Best Peanut Farming I Mshindo Media

INTRODUCTION  

 

Peanuts are an important oil crop that is used as human food. Its fruits and leaves are used to feed livestock. It also enriches the soil. Tanzania is the second country in the production of peanuts in Africa after Nigeria. Peanuts thrive in Mtwara, Dodoma, Shinyanga and Tabora regions.

 

Growing environment
Groundnut thrives well in areas with an altitude of less than 1500 meters from sea level. It needs an average rainfall of 500 - 1200 millimeters per year. It also thrives well in fertile sandy soil.

Field Preparation 

Till the field well to enable the soil to penetrate water and roots easily. Peanuts are planted in ridges or ridges.

Choosing seeds to plant

Make sure you get the best peanut seeds that have been professionally certified and classified by Agricultural Research Institutes.

TYPES OF PEANUTS
There are nine types of peanut seeds that have been researched and approved for use by farmers and they are:

Pendo 1998
Matures in an average of 90 – 100 days and produces an average yield of 1.5 tons per hectare. It has an average fat content of 48 percent.

Naliendele 2009
Ripens in 90 – 100 days and produces an average yield of 1 ton per hectare. It tolerates drought and leprosy.

Mangaka 2009
Ripens in 90 – 100 days. Produces 2 – 3 seeds in one pod. Yields an average of 1.5 tons per hectare. It has an average fat content of 48 percent.

Mnanje 2009.
It matures in 110 – 120 days. It gives an average yield of 1.5 tons per hectare. It has an average fat content of 51 percent

Masasi 2009
Matures in 110 – 120 days. Yields an average of 1 ton per hectare. It tolerates leprosy and has an average fat content of 50 percent.

Nachingwea 2009
Ripens in 110 – 120 days. Yields an average of 1 ton per hectare.

Nachi 2015
Matures in 110 days. Yields an average of 1.1 - 2 tons per hectare. It tolerates leprosy

Kuchele 2013
Ripens in 102 – 110 days. Yields an average of 1.2 – 2 tons per hectare. Tolerates Leprosy, rust and leaf spot diseases.

Narinut 2015
Ripens in 106 – 110 days. Yields an average of 1.2 – 2 tons per hectare. Tolerates Leprosy, rust and leaf spot diseases.

Planting
Seeds should be sown early during the first rains. Nuts should be planted at a distance of 10 centimeters between plants and 50 centimeters between rows. 80 to 100 kg of seeds will be needed to plant one hectare in a deep pit between 2.5 to 5 cm.

Weeding
The first weeding should be done two weeks after the peanuts germinate. Weeding should be done two to three times to prevent weeds.

INSECT AND DISEASE CONTROL

Diseases
1. Leprosy disease (Rossette Virus diseases)
It is spread by insects called Aphids. Infested plants wilt, leaves wrinkle and turn yellow. It also reduces yield by 100%.

2. Leaf Spots Disease
This disease is of two types, namely early spots and late spots. Reduces yield by 30%

3. Rust
is caused by Puccinia arachidis. The leaf has brown spots on the underside of the leaf.

4. Peanut fungus (aflatoxin)
In high humidity conditions, parasites called Aspegilus flavus grow inside the pods and attack peanut seeds. These parasites produce chemicals that are toxic.

Disease Control
Groundnut diseases can be controlled by using good resistant seeds, planting early, planting in recommended positions, drying the harvest and storing in a dry place.

Pests Aphids
, Flies, Nuts, Ants, Mice and Birds. Manage by early planting, spacing planting, intercropping and spraying.

HARVESTING AND STORAGE

Harvest after maturity by hand hoe or by plucking. Dry well in the sun for 2-3 weeks until it reaches a moisture content of less than 13%. Well-dried nuts make a sound when they shake their shell. Store in a dry warehouse in airtight bags with their pods. The quality of the sprouting nuts starts to lose immediately after they are shelled

 

Remember when harvesting peanuts it is recommended to harvest on time as peanuts tend to start sprouting in the field when they are mature and are harvested late.

Best Peanut Farming