FARMERS in this country, especially the small holder farmers, have for a long time been told or rather advised by various stakeholders in the agriculture sector to consider diversifying into growing other cash crops if they are to take farming as a business.

This is because majority of these small holder farmers have been growing maize for a long time with a view of selling their harvested produce to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) thereby being satisfied that they have heeded to the call of taking farming as a business.

But one important thing that these small holder farmers have not realised is that farming is not just about growing maize.

They can diversify into growing other cash crops such as cashew nuts, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, soya beans, Irish potatoes, pumpkins to mention just a few if the call to taking farming as a business is to be realised.

Zambia has a very favourable climatic condition that favours almost all crops and because of this reality, farmers can tap into the potential of other alternative crops such as Butternuts.

This is not a complicated crop to grow. It can thrive in most places in Zambia as long as the farmer is able to follow all the laid down agronomical requirements that Seed Co is able to make available through its agronomists who are centred all over the country. These agronomists will also be at the farmer’s service to provide the much-needed technical support concerning Butternuts.

Type of Soil

Eric K Mwenda, Country Manager for Seed Co Vegetable Business, recommends strongly that farmers should consider planting their Butternut seeds in sandy loam soil because this is where they grow very well.

Planting Time

Mr Mwenda advises the farmers who wish to venture into Butternuts production to plant their crop starting from August to March because this is the perfect time for Butternuts to thrive in this country.

Butternut Varieties

And with the availability of different varieties of Butternut seeds on the market today, Mr Mwenda strongly recommends for farmers to grow Seed Co’s Ultra F1 because it is a high yielding Butternut squash variety.

Furthermore, Mr Mwenda adds that 1 plant of Seed Co Butternut Ultra F1 can produce at least 3 good looking butternuts at harvest time. It has a potential of 5 per plant; 8-10,000 plants/ha (4000 plants per acre/2000 plants/lima). This variety also has a good leaf cover. The butternut when fully matured will weigh 2 – 6 Kgs. It has a dark orange interior.

And this fruit when fully matured will weigh 2 – 6 Kgs. It has a dark orange interior.

Maturity Duration

Seed Co’s  Butternut Ultra F1 has a short duration to maturity of 80 – 85 days. With this kind of duration, the butternut gives the farmer an opportunity to grow it for 3 to 4 times in one year.

Butternuts can be used an excellent substitute for bread at breakfast as well as a great sweet course after a delicious and satisfying meal.

Look out for part two of this article in the next edition where Mr. Mwenda will delve into the issue of watering, spacing, fertilising and harvesting for this Butternut variety.