Onion Farming in Zambia: 2022 Update 4 (May 25): Onion on Westgate: Transplanted vs Direct Seeded

Mondo Farm's Onionstory of 2022 continues with a look at two white Texas Grano crops established at our Westgate field.
Block 1 has the transplanted crop that we last saw struggling with weed pressure while it was in the nursery on Riverside 2 D. After those early challenges, we are pleased that the crop is now well established in its beds and doing very well.
In Block 2, we find our very first ever direct planted onion, which has surprised us with how well it has established. we are even planning to transplant some of it down to beds on Riverside in a few weeks.

[@edithmanda2373]

If someone can not get it from you then that person can't get it from anywhere. You're the best because you're open and you make it simple for anyone to understand. Much love 💯💚

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks Ba Edith

[@ultralance7470]

Fascinating stuff! I love learning about farming in Africa it is so different because not as much GMOs and technology but still such intuitive ways to grow crops. I’m a scientist working on sustainability and environmental preservation. I feel the solution to a lot of problems are a fusion of all of these methods

[@mondofarms4343]

Indeed

[@ZyatubaDavid]

The sounds on these episodes remind me of old zambian music. You would think JK is about to drop a verse.

[@mondofarms4343]

👍🏽👍🏽

[@matthewsikazwe7494]

this is good staff, it would be nice to come see how the farm has grown after two years

[@Mfzambia]

Great work as always by Mondo Farms. Thanks

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks again!

[@doostar6875]

the sub- titles in the video are very informative. Great content

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks

[@muyiwoneagrifarms]

Great stuff, i am well inspired by your wonderful works.

[@mondofarms4343]

Great to hear!

[@monicamussasa8635]

I like how you are maintaining your fam.

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks Monica.

[@maamemyk9756]

I love your positive spirit. Keep up the good work.

[@mondofarms4343]

Thank you so much!

[@eliaschinyanta2365]

Wonderful work sir. Always inspired and encouranged these videos. Learning a lot from each video.

[@mondofarms4343]

Glad to hear that

[@Tractorszm]

Awesome info sir. Keep moving on

[@mondofarms4343]

We will

[@ramaomary7436]

You inspiring me a lot Sir.

[@mondofarms4343]

So nice of you

[@hyuttt557]

What a wonderful farm .good job bazuu congratulations

[@mondofarms4343]

Many many thanks

[@chigomezyongwira4883]

Love the idea of spacing tool

[@mondofarms4343]

Yes, it is a very simple innovation that is very helpful. We are actually now adapting some of the units we first made to reduce the spacing from 10cm to 5cm for a higher plant population,

[@kennykentz1923]

Well done me Mondo farms. Thanks for sharing your farming experience.l love watching your channel. Keep the good work.

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks, will do!

[@lisasendwe1053]

Great work 👏

[@mondofarms4343]

Thank you so much Ba Lisa😀

[@ferdinandmutua5573]

May I know the width of the path between the beds please.

[@mpoliwamwampashi3387]

Glad ba Chisha the way you show how practically one can do farming

[@mondofarms4343]

Yes, we always try to tell it like it is and inspire others.

[@kiranjamdade1710]

Nice job. Keep it up

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks, will do!

[@YPN866]

Very Informative... Thank you 🎉🎉🎉

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks

[@credenza1]

Very enjoyable video. Your soil looks as if it would be hard to work when dry.

[@mondofarms4343]

Very true! We are in sandy area.

[@Avillo100]

This is greeeaaat.... how many beds, and how many cans of seed were used? How many Kgs did you guys manage to get from here?

[@michaelsichilongo8572]

Great job Sir

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks Ba Michael

[@texsonsikambale5817]

Very good and educative.

[@mondofarms4343]

🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@josiahkulwa5318]

Congratulations

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks Josiah 😊

[@tshumbalouissiamayuwa7137]

Would like to visit your farm sir.. am really learning a lot of things about farming from you... am an Agronomist fresh graduate from NRDC am currently doing my own things at my aunties farm in rufunsa district.. am actually planting onions too

[@mmanarelee4455]

Hi sir, it's been a privilege to come across your KZbin platform. I literally love everything about your farming, perfect illustrations and you are doing great work. I am impressed about that seed plant machine, I would love to buy one please tell me on how to go about arrangements. Lastly I would like to know how many seeds per planting does it drop

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks and welcome. Sorry I don't have the answers to want our questions about the seed planter. We found it at one of our large. Leading agro equipment dealers and they're not really into giving too many details. They just want you to buy and see for yourself. Not only that. But the packaging was not complicated and there was no manual. Good luck as you find one.

