Maize is a cereal crop
which is generally accepted worldwide. Planting of maize for commercial
purposes is one of the directions a farmer can consider. It is easy to market
and useful in many food and industrial production processes. Maize is rich in
carbohydrates, protein and vitamins and serves as a source of fuel, alcohol,
breakfast meals and even livestock feed. Maize is easy to plant and grow and it
is adaptable to most soil types. This is a type of crop that can be grown in
the backyard and it is considerable for unemployed youths, adults in need of
alternative income sources and even retirees. Maize plantation needs a good
amount of water if it’s going to thrive well. Maize farming can be done for
business and profitable if done very well. Here are some guidelines for
starting up your maize farm for business.
Acquisition
of farmland: get a good land with fertile soil and
enough space. Make sure there is access to direct sunlight and water supply so
that your crop can thrive well.
Farm
practises: prepare the soil by weeding, make bed with 2- 3
inches spaces, plant your seed, water continuously till seeds germinate, apply
manure and fertilizers if possible. Harvest your crops when they are fully
mature.
Marketing:
maize is highly prone to diseases and this is why it is better marketed for
consumption and processing as soon as harvested. They are susceptible to fungi
infection is stored for too long.Products from maize include: corn starch, custard, corn syrup, corn oil, corn flour, pap, animal feed are some of the products which can be derived from maize on a small scale. Companies that produce products like this can be targeted for supplying. Even boiling and roasting of corn is another dimension to target consumers from.
Corn is a cereal crop
which is consumed on a large scale nationwide. Nigeria produces tonnes of corn
yearly and yet we still import corn from other countries. This is evidence that
investing into maize farming is a viable business and there is a readymade
market for even new farmers intending to invest.