The diary game||08/05/2026||(Weeding - Farming activity)

A weeded farm, the cassava plant are happy

Weeding is the removal of unwanted plants that grows alongside with our crops.
Weeding is common farming activity in Nigeria. In Akwa Ibom State, cassava is largely planted, because our main food come from it, garri and fufu.
Since we have varieties of local soup, cassava needs to be planted to meet the need of swallow food; garri or fufu.

Cassava vs Weed

The procedures before you get cassava ready for consumption include weeding. Mixed cropping is a common farming practice in my state. In a farmland, cassava, maize, melon and fluted pumpkin are planted. While trying to survive, weeds on the other hand are competing with these crops. That's why weeds needs to be removed, so that the crops will breath and grow in peace.

The most common weeding method here is manual weeding. People used their hand to remove the weeds, but most commonly used tool is the hoe. Weeding requires physical strength, especially if it is a large plot or under the sun. It also requires techniques so you don't remove or damage the crops.

Me in the farm

Earlier today, Mom told me we were going to weed. The farm is not far from our home. She left before me, and I joined her later after I finished my writing 😁
As we were weeding, we were chatting and Mom told me about her teenage age. She said communal weeding was widely practiced in those days.

Communal weeding is when individuals group themselves to help each other weed in rotation. For example: Jim, Joe, Jerry and I have farms to weed. We come together and agree to help each other weed. Monday we decide to start with mine, when we're done with my farm, we fix another day for Jim's farm, then next Joe, and lastly for Jerry.

Mom said the practice still exists but rare now because young adult were mostly engaged in it. But now, they've migrated to town in search for greener's pasture. Despite that, in rural communities where we have large farmland cultivated by villagers, there're people who specializes in weeding to earn a living.

Here I am helping Mom weeds her farm, she always say: "No food for a lazy man" I don't want to be that lazy man. I want to eat the fruit of my labour peacefully. Fufu or garri, that's a done deal😄

Do all have a lovely night rest!

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All pictures in this post is mine

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