Kenya Women Veterinary Association To Conduct Population Control For Cats, Dogs.

 

Kenya Women Veterinary Association To Conduct Population Control For Cats, Dogs.A delegation from the Kenya Women Veterinary Association (KWVA) led by Chairperson Dr Marilyn Karani is in Turkana County for a cats and dogs’ population control exercise as part of zoonosis disease control activity in Kakuma. 

 The activity will take place from Thursday, March 17, to Saturday, March 19, 2022 and it will include surgical population control of dogs and cats through neutering and spraying as well as vaccination of dogs and donkeys. 

 Speaking during a courtesy call on Deputy Governor Peter Lotethiro in Lodwar, Dr Karani said Turkana West had been targeted due to statistics showing prevalence of zoonotic diseases in the Sub-County. 

 She urged the County Government to continuously train experts in the field to increase the number of skilled human resources which was critical for sustainability of the programme. 

She was accompanied by KWVA Committee Member, Dr Ruphline Margaret. The team is in the County which kicks off a five-year partnership campaign to eradicate rabies and hydatid diseases in the County.

Maize farmers get storage bags that help check post-harvest losses.

Maize farmers get storage bags that help check post-harvest losses. A new technology has been introduced in the region to help reduce maize farmers’ losses due to poor storage, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Ministry officials said maize farmers last year lost up to Sh15 billion post-harvest due to poor storage. The technology, Purdue Improved Crop Storage (Pics), is expected to allow farmers to store grain for up to five years without having to use any preservatives.Once tied properly, no pests can penetrate it. If any pests are inside the maize after packing it in Pics bags, they will be suffocated. Maize farmers get storage bags that help check post-harvest losses. .

How a philanthropist uses poultry to help families.

How a philanthropist uses poultry to help families. Julius Matendechere, 57, goes about his business inside a bungalow turned a poultry farmhouse with a lot of ease. He is tending to over 5,000 chicks aged between one and three weeks. #poultry The chicks literally occupy all rooms in the four bedroom mansion, including the store, kitchen, dining, washrooms and any other available space. There are 600 lighting points that provide the chicks with warmth and light,and there are 20 charcoal stoves on stand-by. The farmhouse is located at Ishimkoko village in Butere, Kakamega County. Every week, Matendechere stocks 6,000 kienyeji chicks from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO).#poultry Matendechere, an accountant by profession, has perfected the art of brooding, which involves giving special care and attention to chicks to ensure their healthy survival.He ventured into the business three years ago after leaving a lucrative job as a chief accountant in the government. The desire to give back to the people drove him into poultry farming.#poultry Matendechere, said families in Butere Constituency where he hails from can hardly afford two meals a day, so he thought it wise to embark on brooding and give out the birds to groups for free to help improve the living standards of struggling families, more

Solar-powered dairy farm.

A farmer in Kenya is reaping massive benefits from solar-enhanced dairy-farming. His venture is an example of how the country is transitioning to the realization of the 7th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that credits assurance of access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. In order to boost production, Willy Kirwa, a dairy farmer located in Eldoret (Western region of Kenya in the Rift Valley) invested $40,000 USD in a modern state-of-the art solar power system on his 50-acre farm to help in lighting and processing of milk. He has over time installed 30 solar panels with different capacity outputs (100 watts and 200 watts). Even though the installation cost was expensive, it has been confirmed that the project is lucrative and cheaper in the long-run. It is worth it because of the lack of monthly power overheads encountered using mains-grid electricity. The farm needed a comfortable environment with enough lighting to boost his milk-production which currently stands at 600 liters per day, hence the need for the technology. Large scale milk production also needs processing machinery akin to solar powered milk cooling machine. The dairy farmer has installed a solar power system at his farm most specifically to power the milk cooling machine and light the cattle shed for milking. He has a milk-cooling facility that is directly connected to solar power source by power cables. #solar Inside the cattle pen, some power bulbs are visible which are turned on whenever there is need for more light. He preferred using solar energy to other energy-sources because it is natural and cheaper to manage as compared to grid electricity that needs a lot of money to install in addition to the high monthly bills, given his large-scale milk production. The dairy farmer also opted to employ solar energy because he has many dairy cattle and the milk production is high. He had to acquire milk-processing machinery, which includes a milk cooling machine. He preferred to put up solar-energy to run the machine because it is easy to handle and maintain, which is also cheap. #dairy The photovoltaic solar panels are connected in a way that they are easily hit directly by the sun, converting the sun’s rays into electricity. Solar panels on his roof are directly connected to power storage solar batteries with power inverters that convert the direct current (DC) power generated by solar panels to alternating current (AC) that is used on the grid. The power serves many other auxiliary purposes as it also lights cattle sheds that are turned on during milking very early in the morning and late in the evening after the sun has set. Apart from lighting the cattle shed, the renewable energy is also used in lighting his main house. This is just an example of the ancillary benefits of cheaper and cost-effective renewable-energy. He also prefers lighting during milking in order to boost milk production in the sense that the strong light attracts flies that could suck cows during the milking process, which would make them restless. The light also gives the cattle a warm and friendly environment, making them relaxed. The farmer also plans to expand the solar plant for other domestic use. more