[@chumaazvin61]

❤️❤️❤️❤️ thanks very much

[@mondofarms4343]

You're welcome 😊

[@garbaadamou4202]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I’ve learned a lot from you can you please tell me the model of the John deere no till seed drill you said you lease one of your video to plan?

[@mondofarms4343]

Sorry, that tractor was hired some time ago, and i generally dont get such details. One idea would be for you to ask someone at your local John Deere dealers to watch the video and identify it for you.

[@lukonachambers4132]

Great staff....

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks. Yes, our staff are a major asset to our farm.

[@seloimogatle4569]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I learn a lot. Can you tell me about the your onion fertigation program?

[@mondofarms4343]

Sorry, we haven't grown onion again since 2022. Back then, we hadn't started fertigation But we will fertigate it next time we are growing it again.

[@mgove4052]

Hello sir. Does the planter plant maintain recommended plant population and spacing. The direct plants look too close too each other or maybe they are fine

[@mondofarms4343]

Yes indeed. The story continued in Update 6. Pls have a watch and see what happened later.

[@malachihabasimbi3182]

This is just awsome and inspiring. My onions are exactly to weeks, l planted one lima of onions, at two weeks, sir what fertilizer should l apply? I haven't applied anything yet. What folia fertilizer should l use?

[@mondofarms4343]

Sorry, we cant really give you that type of advice here. But KZbin has many other channels that feature videos about how to plant and grow crops. In addition, you should get advice from one of the fertiliser companies (ETG, Omnia, etc) who have a lot of trained agronomists and specialists on hand to advise.

[@rodnazare4426]

COMMENDABLE WORK A couple questions Is it not possible to set the required in-row spacing on the planter in use? How long after germination do you thin out the direct seeded onion? What spacing, between and in-row, did you use on the manually transplanted crop? Target plant population per acre/hectare?

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks. You will see more about what you are asking as you watch more of the videos in the onion series we did last year. All the best.

[@janohngeno419]

Hello mondo farms thank you for this fascinating stuff. I would like to know how each seedling will get water coz its only four drip lines

[@mondofarms4343]

The drip tape is very effective at spreading water. The water from each hole spreads about 30cm radius.

[@janohngeno419]

@@mondofarms4343 Thank you

[@dagestaniwarriors9293]

Wonderful video... which premergence herbicide is used before direct seeding with the planter?

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks. Sorry. It's been a while since we grew onion in 2022, but I can't recall using any pre-emergence herbicides for it. We used some post-emergence herbicides later on. Oxyfourofen, I think.

[@stevenmufichani7894]

Hi at what stage do you apply top dressing Fertilizer to your onion crop? What granular Fertilizer do you mostly use,do you broadcast or what method of application do you opt for? Thanking you in advance.

[@mondofarms4343]

Hi Steven. I'm guessing you didn't watch the part of this video where we wrote about not using granular fertilisers. Pls have another watch of the video to see what we said. All the best.

[@stevenmufichani7894]

@@mondofarms4343 appreciated Wil watch it again Actually I can watch your videos over and over agaim

[@verahkachepa7218]

Great an inspiring video. I have watched it several times. Just out of interest. What fertilizers do you use I your onions

[@mondofarms4343]

Greetings, Veronica. I think what you are asking about has been covered in some of our other videos. Pls keep watching the channel. Sorry, it would be hard for me to spend time filming and editing the videos with all the details, and then start addressing individual questions with the same information much later.

[@alasdairm86]

What is the size of each block? And cropping area? How about yield tonnage of onions? Onions usuall do well under lime towards winter. Do you rotate with beans in summer.

[@mondofarms4343]

Yes, we rotate with beans and other legumes.

