The yield of pepper in Nigeria depends on a lot of factors. You can see pepper farmers with yields of 30 tonnes per hectare; you can also see those with near 100 tonnes of sweet pepper per hectare.
The yield of habanero pepper is usually lower than the yield of sweet pepper. The conventional habanero pepper farmer in Nigeria gets a yield of about 2 tonnes per hectare. If you use drip irrigation and implement good agronomic practices, you can get a yield of over 20 tonnes of habanero pepper per hectare.
Pepper farmers who use greenhouses in Nigeria get significantly higher yields than those who cultivate pepper in the open field.
Pepper Yield per Hectare in Nigeria
The yield of habanero pepper is usually lower than the yield of sweet pepper. The conventional habanero pepper farmer in Nigeria gets a yield of about 2 tonnes per hectare. If you use drip irrigation and implement good agronomic practices, you can get a yield of over 20 tonnes of habanero pepper per hectare.
Factors affecting pepper yield in Nigeria
The following are some of the factors affecting pepper yield in Nigeria:
Soil Type
The soil in most parts of Nigeria is poor in nutrients. In the southern part of Nigeria, a lot of the soil is acidic. These issues negatively impact the yield of pepper in Nigeria.
The soil can be improved with the addition of fertilizers, manure, compost and lime etc.
Climatic Condition
Nigeria is in the tropical climate belt of the world. The humidity that comes with tropical conditions can negatively impact the growth of yield of pepper plants.
The high temperature in the northern part of Nigeria can also cause flower abortion in pepper plants. This can reduce the yield of pepper plants.
Pests and Diseases
The tropical nature of Nigeria comes with the problem of pests and diseases. The hot, wet and warm climatic conditions of Nigeria favour the growth of pests and diseases.
Pests and diseases can negatively impact the growth and yield of pepper plants.
Pepper Farming in Nigeria
Pepper farming involves the planting of pepper with the ultimate aim of harvesting peppers. The process of pepper farming starts from land preparation to the marketing of the harvested peppers.
Pepper farming is one of the most popular types of vegetable farming ventures in Nigeria. Who does not eat peppers in Nigeria? Probably, nobody. An average Nigerian will eat peppers directly or indirectly every day.
Soil preparation is the first step in pepper farming; the soil has to be prepared. Plowing, harrowing and ridging have to be done. A tractor can be used for the clearing of weeds, plowing, harrowing and ridging.
Nursery preparation is also essential for pepper farming. Nursery trays and coco peat can be used for the raising of pepper seedlings. Ridges covered in shade can also be used. However, the use of nursery trays is the most appropriate.
Transplanting of the pepper seedlings should be done after 5-7 weeks. After transplanting, the harvest of the peppers starts from 60 – 70 days. Pepper plants are hardy and can produce pepper fruits for several months.
Soil test or soil analysis is advised before embarking on the growing of pepper in Nigeria. Water analysis should also be done especially if you want to use irrigation systems. A soil test shows the nutrient profile and pH of the soil.
A soil test report can help you to know the types of fertilizers to use for your pepper plants. It can also show you if your soil pH needs to be amended.
It should be noted that pepper yield in Nigeria is dependent on a lot of factors.