My Watermelon Farming Experience
9 analysed pages ·
open on Nairaland ↗
knowledge_transfer · 9crop_pest_disease · 7market_access_offtakers · 6water_irrigation · 4seed_stem_sourcing · 3agrochemical_efficacy · 3insecurity_herdsmen · 3feed_formulation · 2housing_equipment · 2price_volatility_timing · 2soil_manureyouth_in_agriculturestorage_post_harvesttransport_logisticspolicy_governmenttraining_extension
page 0 · 30 posts · 8 participants
· farm_diary
This page is a 'farm diary' where a single author, JeAgro477, documents his extensive experience and technical knowledge of watermelon farming. He provides detailed instructions on planting schedules, fertilizer application, pest control, and irrigation while warning against 'internet farmers' who sell courses without practical experience. The thread includes a few brief reactions from other users and one specific query about herbicides, but the content is dominated by the original poster's educational lectures.
Prices:
watermelon: ml30.0 (knapsack sprayer)
Credibility signals:
cites 8 years of experiencementions planting 10 acresreferences specific crop varieties like Kaolack from Tecnismwarns against 'internet farmers' without farms
“watermelon takes more than theory don't listen to all these online and e-book farmers that don't have a farm of their own they only want you to pay for their trainings and sell e-books to you its not all rosy as they paint”
“I lost 6,000 sq m of watermelon last year. They started bursting and the leaves withered and died.”
page 1 · 29 posts · 14 participants
· discussion_qa
This thread is a detailed Q&A where a knowledgeable farmer shares his watermelon farming experience, including specific planting schedules, expected yields, and a comprehensive input cost breakdown. The discussion focuses on agronomic practices like weed control and nutrient management, while other users ask for clarification and express interest in starting similar farms.
Prices:
watermelon: NGN150.0 (market)urea: NGN15000.0 (general)npk: NGN15000.0 (general)seeds: NGN15000.0 (general)insecticides: NGN4500.0 (general)herbicide: NGN1300.0 (general)supergro: NGN5000.0 (general)humus plus: NGN3500.0 (general)sprayer: NGN7500.0 (general)imi force: NGN400.0 (general)pendilin: NGN4500.0 (general)total_input_cost: NGN62900.0 (general)
Credibility signals:
post_id=99919869post_id=99924543
“in nigeria where every man is for himself/herself don't expect this yield as a practical farmer”
“One acre of watermelon can give you better gross income than one acre of Cassava, and the cost of growing the melon is lesser than the cost of growing Cassava.”
“the leaves getting dried is normal especially the first ones but in a situation where all leaves are drying is always either the plants lacks water or some nutrients or there's too much sunlight on them”
page 2 · 32 posts · 22 participants
· discussion_qa
This thread is a discussion thread where the original poster shares their watermelon farming experience, prompting questions about inputs, location, and marketing. While one user offers farm management software advice, the conversation largely devolves into requests for the OP's contact number and location, with a brief tangent regarding cassava farming costs.
Pain points:
input_adulterationherdsmen_invasion
Credibility signals:
locationexperience
“You are right i lost 800k and equally nearly lost my life to herdsmen last year”
“my problem with watermelon is weed management. Have you tried any selective post emergence herbicide? Did it affect the yield?”
“I advice you to limit your posts about this to once or twice daily.”
page 3 · 32 posts · 12 participants
· discussion_qa
This page is a Q&A thread where a single knowledgeable farmer (JeAgro477) dominates the conversation by answering technical questions about watermelon farming, including seed sourcing, spacing, and pest control. While the author shares specific yield data and locations, the thread lacks genuine community engagement, featuring very few likes and mostly short replies or requests for phone numbers.
Pain points:
input_adulterationherdsmen_invasion
Prices:
1.5 watermelon seeds: NGN0.0/basin of shelled seeds (Ekiti)3.0 watermelon yield: NGN0.0/tons (Ekiti)4.5 watermelon yield: NGN0.0/tons (Ekiti)800000.0 farm investment loss: NGN0.0/NGN (Yagba East, Kogi State)
Credibility signals:
cites specific farm location (Yagba East, Kogi State)provides specific yield data (3 to 4.5 tons per hectare)names specific agrochemicals (Magic Force)mentions specific regions for seed sourcing (Abuja, Lagos, Lokoja, Ado Ekiti)
“yes on two occasions i nearly lost my life i equally lost my investment of 800k in yagba east local government in kogi state”
“I use local seeds i usually plant one and a half basin of shelled seeds per hectare and in places like ekiti the yield always ranges from 3 to 4.5 tons per hectare”
“No cause weekly application of insecticides like magic force chases snakes far away from the farm due to its toxic odour”
Unclassified: []
page 4 · 31 posts · 21 participants
· discussion_qa
This is a technical Q&A thread where a knowledgeable user (JeAgro477) answers questions about watermelon cultivation, including irrigation, seed treatment, and weed control. The discussion covers specific agricultural inputs like glyphosate and pendilin, addresses the challenge of sourcing genuine seeds, and briefly touches on security issues regarding herdsmen.
Pain points:
input_adulteration
Credibility signals:
citing specific agrochemical names (glyphosate, pendilin)detailed advice on drip irrigation lifespanoffering to source seeds
“I learnt that source of seed matters alot as well as treating the seed before planting.”
“The only watermelons I love & know, resides on the chest of our ladies”
“Fulani terrorist how did you handle them”
page 5 · 32 posts · 16 participants
· discussion_qa
This is a discussion thread where a farmer (JeAgro477) shares his watermelon farming experience, including planting schedules, spacing, and pest management, while answering questions from other users. The thread features specific technical advice on irrigation spacing and harvest timing to avoid market crashes, alongside general banter about organic vs. conventional farming and poultry.
