Pumpkins and squashes are increasingly important crops in Africa, contributing to food security, nutrition, and income generation for millions of people. This article explores the cultivation of pumpkins across the continent, focusing on specific varieties, farming practices, challenges, and market trends.
Nigerian Fluted Pumpkin (Ugu)
The Nigerian fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), commonly known as Ugu, is widely cultivated throughout West Africa for its seeds and young leaves. Nigerian fluted pumpkins are consumed by 30 to 35 million people, but millions more have never even heard of them.
Ugu is an herbaceous perennial native to Southern parts of Africa and is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family. Like pumpkins, Nigerian fluted pumpkins creep along the ground and clamber up structures with the aid of tendrils. More commonly, growing fluted pumpkins occurs with the aid of a wooden structure.
Characteristics of Fluted Pumpkins
Nigerian fluted pumpkins have broad lobed leaves that are nutrient rich. They’re picked when young, and cooked into soups and stews. Plants grow to 50 feet (15m.) or longer.
- Dioecious Flowering Plant: Produces both male and female blooms on different plants.
- Blooms: Produced in sets of five creamy white and red flowers.
- Fruit: Green when young, progressing to yellow as it matures. The fruit is inedible, but the seeds are valuable.
- Seeds: Fluted pumpkin seeds are commonly used both in cooking and medicinally and are a valuable source of protein and fat. Each fruit contains up to 200 fluted pumpkin seeds. Seeds are also pressed for oil used in cooking.
- Medicinal Uses: Parts of the plant are used to treat anemia, seizures, malaria, and cardiovascular disease.
Rapid growers, fluted pumpkin seeds can be grown in USDA zones 10-12.
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Pumpkin and Watermelon Farming in Uganda
In Uganda, pumpkins and watermelons are cultivated for their edible leaves, fruits, and seeds, thereby contributing to food, nutrition, and income security. However, there is limited research and information on constraints affecting their production. A study assessed the current production constraints for watermelons and pumpkins, management practices, sources of production inputs to guide research and decision making in production of these crops.
Methodology
Watermelon and pumpkin fields totalling 105 located in 28 districts from nine sub-regions of Uganda were surveyed. Purposive sampling was conducted based on the importance and availability of watermelon and pumpkin fields in the sub-regions using a questionnaire administered to farmers on different practices, management strategies, and current production constraints. Data were analysed to determine the relationship between the source of seed, sale of their produce, constraints, and control measures of biotic constraints in the different sub-regions.
Results
Pumpkins and watermelons were grown by 85.7% and 14.3% of respondent farmers, respectively. The constraints as ranked by the farmers were pests, diseases, drought, high transport and labour costs. Bacterial wilt, downy mildews, anthracnose powdery mildews and virus diseases in this order were the most common and important disease constraints.
The whitefly (Bemisia tabaci, Gennadius), aphids (Myzus Persicae, Sulzer), melon fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae, Coquillett), and cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon, Hufnagel), were reported as the most limiting pests of watermelon and pumpkin production. Mixing of several agrochemicals was observed in watermelon fields coupled with gross lack of knowledge of proper usage or purpose of these chemicals may result in pesticide resistance, health and environmental hazards.
Pests, diseases, and drought constitute the main constraints affecting watermelon and pumpkin cultivation in Uganda.
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Varieties Grown in Uganda
A total 11 varieties of pumpkin were recorded in the study. The most widely grown variety is “Dulu” (26.7%), followed by “Wujju” (24.4%), “Oziga” (16.7%), “Sweat cream” and “Sweety pumpkin” (7.8% each). Others grown by few farmers were “Larger white” and “Butternut” (4.4%, respectively), “sunfish” (3.3%), “Ebihaza” (2.2%), “Bala” and “Sugar pie” each 1.1%, respectively.
Most farmers of watermelon planted “Zebra” (86.7%), and the remaining (13.3%) planted “Chairman” variety.
Fruit characteristics of some of the pumpkin varieties grown in the surveyed areas
Farming Practices
The proportion of males involved in watermelon and pumpkin production in the study areas was 65.7% and their age bracket ranged from 25 to 75 years with a mean of 44.2 years. In contrast, the proportion of women was lower (34.3%) with an age range of 20 to 70 years and an average age of 46.1 years in all the sub-regions, with 44.8% being in the youthful stage of 40 years and below.
Watermelon was mainly grown as a monoculture (13.3%), while pumpkin (85.7%) was mainly grown as an intercrop with other staple crops such as cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz), maize, banana, sweet potato, coffee (Coffea arabica L. & C. canephora, Pierre ex A. Froehner), and in some agroforestry systems.
Overview of the African Pumpkin Market
The African pumpkin market is experiencing growth in both consumption and production. Key findings from a recent market analysis include:
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- The pumpkin market value is forecast to grow at a CAGR of +2.3%, reaching $4 billion by 2035.
- Egypt, Algeria, and Malawi are the top three consuming and producing nations.
- Niger experienced the most rapid growth in both consumption and production over the past decade.
- Morocco is the continent's leading exporter, accounting for 63% of total export volume.
- South Africa is the largest importer.
Consumption Trends
In 2024, pumpkin consumption in Africa was estimated at 3.3 million tons. The countries with the highest consumption volumes were Egypt (502K tons), Algeria (427K tons), and Malawi (419K tons), accounting for 41% of total consumption.
Production Trends
In 2024, pumpkin production in Africa was estimated at 3.4 million tons, with Egypt (506K tons), Algeria (427K tons), and Malawi (419K tons) leading the production volumes. The average pumpkin yield was 7.7 tons per hectare.
