By Abubakar Maryam Gozaki (U19MM1055)
Potato farming is a process that involves careful planning, dedication, and several stages of work, according to Mrs. Ladingo Tella, a veteran farmer from the Samaru area of Zaria, Kaduna State. With over 30 years of experience in both rainy and dry season potato cultivation, she shared the step by step process from planting to harvest.
Mrs. Ladingo explained that the first stage is clearing the land and making ridges. “Once the ridges are ready, you dig a hole about one foot deep, place a single potato seed inside, and cover it. On the same day, you should mix the soil with local manure and allow rain to water the farm,” she said.
Potato seeds typically germinate within 10 to 14 days. About one or two weeks after sprouting, farmers apply fertilizer, then remove weeds manually with a hoe or by using herbicides.
The next step, known locally as ban kasa or shurbe, involves adding soil in a ridge around the base of the plant. This prevents water from washing away the crop, encourages the growth of more tubers, and increases potato size.
Harvesting takes place between 13 and 14 weeks after planting. “There are two potato varieties,” Mrs. Ladingo said. “One produces flowers before maturing, and the other does not. For the first type, the flower wilting and yellowing leaves signal readiness. For the second type, yellowing leaves alone indicate maturity.” Farmers then use a small hoe to carefully dig and collect the potatoes.
Rainy and dry season farming differ. In dry season farming, ridges are designed to allow water to flow across the farm, manure is applied before ridge making, and water channels are created. Irrigation can be done manually with buckets twice a week or mechanically with pumps. Watering usually stops between the eighth and tenth week.
After harvesting, potatoes are stored in a well ventilated, sand floored room not on cement to preserve them for three to four months. The produce is checked weekly, and any rotting potatoes are removed. Smaller, healthy potatoes are saved as seeds for the next planting season.
Mrs. Ladingo’s decades of experience show that potato farming, though labor intensive, can be rewarding when proper techniques are followed from start to finish.