Cucumber farming can be very profitable if done in the right way. Cucumbers are scientifically known as Cucumis Sativus. Pickling, slicing and seedless are the varieties of cucumber. Smart Nigerians can make millions of naira from cucumber farming within months from a small size of land.
Cucumber farming in Nigeria was hitherto done mainly in the northern part, now farmers in the southern region plant this type of vegetable.
Harvests starts from 36-45 days when hybrid slicing varieties are planted. The demand for fresh cucumbers is quite huge in Nigeria as they are used in preparing salads and other types of food.
Cucumber plants can only grow under tropical conditions. Cucumbers can be grown under protected cultivation (Greenhouses, polytunnels or nethouses) and in open fields.


Cucumber Farming – Profit Analysis
PROFIT ANALYSIS FOR ONE ACRE OF CUCUMBER – SCENERIO 1
Revenue:
500 bags at N3000 each
1,500,000.00
Cost:
Rent of one acre of farmland
20,000.00
Fertiliser
100,000.00
Manure
20,000.00
Pesticides
20,000.00
Hybrid Seeds
35,000.00
Labour for 3 months
120,000.00
Drip Irrigation
200,000.00
Knapsack Sprayer
5,000.00
Farm Tools
5,000.00
Staking
30,000.00
Soil Test
10,000.00
565,000.00
Profit
935,000.00

PROFIT ANALYSIS FOR ONE ACRE OF CUCUMBER – SCENERIO 2
Revenue:
500 bags at N6000 each
3,000,000.00
Cost:
Rent of one acre of farmland
20,000.00
Fertiliser
100,000.00
Manure
20,000.00
Pesticides
20,000.00
Hybrid Seeds
35,000.00
Labour for 3 months
120,000.00
Drip Irrigation
200,000.00
Knapsack Sprayer
5,000.00
Farm Tools
5,000.00
Staking
30,000.00
Soil Test
10,000.00
565,000.00
Profit
2,435,000.00

