Crop rotation and diversification is an essential topic in Agribusiness and this article delves into its meaning, importance, effects on soil fertility, challenges as well as Solutions to the identified challenges.
BACKGROUND
“Mom, we planted groundnuts on this field last year. Why are we planting maize this year ?”. “Yes my dear. Crop rotation is highly important for effective agricultural practice”. She replied. “Why is that Mom ?. What is crop rotation ?”. I further inquired.
“Crop rotation is a farming practice where different crops are grown on the same farmland over a sequence of seasons. This has been identified to help maintain soil fertility, prevent nutrient depletion and reduce the risk of pests and diseases”. She answered.
And before blaming my naivety, I'd confess that I was just in JSS 3. I was barely 13 years of age. And whenever any conversation comes up on crop rotation and Diversification, my mom's diligent explanation comes to my head.
Crop Rotation and Diversification refers to the act of growing different crops in the same field over a series of seasons in order to maintain the fertility of the soil, as well as planting a variety of crops on a farmyard to enhance biodiversity, improve production and prevent pests and diseases.
IMPORTANCE OF CROP ROTATION AND DIVERSIFICATION.
Crop rotation and diversification had been identified to actively control pests and prevent crop diseases, which eventually leads to an effective production. Yielding to increased profitability and conservation.
Another importance of this practice is socio-economic development. Farmers can cut risks by planting a variety of crops on a farmyard and bringing the chance of losses to the bearest minimum. For example, the adoption of legumes into rotation reduces spending on Nitrogen fertilizer, resulting in fewer pest problems and reduction on pesticide expenditure.
In addition, crop diversification as a promising sustainable agricultural management strategy addresses climate change, soil degradation and food security. This is because several studies have revealed how intercropping can help in restoring the soil's organic carbon losses which is derived from the conversion of native ecosystems to croplands in natural environments.
EFFECT ON SOIL FERTILITY.
Crop rotation gives nutrients to the soil without artificial inputs. This also helps to prevent diseases and pests which may pose threats to the health of crops.
Crop rotation equally improves soil health, leading to increase in biomass from different plant structures.
CHALLENGES
As appealing as the practice of crop rotation and diversification appears, it is important to put on record that there are challenges associated with it. Especially for low scheme farmers.
Paucity of funds: Farming is a profession that requires adequate money, especially the commercial type of farming where crops are grown in larger quantities. These funds help farmers to take care of crops and prevent pests from feasting on them. And most times, farmers lose their inputs as a result of inadequate money to run the farm. This has however posed serious threats to the global ratio of production since most farmers are confronted with this problem.
Range in Price: Prices could range in the materials used to administer the daily running of the farm, while it could also vary in the worth of production which may expose farmers to loss. Crop rotation and diversification as an idea or practice may be a dark web for an average farmer given the culture of the range in prices of farm produce
.
Lack of Storage: When farmers are encouraged to delve into crop rotation and diversification, a major challenge that stands against them is the lack of storage. And since most farm products are edible and could rot if not properly stored, the idea of variety of cropping may be a mere theoretical knowledge which may not really be effective if put into practice.
Other factors: Other factors such as transportation, government policies, demand and supply, grants, subventions and subsidies are equally challenges mitigating against the practice of crop rotation and diversification.
Especially in Nigeria, farmers do not really enjoy the dividends of democracy as no substantial grants or worthy contribution of the government is noticed.
Inadequate education: Most farmers need to be trained on the effective method of crop rotation as most are accustomed to the traditional form of farming.
SOLUTIONS:
While the government should shift focus and attention to farmers by providing good roads, buy back schemes, effective storage facilities, grants and affordable loan schemes and favorable agricultural policies, farmers need to be trained on the dynamics of crop rotation and diversification as well as the best approach in order to record effective output.
This will not only encourage and promote crop rotation but would also help in combating hunger, hike in prices of goods and services as well as unemployment.
