GROWING BUTTERNUTS WITH SEEDCO

FARMERS in this country especially the small holder have for a long time been told or rather advised by various stakeholders in the agriculture sector to consider diversifying into growing other cash crops if they are to take farming as a business.

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This is because majority of these small holder farmers have been growing maize for along time with a view of selling their harvested produce to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) thereby being satisfied that they have heeded to the call of taking farming as a business.

But one important thing that these small holder farmers have not realized is that farming is not just about growing maize only.

They can diversify into growing other cash crops such as cashew nuts, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, soya beans, Irish potatoes, pumpkins to mention just but a few if the call to taking farming as a business is to be realized.

Zambia has a very favourable climatic condition that is able to favour almost all crops and because of this reality, farmers can tap into the potential of other alternative crops such as Butternuts.

This is not a complicated crop to grow. It can thrive in most places in Zambia as long as the farmer is able to follow all the laid down agronomical requirements that SEEDCO is able to make available through its agronomists who are centred all over the country. These agronomists will also be at the farmers service to provide the much-needed technical support concerning Butternuts.

TYPE OF SOIL

And according to Eric K Mwenda, Country Manager for SEEDCO Vegetable Business, he recommends strongly that farmers should consider planting their Butternuts seeds in sandy loam soil because this is where they grow very well.

PLANTING TIME

Mr. Mwenda advises the farmers who wish to venture into Butternuts production to plant their crop starting from August to March because this is the perfect time for Butternuts to thrive in this country.

BUTTERNUT VARIETIES

And with the availability of different varieties of Butternut seeds on the market today, Mr. Mwenda strongly recommends farmers to grow SeedCo’s Maxim F1.

Butternut Maxim F1 has the following characteristics:-

·        High Yielding Butter nut squash60-90tons/Ha

·        90-95 days to maturity

·        Fruit weight 3-6kgs

·        Vigorous plant with good leaf cover

·        Deep orange interior

·        Sweet taste

Furthermore, he adds that 1 Plant of SeedCo Butternut MaximF1 can give you at least 3 marketable butter nuts at harvest time. Potential of6 per Plant!

SeedCo also has Butternut Waltham an OPV variety.

PLANTPOPULATION

8000-10,000Plants/HA

4000 Plants/ Acre

2000 Plants/Lima

MATURITY DURATION

SEEDCO’s Butternut Maxim F1 has a short duration to maturity of 90- 95 days. And with this kind of duration for this variety to mature, it gives the farmer an opportunity to grow it for 3 to 4 times in one year.

Butternuts can be used as an excellent alternative for bread at breakfast as well as agreat sweet course after a delicious and satisfying meal.

Look out for part two of this article in the next edition where Mr. Mwenda will delve into the issue of watering, spacing, fertilizing and harvesting for this same type of Butternut variety.

By Eric K. Mwenda

To learn more about any other new releases from SEEDCO, follow our Facebook page! Or if you are ready to purchase your own  seeds visit our new online shop +260 97 7509544 or +260 966784515. Remember it starts with the right seed!

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