The Farmlands. #Photofeed Contest Round 74. Landscape Photograph

The time of the year when we and our family members (for those who are interested in doing so) engage in farming activities is here. The farm lands will be cleared and then preparation will begin for planting of our crops.

There are stages in our farming exercise. When we notice that the rain will soon fall, we send able young men who are strong and agile to go and cut the grasses in the farmlands. After harvesting last year's produce, the land had been abandoned and allowed to fallow for a few months. During that period, debris of dead plants and animals fall on the land which helps in adding to our manure base.

When the bush has cleared, we will pack the stumps and sticks together and burn them. Most people don't burn their bushes. My husband is one of such people. He believes that burning destroys the topsoil which carries the manure. He allows the leaves on the land to be decomposed by termites and other decomposers.

We make ridges on our lands upon which we plant our crops. The ridges could be the long ridges or the round heaps. The type of crop determines the type of cultivation that would be on the land. Round heaps are more convenient for planting tuber crops like yam. Cassava and potatoes can be planted on the ridges.

In our farmlands, we grow cereals like maize, guinea corn, and rice. We also grow beans and yam and cassava with sweet potatoes.