Bitter Kola Farming
Bitter kola farming is one of th low-key lucrative business that is also making lots of oil money, although quite expensive to start however the profitabilities involved is worth the stress and the amazing part of it is that rhere are only few number of bitterkola farmers in Africa. And the reason is because bitter kola farming is a long-term investment, it takes up to 7 years and above to start getting your capital and however with Thorough research you can plant and harvest bitter kola within 4-5 years. Cultivating bitter kola from seeds can take many years to mature. grafting of hybrid bitter kola will take a shorter time.
Usually, the pod can contain 2, 3 or even 1 seed, the number of seeds it contained is determined by the size of the bitterkola fruit.
Below is a step by step process to start a bitter kola farming business.
LAND PREPARATION
The land preparation has to do with Cutting of grasses and tress, mechanizing the soil and make it healthy for farming. The soil should be sandy-loam or heavy clayey loam because the richness in organic matters a lot.
PH of 5.0 (neutral) – 6.5 (alkaline) is recommended for bitter kola farming. The processes involved in the cultivation of bitter cola can be compared to that of farming Cherry, cashew nut farming e.t.c Bitter kola grows well in a wet soil and hence requires custom temperature of about 26°C-28°C.
CULTIVATION
Bitter kola can be propagated using seed and grafting. Plant the seeds in situ by staking and the stump under shade for 3 years. The seeds should be sown quickly after harvest because it has short viability period.
The Germination of fresh seed takes about 50% after 3 months of planting. At 7-8 months all the viable seeds would have germinated. However in nursery the seeds continuous to germinate till 18 months with over 75% germination rate. Germination of the seed has been a major challenge to increase germination to about 90% and above use alcohol (ethanol solution) to soak the seeds for 1-2 hours before you can start planting. Spacing is 10m×10m or 12m×12m.
WEEDING
Weeding can be done manually or through the use of herbicides. If you allow weeds it will cause; stunted growth, pest and disease damages. Weeding can be done every 3 months in the first 4 years, that is if you are planting a lot of bitterkola seedlings.
APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER
Just Like every other plant, bitter kola plantation is recommended to be fertilized every six months and also when the soil is deficient of any nutrient.
PEST/DISEASE CONTROL
Insects attacks pods so harvest them on time.You can Use pesticide for the control and Use neem oil ones in a while.
HARVESTING
Bitter Kola Fruit usually turns yellow or orange whenever it is ripened and mature for harvest. They begin fall off on their own then bursts and splits its contains on the soil. You can as well harvest them yourself by plucking the pods. Grafted bitter kola can fruit at 10-12m height. Bitter kola is available from April-October harvest is every year after the first harvest.
USES OF BITTER KOLA
Bitter Kola has so several uses; socio-traditional believes that some tribes in Africa use it during marriages, welcoming of visitors etc.
The nut is can be presented with drinks and other necessities that is required for a traditional marriage, the more reason it is demanded in large quantities in international markets.
OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS OF BITTER COLA
There are some health benefits in bitter kola especially when combined with other plants or crops.
Coconut water for instance has a major role to play with bitter Kola.
When you soak bitter kola in coconut water for three days and you drink it morning and night, you will get these health benefits that will be clearly stated below, but firstly let us consider the procedures of doing it.
Procedures:
Get 7 nuts of Bitter kola, scrap the back off, Get a proportion of coconut water in cup. Leave the 7 Bitter Kola inside the Coconut water for 3 days and 3 nights, drink a small proportion of it in the morning and night.
What health benefits does it perform in the body?
It enables the digestive facilities and intestinal tract of your body to be independent of any supplementary impurities. It possesses antibacterial effects. This mixture can rehabilitate your body from the these health issues:
High blood pressure, Low sperm count, Fever, malaria, bad libido, Erectile dysfunction, menstrual pain, Headache, cold and heartburn, Hepatitis. Inflammation of the liver, Laryngitis, respiratory disorder, diabetes, dysentery and stomach pains, spinal pains, joint pains, knee chronic break down of cartilage in the joints.
Benefit of bitter kola for poultry and livestock
Bitter kola is also an organic that can be use for chronic respiratory disease CRD,flu in rabbit and animal
Research shows that bitter kola can prevent over 210 diseases in poultry and livestock
Bitter kola is organic great growth booster for broilers
Below are some of the Benefit of bitter kola for poultry, rabbit,pig and ruminant animals
Bitter kola is often use for prevention of over 201 disease in poultry, livestock etc
Bitter kola is use for prevention and treatment of _CRD,CCRD,mycoplsama disease, respiratory disease, PARATYPHOID diseases.bitter kola is also use for prevention of secondary bacteria disease in poultry ,pig,rabbit etc
Bitter kola is booster for your animals and birds as it make them to convert feed to body weight.
To make bitter kola booster then dry the bitter kola and powder mixed 100gram to 25kg feed
How to use bitter kola for prevention and treatment of CRD,FLU in rabbit and ruminant animals etc
Grind 6 seed of bitter kola and mixed with 2_3 litre of drinking water for 4 days and see the magic and fast relief from disease .
Some other benefits
-Bitter kola is rich in vitamin C,vitamin E and K.
-Bitter kola has antioxidant agents that can fight against any disease.
-Bitter kola has antibacterial herbal.
-Bitter kola is antistress and anti viral herbal
It's also use in production of many drugs.
CONCLUSION
Biitter kola farming is no doubt one of the most lucrative long-term investment which can yield good profits and with Hybrid method and techniques you can start fruiting within 3 years, not like the traditional seedlings that take 10 or more.
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