We all know the cycle of food production in Nigeria- lots of foodstuff available during the rainy season and so food prices reduce a little bit, but once the dry season comes, prices increase. During this period, making sure there’s always enough to eat feels like a daily battle.
This is why producing your own food in your backyard, or at a nearby small garden, is essential.
If you plan ahead, you can beat the dry season challenges and still have plenty of food to feed yourself, your family, and even your community.
Here are three simple but effective practices that can help home gardeners, and even smallholder farmers ensure a steady supply of fresh, affordable food all year round.
- Rainwater Harvesting:
Right now, Nigeria is in the middle of the rainy season, and this is the best time to start collecting water for the dry months ahead. When you have a reliable water source, you can keep planting and growing, even during the dry season.
Also, it saves you the costs associated with artificial water supply especially now that irrigation systems cost a lot of money to set up and maintain.
How to Start Harvesting Rainwater
Collect Rainwater: Place a large container or bucket under the roof’s edge, where rainwater flows freely. Allow the container to fill with rainwater during rainfall.
Store the Water: You can transfer the collected rainwater into large plastic tanks to concrete reservoirs. Just make sure it’s clean and covered to prevent contamination and mosquito breeding.
Treat the Water (Optional): If you plan to use this water for drinking or very sensitive crops, you might want to consider simple filtration methods to remove any impurities. For general agricultural use, it’s often not strictly necessary.
- Mulching:
Another technique that has been a bit overlooked in Nigerian farming (but should definitely make a comeback) is mulching. It’s a simple way to keep your soil healthy and your crops thriving, even when the sun is very harsh.
Mulching is just covering your soil with natural materials like leaves or grass.
Mulch acts like a blanket for your soil. It helps keep it cooler in the heat of the dry season, which is great for your plants’ roots.
When you mulch, you don’t need to water as often because the mulch helps the soil retain moisture. Also, mulch naturally suppresses weeds, so they can’t compete with your crops for nutrients and water. As the mulch breaks down, it adds nutrients to the soil and improves its structure.
How to Mulch
Choose Your Materials:
Pick materials like dried leaves or grass.
Prepare the Soil:
Clear any weeds or debris from the area before you apply the mulch.
Spread the Mulch:
Spread about 2–3 inches of mulch around your plants. Just make sure it’s not touching your plants.
- Composting:
When we talk about improving soil fertility, we often think of things like animal manure or inorganic fertilizers. But those can be hard to get and expensive here in Nigeria.
You may not always have access to animal manure, but you can compost your food waste to make nutrient-rich soil for your crops.
Compost adds rich organic material to your soil, makes it more fertile and better able to hold water. It also helps reduce the effect of climate change by storing carbon in the soil and decreasing harmful greenhouse gases, thus making it beneficial for sustainable agriculture.
How to Compost Your Food Waste
Gather Your Food Scraps:
Collect things like vegetable scraps, fruit peels, etc. But avoid things like meat or dairy, which can attract pests.
Make a Compost Pit:
Dig a pit or use a compost bin. Layer your food scraps with dry leaves or straw to help with airflow and decomposition.
Turn It Regularly:
Every couple of weeks, turn your compost to help break down the materials faster. Ensure the pile is kept moist, but not waterlogged.
In about 3–6 months, your compost will be ready to use. It should look dark and crumbly, just like healthy soil.
