Here in agricultural mindset we are exposed to a broad range of knowledge on production, processing, and sustainability of a wide varieties of agricultural products.
As someone that grows up in a family that prioritise agriculture i made it my lifestyle. Nothing gives me joy than knowing i produce 50% of the food i consume. As Nigeria is facing food insecurity the cost of agricultural products has surge reaching all time high since history. Many average citizens can no longer maintain their standards of living, as a farmer i have been less affected by this
On the early morning of Christmas Eve, I visited my farm with the aim of harvesting the cocoyams, which had already started rotting in the ground. Since I left early, I was able to harvest the entire farm.
Since I was mobile, transporting it home wasn’t a challenge. Upon arriving home, I spread the cocoyam on the ground in a cool, dry place, because I wasn’t ready to start processing it immediately. This step helps to reduce spoilage, as leaving it in the bag would cause it to rot faster. I also selected some of the best looking cocoyams to save for the next planting season.
Today was the day planned for it. I woke up early this morning and began processing it so that I could finish before sunset. With the help of my very good friend who visited, I was able to finish it earlier.
At this point, I need to start slicing it into small portions so that it can quickly dry within a few days of spreading under direct sunlight.
It took me time to separate the sliced cocoyam making sure that none is gummed to another.
This is what I do every harvest season, after drying the cocoyam, it is stored in a bag and taken to a grinding machine to be ground into powdered form, that is flour. The flour is then stored in an airtight container and is ready for consumption.
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Pictures used are mine