[@sifwawostephen1826]

how do you consume the maize that you grow to feed yourselves? in kenya we grind it to flour and make a stiff mxture called ugali. very good for energy and very sarisfying

[@mondofarms4343]

Your question is answered in our latest video kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZvHe6eMf76pnZo

[@helenmugala2924]

Us too we call it nshima

[@eastsidechristianchurch661]

Are you a pharmacist too... Kikikikiki. The way you went on about pain killers😂

[@mondofarms4343]

😁😁

[@gk8369]

Hi , did you succeed to direct seed without any crowding ? How was the performance of the direct seeded vs the transplants in terms of yield and time to harvest ?

[@mondofarms4343]

Pls have a look at the later update videos we did last year that continued the story. There wasn't much difference in yields between the various types of planting. Nothing definitive that stood out.

[@gk8369]

@@mondofarms4343 , might thanks !!!!!

[@manchildnzundamo1298]

Was there a need to mulch your direct seeded beds after sowing?

[@mondofarms4343]

Hi there. No, we didn't do mulch mulching back then, except for nursery beds. But nowadays, we do it for most crops.

[@lerumichaeljustingwoyo3821]

Do you place some mulch on the direct planted beds?

[@mondofarms4343]

We didn't know much about applying mulch back then, but we have started doing it recently on most of our crops.

[@paulokilenga1116]

What is the thickness of your pond liner is it 0.5, mm 0.7mm or 1mm and what is your advice to others in selecting durable liner..

[@mondofarms4343]

Hi there. Pls have a look at our detailed video on how we constructed one of the water reservoirs. The thickness we used is detailed under FAQ in the video description.

[@sifwawostephen1826]

i notice that the onion seedling lines are heading this way while the drip lines are heading the other way, why not have them runnig in the same direction?

[@mondofarms4343]

Great question. Answer: Because we operate in the real world. As we say in our videos: we are here to share the good, the bad, the happy and the sad of farming. The planter is very heavy, especially when full of seed as you start the bed, and it can be quite hard to control and steer. That is why you see the guys swop and take turns. What is shown in this video was our first ever time to actually use the planter, and we are confident that with time, the team will hone their skills, (not to mention posterior chain muscles).

[@alasdairm86]

Admirable that you didnt give up despite the rain?

[@mondofarms4343]

No, you just have to keep pushing and not give up.

[@naimatullah4145]

Woderful .excellent style.love from pakistan

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks 😊

[@charlesmungo6782]

How do plan or schedule ensure that the onions and other vegetables get to the market only when the market needs them.?

[@mondofarms4343]

It's not easy, but we do our best. Our farms are still in their relatively early stages, and we're finding things like that tougher to actually do than they would first seem from the manuals and guides. Lots of moving parts, factors and issues. But we are encouraged.

[@aarekabba]

I have learnt a lot from you. Thank you. Please, how much is the planter and how can I get it in Nigeria?

[@mondofarms4343]

Yoh. I'm sure something like that us available from dealers of agricultural equipment and machinery. For reference, we have a company here called Saro Agro that sells that kind of thing. At first, we bought a domestic one from Amazon, which we featured in the video on planting carrot. It had only one hopper. Then as we scaled up, we got the larger one.

[@callanhinze3152]

How many tons did you achieve from each block?

[@mondofarms4343]

Yields and returns depend on many factors. Plant variety, weather, water availability, and even experience of those growing the crop. As a formal business, we avoid sharing figures with the public.

[@texsonsikambale5817]

We hope to get better explanation on onion production when i download .

[@mondofarms4343]

Hi there. I hope you have seen these questions covered in some of our other videos. We featured our onion crop quite extensively over the many months it was in the ground.

[@DaveBears]

How is the market of onions currently in Zambia? Alot of import onions from china aswell?

[@mondofarms4343]

Eish, we haven't grown onions on our farms again since 2022. There were some politics around it, which led to an import ban. This led to a lot of farmers growing onion that year. Which led to a bumper harvest and very low prices. Which led to us making a big loss because we didn't have cold storage facilities yet. So we just moved away from onion, and expanded our production of eggplant, cucumber, carrot, zucchini and sweet pepper. Will we grow onion again? One day...

