Pepper farming – Do these 10

things and make millions

Pepper is a vegetable eaten by almost everybody in the world. Pepper farming is one of
the most profitable businesses in Nigeria and other countries of the world. Just
like tomato farming and cucumber farming, pepper farming can be very lucrative.

The most popular types of pepper eaten in Nigeria are habanero pepper, cayenne
pepper, chilli pepper and sweet pepper. Nigerians call these types of pepper atarodo,
shombo, ata ijosi and tatase.

Farmers who engage in pepper farming smile to the bank year in, year out.

How to make money from pepper farming

To make good money from pepper farming, you must take the below steps:

Get yourself trained in modern farming

Cultivating pepper like how the conventional farmer in Nigeria does will lead to little or
no profit. You should get yourself trained in how to use modern agronomic practices and
farm technologies to boost your crop yield.

In Nigeria today, the average yield of habanero pepper per acre is about 0.2 tonnes
while improved agronomic practices can result to over 5 tonnes of habanero pepper per
acre.

If you do not know how to grow crops with modern agronomic techniques, you can hire
those who are very skilled in farming.

Sort out finances

If you want to make good money from pepper farming, you must get adequate finances.
Cutting corners will lead to losses.
Do you want to take a bank loan? Will your farm be financed by contributions from
family and friends? You must consider all funding options. It is better to use your own
funds when starting out in pepper farming.

Get a Free 5-day Course on How to Make Money from Precision Farming/Agribusiness

Get a good farmland

Fertile farmland can be a very great asset. Try as much as possible to secure a fertile
farmland, this will reduce the cost of fertiliser, manure and other farm treatment input.

You can rent a farmland instead of acquiring it, this will reduce initial cost outlay.
Soil and water analysis
You need to know the nutrients level, pH and microbial count in your soil and water.
This will guide you on the type of fertiliser and soil improvers to use on your farm.

Farming without carrying out a soil test is like a student who goes into an examination
hall with nothing in his brain.

Recruit staff
You need to recruit good staff. The manager of your farm must be skillful in the
cultivation of pepper. Most of the farm hands in Nigeria are people from the republic of
Benin and Togo. They are more willing to work on farms than young Nigerian men.

If your farm is in the northern part of Nigeria, you will not have challenges getting
labourers for your pepper farm.
Soil Preparation
You need to take off the weeds and unwanted trees on your farmland, plough, harrow
and ride if need be. If the soil is poor, you will need to add manure or compost and
some fertilizers.

If you prefer to go organic, you can add manure. Microbial inoculants and humates like
humic acid and fluvic acid.
Install drip irrigation
Drip irrigation is the passing of water and nutrients to the base of your plants through
pipes in a trickle form. It is the most efficient type of irrigation for pepper farming.
With drip irrigation, you can increase the yield of your pepper farm by 40%-200% whilst
also reducing the use of water and labour by a significant percentage.

You must get a good drip irrigation system for your pepper farm. To install drip irrigation
for pepper farming in Nigeria, you need to have a good water source like borehole, well,
dam or river.

You can buy drip irrigation systems from  Veggie Grow Limited, the company is the
leading supplier of farm technologies in Nigeria.
Get farm inputs
You also need to get farm inputs for your pepper farm. Examples of farm inputs needed
include fertilizers, manure, pesticides, knapsack sprayer or power sprayer, seeds
(hybrid or open pollinated), cutlasses, hoes, plough and weeders etc.

Hybrid pepper seeds are high yielding than open pollinated pepper seeds. You need to
research the best type of pepper seeds good for your agro climate and type of diseases
and pests prevalent in your area.
Take care of your crops
Practice good agronomic methods to make your crops disease free and ensure a very
good yield. Ensure you follow strict pesticide application regime.

It is always better to prevent diseases than attempting to cure them.

Harvest and marketing

Harvest your produce with care. While harvesting your peppers, ensure that the fruits
are not damaged. You may need to preserve the pepper if you do not intend to sell
them within days.

Marketing is key and as a matter of fact, you should secure the places to sell your
produce before you start farming at all.

You should ask yourself the following questions:

Where will I sell my harvested peppers?

Do I want to sell in the open market or the more organized market like supermarkets
and hotels?

Will I sell in markets near my farm or far away markets?

The above are some of the marketing questions you need to ask yourself.

Pepper farming can be your own gold, research well and start this venture today, you
can reach us through [email protected].

How to start pepper farming in

Nigeria: step by step guide
By
 Eno Johnson
 -
October 29, 2018
31
10907

Pepper is a spicy vegetable used all over the globe. For now, Nigeria is the
leading country as far as pepper is concerned in Africa followed by Ghana as
China is the world leading producers. It was a popular believe that pepper can
only do well in the North because they cultivate pepper in large
quantities.Pepper farming is another area agribusiness minded persons should
take a look at.

In this era of vertical farming pepper can be grown anywhere in Nigeria; in the
North, south-west, South east, South south, North central etc. The idea of
vertical farming is making farming easy and possible not minding the location
and land availability. Pepper farming started from Central America were it is
said to originate.

WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER PEPPER FARMING

Pepper has increased demand. Despite the fact that pepper is grown locally
around us yet plenty of it is still been transported to the southern part of
Nigeria from the North. It is therefore necessary for more people to go into
pepper farming both for subsistence and exportation.

Vegetables, such as cucumber, watermelon may likely experience glut at the

long run but pepper can never glut. This is because very few people considers
going into pepper farming.

Read Also: How to start ground pepper business in Nigeria

TYPES OF PEPPER
There are many kinds of pepper; they are grown according to regions and
climatic conditions.

ATARODO

In Nigeria we have the commonest pepper atarodo, most people considers the
smaller ones to the bigger ones due to its hotty nature.

SWEET PEPPER

This is the one most farmers are mostly cultivating now because of its price
value. Sweet pepper is costlier than other peppers in the market.

Sweet pepper is mainly used for colouring of food especially fried rice and also
mostly used in salad ingredients and in decoration of foods.
Others are Atawere (bird pepper) sombo (red pepper) tatashi.

LAND PREPARATION

After acquiring a land for this purpose clear the land and make beds on it.
Threat the soil with insecticides in other to kill any insect that may pose a
challenge to the crop. Pour organic manure which could be pig, cow or poultry
dung on the bed. The distance of the bed should be 1m long and the row 1m as
well. Pepper generally perform well in a sandy loam soil rich in organic matters

Read Also: How To Start Hibiscus Farming In Nigeria (Zobo Plant)

It is advisable to use Hybrid seeds because they are already treated against
diseases. And it takes few months before they are matured for harvest.

Get a nursery tray filled it up with top soil mixed with compose. Spread the
pepper on top and then mulch the tray. If you don’t have nursery trays you can
use plastic rubbers or cement bags with wide mouth.

TRANSPLANTING
Depending on the sizes and the species of pepper planted, spacing should be
12-18 inches apart; beds should be raised to about 10 inches high.

Water the beds two to three days before transplanting into it. Do your
transplanting in the evenings. Your beds should be close to the nursery so as to
save the life of the pepper seedlings. In pepper farming the seedlings should be
transplanted to the farm 8-10 weeks after planting in nursery.

