaknesses, strengths and areas of possible improvements. You will make analysis on your land’s fertility which requires you to know rooting depth of your plants, water infiltration rate of the soil, water holding capacity of the soil, aggregate stability of the soil and nature of the microbial biomass carbon presence in the soil.
Another important factor is accessibility to water, because water is the life-blood of plants.
In terms of market you will ask yourself the following questions: What crops should I grow? How much of these crops should I produce? To whom or where shall I sell the produce that I will grow? How much real demand is there for the crops I am considering? How much will it cost me to produce and market these crops? What, if any, are the sizes of the market windows for these crops? What are the risks associated with the production of these crops? If you answer these questions well, you will be on the right track to have a successful horticulture farm.