Maize cultivation in Nigeria

Maize (Zea mays) is an important staple food crop and one of the mostly grown cereal crops in Nigeria. It is utilized as food for human consumption and feed for livestock industries. More than 50% of the annual maize production is used to produce animal feeds and over 200 million Nigerians are involved in the cultivation, processing and marketing of maize. Maize grain contains carbohydrates, vitamins, and some amount of proteins.

Value chain in Maize
This refers to the economic activities from the production through processing to marketing of maize. The producers, processors, marketers and consumers are involved in the value chain while the main aim is to deliver value added maize to the consumers. Market demands of value added products stimulate the need to produce, therefore all parties in the value addition must preserve the quality of the products.

Roles of actors in value addition
Input supply: Source for qualify raw materials for agricultural production, processing and trade.

Production inputs: Procurement of inputs such as seeds, chemicals and machineries and the use of suitable land and water resources.

Processing inputs: Processing machines should be efficient enough to produce good quality products.

Marketing and trade input: Materials and facilities for packaging, storing, and transportation of maize grains and products should provide protection against circumstances that may affect the quality.

Soil and climate requirements
Maize grows well in most soils and over a wide range of climatic conditions. It requires optimum level of soil fertility and adequate water for good yields. Maize may not do well if temperature is lower than 13°C but requires 480 -880mm of well distributed rainfall, or adequate water supply through irrigation. So maize can be grown in any part of the country and at any time if irrigation is practised.

Land Preparation
In the area of thick vegetation, land clearing is done by slashing the bush, uprooting and  removing the stumps. The debris should be gathered at spots to decompose and release nutrients to the soil. Do spot burning if there is need to burn some plant residues. Minimum and zero tillage can be practised to grow maize, but for higher yields the soil must be well prepared. A well prepared (ploughed and harrowed) soil will make it easier to achieve optimum plant population and increase the yields.

Methods of land preparation 
1 Manual with the use hoes
2 Mechanized with tractor coupled with plough and harrow
3 Use of animal traction

Planting Dates (under rain-fed cultivation)
* Sudan Savannah: Plant 3rd week of June to early July
* Northern Guinea Savannah: Plant between May and June
* Southern Guinea Savannah: Between late April to early June
* Forest Zones: Late February to Early March for early season maize, and between July and August for late season maize

Recommended Maize Varieties
Get the varieties that are suitable for your ecological area. Different varieties have been bred for different ecological zones. There are varieties for drought prone areas of the Sudan Savannah and Northern Guinea Savannah; Southern Guinean Savannah and the forest zones.

Seed treatment and seed rates
Maize seeds can be treated with Apron Star for protection against seed/soil borne diseases and insects. Used 10 gram for 2 - 5 kg of maize seeds. Plant 15 - 20 kg of maize seeds per hectare.

Plant spacing
There are two practices for sole maize
* 75cm X 50cm, 2 - 3 seeds per hole, to be thinned to 2 plants per stand
* 75cm X 25cm, 1 - 2 seeds per hole, to be thinned to 1 plant per stand

Fertilizer Application
Apply the first dose within the first week of planting and the second dose between 4 and 5 weeks after planting, and make sure the fertilizer is buried. Weed the farm before application of fertilizer. You can apply NPK 15:15:15, first dose of 6 bags/ha and 2nd dose of 3 bags of (50 kg) Nitrogen fertilizer per ha.

Weeding
*Preemergence weeding with Actracin + paraquat or premextra + paraquat. Apply within three days after planting and before germination.

* Post emergence chemical weeding should be done 4 - 5 weeks after planting with the use of 2,4-D Amine. This herbicide spares grass-like weeds but kill broadleaf weeds.

Harvesting
Maize can be harvested as green or fresh maize 55- 70 days after planting depending on the varieties. Harvesting can be delayed for 80 - 110 days to ensure the cobs are dried enough.

Post harvest processing
* Shelling can be done by hand  and mechanically to remove the grains from the cobs.
* Cleaning  is done manually by winnowing to blow away particles and get clean grains.

Yields 
Average yields between 2.5 and 5 tonnes per hectare is possible depending on the varieties, cultural practice and fertility of the soil.

Storage
Dry maize to 10 - 12% moisture content in order to store for long time. Grain weevils (Sitophilus spp and Tribolium spp) are the major storage insect pests.
* Treat with Actelic Dust and store in a tightly closed granary.

* Use 4 - 6 Phostoxin tablets per tonne of maize grains in air-tight container. Make sure the tablets are enclosed in envelope or other papers before putting inside the grains.