GERMINATION

Most pepper seeds sprout in about 7 days at a temperature of 70-80 degrees F.

This depends on the variety planted. Germination for hot peppers can be
delayed, to hasten it cover the nursery with a transparent material and carefully
remove it when the seed starts sprouting.

WATERING

Pepper farming needs plenty water because the plant consumes a lot of water,
from germination to harvest. Water should be applied moderately. Waterlog soil
is not good for pepper cultivation that is why a well drain sandy-loam soil is
needed for the planting. So that it can hold enough moisture to keep the crops
growing. The organic manure added to the soil will help in retaining moisture
too. Use white substance for mulching to prevent too much water from
evaporating during the day.

FERTILIZER APPLICATION

During transplanting you can use dry poultry waste (rich in Nitrogen), wood
such as sawdust is rich in potassium. You can also use bone meal get it from
abattoir, it is rich in phosphorus. Apply more manure during blossoming and
fruiting prior to harvesting. This will make the plant to produce well. For a
person that wants to use inorganic fertilizers you can apply NPK 15-15-15 or
buy liquid fertilizers from GNLD.
Pepper plants are light feeders it is therefore not good to apply too much
fertilizer because it will make the plant to develop hush foliage instead of
fruiting

WEEDING

Weeding should be done twice before harvesting. Do not allow weeds in your
farm they carry pests and diseases. They can spread fungi and virus to healthy
pepper plants close to them.

STAKING

It is very important to stake pepper plant because they increase in weight as

they develop. In order to prevent damages, trellis the pepper plant to a bamboo
wood or any other wood you can find around you.
Do not use wire or heavy rope it can chop the pepper plant gradually until it
chokes them off or snap the stems.

INSECTS AND DISEASE CONTROL

Though it is advisable to buy pepper seeds that are resistant to diseases, at the
same time find out diseases that commonly affect similar crops in the area.
Example of such crops are tomatoes, garden egg etc. Use organic pesticides
e.g. pestomax if there is any need. Don’t work in the farm after the rains as
pathogens can easily be carried about in a wait body. Most people are doing
pepper farming in green houses which is very commendable.
Neem oil can be used to eliminate or prevent pest. There are certain
grasshoppers greenish in colour that are threat to pepper farming. This insects
feed on pepper flowers and thereby preventing fruiting. You can handpick them
if your farm is small for a large farm it will be a Herculean task. These insects
are very fast in eating up the flowers once it spout up they consumed it quickly.

MULCHING IN PEPPER FARMING

It is very important to mulch an existing farm taking into considerations the

importance of mulching. Use straw or black nylon to mulch the farm.

PROFIT IN PEPPER FARMING

Pepper cultivation is profitable in the send that you plant one seed to harvest
more than a hundred pepper. You can keep harvesting pepper up to 3 months.
A basket of pepper is sold for more #5,000 so there is much gain in it. Just like
you harvest ugu from time to time so also is pepper for a healthy profitable
harvest.

HARVESTING

Pepper is harvested before they are ripe because they can continue ripening
after harvest if they were matured at the point of harvest. For commercial
purposes it is advisable that you continue harvesting because the more you
harvest pepper before maturity the more they keep fruiting. Pepper fruits that
are fully ripen enhances flavour.

Hot pepper takes about 150 days for maturity depending on the varieties, the
number of days start from the time of transplant. harvesting is done by
detaching the pepper from the parent plant by hand. They are easy to pluck so
there won’t be any need for you to drag them.
Please give a like to our Facebook page, use the comment box for your
questions and get a prompt response and don’t forget to subscribe to our
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enjoyed this post, why not share with it your friends by making use of the share
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We appreciate your support Thank you.

43

Pepper farming – Do these 10

things and make millions
Pepper is a vegetable eaten by almost everybody in the world. Pepper farming is one of
the most profitable businesses in Nigeria and other countries of the world. Just
like tomato farming and cucumber farming, pepper farming can be very lucrative.

The most popular types of pepper eaten in Nigeria are habanero pepper, cayenne
pepper, chilli pepper and sweet pepper. Nigerians call these types of pepper atarodo,
shombo, ata ijosi and tatase.

Farmers who engage in pepper farming smile to the bank year in, year out.

How to make money from pepper farming

To make good money from pepper farming, you must take the below steps:

Get yourself trained in modern farming

Cultivating pepper like how the conventional farmer in Nigeria does will lead to little or
no profit. You should get yourself trained in how to use modern agronomic practices and
farm technologies to boost your crop yield.
In Nigeria today, the average yield of habanero pepper per acre is about 0.2 tonnes
while improved agronomic practices can result to over 5 tonnes of habanero pepper per
acre.

If you do not know how to grow crops with modern agronomic techniques, you can hire
those who are very skilled in farming.

Sort out finances

If you want to make good money from pepper farming, you must get adequate finances.
Cutting corners will lead to losses.

Do you want to take a bank loan? Will your farm be financed by contributions from
family and friends? You must consider all funding options. It is better to use your own
funds when starting out in pepper farming.

Get a Free 5-day Course on How to Make Money from Precision Farming/Agribusiness

Get a good farmland

Fertile farmland can be a very great asset. Try as much as possible to secure a fertile
farmland, this will reduce the cost of fertiliser, manure and other farm treatment input.
You can rent a farmland instead of acquiring it, this will reduce initial cost outlay.

Soil and water analysis

You need to know the nutrients level, pH and microbial count in your soil and water.
This will guide you on the type of fertiliser and soil improvers to use on your farm.

Farming without carrying out a soil test is like a student who goes into an examination
hall with nothing in his brain.

Recruit staff
You need to recruit good staff. The manager of your farm must be skillful in the
cultivation of pepper. Most of the farm hands in Nigeria are people from the republic of
Benin and Togo. They are more willing to work on farms than young Nigerian men.

If your farm is in the northern part of Nigeria, you will not have challenges getting
labourers for your pepper farm.
Soil Preparation
You need to take off the weeds and unwanted trees on your farmland, plough, harrow
and ride if need be. If the soil is poor, you will need to add manure or compost and
some fertilizers.

If you prefer to go organic, you can add manure. Microbial inoculants and humates like
humic acid and fluvic acid.
Install drip irrigation
Drip irrigation is the passing of water and nutrients to the base of your plants through
pipes in a trickle form. It is the most efficient type of irrigation for pepper farming.
With drip irrigation, you can increase the yield of your pepper farm by 40%-200% whilst
also reducing the use of water and labour by a significant percentage.

You must get a good drip irrigation system for your pepper farm. To install drip irrigation
for pepper farming in Nigeria, you need to have a good water source like borehole, well,
dam or river.

You can buy drip irrigation systems from  Veggie Grow Limited, the company is the
leading supplier of farm technologies in Nigeria.
Get farm inputs
You also need to get farm inputs for your pepper farm. Examples of farm inputs needed
include fertilizers, manure, pesticides, knapsack sprayer or power sprayer, seeds
(hybrid or open pollinated), cutlasses, hoes, plough and weeders etc.