[@DB-ek4tl]

ok is there a chemical to spray through the onion that the grass and leave onion

[@mondofarms4343]

Yes, those are called selective herbicides. You can get some names on google

[@JuniorSolien-dc5kp]

So do you have to seperate the onions after using the machine

[@JuniorSolien-dc5kp]

Because of spacing

[@mondofarms4343]

Yes, indeed, we had to separate the "accidental seedlings". It is featured in this video... kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJnKhKFmntFop9U

[@mondofarms4343]

Yes

[@michaelsimfukwe9399]

Thanks for the update. You mentioned something about finding a reliable source for your drip line. If possible kindly do share their contact details

[@mondofarms4343]

Hi Micheal. Good question. We bought the drip tape from another farmer who had imported them from India and had some excess left over. It is not really their main business and they don't really want their name put on the internet. So I didn't name them and I wont share here in a public forum. I am sure you understand You will notice in this and other videos that I always try to mention names of retailers like Saro Agro, Farmers Barn, Livestock services, etc where we get a lot of our inputs and equipment. These are open to the public and already in the public domain.

[@michaelsimfukwe9399]

@@mondofarms4343 That makes total sense. I was surprised actually because you always mention your suppliers but I fully understand. Thank you once again for the reply and great content.

[@rachelmuoni5375]

Direct seeding for me is the way to go. Thank you for video.

[@michaelsichilongo8572]

Is it good to grow onion in rain season period?

[@mondofarms4343]

It is very difficult, especially if you do not have a lot of previous experience with onion.

[@user-rh1oj4jf4c]

Good day where can I buy the onion seed planter

[@mondofarms4343]

We bought this one from Saro Agro.

[@leabanengbogopa8369]

Where can one get the planter

[@mondofarms4343]

We buy from Saro Agro, a leading agricultural dealer. I'm not sure which country you are in, but you will be able to find them.

[@EnockMunyat]

Where are you located

[@mondofarms4343]

You can look us up on Google Maps All the best.

[@charlesmungo6782]

Do you once I a while cure your soil?

[@mondofarms4343]

To be honest, I didn't know what you meant by 'curing of soil,' so I just googled it. Quite a range of answers. I guess it's something else to learn about.

[@muskrilcardo9372]

Kyakabi!!!

[@mondofarms4343]

I tried to translate your comment into English and this is what I got: translations kyakabi: challenging. adjective noun verb ; dangerous. adjective ; risky. adjective. Please help us understand a bit better what you were trying to express or say.

[@gk8369]

@@mondofarms4343 , kyakabi as translated is correct. But colloquially in Luganda, the meaning is "cool ". By the way, your language is very similar to Luganda. Which bantu language are you speaking ? Blessings, great job !!!

[@sushmarsushmar8093]

ಒಂದು ಎಕರೆಗೆ ಎಷ್ಟು ಟನ್ ಬೆಳಿಬೋದು ಹೇಳ್ರಿ

[@mondofarms4343]

Hi there. Google translate tells that you said: "Tell me how many tons of belibodi per acre."

[@tatendamudzviti371]

One of the things i have learnt in this video is the need to micromanage workers.

[@mondofarms4343]

It's an interesting subject. The person you hear dealing most directly with the farm workers is our farm supervisor. He often has to exert pressure on them to ensure that work is done both properly and timeously. Many of our team are from the local area and have never worked in formal employment before. Some have taken some time to get used to that, with its benefits of above average salaries, timely remuneration, PPE, statutory compliance, etc. But also it's obligation to put in their part of the labour bargain and contribute to the success of the Company. We have had a reasonable amount of staff turnover. That is partly because we push people hard, and some feel it is more than they can give, but also because we are not afraid to let people move onto different pursuits in life when they are not meeting our required standards. Yes, sometimes, they need what can be described as close supervision. Especially when work has fallen behind time and below standard.

[@tatendamudzviti371]

@mondofarms4343 I do agree with all you've said. I know all too well the consequences of not managing farm workers well. Their lack of experience can end up becoming a liability. I am inspired by your videos, and I'd like to visit your farm one day with a notebook and pen in hand.

[@thabangmofolo443]

Good day, Mr Folotiya. I watch your videos whenever I can, including the one on building a reservoir from scratch, and that it is on high ground, even though you say the fall of the ground is not that great. Where is the reservoir water pumped in from? Is it ever full, which I presume would increase outflow pressure, because I don't think you use a pressure pump? Does the reservoir serve all your farms? I see 4 drip lines per one-metre bed, serving, is it 8 rows of onions? I'm an aspiring farmer, and I hope that one day I'll have the privilege of meeting you and learning from you.

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks Thabang