How to make money from snail business: African women are turning snails into gold.

Snails are known as a delicacy in the U.S. and in some European countries, but they have long been a staple of the traditional diet in the African nation of Ghana. They're used in everything from soups to kebabs, and Ghanaians consume some 33 million pounds of snails per year, but demand far outweighs local supply. 

    How to make money from snail business.

Now a pair of scientists are teaching women how to raise snails as a renewable food source and as a source of economic independence. Environmental scientist Mildred Quaye and agricultural biotechnologist Dr. Lydia Quansah have been setting up women-run snail farms in rural areas of Ghana. Their project is funded by a grant from Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 

The Israeli university has also provided instructors and students to work on projects in Ghana and other sub-Saharan African nations for nearly six decades. 

 Heliculture is the science and occupation of raising snails for food, and the practice is quickly becoming popular for occupational training of African women. Snails are relatively easy to raise and feed on vegetables and fruits. They are also hermaphrodites, which means that both male and female snails reproduce. see more 

 

    How to make money from snail business.

 Snails are not difficult to raise and manage because they feed on kitchen leftovers and leafy greens from the field,While snails can live up to 10 years in their natural habitat, it only takes two to three months before young embryonic snails are ready for sale to the market. That means it’s only a short time before the farmers begin to see a return on their investment. more

How to make money from snail farming.

How to make money from snail farming.  Snails  are of various species  with some species peculiar to certain regions. 

The Achatina fulica is a species of large land snail that belong in the Achatinidae family. It is also known as one of the giant African snail or giant African land snail. The giant African snail is native to East Africa, and can be traced back to Kenya and Tanzania. 

 

 The Achatina fulica is well suited for the west African region as its rugged,adaptable and grows better than A. marginata.

                       How to make money from snail farming.

 The Achatina fulica mates once and can lay eggs continuously for 5 years. The snail lay up to 400 eggs in various clutches 2-3 times a year.The snails are good fluid savers,making maximum use of water provided. Snail rearing also referred to as heliculture is an agribusiness that has great potential,not only locally but internationally. 

 Snails can be reared in urban setting without any environmental hazard or pollution and most importantly its a lean startup venture,with little or minimal overhead and great profit margin.Snails can be reared in cheap boxes,old tyres,plastic bins,crates and any enclosure you can innovate as long as the snails are secured from pests and harsh environmental conditions.

                     How to start and make money from snail business.

The housing unit can be simple to complex depending on scale of production and level of production.

 Read about various housing options here Feeding snails are also relatively cheap, irrespective of level of production.The snails can thrive on common household waste or feed. They can be fed leaves,roots of certain plants and sometimes formulated ration to boost production. 

These are the common feed sources. Biosecurity and handling are so important when you are rearing snails. 

 

The sand in the snailery must be heat treated,before you put it in the snailery and the sand must be raked everyday to remove left over feed and also to turn the soil as this stimulates growth.Snail farming is a hidden goldmine,very few actually get it right and make money. 

 Changing of the soil at regular intervals is very important, calcium supplement is very essential for proper growth and regular supply is necessary. 

The wetting of soil is also important,to keep the house moist but not waterlogged 

This is how to start a business raising snails with 20,000 Naira and make profit in millions.

 Get mature snails @ 200 naira for 50 pieces.......10,500 naira.   

 Construction of wooden boxes or plastic boxes or plastic cages ........5,000 naira. 

 Feeding....................................4,000 naira. 

 miscellaneous./chalk....... .......... ..500 naira. 

 The production phase; 1 snail hatch about 400 eggs in a year,thus 50 snails .....20,000 eggs. 