Hybrid pepper seeds are high yielding than open pollinated pepper seeds. You need to
research the best type of pepper seeds good for your agro climate and type of diseases
and pests prevalent in your area.
Take care of your crops
Practice good agronomic methods to make your crops disease free and ensure a very
good yield. Ensure you follow strict pesticide application regime.

It is always better to prevent diseases than attempting to cure them.

Harvest and marketing

Harvest your produce with care. While harvesting your peppers, ensure that the fruits
are not damaged. You may need to preserve the pepper if you do not intend to sell
them within days.

Marketing is key and as a matter of fact, you should secure the places to sell your
produce before you start farming at all.

You should ask yourself the following questions:

Where will I sell my harvested peppers?

Do I want to sell in the open market or the more organized market like supermarkets
and hotels?

Will I sell in markets near my farm or far away markets?

The above are some of the marketing questions you need to ask yourself.

Pepper farming can be your own gold, research well and start this venture today, you
can reach us through [email protected].

PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT

PEPPER PRODUCTION
  Post author:Jeffrey Alahira
 Post published:March 25, 2014
 Post category:Horticulture
 Post comments:0 Comments
Contents  hide 
1 ORIGIN
2 PEPPER PRODUCTION STATISTICS/ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
3 The Market for Pepper Production
4 BENEFITS OF PEPPER
5 VARIETIES OF PEPPER
5.1 1. Bird Peppers – Ata Were (Capiscum Frutescens)
5.2 2. Cayenne pepper or red pepper—Sombo (Capsicum frutescens)
5.3 3. Atarodo (Capiscum Annum)
5.4 4. Tatase (Capiscum Annum)
6 SEEDLING PRODUCTION
6.1 Soil Requirement
6.2 Nursery Preparation
6.3 Bed Fumigation/Heat Treatment
6.4 Sowing
6.5 Shading
6.6 Watering
7 Land Preparation
8 Transplanting
9 Fertilizer Application
9.1 Harvesting
9.2 Yield
10 Disease and Insect Control
10.1 Diseases
10.2 Pests
10.3 Storage
11 Constraints in Pepper Production
11.1 Like this:

Pepper is one of the most important spices used in making most Nigerian
food. There is hardly a complete meal without the use of at least one variety
of pepper. This makes pepper production an important area of crop production in Nigeria.
Pepper belongs to the Family Solanaceae, which is an important group of
vegetables.
ORIGIN
Pepper generally originates from Central America. Capsicum annum is from
middle America (Mexico) while Capsicum frutescens is from the northern half
of South America to part of Central America and the Caribbean area. Pepper
played a significant early role in the development of food in America[i]
PEPPER PRODUCTION STATISTICS/ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
FAO statistics estimate world production of capsicum peppers in 2001 at
21.3 million tonnes(t) from a harvested area of 1.6 million hectares (ha)
(average yield 13.4 t/ha); China is the largest producer with 10 million t,
followed by Mexico (1.9 million t) and Turkey (1.5 million t). India is
probably erroneously represented with only 50,000 t. Production in tropical
Africa is estimated at 1 million t, with Nigeria (715,000 t from 90,000 ha)
and Ghana (270,000 t from 75,000 ha) as the largest producers. Data are
presented for only 13 out of the 47 countries of tropical Africa. (The
statistics for Africa does not include home farms and garden production)[ii]
The Market for Pepper Production
Rising domestic demand, coupled with a drop in exports, continues to set
the trend for the pepper market and pepper production. The main suppliers
of the commodity to the global market are Vietnam, India, Indonesia and
Brazil; while the major destinations for its export are the US, Europe, Japan
and Australia[iii].
The price of pepper in Nigeria has been subjected to seasonal fluctuation
over time. In South-Western Nigeria, pepper has been massively conveyed
from Northern Nigeria despite the fact that it is also grown in the South
West. This indicates that there is a great and urgent need for an increase in
pepper production in Nigeria, especially in South-Western Nigeria.
The domestic demand for pepper has increased over time which has resulted
in the decline in the quantity of pepper being exported in several producing
countries. This signifies that there is a need for an increase in the supply of
pepper to make up for the increase in the domestic demand and to also give
room for exportation.
It is worthy of note that despite the production level of pepper in Nigeria,
pepper is still being imported. A general increase in pepper yield in Nigeria
could be enhanced by the cultivation of improved cultivars, and
intensification of cultural practices.
BENEFITS OF PEPPER
 Pepper is used as a spice in many dishes.
 Pepper is used as decoration in food, to add flavor and colour
 It is also used to provide relief for several ailments. It can be found in topical creams
that are intended to reduce muscle pain, inflammation, and itching[iv].
 Peppers can act as a heart stimulant which regulates blood flow and strengthens the
arteries, possibly reducing heart attacks.
 It has soothing effects on the digestive system, offers relief from symptoms of colds,
sore throats, and fevers, circulation, especially for cold hands and feet, and as a
hangover remedy. Fresh peppers are an excellent source of calcium and vitamin C.
 It can be used to regulate blood sugar
 Hot chili peppers might help fight prostate cancer[v]
VARIETIES OF PEPPER
There are wide varieties of pepper all over the world but many of them are
produced based on regions and environmental conditions. Varieties common
in pepper production in Nigeria include:
1. Bird Peppers – Ata Were (Capiscum Frutescens)
This is a very hot variety of pepper, it is short in length.  Both ripe and
unripe bird peppers are used for making pepper sauces. It is used while
unripe, usually still green in colour for preparing pepper sauce for unpolished
rice (locally known as Ofada rice). The sauce is richly garnished with locust
beans.
2. Cayenne pepper or red pepper—Sombo (Capsicum frutescens)     
This is a very long and thin variety. It is a bit mild as regards to its hotness.
3. Atarodo (Capiscum Annum)
This is the most common pepper variety in the Nigerian market. The smaller
sized ones taste hotter than the bigger sized ones.
4. Tatase (Capiscum Annum)
This pepper variety is usually very mild in taste and very red in colour. It
could be added to food or sauce as a colouring agent to bring out a bright
red colour and sometimes to reduce hotness.
SEEDLING PRODUCTION
Soil Requirement
Pepper thrives well in a warm climate. It requires well-drained silt or clay
loam and favourable climatic condition. Avoid planting on waterlogged and
alkaline soils. Pepper grows well on highly nutritive soil with optimum soil
moisture.
Nursery Preparation
In pepper production, the soil used for raising nursery should be rich, well-
drained and free of diseases and insect pests. Make seedbeds with topsoil
mixed with compost (30 x 45 x 8 cm) on nursery beds or trays. Leave an
upper space of about 20cm for watering while using trays. Beds should be
about 1meter long with an inter-row space of about 1m also.
Bed Fumigation/Heat Treatment
Treat nursery soil mixture with fumigant to kill pests, fungi, weeds, etc. in
the soil. VAPAM could be used at the rate of 1 liter to 20 liters of water per
bed of 1 m x 10 m. Wet soil heavily to a depth of 15 cm and cover with palm
fronds when used. Leave a space of about 9-10 days after fumigation before
sowing seeds.
Heat treatment is an alternative to bed fumigation. It is done by burning
trash on the bed and then removing the ash.
Sowing
Water the beds about 14hours before sowing. Make drills of 5-10 cm apart
across the bed and sow about 100 seeds per drill. Cover lightly. Thin the
seedlings to 1 per 2.5cm of drill 15–20 days after sowing. Alternately holes
can be made at 4 x 4 cm apart on the bed and 3–4 seeds dropped in each
hole. The seedlings are later thinned to one per hole. Similarly, seeds can
also be drilled or planted in specific spacing (4 cm x 4 cm) in the tray
Shading
Protect seedlings from the hot sun and heavy rains with the use of palm
fronds. Remove half of the fronds 30 days after sowing and the rest 40 days
later so as to harden the seedlings before transplanting.
Watering
Water the seedlings daily when the sun is not out preferably in the morning.
Reduce the quantity and frequency of watering during the hardening of
seedlings. Avoid excessive watering as it makes susceptible to diseases such
as damping off.
Land Preparation
Beds could be of any length but preferably with a width of 1meter. The
required land preparation includes plowing, harrowing bed preparation
should be done 7 days before transplanting.
Transplanting
Plant using 70cm inter-row spacing and 50cm Intra row spacing. Water the
seed tray and beds in the nursery, after which you could uproot the
seedlings. Two rows may be arranged on a bed.
Fertilizer Application
A complete fertilizer such as N.P.K. 15:15:15 can be carried out about 2
weeks after transplanting at the rate of one matchbox fertilizer to two
plants. Draw a circle round the base of the plant and carefully spread the
fertilizer in the groove. Cover lightly with soil. The circle should be
reasonably far from the stem of the plant. A distance of about 4 –7cm is all
right.
The second application should be performed at 50% flowering. The
application rate is one matchbox per plant. Water the plant immediately
after applying the fertilizer. The most important pest of pepper is fruit fly.
Harvesting
Pepper is usually harvested red or as it starts to turn red except for bird
pepper which can also be harvested green because it may be consumed
green for some special delicacies. Harvesting can be done once or twice a
week. It is usually harvested into baskets and sacks
Yield
Pepper production can produce a high return once it is properly cultivated,
managed, and free from pest and disease attack. The production of pepper
in Nigeria is profitable and economical.
Pepper fruit weight often declines from point of first harvest. The fruit yield
of pepper is influenced more by the number of fruits and the fruit weight.
Disease and Insect Control
Diseases
The seedlings should be sprayed regularly with pesticides like Ambush and
fungicide diaphane for the control of insects and diseases before they are
transplanted.
Bacterial Wilt: The infected plants show wilting and death of the growing
point and upper leaves. It is most severe in pepper. It could be controlled
through the use of disease-resistant varieties and by the removal of the
infected plant.
Fruit rot (Collectroticum capsic). It destroys fruit buy reducing its quality.
Spraying insecticide to control pestsVirus: It is characterized by the
reduction of the size of young leaves with leaf curl, mottling, and vein
clearing, puckering, deep mottling, curling inwards of leaves and stunted
growth. It could be controlled by practicing the crop rotation
Pests
Scales and mealybugs: found majorly on the stems of older plants.
Coratitis capitata: it feeds on the fruit flesh leaving only the transparent
skin.
Borers (Lepidopterae spp.): found also in the fruits. Pests could be controlled
by spraying insecticides namely Sevin 85 w.p. 10 gm or 10 L of water
weekly
Storage
Pepper can be dried and stored in sacks. Dried pepper has a longer shelf life
than fresh pepper. Dried pepper can be further processed by grounding it
into powdery form. This powdered pepper can be easily added to food, either
during or after cooking. Fresh pepper can also be stored in the house in a
cool dry place for about a week.
Constraints in Pepper Production
Abiotic constraints pertaining to the climate (drought, flooding, strong winds,
extreme temperature, and sunlight) and to the soil (moisture and nutrients
content) may add up to biotic constraints and lead plants to stress and
undergo anatomical and physiological disorders that reduce yield[vi]
(Jackson, 1986). Unfavorable climate conditions may pose a major constraint
to high yield.
REFERENCES:

