Post by Trade facilitator on Dec 9, 2021 20:54:55 GMT 1
How Farming Of Ugu And Ewedu Vegetables Can Make You Millions This Dry Season
Ugu (Igbo name) is a very popular vegetable in Nigeria, the English name is fluted pumpkin, and its botanical name is Telfaria Occidentalis, it is one of the most demanded edible vegetables in Nigeria.
Fluted pumpkin farming business is popular and very lucrative in the country. This vegetable farming has been described by many people as a big win or jackpot farming because of its potential to yield fast cash and in a great measure.
This vegetable seems to be expensive because of the high demand; and it is consumed heavily in most homes in the country. The Ugu leaves are used in preparing many delicious types of soups and other delicacies, especially this Calabar soup called “Edikang Ikong”.
Also, many people are not aware that the seeds are very useful too, they can be processed into oil used in preparing soups and stews and also soap making.
Interestingly, the leaves are usually referred to as “blood tonic” due to its ability to replace lost blood for those that are anaemic. It also contains vital nutrients and vitamins necessary for healthy living.
In all honesty, Ugu or pumpkin business is one business I have seen that no matter how much you used to start, you can never make a loss. It is consumed by all ethnic groups in Nigeria. You can never have left overs; people are demanding for the vegetable daily.
You can do the business anywhere; whether you are in the rural or urban area, the business will thrive. But the truth is the business is more lucrative in urban areas where most people don’t have access to farming it themselves.
Ugu or fluted pumpkin is grown mostly in the Southern part and Middle belts of the country. This has been the thinking and practice of many in the time past. But in reality you can grow the vegetable in any part of the country; after all, those residing in the Northern part of the country use it also to prepare their soups and other delicacies.
The vegetable is drought resistant, and the seeds are very cheap and can be sourced locally in every state.
Funding for the business:
The capital to start Ugu or fluted pumpkin farming is not much. You can start this business of farming Ugu with little amount of money, what you need most is a piece of land in order to start on a small scale.
You will need some money to buy the seeds, look for a piece of open land; it can be at your backyard, or in any place. Depending on the level you want to operate, you can start with about N10, 000 – N20, 000. But if you want to plant on an acre of land, between N50, 000 and N100, 000 will be enough.
What do you need as planting equipment?
Your planting equipment as a small scale farmer is, hoes and some tanks for water storage – this is for irrigation. But for large scale farming, you will also need tractor for tilling the land. You will need some pesticides to ward off pests that can destroy your leaves.
You will need organic and inorganic fertilizer; organic fertilizers contain only natural plants – or animal based materials; these can be byproducts or end products that occur naturally. They can be manures, leaves or compost. While inorganic fertilizer; which is also referred to as synthetic fertilizer is manufactured by companies using artificial or synthetic chemicals. The fertilizers we buy from the market in bags are inorganic fertilizer; but the compost you gather at your farm or by from chicken rearers is organic fertilizers.
How do you cultivate Ugu or Fluted Pumpkin leaves?
From what we have seen and practiced in the time past, the most popular method of farming fluted pumpkin is planting on land. What you simply need to do is to acquire the land, clear the land, and make flat ridges. When you are about planting, please make sure you select very good seeds from a reputable farm store and plant them. When you use good varieties of seed to plant, you are sure of good harvest too. You have to leave spaces of about one foot in-between the seeds.
You can also make nursery where you first plant the seeds before transplanting them to your main farm.
How do you harvest your fluted pumpkin?
Harvesting Ugu of fluted pumpkin is one of the sweetest tasks you will ever undertake in farming. Fluted pumpkin matures at a maximum of three months; then harvesting starts. You can cut the leaves every week and sell, this means that you will be harvesting and selling your Ugu leaves every week and enjoying your money.
We will continue with Ewedu and the marketing (both local and export) of both Ugu and Ewedu in the next article coming up immediately.
Stay with us.
Ugu (Igbo name) is a very popular vegetable in Nigeria, the English name is fluted pumpkin, and its botanical name is Telfaria Occidentalis, it is one of the most demanded edible vegetables in Nigeria.
Fluted pumpkin farming business is popular and very lucrative in the country. This vegetable farming has been described by many people as a big win or jackpot farming because of its potential to yield fast cash and in a great measure.
This vegetable seems to be expensive because of the high demand; and it is consumed heavily in most homes in the country. The Ugu leaves are used in preparing many delicious types of soups and other delicacies, especially this Calabar soup called “Edikang Ikong”.
Also, many people are not aware that the seeds are very useful too, they can be processed into oil used in preparing soups and stews and also soap making.
Interestingly, the leaves are usually referred to as “blood tonic” due to its ability to replace lost blood for those that are anaemic. It also contains vital nutrients and vitamins necessary for healthy living.
In all honesty, Ugu or pumpkin business is one business I have seen that no matter how much you used to start, you can never make a loss. It is consumed by all ethnic groups in Nigeria. You can never have left overs; people are demanding for the vegetable daily.
You can do the business anywhere; whether you are in the rural or urban area, the business will thrive. But the truth is the business is more lucrative in urban areas where most people don’t have access to farming it themselves.
Ugu or fluted pumpkin is grown mostly in the Southern part and Middle belts of the country. This has been the thinking and practice of many in the time past. But in reality you can grow the vegetable in any part of the country; after all, those residing in the Northern part of the country use it also to prepare their soups and other delicacies.
The vegetable is drought resistant, and the seeds are very cheap and can be sourced locally in every state.
Funding for the business:
The capital to start Ugu or fluted pumpkin farming is not much. You can start this business of farming Ugu with little amount of money, what you need most is a piece of land in order to start on a small scale.
You will need some money to buy the seeds, look for a piece of open land; it can be at your backyard, or in any place. Depending on the level you want to operate, you can start with about N10, 000 – N20, 000. But if you want to plant on an acre of land, between N50, 000 and N100, 000 will be enough.
What do you need as planting equipment?
Your planting equipment as a small scale farmer is, hoes and some tanks for water storage – this is for irrigation. But for large scale farming, you will also need tractor for tilling the land. You will need some pesticides to ward off pests that can destroy your leaves.
You will need organic and inorganic fertilizer; organic fertilizers contain only natural plants – or animal based materials; these can be byproducts or end products that occur naturally. They can be manures, leaves or compost. While inorganic fertilizer; which is also referred to as synthetic fertilizer is manufactured by companies using artificial or synthetic chemicals. The fertilizers we buy from the market in bags are inorganic fertilizer; but the compost you gather at your farm or by from chicken rearers is organic fertilizers.
How do you cultivate Ugu or Fluted Pumpkin leaves?
From what we have seen and practiced in the time past, the most popular method of farming fluted pumpkin is planting on land. What you simply need to do is to acquire the land, clear the land, and make flat ridges. When you are about planting, please make sure you select very good seeds from a reputable farm store and plant them. When you use good varieties of seed to plant, you are sure of good harvest too. You have to leave spaces of about one foot in-between the seeds.
You can also make nursery where you first plant the seeds before transplanting them to your main farm.
How do you harvest your fluted pumpkin?
Harvesting Ugu of fluted pumpkin is one of the sweetest tasks you will ever undertake in farming. Fluted pumpkin matures at a maximum of three months; then harvesting starts. You can cut the leaves every week and sell, this means that you will be harvesting and selling your Ugu leaves every week and enjoying your money.
We will continue with Ewedu and the marketing (both local and export) of both Ugu and Ewedu in the next article coming up immediately.
Stay with us.
