By Obiabin Onukwugha
Companion planting in gardening and agriculture is the planting of different crops in proximity for any of a number of different reasons, including weed suppression, pest control, pollination, providing habitat for beneficial insects, maximizing use of space, and to otherwise increase crop productivity. Companion planting is a form of polyculture.
Companion planting is used by farmers and gardeners in both industrialized and developing countries for many reasons.
Companion farming in mostly practised in local communities by smallholder farmers and especially where subsistence farming method is practised.
There are benefits tof companion planting which include; soil health, pest control, weed control, pollination support, nutrient cycling, reduce soil erosion, beneficial insects, creating shade, disease suppression and plant support.
However, companion planting embraces various strategies that increase the plant’s biodiversity in all agricultural ecosystems. In layman’s language, companion planting is planting two or more plants that help each other to grow.
Recently I have been involved in smallholder farming owing to the recommendations by government that Nigerians should embrace farming and also to provide food for my family and save income.
For about three years I only concentrated on cassava. So this year, I had to add plantains to my cassava farm.
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Last week I traveled to the village and had to visit my farm. Alas, most of the plantain didn’t survive and some others look malnourished.
Then I remembered I had broken the rules. In combining plantain and cassava in the same farm it is required that you plant the plantain and let is sprout before adding the cassava because cassava grows faster.
Conversely, if the cassava was planted first, or at the same time with the plantain, then you will have to monitor and ensure you brush off the cassava branches from shedding off the plantain plants.
Lessons learnt:
When engaging in companion planting:
1) Know when to plant them
2) Monitor to be sure that all plants are growing healthy together
3) Take corrective steps to restore plant health where necessary.