[i] Source: https://www.unaab.edu.ng/ugprojects

[ii] Source: https://database.prota.org
[iii] Source: www.mydigitalfc.com
[iv]
Answerbaghttps://www.answerbag.com/q_view/2224634#ixzz1B7IXdZ2N
[v] Source: https://ushotstuff.com/medical.htm
[vi] Culled from: Jackson RD (1986). Remote sensing of biotic and abiotic
plant stress. Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 24:265
Disclaimer
All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only.
agriculturenigeria.com makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness,
suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors,
omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its
display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.

Pepper Farming in Nigeria: Beginners Guide

 March 13, 2020  Maxipharo  Agriculture

Have you ever thought of diving into pepper farming in Nigeria? Get practicable ways to activate
your thought into cash by starting a profitable pepper farm.
Pepper Farming has been one of the Agribusinesses coming into a more explorable aspect of
spices and vegetable farming. Its culinary and overall health benefits have made it a-must-
included spices that accompany everyone’s daily meal globally. Hence, there is a need to meet
its diverse target of inclusion across all mixes by cultivating close to abundance in different
parts of the world.

In Nigeria, pepper farming in Nigeria is mostly akin to the Northern part due to the belief that
this area has the best composition of soil to grow it, but in recent times, it cultivation has
developed to any part of the country and it can be transported across different regions, states,
cities, and villages across the country. Therefore, there is a bigger opportunity from farming to
sales and transportation to co-create abundance. As an individual, you can man any of the
supply chains – from on-site buying of harvested pepper and transportation to sales point, to
seedling raising and sales, to the biggest part of the chain, which is marketing.
Optimal profitability in pepper farming requires a profound knowledge of agricultural
technologies and best practices by the intending farmer. Here are the practicable information
needed to make huge profit in Pepper Farming in Nigeria

Varieties of Pepper
There are about four common varieties of pepper in Nigeria – Chilli (Ata
ijosi), Habanero (Atarodo), Sweet pepper (Tatashe) and cayenne (Shombo). The highest-priced
among the four is sweet pepper because of its uniqueness in taste and usefulness for meal
decoration. To add, it is not pepperish which makes most of the Easterners and many people
around the country prefer it. Habanero (atarodo) is the most utilized. However, all these
varieties are needed for its specific culinary functions.
Seed selection is based on the climatic conditions and type of diseases and pests prevalent in
the farm location. The most reliable seed is Hybrid Pepper Seed with its high yielding and
disease resistant qualities. Quality seed coupled with good agricultural practices on an acre of
land can yield 3-5 tonnes of pepper.
Soil Requirement
It requires a warm climate and well-drained sandy-loamy soil. Optimum soil moisture and pH. It
does not grow well on alkaline soil.
Land Preparation
To cut costs, you may lease the farmland if you do not have an inherited or bought farmland.
Greenhouse technology works greatly for Pepper farming, however, some combinations of
these practices are capable of producing comparable results like this technology.
Make sure you have a source of water for your farmland. To work smarter, Drip Irrigation is
recommended. Weeding, burning, and ploughing can be done on the farmland. Soil fertility can
be increased using organic manure; poultry faeces, pig faeces or fertilizer. Spread on the
farmland for seven (7) days before making beds.

