Equipment Needed for Maize Farming

The equipment needed for maize farming include cutlasses, hoes, tractors, tillers, ridgers and rakes etc. Small scale maize farming does not need elaborate equipment.

Large scale maize farming which involves several hectares of farmland may need a lot of big farm equipment. These equipment are often very expensive. The equipment may also need high level expertise to operate or use.

One of the commonest equipment needed for maize farming in Nigeria is a tractor. A tractor is usually used for plowing, harrowing and ridging of farmland prior to the planting of the maize seeds.

Some of the Equipment Needed for Maize Farming in Nigeria

The following are some of the equipment needed for maize farming in Nigeria:

Tractor

A tractor is a slow moving automotive vehicle used mainly for agricultural and industrial applications.

Tractors can be used for tilling, plowing, harrowing, ridging, water pumping, transportation on farm and electricity generation on farms. Tractors are versatile machines.

A tractor is one of the equipment that can be used for maize farming. With a tractor, a maize farmer can plow and do almost all other maize farming activities.

A tractor can be used for sowing of maize seeds, weeding of the maize farm, application of pesticides to the maize plants, harvesting of the maize cobs and threshing of maize. A tractor can also be used for the milling of maize.

Irrigation Equipment

A typical maize farm will need irrigation equipment. Any large scale maize farmer or any maize farmer at all who wants to grow all year round will need irrigation equipment.

Drip irrigation systems are appropriate for maize farms because they conserve water and power and they also pass water to the root zones of the maize plants.

With drip irrigation, the maize plants can use water more efficiently because water is passed to the roots where it is needed most.

Centre pivot systems can also be used for large scale maize farms. Centre pivot irrigation systems use a lot of water, so they are better situated around dams or large rivers.

Sprinkler irrigation systems like rain guns, spray tubes and big gun sprayers can be used for the irrigation of maize farms.

Cutlass

This is a type of equipment used by small scale maize farmers. It is mainly used for cutting of trees, removal of weeds and sowing of seeds.

A cutlass is one of the oldest farm tools. Almost all maize farmers in Nigeria have cutlasses on their farms.

Hoes

Just like cutlasses, hoes are used for the removal of weeds on farms. Hoes can also be used for the making of beds and ridges.

Hoes are highly favoured by maize farmers, especially the subsistence maize farmers.

Boom Sprayer

This is a type of equipment attached to a tractor. A boom sprayer is used for the application of pesticides like insecticides, fungicides and acaricides etc to plants.

Boom sprayers can also be used for the application of herbicides and foliar fertilizers.

Planter

Most planters are attached to tractors. A planter can be used for the sowing of maize seeds. Some planters can simultaneously sow seeds in ten rows at once. This significantly reduces the labour needed for seed planting in maize farms.

Drones

Drones also called unmanned aerial vehicles can be used for the application of pesticides and foliar fertilizers to large maize farms.

Drones can also be used to spot areas of pest infestation and areas where the maize plants are not growing well.

Drones are usually used by very large maize farmers.

Other equipment needed for maize farming are:

• Ploughs
• Harrowing attachment
• Combined Harvesters
• Threshers
• Shellers
• Ridger
• Pumps
• Rakes
• Tillers etc.

Do you know other equipment needed for maize farming in Nigeria? If yes, why not let us continue the conversation in the comments’ section.