Fruit farmers advised to conduct risk assessment of land before planting

December 26, 2015 4:19 PM

He urged fruit farmers to always consider availability and quality of water, pest and diseases as well as weed levels in the area.

A farmer checks on his maiz crop in a file photo. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Fruit farmers have been advised to conduct risk assessment of new agricultural sites prior to the use of the land.

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Dr Sunday Akinyemi, Head, Fruits and Spices Department of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), gave the advice during interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ibadan Ibadan on Saturday.

Akinyemi added that soil types should be mapped for the farm and to plan rotation, planting and growing programmes.

The expert also advised fruit farmers to focus on planning and management of fruit farming.

``Regular advice should be sought on how to get access to improved, sustainable fruit production technologies and tools”, he said.

He said fruits were economically important as farmers could reap large yields in small areas and be sold at high prices compared to crops such as maize and groundnuts.

``This means that in heavily populated areas, farmers can make good incomes even from small farms if they can get the principles of production, processing and marketing right”, he stressed.