Seedling Production and Transplanting

Carve out about 100cm x 100cm with an inter-row space of 70cm from the big lot of the fertile
farmland for nursery beds. Fumigate the nursery with chemical to kill pest, weeds, and disease
which might subsequently interfere with the plant. Water the soil and cover the soil with net or
palm fronds to slow down evaporation. Leave for 8-10 days before broadcasting seed on the
bed. Water the bed for some hours before seed broadcast to soften the bed. Thin the seedlings
by 4 x 4cm apart after twenty days of seed broadcast. There should be an elevated net or palm
fronds shade for about 45 days to protect it from hot sun and heavy downpour which might
affect yield. Remove the shade after this stated days. Water the seedlings regularly in the cool
period of the day but avoid excess water. Similarly, water the bed on the day you’d transplant to
maintain the lively appearance of the seedling and to ease uprooting. Make sure the seedlings
are hardened before transplanting. The seedling can maintain 50-60cm row spacing on the
farmland.
Disease and Pest Control
During the nursery stage and on the farmland, fungicide and pesticide should be sprayed
regularly to prevent diseases and pests and ensure maximum yield.
Weeding and Fertilizer Application
Weeding can be done thrice before harvest. Fertilizer; NPK can be applied 2weeks after
transplanting. The other application should be during the early stage of flowering.
Harvest
The good news about pepper farming is it’s multiple and continuous harvests. Pepper matures
within 3-5 months depending on variety, and harvesting can last up to 3months. Chilli plants
can live and bear fruit for 2-3years. So, it has a high Return of Investment. This can be your
gold.

Pepper farming in Nigeria PDF

For further reading check this free PDF guide on pepper farming in Nigeria. Click here

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How to Grow Hot Pepper and Make Money

By FarmersJoint in Crops (9,700 views)

Pepper belongs to the Solanacea family. Other members of this family includes tomato,
tobacco, eggplant and Irish potato. There are different varieties of pepper available to choose
from. You just have to go to the pepper sellers in your area and find out the variety that sales
well. Then visit a state ministry of Agric. and find out where you can buy the seeds. Some
people who sell agro-chemicals in markets may also sell seeds.

Is there money to be made in pepper farming? Yes. Pepper mature in 3-4 months and with
proper maintenance, you can harvest it continually for 6 months or more. You’ll make much
more money if you have access to irrigation facilities so you can irrigate your plants during the
dry season. This can either be in the form of borehole or stream/river. In most places in Nigeria,
you can easily rent farmlands that are close to rivers that flows even in the dry season.

When I planted the Nsukka yellow pepper in a village called Ozeh, Anambra state, I made
N37,250 with just a small portion of land that accommodated 358 pepper plants. This was
achieved after only 4 harvests before dry season sets in. This means that I got N104 per plant. I
would have made much more if I had  irrigation setup in place. A plot of land (100x60ft) will
contain 1080 plants (50cm space between plants and 1m between rows), giving you much more
than N112,3700 if well-managed. I plan going into pepper farming full scale and when I do, I’ll
come back with more accurate data (I’ll start this 2019 rainy season).
My Yellow Pepper Farm

Soil Requirement: Peppers can tolerate most types of soil that are well-drained. But they do
well in sandy loam or loamy, fertile soils. Optimal soil pH is 6 to 6.8. The soil pH strongly
influences plant growth, the availability of nutrients, and the activities of microorganisms in the
soil. It is strongly recommended that you carry out soil test before planting (I didn’t, but for large-
scale farming, I definitely will). Soil test will help you know how much fertilizer to add and
whether to lime or not. If your soil needs liming, lime should be broadcasted and thoroughly
mixed with the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches. This is important because lime/calcium have limited
mobility in the soil. So you have to make them reach the root zone. The neutralizing effect of
lime is very slow. So add lime 2-3 months before sowing or transplanting. If this is not possible,
add lime at least 1 month before sowing or transplanting.

Air Temperature: Hot peppers tend to grow well when temperature is 24-32oC during the day
and 18-24oC at night. Significantly higher or lower temperatures can have negative effects on
fruit set and quality. Temperatures for good fruit set is between 20 and 29°C. In drought and
heat stress, pepper plants not only lose flowers, but also buds. Loss of buds delays flowering by
several weeks and reduces yields dramatically. Factors influencing flower drop or loss of buds
include poor light intensity, excessive nitrogen and insect damage.

If extreme temperature is a problem for you, inter-crop pepper with tall plants like maize, okra,
trellised legumes and vines. This plants will cast shade on the pepper plant and help relieve
extreme temperature effects.

Hot Pepper Nursery

For better growth and yield, young pepper plants have to be nursed in a nursery. This is where
they will be protected from harsh environmental conditions like high temperature, harsh sunlight,
drought, heavy rain etc. They’ll stay in the nursery for about 5-10 weeks before being
transplanted to the main farmland.

Nsukka Yellow Pepper Seedlings

Making the Nursery Bed: Make a nursery bed that is 120-150cm wide and as long as
necessary. To facilitate drainage during the rainy season, bed height should be about 15cm. It
can be lower in sandier soils that drains faster. Lower bed height should also be used during the
dry season to conserve water.
Fertilizing Nursery: Fertilizing pepper can be done in several ways. Below are just a few:

1. Add 1 bucket of composted or aged manure for every 2m2 (2 square meter) of bed or 20kg
manure per square meter.

2. Add NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer at the rate of 100g per square meter with some manure.

3. Mix topsoil and composted or aged manure in a 1:1 ratio by volume and use it for the nursery.

To ensure successful germination and good seedling health, mix and sterilize topsoil-manure
mixture by adding water and heating to 70oC for 30 minutes (don’t heat chemical fertilizer!).
Fumigants like formalin (not effective on nematodes) or metam sodium may be used instead.
Sterilizing helps control soil-borne diseases and pests that might attack the seeds or seedlings.
A cheaper option is to simply prepare the nursery bed, pile up dry grass and twigs on it and
burn. This is simple yet very effective. Please, don’t plant your pepper without sterilizing the soil!
Else, when it is transplanting time (after 5-10 weeks), you may find out too late that your
seedlings are infected with rootknot nematodes or other nasties. You can also soak the soil with
hot water to sterilize it.

Sowing: After making the nursery, water it deeply before sowing. Sow pepper seeds in rows
0.6cm deep with about 10cm between rows. They germinate in 12-21 days depending on soil
temperature. After germination, thin out to a spacing of 8-10cm between plants.

Sometimes, pests and diseases will attack seeds and kill them, leading to poor germination
percentage. That is not usually a problem with commercial seeds which are usually treated. If
you are planting untreated seeds, spray the seeds with a combo of insecticide and fungicide
before covering with soil. Alternatively, you can treat the seeds by coating them with insecticide
and fungicide. Dry them and plant.

