How Nupe People Farm and Techniques Used in Nigeria

 Nupe People are said to be an ethnic group native to the Middle Belt of Nigeria, and are the dominant ethnicity in Niger State, an important minority in Kwara State and present in Kogi State as well in the Federal Capital Territory. Most of these ethnic groups are farmers , fisherman,Hunter and other related term trace back to there tsoede .

Today,I will teach you the step by step on how Nupe People Farm successfully and the techniques they use in Nigeria,if in your life you have never once see a farmer,you might not be on the same shoe with me because I farm for several years ago despite I don't farm any longer.so if you are here to read about it you are in the best guide

Beast guide on how Nupe People Farm and Techniques they used in Nigeria

for agricultural purposes, the fertile soil from silt deposits carried from upstream and 

“the economic importance of both amphibious and aquatic creature.” These made the 

areas attractive for human settlement and centres of production. It should be 

emphasized that of all these, settlement along the rivers and streams for human 

consumption and agricultural purposes appeared to be the most important. it was for 

this reason that the peasant farmers embarked on irrigation farming. The irrigation area 

was divided into square plots, each consisting of four to six ridges, running parallel and 

two ridges at right angles on the upper and lower end. The ridges were flat and narrow; 

they did not connect at the corners, but left small channels open. By means of these 

ridges, the water from the flooded river was distributed evenly on the cultivated plots 

using the simple water lift known as Shadoufs (Oral interview, Abdullahi Jamilu).

Farming Calendar

The calendar used by the Nupe peasant farmer was an agricultural calendar. 

This was based on lunar months and began with the appearance of the first rains, 

roughly in April. From the beginning of the first rains, the peasant farmers counted 

twelve, thirteen and on some occasions, fourteen months until the new rains stopped. 

The last month of the old year, meaning the 13th and 14th month, was then identified 

with the first month of the new year. The year was divided into six seasons, each made 

up of two months. These were the periods known as gbama (first rains), Zuzuka (rainy 

season), Malika (heavy rains), Sabaka (time of growth), gbafere (cold season) and 

banagu (hot season). However, it must be pointed out that on some other occasions, 

peasant farmers used Zuzuka and yikere to denote the whole rainy season and the 

whole dry season respectively (Iyela, 1997). 

The first agricultural activities of the year, for the peasant farmers in Niger 

state was the clearing and burning of the farms. This was usually carried out during the 

dry season between the months of January and April on farms which had been fallow or 

on virgin land to be brought under cultivation for the first time. Grasses and shrubs 

were cut and afterward the farms burnt. Old farms were also cleared by burning the 

dead stalks, leaves and undergrowth that were left there from the previous year. The 

dead plants were allowed to rot on the fields and the fertilizing substance was washed 

into the soils by the rains which fell in the weeks or months between the harvesting and 

the following dry season. Furthermore, co-operation existed between the peasant 

farmers and the nomadic Fulani herdsmen who came down regularly in the dry season 

to find pastures for their herds. The peasant farmers invited the head of the nomadic 

group and on many occasions, induced him by presents of food or rendered assistance 

in the building of his camp on the fallow land. In this way, the land was matured (Oral 

Interview, Abu Maji).

After clearing, burning and manuring operations during the dry season, the next

ew, Suleiman Minna).

• Inter-Cropping

It must be pointed out that it was not only the system of crop rotation that was 

practiced by peasant farmers in the area. They also adopted the practice of planting 

certain crops together on the same farmland. This practice of inter-planting certain 

crops between others was one of the most characteristic features of “the intensive and 

• economic farm techniques of the peasant farmers of the area” (Nadel, 1942). The 

system of inter-planting varied from place to place in the area and involved many main 

combinations. For instance, in some areas, millet, bulrush-millet and sorghum were 

planted together on the same mound, sorghum on the top and bulrush-millet and late 

millet on the flanks of the mound. In some other areas, yam and okro were frequently 

planted together, yam on the top of the mound and okro at the foot. Still further, in 

other areas, after bulrush-millet or maize had been reaped, beans were sown in their 

place, that is, on the same ridges or mounds, between the still growing late millet and 

sorghum plant (Iyela, 1997: 67)

Selection of Special Varieties of Crops

Not only did peasant farmers in Niger state prior to colonial rule practice the 

system of inter-planting certain crops on the same farmland, they also adopted other 

farm techniques like the selection of special varieties of crops which were grown in a 

large number of different varieties. For instance, among Nupe peasant farmers, 

sorghum (eyi) grew in three different varieties. These were kuyi, dindorogi, and ekpa,

with the latter said to be the finest and best taste. Again, two varieties of rice were also 

grown. These were the sweet rice, which was a six-month crop in the river marshes 

and a variety which mature in ninety days on the less well-irrigated inland farms. Apart 

from rice, there was Shenshere which once planted, produced year after year without 

the need for replanting. The peasant farmer also grew what was know as Emagi, a type 

of vegetable which was specially grown and which took only about three months to 

produce (oral Interview, Mohammed Bello).

Adoption of Marshland and Irrigation Farming

• Apart from the above, another important factor in the productive system was 

the adoption of marsh land and irrigation farming by the peasant farmers in the area. 

The cultivation of marsh-land farms known as bata was adapted to the 

conditions of a natural annual irrigation by the flooded rivers and water courses. Small 

irrigation schemes along river courses and small streams were established by the 

peasant farmers. As a matter of fact, the existence of such streams, water courses and 

flood plains accounted, mainly, for the human settlements along them. This was hardly 

surprising. The rivers and streams provided the water needed for human consumption

• Conclusion

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In my next article I will write on how Nupe People fish , techniques, and best schedule Time for fishing