The Ultimate PUMPKIN Growing Guide // Everything you need to know to Grow Pumpkins at Home 🌱🎃
General Pumpkin Cultivation Practices
Pumpkins are large trailing plants with yellow and bell-shaped flowers, grown for both commercial and domestic consumption. In Zambia, pumpkins can be grown in any geographical location, although soil fertility is a significant determinant of yield.
Varieties of Pumpkins
There are various varieties of pumpkins grown in Africa, including Sweet Cream, Onziga, Dulu, Bala, Sunfish, Sugar Pie, Anderina acorn, buttercup, and butternut squash. Common cultivars include Autumn Gold, Ghost Rider, Small/Pie, Amish Pie, Small sugar, Giant: Big Max, and Big Moon, which take approximately 90 to 120 days to mature.
Climatic Requirements
- Temperature: Pumpkins require a temperature range of 18°C to 27°C for growth, with an ideal range of 18°C to 20.5°C.
- Rainfall: Pumpkins prefer a generous water supply, with uniform moisture during the growing season.
- Soil: Pumpkins grow well in rich, light-textured soils, such as sandy loam or well-drained loamy fertile soils, with an optimum soil pH between 6 and 7.5.
Land Preparation
Prepare a planting station by digging a round hole at least 45 cm in diameter and 25 cm to 30 cm deep. Mix manure, compost, and fertilizer with the soil removed from the hole, and replace this material in the hole. During wet seasons, planting stations can be in the form of hills to ensure adequate drainage.
Propagation and Planting
Pumpkins are propagated by seed sown directly in the field. Plant two to three seeds per hill, about 2.5 cm deep, and later thin to one plant per hill. Spacing varies with variety and vine size. Seeds can also be grown occasionally in seed trays. Sowing can begin outdoors in August, although September to November is the most favorable period.
Fertilization
A basal fertilizer compound C (5:12:12 11S 0.1B) is recommended at 500 kg per hectare. As soon as the plant reaches the first fruiting stage, apply Ammonium Nitrate (34.5%) top dressing fertilizer.
Irrigation
The first irrigation should be given immediately after planting, with subsequent irrigations applied at weekly intervals. Avoid waterlogging at all times.
Weed Control
Pumpkins require frequent weeding, with the first weeding performed 15 to 20 days after seed sowing. Herbicides can also be used for weed control.
Pest and Disease Control
- Cutworms: Spray over rows at germination to control cutworms using insecticides like Fenveralate 20 EC or Lambda-Cyhalothrin 5 EC.
- Pumpkin Fly: Control with baiting or chemical control using Lebaycid 50 EC or Dimethoate 40 EC.
- Aphids: Apply sprays like Malathion 25 WP or Dimethoate 40 EC when aphids are noticed.
- Powdery Mildew: Apply Copper Oxychloride 85% WP or Wet table Sulphur.
- Downy Mildew: Spray with CopperOxychloride 85% WP or Ridomil Gold as soon as the disease is noticed.
- Anthracnose: Apply Chlorothalonil 50 SC or Dithane M 45 at 7-10 day intervals.
Harvesting and Storage
Most pumpkins reach maturity at 3 to 4 months after sowing. Harvest when the skin becomes hard and loses its shiny appearance. Harvest by hand, using secateurs or a sharp knife, and remove the fruit with 5 cm of stalk attached.
Pumpkins can be stored for 1 to 3 months when mature, ideally at temperatures between 10 to 13°C and relative humidity between 50 to 70%.
Harvested pumpkins
Sandbar Cropping in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, river flooding creates islands of floodplain sediments known as chars. Recent research reveals that sandbar cultivation enabled the production of 10.31 metric tons of pumpkins per hectare of land previously considered useless. Through sandbar cropping, traditional agriculture is being transformed into an agribusiness system.
Several crops are now being produced in the sandbar system, including potatoes, maize, groundnuts, sunflower seeds, and Napier grass for livestock feed. Gourds, squashes, and melons are also showing promise.
The Process of Sandbar Cropping
To plant in sandbars, small pits are dug in the loamy soil, where manure, germination soil, and seeds are placed together. The seeds require consistent monitoring to ensure they are well-irrigated and nursed when needed.
Farming on sandbars follows a strategic approach due to their transient nature. Projects typically start after the monsoon when the sandbars surface, and usually only one crop is grown at a time. The cropping period for winter crops starts in November and ends in March.
Potential of Sandbar Cropping
Sandbar cropping can help overcome seasonal food shortages and meet the demands of an increasing population. Intercropping can help farmers attain optimal yields. In Bangladesh, monocropping of pumpkins has worked well, with individuals earning significant income through the export sales of the crops they grow.
The Pumpkin Project in Uganda
The Pumpkins in Africa project, implemented by East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT) in Uganda, has elevated pumpkin as a marketable and profitable crop for the country’s farmers. Through the Pumpkin Project, 14,095 farmers in Uganda learned about growing nutritious pumpkins as a commercial crop.
Benefits of Pumpkin Cultivation
- Nutrient-Dense Food: Contains an array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Long Shelf Life: Harvested pumpkins can be stored for months, increasing families’ food security.
- Easy to Grow: Makes it a good crop for both experienced and less experienced farmers.
- Pest and Disease Resistance: Found in high-quality pumpkin varieties enables farmers to use far less pesticide.
- Low Financial Investment: Increased pest and disease resistance mean less money spent on pesticides, and low fertilization requirements reduce fertilizer costs.
- Intercropping Potential: In some areas, pumpkin is a good candidate for intercropping with perennial crops.
- Quick Return on Investment: The shorter time until harvest (about 4 months) for high-quality pumpkin varieties means that farmers can earn a return on their investment more quickly.
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