₦airaland Forum

Sack farming is an innovative urban farming method that involves growing vegetables in bags filled with soil, compost, and sometimes stones for drainage. This technique has gained popularity in densely populated urban areas, especially among communities with limited access to arable land, as it requires minimal space, water, and resources.

Benefits of Sack Farming
1. Space and Water Efficiency: Sack farming uses vertical space, allowing plants to grow on top and out of the sides of the sack. This makes it ideal for urban settings or areas with minimal land. Additionally, sack farming uses less water than traditional farming, as the sack retains moisture effectively, which is particularly beneficial in water-scarce regions​​​​.

2. Cost-Effectiveness: Materials for sack farming are affordable and accessible, typically consisting of sacks, soil, and organic matter. Unlike conventional farming, which may require extensive resources, sack farming can be started on a small budget, making it accessible to lower-income families​​.

3. Improved Food Security: Sack farming empowers households to produce their own vegetables, reducing reliance on market-bought produce. This increases food security, particularly in areas prone to high food prices or where fresh vegetables are not easily available​​​​.

4. Environmental Benefits: Sack farming reduces food transport emissions by producing food locally. It also repurposes materials, as old sacks are used for cultivation, minimizing waste​​.

5. Health and Nutritional Benefits: Growing a variety of vegetables directly at home promotes a diverse diet, addressing potential nutrient deficiencies, especially in urban or impoverished areas. Families can grow nutrient-rich vegetables, like spinach or kale, contributing to better health outcomes​​.

How It Works

To start a sack farm, a large sack is filled with soil and compost, often layered with stones or gravel to aid drainage. Small holes are cut in the sides of the sack, and seedlings are planted both on top and in these holes. Regular watering, particularly at the center, ensures that the soil remains moist. Vegetables that thrive in sack farms include spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, and herbs, as they adapt well to the limited soil space​​.

Sack farming has proven to be a sustainable, adaptable, and community-friendly approach to urban agriculture, contributing to improved livelihoods and healthier diets.

Source: https://durable.org.ng/read/sack-farming-in-nigeria/

I tried this sack farming last year in my compound and I regretted all my hardwork and money.

Samajogs:
I tried this sack farming last year in my compound and I regretted all my hardwpork and money.

Type of soil and crops matter most

adex3g:
Type of soil and crops matter most

Oya throw more light. What could this person or the next do better??

Samajogs:
I tried this sack farming last year in my compound and I regretted all my hardwork and money.

I have so much vegetables in my backyard from my sack and buckets that women in the compound are now enjoying it more than me, but I am happy seeing them harvesting from my Ugu and spinach leaves and making soups for their families.
I mixed my soil with animal dung compost I bought from people growing flowers before planting and it produces lush green vegetables.

I bought one bunch of Ugu seed in Kogi state pictured below as I was passing through the state for N1,500 and it contained 98 seedlings, something they sell N200 per seedling in my area.

My wife used to complain that vegetables has become too costly in the market, so I decided to try this sack and buckets farming, now we have plenty of it and she complains that she no longer like the smell of Ugu and I have to beg her to put some vegetables in our food, its hard to please that gender

Sack has become very expensive. How person Wan take see am buy use do farm work?

Nice one 👍

Hmmm

Currently farming yam at the extra land behind my house, i can say i love what I'm seeing.
It's going to be a bountiful harvest.

Bukayọ SACKa
SACKa Tinubu
SACKa manje

Agbeloba.

Gbadugbakun:
Sack has become very expensive. How person Wan take see am buy use do farm work?

Bagco super sack is still manageable.

Samajogs:
I tried this sack farming last year in my compound and I regretted all my hardwork and money.

what actually happened?

Gbadugbakun:
Sack has become very expensive. How person Wan take see am buy use do farm work?

How about empty cement bags?

Samajogs:
I tried this sack farming last year in my compound and I regretted all my hardwork and money.

I also tried it and planted yams and beetroot. The yams came out really well, quite big but the beetroot was a total waste of time and effort.
Looks like success is determined by the choice of crops.

Lol na Una make Sack go cost for market be dragging sack with market women...

ChybuzzDD:
How about empty cement bags?

That's also skyrocket....

iwaeda:
Bagco super sack is still manageable.

Dangote cement bags works

ChybuzzDD:
what actually happened?

It's actually yams that I planted, that refused to grow. But other crops came out well

I don't know how this could be better than conventional farming....and how it could be considered when u want to farm really big...but is ok,

inoki247:
That's also skyrocket....

Nawaoo

Okay

Nice one

Reminds me of hydroponic farming.

I've been doing something like this with Aloe Vera plant for personal use, and they look very healthy.
I love this info... Not like that farmer guy in the north that'll be posting things he bought in the market instead ideas like this.

Is the land infertile?

Samajogs:
I tried this sack farming last year in my compound and I regretted all my hardwork and money.

Let me guess you didn't water it, of you forget to water it, everything will die in less than 4 days.

It has a Major disadvantage in the sense that not all crop can grow in a sack...

Its a NO-NO for me and every sensible farmers out there.

You complain a lot

Gbadugbakun:
Sack has become very expensive. How person Wan take see am buy use do farm work?

Jay jay Otumokpor.

Someone used it to grow strawberries in his backyard.

Kingpele:
I don't know how this could be better than conventional farming....and how it could be considered when u want to farm really big...but is ok,

Una know wetin them call weed? The more the weeds the more carity of insect.