Credibility signals:
naming farm sizeposting photos
“Another important advantage of watermelon is that the price only crashes by mid june to early july thats the time when northerners do flood the markets with their produce”
“the best way to identify a watermelon is by turning the part sitting on the ground if it turns yellow then it means the fruit is ripe”
“No be only red flag, na purple flag.”
page 6 · 32 posts · 10 participants
· discussion_qa
This thread centers on a detailed success story and cost breakdown of watermelon farming by a user named JeAgro477, who claims to have made millions by targeting the Ramadan market. Other users engage with technical questions about intercropping, pest control, and soil preparation, while the thread also features unrelated side conversations about poultry and a few promotional listings for other crops.
Prices:
land lease: NGN10000.0 (per acre)NPK fertilizer: NGN10000.0 (per bag)Urea: NGN10000.0 (per bag)Supergro: NGN18000.0 (per 5 liters)Insecticide: NGN45000.0 (per 10 liters)IMI Force: NGN1600.0 (per bottle)Humus Plus: NGN25000.0 (per 10 sachets)Knapsack sprayer: NGN30000.0 (per unit)Land clearing labor: NGN100000.0 (per job)Packing and burning labor: NGN50000.0 (per job)Seeds: NGN90000.0 (per 3000 grams)Bed construction labor: NGN30000.0 (per job)Roundup herbicide: NGN30000.0 (per 2 cartons)Watermelon: NGN150.0 (per ball)Watermelon: NGN100.0 (per ball)Watermelon: NGN500.0 (per ball)Watermelon: NGN400.0 (per ball)Watermelon: NGN300.0 (per ball)Watermelon: NGN200.0 (per ball)Watermelon: NGN350.0 (per ball)
Credibility signals:
Specific farm size mentioned (ten acres, 6 hectares)Detailed input cost breakdown with quantitiesSpecific location names (Boundary Ajegunle, Mile 12 Market)Reference to specific off-taker (Alhaji Bello, Alhaji Abdulmalik)Personal nickname used in context of trade (Zico Watermelon)Claim of specific harvest yields (18 balls per hole, 30k target)
“The reason why many people fail in watermelon farming in nigeria is because they treat the plant the way they want and not the way the plant want”
“initially I used to sell to him at the price of 500naira 400,300,200, and 180 depending on the size but because it was during ramadan we negotiated and finalized at 350 per ball regardless of the size”
“it's difficult to get a land here and the price of leasing is on the high side”
page 7 · 32 posts · 13 participants
· discussion_qa
This page is a detailed discussion thread where a single expert farmer ('JeAgro477') shares extensive technical advice on watermelon farming, including planting timings, pest control, and market strategies. While the main author dominates the conversation with educational content, other users actively engage by asking specific questions about inputs, storage, and intercropping, creating a genuine knowledge exchange rather than a simple advertisement.
Credibility signals:
JeAgro477 cites specific regional farming calendars (North vs South) and harvest timelines.JeAgro477 references specific chemical brands (glyphosate, scorpion, dime force) and provides practical application advice.JeAgro477 shares photos of their farm and land preparation to demonstrate practical experience.JeAgro477 details their current business model regarding who bears transport costs.
“one of the common mistakes that most watermelon farmers in nigeria do make is wrong timings I'll briefly dwell on this issue”
“it can last for a month if you store it in a place where water will not touch it”
“Squirrel is eating up my water melon plants, what should I do?”
page 8 · 31 posts · 22 participants
· discussion_qa
coordination
This thread began as a farm diary where the original poster (JeAgro477) shared his watermelon farming journey, including a specific incident of losing 850k Naira to herdsmen in Kogi State. Over time, it evolved into a mixed discussion where users asked technical questions about bed preparation, fertilization, and pest control, while several users attempted to contact the OP for training or to buy his produce. The page features significant coordination attempts, with multiple users posting phone numbers to reach the OP or finding new buyers, alongside broader discussions on government inaction regarding farmer insecurity.
Pain points:
herdsmen_invasion
Prices:
Melon (Egusi), peeled and Unpeeled: NGN0.0 (General)Maize (white and yellow): NGN0.0 (General)Soya beans: NGN0.0 (General)Irish potatoes: NGN0.0 (General)sweet potatoes: NGN0.0 (General)Carrots: NGN0.0 (General)Strawberry: NGN0.0 (General)Cabbage: NGN0.0 (General)Zobo leaves: NGN0.0 (General)Onions: NGN0.0 (General)
Credibility signals:
JeAgro477 mentions quitting a supervisory job at Valeco Industries in Kano in 2012 to farm.JeAgro477 specifies the loss of 850k Naira to herdsmen in Yagba East LGA, Kogi State.Kunlexyquincy mentions having a 4-hectare farm land.Oyommalik16 cites specific planting statistics (4000 seeds, 3000 germinates).Multiple users provide phone numbers and WhatsApp contacts to establish direct communication.
“farming is my choice as a matter of fact i quit my job as a supervissor in valesco industries in kano in 2012 to face my farming activities and i was doing good till last two years when i lost almost 850k to herdsmen in yagba east locat government in kogi state”
“Well done JeAgro, a very informative and excellent training. I am about to start my own watermelon farming, going by all you have taught here.”
“Instead of government to do its job, all we hear is the usual lip service to agriculture. The government talks and talks and talks some more...but does little or nothing to help the average farmer...and to make matters worse, it turns a blind eye to the destruction wrought by rogue herders?”
Unclassified: The thread contains a recurring pattern of users trying to contact the original poster (JeAgro477) via WhatsApp because his posted numbers are outdated or unreachable, indicating a gap in maintaining contact details on the forum.