Notes to Cucumber Farming Computation:
Revenue
It is assumed that one acre of land will yield 500 bags of 40kg each (20 tonnes) of fresh cucumbers after 3 months. In the open market in Nigeria, fresh cucumbers are sold in bags. A fully packed yellow bag of cucumbers weigh about 40kg.
In the open market, a bag of cucumbers sells for N3,000-N8,000 depending on the season. Revenue in cucumber farming can vary a great deal.
As shown in the table, when a bag of cucumbers is sold for N3,000, expected revenue is N1.5 million, when it is sold for N6,000, expected revenue is N3 million. Please note that a bag of cucumbers can be sold as high as N8,000 in the open market during the lean period.
For those selling in the more organized market (Shoprite, hotels etc), a kilogram of fresh cucumber is sold for N400, selling 20 tonnes at the organized market will yield N8 million.
Farmland Rent
The rentage cost for one acre of farmland in Nigeria ranges from N10,000-N20,000 especially the rural areas. It is a plus for you to have your own farmland if you want to invest in cucumber production.
Fertiliser
Soluble and chloride free fertilizers like Potassium Nitrate, Calcium Nitrate, Monopotassium Phospohate, Potassium Sulphate, Micronutrients, humates (humic acid and fluvic acid) and microbial inoculants will be used. The cucumber plants will be fertigated daily till the last days of final harvest. Small quantities of the mixed fertiliser solution will be applied to the roots of the cucumber plants every day through drip irrigation. Humates will make the fertilizers stable and stay at the root base; it also magnifies the efficiency of the applied fertiliser. Microbial Inoculants will boost the microbial profile of the soil.
N100,000 is expected to be spent on fertilization for 3 months if you wish to participate in cucumber farming.
Manure
Chicken manure is the preferred manure for cucumber farming. 2-5 tonnes of chicken manure are required for one acre of farmland. Chicken manure is a very potent source of nutrients. Some farmers get the manure free of charge. We have put N20,000 for the cost of manure for one acre.
Pesticides for cucumber farming
In cucumber farming, organic, inorganic pesticides or both can be used. Before planting, high dosage of fluvic acid may be used to decontaminate the soil. Neem oil and a suitable soap can also be used to kill harmful nematodes and microbes, after applying neem oil, molass and humic acid can be used to repopulate the beneficial microbe in the soil.
Chemicals like Furadan can also be used for soil treatment; however this kills the beneficial microbes in the soil.
Suitable chemical insecticides must be applied to the cucumbers crops at the first sight of insects, do not spray insecticides speculatively. For organic farmers, neem oil and microbial insecticides can be used to tackle insect attacks, prevention is better in the case of organic farming.
Downy Mildew is the most common and deadliest fungal infection in cucumber plants. Most farmers engaged in cucumber farming see this disease often on their crops. There are good chemical fungicides for prevention, ditto biofungicides. We recommend good crop nutrition and microbial balance in your cucumber cropping; this makes the plants strong enough to withstand diseases.
It is important to know that you can tinker with the pH of your chemical pesticide for optimal performance. Chemical pesticides manufacturers hardly provide you with the optimum pH for their pesticides. You may contact Veggie Grow limited for the optimum pH for a number of chemical pesticides in Nigeria.
N20,000 will take care of pesticides throughout the life of the cucumber plants on one acre.
Hybrid seeds
The commonest hybrid cucumber seeds in Nigeria are Murano F1, Tokyo F1 and Darina F1. These seeds are high yielding and able to resist pest and diseases than open pollinated varieties. Hybrid seeds worth N35,000 will plant one acre.
Labour
Two hardworking staff can handle one acre of cucumber farm. Adhoc staff especially women will be hired for cucumber harvesting and other minor jobs. N120,000-N150,000 will do for labour cost for one acre of cucumbers. Please note that labour cost can vary with location.
Drip Irrigation
N200,000 will get your one acre of cucumbers drip irrigated. With drip irrigation, you save amount of water and fertiliser to use, labour cost is reduced, fertigation is enabled and yield is significantly increased.
You may contact us for your drip irrigation and fertigation solution.
Knapsack Sprayer
The cost of one knapsack sprayer is about N5,000. Knapsack sprayer is used for application of pesticides and foliar fertiliser on the crops.
Farm Tools
The cost of tools like cutlasses and hoes for one acre is about N5,000. Small farm technologies like portable tillers, petrol powered plough and weeder etc may be used, this may be expensive initially but the labour reduction will save Farmers cost at the end of the day.
Staking
Bamboos, binding wire and ropes are used to stake the cucumber plants, N30,000 will do for this.
Staking helps Farmers to increase the density of their cucumber plants, it also helps in reducing diseases encouraging humidity and makes the farm neat and easily navigable.
Soil Test
A Farmer cultivating crops without doing a soil test is like a blind driver handling a Motorcar. Soil test guides the farmer on the amount of nutrients to add to the soil for optimum yield. If you want to invest in cucumber farming, it is a must you get your soil analysed.
Profit – Cucumber Farming
In the two scenarios, profit were N935,000 and N2,435,000 in three months based on a yield of 20 tonnes (500 bags of cucumbers).
The computation assumes you have your own power and water sources, if no, there are expenses for these. It also assumed that the farmland is cleared and ridges will be made by the staff since it’s a small piece of land.
It should be noted that some costs are fixed in nature as you will not incur the cost again until after 5-7 years. Examples are drip irrigation, Farm tools and Sprayers etc
In Netherland and other developed countries, tomato farmers using climate controlled Greenhouses get yields of 400-500 tonnes of tomato per acre while Farmers in Nigeria hardly get 5 tonnes per acre in the open field.
The problem of low crop yield in cucumber farming in Nigeria is mainly caused by using the wrong fertilizers, poor seeds, sub standard pesticides and the general lack of knowledge.


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Can start a farm and manage it from scratch?

Can you start a farm and manage it from scratch?