Shade: Lightly shade the nursery the first 2 weeks after germination. Continue to shade them
from midday sun or when the sun is too hot and from heavy rain. A simple shade can be made
from palm fronds supported by stakes.
Pepper nursery should be shaded like this. Image from teca.fao.org

Watering: When watering, sprinkle water only on the space between the rows. Watering the
buried seeds directly may cause the seeds to float out of the soil. Water daily in the morning but
avoid excess watering – keep the soil moist, not waterlogged. To prevent disease outbreak,
don’t water during late evening – prolong moisture can lead to disease outbreak.

Pest & Diseases: Spray seedlings with recommended dosage of insecticides if you encounter
pest problems. Examples of insecticides include emamectin benzoate, chlorfenapyr,
imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos, lambda-cyhalothin, permethrin, cypermethin etc. Fungal diseases
may occur under moist and wet conditions. If that is the case, prevent them with fungicides like
mancozeb, Saaf (mancozeb and carbendazim), Blue bolt (mancozeb and
metalaxyl), chlorothalonil etc. Most seeds companies treat their seeds with fungicide and
insecticide that will protect the seeds from soil-borne diseases and insects. Untreated seeds can
be treated with seed treatment pesticides like Thiram (dithiocarbamate) at 1tsp. per pound of
seed or a mix of Copper sulphate and metalaxyl. There are many other pesticides that can be
used (eg Dressforce)

Hardening off: This is a technique used to make seedlings get use to the less favorable
conditions they’ll face in the main farmland. It involves decreasing water and nutrients for a
short period before transplanting. They are also gradually exposed to the full heat of the sun.
Start hardening off pepper seedlings 7-10 days before the transplanting date. Avoid over-
hardening transplants, which can delay the start of growth in the field and reduce early yields. It
should be done slowly.
For maximum production, transplants should never have fruits, flowers or flower buds before
transplanting. So remove flowers and buds as they appear to direct more energy to vegetative
growth (see section on pruning and flowering below).

Main Farmland

After the nursery comes the main farmland, where the pepper plants will stay for the rest of their
life. The nourishment they received in the nursery will help them to better cope with the harsh
conditions that exist here.

Transplanting: The plant will stay in the nursery for 5-10 weeks. A research on sweet pepper
showed that keeping pepper in the nursery for 8-10 weeks gave better yield than those
transplanted at 12 and 14 weeks (Source: 1). I don’t know if this applies to hot peppers as well.
However, my own hot pepper seedlings (Nsukka yellow hot peppers) transplanted at 9 and 10
weeks did well.

So after 9-10 weeks in the nursery and after hardening-off, water the seedlings deeply so that
uprooting them will be easy. Transplant to the main farmland and water them deeply. You must
have cleared the main farmland, made the ridges, and added manure. In the dry season, make
the top of ridges flat so that water will soak deep into the ground. A sloppy ridge will send
irrigation water rushing down into the furrow. Side dressed manure will also be washed down.

After transplanting, water deeply. Set transplants as deep as the lowest leaves so that the plant
will develop deeper roots. After transplanting (especially within the first 2 weeks) maintain soil
moisture so that plant roots can become well established. Applying fertilizer soil drench (10g
npk per liter water) will help the transplants to grow faster.

Row Making: Pepper are best planted in rows. They are moderately deep rooted. Under
favorable conditions, roots will grow to a depth of 36 to 48 inches (91-122cm). But the majority
of roots will be in the upper 12 to 24 inches (30-61cm) of soil. Since root development is
severely limited by compacted soil, proper land preparation should eliminate or significantly
reduce soil compaction and hard pans.

To facilitate drainage during the rainy season, row height should be about 10-20cm. It should be
in the lower range in sandier soils that drains faster. Lower row height should also be used
during the dry season to conserve water.

Make the row to have a flat top like a bed. This is good during the dry season as more water will
soak into the soil instead of running down to the furrow. Periodic manure and NPK application
will also be easier. During the rainy season, the row tops should form a hill so that excess water
will flow off.

Spacing: 45-60cm between plants and 75-100cm between rows. Use greater spacing during
the rainy season to facilitate ventilation and minimize disease problems. Having more plants per
plot may not be the best for you as the cost of pesticides and fertilizer might be too high for you.
It is better to have fewer, well-managed plants.
Pruning Flower (This is a SECRET in pepper farming!): Whenever your pepper plants start
producing flower or fruits when they’re to young, remove them all. This will direct all their energy
into growing stronger branches that will not break during wind storm or under the weight of

fruits.

Also remember to remove the lower leaves to promote easy air movement and prevent
diseases. The pictures below showed how I did it.
Unpruned lower leaves
Pruned lower leaves

Companion Crops: Peppers grow well near tomatoes, carrots, onions, okra etc. Yes, despite
the fact that tomatoes and pepper are of the same family, they can still be planted together and
rotated to another field next season. But they should not follow each other – as in you plant
tomatoes this year and next year you plant pepper.

Fertilizers: From soil test result you’ll know how much fertilizer to add and whether to add lime.
Avoid excess nitrogen as it will result in a rich leafy plant with few or no fruits. Too much urea
fertilizer can tie up calcium in the soil and cause blossom-end rot.

As a rule of thumb, apply compost or aged chicken manure at 10tons/ha during land
preparation. Apply NPK 15 15 15 two weeks after transplanting at 1 match box for 2 plants.
Apply in a circular groove 4-5cm round the plant and cover with soil. Second application should
be applied when 50% of the plants are flowering – at 1 match box per plant. But remember that
if any plant start to flower when it is still small, remove all the flowers and buds to make it grow
taller and branch out as you prune. Leaving the flowers may make your plant stunted no matter
how much you fertilize.

Weed Control: Peppers are very sensitive to weed competition, particularly12 to 48 days after
transplanting. You can control weed by cultivation (manual or mechanical), plastic or organic
mulches, herbicides or stale seedbed method.

To control weeds with herbicides, apply glyphosate and allow all the weeds to die. Do this
before land preparation. Glyphosate is a post-emergence herbicide, meaning that it kills weeds
that have already come out from the soil. After ridge making but before transplanting, apply pre-
emergence herbicides like Clomazone, Pendimethalin or S-metolachlor on ridges. Allow some
days to pass before you transplant. The pre-emergence herbicide will kill young weeds as they
try to grow out from the soil. The result of all these is that you won’t have to weed your farm
for a very long time.

If you did not apply pre-emergence herbicide on the space between ridges, use a post-
emergence herbicide like paraquat to control weeds that will spring up there (you may do this to
save cost because pre-emergence herbicides are more costly than post-emergence herbicides).
Glyphosate may be used instead of paraquat, but great care must be taken because one drop
of glyphosate on your plant will cause the plant to die completely. On the other hand, paraquat
will only harm the affected leaf.

