Contest: What I would Cultivate If given a free land"

Introduction

Greetings, my beautiful and amazing friends! How are you all doing? I hope you guys are enjoying your day. I am very excited to participate in this wonderful contest (What I Would Cultivate If Given Free Land") organized by

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What would you cultivate if given a large expanse of land

If I were given an expense of land, I would like to cultivate plantains because plantain are a versatile crop that offers numerous and wonderful benefits, both nutritional, economic, and environmental.

Plantain grows well in a tropical environment and can be grown in a variety of soil full of manure and complex organic matter.

Plantains can also resist paste, which makes them an ideal crop for many regions, and also plantains can be cooked in different ways, either boiled or fried.

It can be boiled and eaten with stew or sauces; it can be cooked perfectly; it can be fried and eaten with pap or oaths.

Why did you choose that particular plant or crop?

I choose plantains because it is a wonderful and excellent choice for cultivation and also because it has a large number of benefits, which include :

Nutritional benefits

Environmental benefits

Economic benefits

It's adaptability

Versility

• Nutritional benefits: plantains have a lot of nutritional values, which include being rich in vitamins, carbohydrates, fiber, and minerals, and they can be used to prepare many other wonderful dishes.

• Environmental benefits: plantains improve the environment by improving the soil quality and also provide shade for other crops where brains are needed.

• Economic benefits: plantains are also important food in many regions and also have good export potential, thereby providing an adequate and good source of farmers.

• It's adaptability: plants can grow and adapt to different types of climates and can also be cultivated in many regions.

• Versility: plantains can be eaten in different ways, either boiled, fried, or ground into flour.

How long will it take to mature and harvest?

Maturity of plantains depends on a variety of factors, including climate and soil ability. Naturally, plantains take 8–12 months to mature, sometimes it may take as long as 18 months to mature depending on the types of plantains you cultivate.

The maturity of the crop can be determined by regular irrigation, weeding, fertilizing, and ensuring that the plant has good and adequate moisture and nutrients

What are the common pests and diseases of that plant or crop? Also share how to control it.

Like I said earlier, plants are generally resistant to many pests and diseases, but they are still affected by several pests and diseases, including:

• Black sigatoka: it is a disease that causes leaf spots, which leads to the leaf being dead.

• Panama diseases: it is a fungi that causes wilting and can lead to plant death.

• Scale insects: it is the small insect that feeds on plantain sap and leads to the reduction of plant growth prevention and control.

We can prevent and control plant diseases and pests by taking the following measures:

• Crop rotation: Do not plant plants in the same spot or location years after years in order to prevent the buildup of pests and diseases in the soil.

• Sanitation: keeping the plants clean and free from debris is of great importance.

• Pruning: remove the leaves and crops that have been affected by pests and diseases in order to reduce the spread of disease.

And lastly, you can also apply some chemical control measures.

Always remember that a plant has its own water; therefore, it is not likely to be watered regularly.

Thanks for reading.

I will like to invite @abdul-rakib , @mostofajaman and @rumananaafro02 to join in this contest

Thanks 🙏 for your support