‘Vegetable farming needs commitment, dedication’

Briefly explain what motivated you into vegetable farming and how the produce can be processed?I learnt it from my mother since I was young and I developed interest in it then. I continued with the farming when I married up till now. So vegetable farming has been part of me for long.Vegetable farming starts from […]

Briefly explain what motivated you into vegetable farming and how the produce can be processed?
I learnt it from my mother since I was young and I developed interest in it then. I continued with the farming when I married up till now. So vegetable farming has been part of me for long.
Vegetable farming starts from getting the seeds from the market. The seeds are mixed with sand and planted on a fertile land or a portion of land that is always wet because vegetable planting requires enough water for proper growth.
However, after that, we dig the ground slightly but not too flat so that the seeds will not be washed away with water. When a particular portion of land has been prepared for the planting, we sprinkle the mixed seeds with sand on the ground and wet it thoroughly.
We continue with supplying it with adequate water and in three days some whitish particles will appear on the ground showing that your plants have started growing. We add fertilizer when it reaches a week and by the second week, the leaves will begin to show up little by little and between three to four weeks, the vegetable leaves will be fully grown and we start cultivating as the leaves are good enough for consumption. So, the plantation from day one will take a month before one can cultivate the leaves from the plant. Then after cultivation, I do sell to customers.
Having engaged in vegetable farming and business as well, what are the challenges and prospects in it?
Vegetable farming requires commitment, dedication and focus if one is to succeed in it. Water, insects and poor or infertile land are the main problems in vegetable farming. We do suffer lack or insufficient water during the dry season because we fetch water from a distance and we have to wet it twice in a day that is in the morning and evening.
Also, during the rainy season, insects damage the leaves so, we normally add pesticide to save the plants from much damage.
Poor or infertile farmland may cause improper growth of the plant.
Unwanted flowers and leaves do grow with vegetables, so that gives additional stress because one has to be removing the unwanted flowers from the real vegetable leaves so as to ensure clean and complete cultivation.
But if it lacks adequate treatment, it becomes shortage for the farmer as it will not be attractive and marketable.
On the other hand, planting vegetable is very easy during the rainy season because it entails less stress. One can just go to the farm and wet the leaves once a day and when it rains frequently, you will just need to make the farm neat by removing weeds from the vegetable.
What advice do you have for women out there who are not doing anything?
My advice for them is that they should try and engage in something, no matter how small, so that they do not stay idle and can be rendering support to their family.