If you’re weeding with hoes, know that peppers are moderately deep rooted. So cultivate around
the plant with care to avoid destroying the roots

Preventing and Controlling Pests and Diseases

Pepper has a lot of pests and diseases that may afflict them. So you have to be prepared. 3-4
times per week, move around and take a close look at your plants. Try to identify color change
on the leaves which may signal disease or nutrient deficiency. Lookout for insect pests. But
don’t confuse bad insects with good ones like lady’s beetle, praying mantis, bees etc. Below are
some guidelines that will help you control pests and diseases.

a. Don’t plant pepper where a member of the Solanaceae family (pepper, tomato, tobacco,
eggplant and Irish potato) have been planted in the past 2-3 years.

b. Under wet and moist condition, alternate between fungicides like mancozeb + copper and
chlorothalonil + Tanos routinely every 7 to 10 days to prevent fungal diseases. Complete
coverage of the top and bottom of the leaves is very important since these are contact fungicide
(except Tanos). Better still, use systemic fungicides in combo with contact fungicides as
described in this forum discussion: Best Time to Apply Fungicides?

a. Control insects with insecticides if they become a problem. Examples of insecticides include
Diazinon, Alpha Cypermethrin, Chlorpyrifos, Diflubenzuron, Trichlorfon (Dipterex),
Chlorantraniliprole, Spintoram, Emamectin benzoate, Indoxacarba, dimethoate, Imidacloprid
and Lambda cyhalothrin. Read: Insecticide Resistance: How to Use Insecticides Correctly.

Generally, apply a mixture of insecticide and fungicide every week. But if pest and disease
pressure is high, apply the mixture every 4-5 days. Adding a foliar fertilizer to the mix will give
good result.
Some of these chemicals are very harmful to your health. Always wear protective clothing, face
mask, respirator, hand gloves, boots and cap. Read manufacturers health precaution and obey
it.

Harvesting

Yellow Pepper Harvest

You can start harvesting after 3-4 months of sowing. When they’re ripe, cut them off the plant
with a sharp knife or razor blade. Pulling them can cause a branch to snap and breakoff. Go to
the market and see how peppers are bagged and do the same. Meanwhile, you must have
secured buyers before you even start your pepper farm.

Processing

One good thing about peppers is that they can be dried and stored for a very long time. If
properly dried and stored, they can last a few years. So when market price is ridiculously low,
you can dry and store your pepper until the price is right.

You don’t have to depend on the sun to dry. You can build a simple forced-air dryer. Dried
pepper from such dryers have better quality than sun-dried peppers. They retain their color
better.

Here is how to dry your peppers. Remove the pedicles and calyx and wash them. Dip in hot
water (65oC) for 3 minutes (this is called blanching). Drain and cut them open to decrease
drying time, increase color retention and decrease mold infestation. You may not cut them open
if you like, but it’ll take longer to dry. Next, place them in the dryer. Dry at 50-60oC, turning them
every few minutes until they are leathery or slightly brittle, but not brittle and as hard as rock.
Allow them to cool before storing in air-tight drums or polythene bags to prevent them from re-
absorbing moisture. Store in a cool, dry and dark place to prevent loss of flavor.

Do you have any questions? Comment and ask your questions.

farming in Nigeria - chili and green 3 years ago 54161 views by  Stephanie
Obasanho Do you want to start a profitable agriculture business? What
about pepper farming in Nigeria? We will tell you how profitable pepper
farming in Nigeria is. Find out the best tips for the beginning of this
business and easy steps to succeed.

If you have a serious intention of cultivating pepper for subsequent sale,

in addition to pepper seeds, seedlings, and quality fertilizer, you should
buy the following important components:

• A plot of land where this delicious agricultural crop will grow;

• Vehicles for transportation of finished product;

• Container for vegetables.

The land should be located near local water basin, or water supply system.
Since pepper demands moisture, it should be watered quite regularly -
otherwise do not expect good harvest. In fact, chilli and green pepper
farming in Nigeria have a lot in common, so we will tell you about pepper
cultivation and using chili pepper as an example. To improve crop quality,
you should use natural fertilizers to help your pepper look more
attractive.

Chili pepper farming in Nigeria

One plant can give you up to hundreds of pods. They can be used for
seasonings, depending on various culinary needs, also seeds can be used
for subsequent planting. This kind of pepper can live and bear harvest for
2-3 years. If you grow chili pepper on the open ground, you can get a crop
of 2-3 kg per square meter. According to specialists, pepper is much better
developed in the greenhouse. This is because of a controlled temperature
regime and a constant level of humidity. So, in a greenhouse, chili pepper
can grow up to 1 meter in length and provide a large amount of massive
fruits. If you create good conditions, then after a while you will be able to
admire your strong lush bushes. If you care more about large fruits than
their numbers, then just get rid of some flowers on the plant.

Preparation of a site for pepper farming in Nigeria In sunny areas with

mild climate, pepper grows very well. If there is no wind protection, it is
possible to build some wind shields. The soil on the area allocated for
pepper cultivation should be fertile, well drained and have high water
retention capacity. After harvesting the crop, remove plant remains and
dig through the soil. In any case do not plant pepper on the site with fresh
manure. Pepper does not need fresh organic fertilizers. It adversely
affects preservation of the crop and its ripening.

How to plant pepper in Nigeria?

Before planting, seedlings must be watered abundantly, so that during

planting they do not fade. Withering affects plants, delays growth and
leads to the fall of the first buds - and this is the loss of the early harvest. If
you plant seedlings in the heat it is better to choose the second half of the
day, so that the plants can grow stronger overnight. In cloudy weather,
you can plant seedlings in the morning.

Pre-prepared holes should be filled with water - 1-2 liters of water per
hole, it is better to use warm water. After freeing seedlings from pots, they
are placed vertically in the holes and planted a little deeper than they
were in the pots.

