This is how to grow and earn millions from groundnuts

Most farmers are now embracing high value crops such as groundnuts and soybeans, ditching unprofitable traditional crops such as maize and beans.
It is estimated that a farmer can harvest up to 1.6 tonnes of groundnuts from an acre of land.  

With groundnuts retailing at Shs500,000 per 100kilogrammes, one is likely to  earn a whopping Shs5m in just 90 days. The crop requires less maintenance and adds valuable nitrogen to soils compared to maize which can earn a farmer less than 40 bags weighing 90kg which can retail for as low as Shs50,000 each. Even so, do farmers really know conditions and how to grow groundnuts profitably? Have no worries because we have prepared all that for you.

Conditions for growth
Groundnuts grow well in warm areas, below 1500 metres above sea level with temperatures ranging 28- 30°C degrees celcius. Low temperatures affect their flowering and seed formation. They also need 500 to 600 mm of rainfall, well-distributed throughout the growing season. The crop can survive drought or reduced rain but yields will be low. Well-drained soils are needed although the crop can also grow well in clay soils.

When and how to plant
Just like maize, groundnut is an early season crop hence it must be grown at the onset of rains. The best planting seasons are February-March and August-September. Groundnut varieties differ in size, colour and shape. 

“With the current weather changes globally, the planting date is difficult to standardise. However, farmers should plant as soon as there is adequate and consistent moisture in the ground to ensure good germination and subsequent plant growth. Timely planting dates should take advantage of periods of higher rainfall and avoiding end of the season drought effects,” says David Okello Kalule an agronomist at the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI), Serere District. 

Varieties include Serenut 1R, Serenut 2, Serenuts 7T, Serenut 8R, Red Beauty (Red Valencia), Serenut 4T and Serenut 6T. Depending on sizes, a space of 30-45cm is needed between rows and 15-20 between plants. 

This means an acre farm can accommodate up to 66,000 crops which is equivalent to at least 16 kilogrammes of seeds which are sowed to the depth of 5-6 cm.

Soils 
All soils, other than very heavy ones are suitable for growing groundnut, but the best are deep, well drained sandy or loam soils. The latter facilitate the forcing of the developing fruit into the soil (pegging). Groundnuts grow best on soils limed to a pH of 5.8 to 6.2, provided other essential elements are in balance and available to the plant.

Weeding
Weeding is supposed to commence 2-3 weeks after germination and more often during the early stages of growth. Earthling up should be done at the time of weeding to encourage pegging, or penetration of young nuts into the soil. 

It is recommended that farmers use hand weeding after the start of pegging to avoid disturbing the growing nuts or damaging the flowers. Clean weeding should take place up to 6 weeks after which only hand weeding should be done.

Instead of nitrogen fertiliser as the crop is self-sustaining, groundnuts requires adequate calcium especially when pods are forming. 
Phosphate fertiliser at the rate of 40 kilogrammes per acre is also needed to boost the firmness of the crop.

Disease and pest control
Groundnuts are highly susceptible to various pests and diseases throughout all stages of growth. 
Termites, aphids, white grabs and millipedes which attack roots, stem base, leaves and pods can be prevented by either early planting, observing high farm hygiene, conserving natural enemies, timely harvesting and using well decomposed manure.

However, virus diseases such as Rust, Bacteria Wilt and groundnut rosette virus accounts for 80 per cent of groundnut damaged while on farm. Others include leaf spot, crown rot and damping off disease. 

In order to prevent these devastating diseases, farmers are advised to practice measures like crop rotation, observe farm hygiene, planting using certified seeds and control pests like vector aphids.

Harvesting
Although average maturity time for most groundnuts is estimated at 100 days, some do mature as early as 90 days, while others takes up to 110 days, depending also on climatic conditions. 
Much caution should be observed while harvesting to avoid break offs. 

Seeds should be well dried after shelling to avoid aflatoxin and other post-harvest loses including pests and rot.