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wondering a region of the world that does not do rice farming? Still wondering if you can even do rice farming yourself? Okay. Is there a region without a rice farm? No. Can you do rice farming yourself? Yes.
In fact, rice is a staple food, the world over. Everyone is either consuming it as grain, cereal or any other form like rice bran oil etc. How exactly rice earned itself the staple food status remains widely unknown. Perhaps, it was because of the primary need to have cheap carbohydrates to meet the daily energy requirements especially in low income countries.
Interestingly, you can easily do your rice farming in your backyard, in a garden bed or in buckets, once the conditions are right. For instance, if you have the right amount of soil, water, weed/pest controls as well as other nutrients, your rice crops can survive anywhere.
Scientifically known as Oryza, rice comes in long-grain, medium and short-grain textures. Others are Sweet, Arborio and Aromatic. There are various species of rice but only two are cultivated or edible. The names of the two are Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima. While Oryza sativa is the species found in Asia, America and Europe, Oryza glaberrima is the type found in West Africa.
You must also take special note that while swampy or wet areas are best to do your rice farming, you will need to drain the water when the grains develop at intervals, depending what you would want to do. For instance, the water has to drain to enable you to harvest and mill which makes your grains ready to eat. Other times you need to drain the water include when you would want to disinfect.
For higher yields, the grains need plenty of heat and rain, small acidity and clay deposits. Also note that strong and rapid growth during the early stage will reduce weed problems and increase crop resistance to pests and diseases. Therefore, boost the process.
To do your rice farming, there are four known methods you can choose from:
- Broadcasting method: Just like the name, you broadcast the seeds with your hand. You can choose this method if your soil is dry and not too fertile.
- Transplantation method: Here, you sow your rice seeds in nursery beds. Once seeds germinate, these seedlings can be transplanted in the main field after five weeks.
- Drilling method: This is the method common in very swampy areas of India. Two or more persons plough the land and then sow the seeds.
- Japanese method: Here, seeds are sown on raised nursery beds and transplanted in rows. Weeding and high dose fertilization should be carried out regularly.
To do rice farming yourself, follow these 6 quick tips:
- Choose your seeds
- Choose and prepare your location
- Prepare and sow your seeds
- Care for your seedlings
- Harvest your paddy plants
- Store, process and mill your paddy, yourself
Honestly, no effort is too small when it comes to contributing to the food security in Nigeria and the continent in general. Nothing says, you cannot do rice farming yourself even if you don’t have any experience. Just go into research and you would be good. Google is always your friend, remember?
A.N.D. guess what? You would have started contributing your own quota to the country’s agri-life IF only you can just SHARE this piece right now. Who knows? This post could just be all someone, somewhere ever needed to make up his mind and go into rice farming. Please SHARE. Thanks.