Watering

Growing pepper is impossible without watering. For a better survival, after

planting pepper is watered at an interval of 2-3 days, taking 1-2 liters of
water per plant, and in dry and hot weather, pepper is watered daily.
There is a need to monitor the watering so as not to damage pepper
plants by excessive irrigation. Wilting leaves in the afternoon hours on hot
days do not indicate that plants need water. Vegetable farming care It is
necessary to observe the distance between the rows of about 65 cm and
between seedlings 40 cm. You can also use another method - plant two or
three seedlings in one hole. It is necessary to install pegs when planting in
order to keep the plant away from breaking (you should not install pegs
during the growth period, as it can damage plant root system). Snail
farming: interesting business idea with 100% profitability Loosening
Pepper is fond of loose soil, and therefore you should avoid the formation
of soil crust. Loosening activates the influx of air to the roots, which
accelerates growth and development of plants and stimulates biological
activity of microorganisms in the soil, and also helps with weed control.
During the first two weeks after planting, the pepper grows very slowly:
during this period its root system acquires strength. Take care of them so
as not to injure your plants. Pepper cultivation problems With a lack of
potassium, pepper leaves become a twisted and drying edge. But it is
necessary to be careful with potassium - pepper does not tolerate
abundance of potassium chloride. If the plant lacks nitrogen, its leaves
become opaque and grayish, gradually begin to fade. When there is lack
of magnesium, leaves become marbled, and the excess amount of
nitrogen in soil leads to dropping of pepper flowers. What is nutritional
value of garden egg plant? What are the best varieties for pepper farm
launching? • Trinidad Scorpion This is one of the hottest varieties of chili
pepper. The main source of its distribution is export. • Bell pepper This
kind of pepper has different varieties - its colour varies from yellow,
orange, purple, red to green. • Cayenne pepper This is the most common
type of pepper in Nigeria. It has also other names - Red hot chili pepper or
Guinea spice. Its main peculiarity is that it can be stored for a very long
time in the form of powder. How profitable is pepper farming in Nigeria?
To get profit from pepper cultivation in Nigeria you should think about
distribution channels. We have prepared a list of them below. Distribution
channels: - Gardeners/amateurs; They can buy your seedlings; -
Pharmacies; You can sell natural tinctures from bitter varieties. -
Representatives and organizers of public catering outlets; 10 steps to
becoming a successful plantain farmer - Shops in your locality; - Ordinary
citizens. The last three groups of people usually buy green pepper,
revered for its rich and sweet taste. Let's conduct simple calculations: •
You will need between 4 and 6 months; • Your investment should be - N1
million; • Your profit - N4 million. Now, you see that pepper farming in
Nigeria is rather profitable. Why not give it a try? READ ALSO: Small scale
business in Nigeria with little capital Read
more: https://www.legit.ng/1108102-pepper-farming-nigeria-chili-
green.html

Pepper farming in Nigeria - chili and green 3 years ago 54161 views by 
Stephanie Obasanho

Do you want to start a profitable agriculture business? What about pepper

farming in Nigeria? We will tell you how profitable pepper farming in
Nigeria is. Find out the best tips for the beginning of this business and
easy steps to succeed. Read more: https://www.legit.ng/1108102-pepper-
farming-nigeria-chili-green.html

If you have a serious intention of cultivating pepper for subsequent sale,

in addition to pepper seeds, seedlings, and quality fertilizer, you should
buy the following important components:

• A plot of land where this delicious agricultural crop will grow;

• Vehicles for transportation of finished product;

• Container for vegetables.

The land should be located near local water basin, or water supply system.
Since pepper demands moisture, it should be watered quite regularly -
otherwise do not expect good harvest. Read
more: https://www.legit.ng/1108102-pepper-farming-nigeria-chili-
green.html

In fact, chilli and green pepper farming in Nigeria have a lot in common, so
we will tell you about pepper cultivation and using chili pepper as an
example. To improve crop quality, you should use natural fertilizers to
help your pepper look more attractive Read
more: https://www.legit.ng/1108102-pepper-farming-nigeria-chili-
green.html

One plant can give you up to hundreds of pods. They can be used for
seasonings, depending on various culinary needs, also seeds can be used
for subsequent planting. This kind of pepper can live and bear harvest for
2-3 years. If you grow chili pepper on the open ground, you can get a crop
of 2-3 kg per square meter.

According to specialists, pepper is much better developed in the

greenhouse. This is because of a controlled temperature regime and a
constant level of humidity. So, in a greenhouse, chili pepper can grow up
to 1 meter in length and provide a large amount of massive fruits. If you
create good conditions, then after a while you will be able to admire your
strong lush bushes. If you care more about large fruits than their
numbers, then just get rid of some flowers on the plant.

Preparation of a site for pepper farming in Nigeria In sunny areas with

mild climate, pepper grows very well. If there is no wind protection, it is
possible to build some wind shields. The soil on the area allocated for
pepper cultivation should be fertile, well drained and have high water
retention capacity. After harvesting the crop, remove plant remains and
dig through the soil. In any case do not plant pepper on the site with fresh
manure. Pepper does not need fresh organic fertilizers. It adversely
affects preservation of the crop and its ripening.

Before planting, seedlings must be watered abundantly, so that during

planting they do not fade. Withering affects plants, delays growth and
leads to the fall of the first buds - and this is the loss of the early harvest. If
you plant seedlings in the heat it is better to choose the second half of the
day, so that the plants can grow stronger overnight. In cloudy weather,
you can plant seedlings in the morning.

Pre-prepared holes should be filled with water - 1-2 liters of water per
hole, it is better to use warm water. After freeing seedlings from pots, they
are placed vertically in the holes and planted a little deeper than they
were in the pots

Watering Growing pepper is impossible without watering. For a better

survival, after planting pepper is watered at an interval of 2-3 days, taking
1-2 liters of water per plant, and in dry and hot weather, pepper is
watered daily.

There is a need to monitor the watering so as not to damage pepper

plants by excessive irrigation. Wilting leaves in the afternoon hours on hot
days do not indicate that plants need water.

Vegetable farming care It is necessary to observe the distance between

the rows of about 65 cm and between seedlings 40 cm. You can also use
another method - plant two or three seedlings in one hole. It is necessary
to install pegs when planting in order to keep the plant away from
breaking (you should not install pegs during the growth period, as it can
damage plant root system). Read more: https://www.legit.ng/1108102-
pepper-farming-nigeria-chili-green.html

Loosening

Pepper is fond of loose soil, and therefore you should avoid the formation
of soil crust. Loosening activates the influx of air to the roots, which
accelerates growth and development of plants and stimulates biological
activity of microorganisms in the soil, and also helps with weed control.
During the first two weeks after planting, the pepper grows very slowly:
during this period its root system acquires strength. Take care of them so
as not to injure your plants. Pepper cultivation problems Read
more: https://www.legit.ng/1108102-pepper-farming-nigeria-chili-
green.html

Pepper cultivation problems

With a lack of potassium, pepper leaves become a twisted and drying

edge. But it is necessary to be careful with potassium - pepper does not
tolerate abundance of potassium chloride. If the plant lacks nitrogen, its
leaves become opaque and grayish, gradually begin to fade. When there is
lack of magnesium, leaves become marbled, and the excess amount of
nitrogen in soil leads to dropping of pepper flowers. Read
more: https://www.legit.ng/1108102-pepper-farming-nigeria-chili-
green.html

What are the best varieties for pepper farm launching?

• Trinidad Scorpion This is one of the hottest varieties of chili pepper.

The main source of its distribution is export.

• Bell pepper This kind of pepper has different varieties - its colour varies
from yellow, orange, purple, red to green.
• Cayenne pepper This is the most common type of pepper in Nigeria. It
has also other names - Red hot chili pepper or Guinea spice. Its main
peculiarity is that it can be stored for a very long time in the form of
powder.

How profitable is pepper farming in Nigeria?

To get profit from pepper cultivation in Nigeria you should think about
distribution channels. We have prepared a list of them below.

Distribution channels: - Gardeners/amateurs; They can buy your

seedlings; - Pharmacies; You can sell natural tinctures from bitter
varieties.

- Representatives and organizers of public catering outlets;

- Shops in your locality; - Ordinary citizens. The last three groups of people
usually buy green pepper, revered for its rich and sweet taste.

Let's conduct simple calculations:

• You will need between 4 and 6 months;

• Your investment should be - N1 million;

• Your profit - N4 million.