My first experience as a crop farmer in 2025 farming season was not a sweet one, the farm is located in a military zone. though I farm for my parents in time past, but this year decided to go into farming for myself.
I planted rice, soya beans and groundnut in the first place, after planting, the rain stopped for almost a month which affected the crops. No rain to water it for it's germination.
It eventually rained after three weeks of planting. The farmland being a virgin land and of course bushy area, there were rabbits feeding on the surviving ones which made it so difficult for the crops to survive after germination.
The rice was so scanty and didn't come out well. I finally resolved to planting beans. This took me 3 days to plant the seeds.
Hmmmm the beans germinated well and so enticing. The rabbits as usual couldn't do much on the beans unlike the groundnut and soya beans.
Being a military zone, the insecurity challenges around made the personnels stopped civilians from entering the barracks. By so doing, the care for the beans was hindered for the period of 2-3weeks.
The grasses took over the beans and no way to weed off the grasses which eventually affected the growth of the beans. It became so discouraging that I had to employ labourers after 3 weeks of denial of access to the farm. By that time, rainfall has stopped. Some of the beans started producing flowers and need flowering and anti insecticide chemicals. The chemical was applied within the space of 4 days intervals.
After spraying for 3 weeks which is closed to harvest, all civilian farmers were stopped from entering the barracks again as usual and up till this moment, no farmer has been given access to the farm to harvest their crops.
This being my first time of farming crops has gotten me weary because of the bad experience I've had.
If it's you, what will you do since accessing the farm has been difficult?