 At 95% hatachability.......19,000 eggs.

 Assuming 5% mortality during rearing......, that's 19,000 eggs to maturity.

 The farmer can decide to sell hatchlings,  sell immature snails  or raise to maturity and cash in . Whatever the farmer decides he can make money on all 3 levels.

Education and role of sanitary pads.

A Kenyan company Pad Heaven, which makes low-cost sanitary pads using the fibres and stems of banana plants. “Their technology converts the plant pulps to make pads that are hygienic, affordable and 95% bio-degradable. Describing itself as “keeping girls in class one pad at a time,” PadHeaven’s Florence Kamaitha says over 900,000 girls in Kenya miss up to four days a month from school due to lack of access to affordable sanitary pads. “We are changing that through our re-usable sanitary pads which we produce with the help of the inmates at Langata women’s prison.” The company came second place at the GIST (Global Innovation through Science and Technology) a major science and technology boot camp in Johannesburg, South Africa. The event was organized for 80 “young and innovative entrepreneurs” by the US Department of State , Venture Well, the Climate Innovation Center, and South Africa’s The Innovation Hub. The pad heaven initiative is

Agriculture; improved bananas turns farmer to millionaire.

Agriculture has evolved over the years with improved techniques,seed improvement,genetic modification, biotechnology and precision farming. The advantages of these new techniques include new breed and strains, production within a short time with limited capability ,cost reduction through reduction of labor force and most importantly higher profit. The discovery of planting improved seeds and tissue culture tubers have turned many farmers to millionaires.The production of bananas from tissue cultured tubers is one of such agricultural feats that have added value to banana farming and also more money in the hands of farmers. The health benefits of bananas/ plantain can not be overemphasized and this love can be turned to a business venture ,which is equally rewarding. Bananas/ plantain can be packaged raw and fresh or processed and packaged for sale. The business of frying and packaging plantain as snack is another topic entirely that will be discussed later. A recent interview with a farmer with plantain/banana plantation shed some more light on the planting and nurturing of the fruit.There are various species that can be cultivated, that starts fruiting at about 5 months and new varieties are also available courtesy of bio crops which fruit earlier , grow bigger and tastes better. Thinking of starting a plantation? consider this; The soil type should be virgin with added advantage if it has river-silt deposits. The soil does not have too be too deep,because banana /plantain crops are shallow rooted.The best soil type is loamy drained to 4-6 feet deep is recommended, heavy clay soils are unsuitable. The variety/specie depends on choice of the farmer as well as target market,the new improved varieties and imported varieties have been used extensively in the field. Land preparation entails,clearing the land and fell any tree on site; line and stake out so that the plantation will not be haphazard. Dig holes that should be at least 1 .5 x 1.5 x 1.5.,and note the heavier the soil the larger the planting hole. continue Mary Kiptoo from Sambalat who has diversified into tissue-culture bananas under furrow irrigation as an additional source of money and food.“Banana farming requires low capital and is less labour intensive unlike maize or even vegetables,” she explained, noting that farmers in the region share some of the tissue-culture banana tubers for planting. The mother four has about 1,000 banana tubers in her two acres, which she cultivates alongside finger millet, sorghum and cassava for subsistence use.The bananas grow uniformly and mature within eight months thus facilitating easy harvesting and marketing earning farmers a lot of money. Millionaire

Earn millions from banana fiber business.

Fabric from bananas, from the stalk of a banana plant has been utilized by cultures in Japan,Africa and Southeast Asia The technology is fast spreading to various countries because of the profitability of venture,that attracts foreign and local customers .Fiber extraction is followed by boiling the strips in an alkaline solution to soften and separate them. The boiling and washing the strips is followed by the skins and fibers separated from one another,then the fibers are joined The threads are then ready for spinning, during which they must be kept wet in order to prevent snapping or breaking. Dyeing and weaving the yarns are the final parts of the process, producing a high quality material that can be used for various applications. The fineness of the fiber determines the thickness of the yarn, as finer yarn is used for clothing, medium grade yarn is used for table cloths, curtains and cushion covers, while thicker, coarser yarn is used for basket weaving, floor mats and bags. Japanese have been processing banana fibers for nearly 900years and have perfected the art of creating banana cloth. The finest fibers of the banana stalk are reserved for kimono dresses and kamishimo, a formal garment worn by the samurai. Nepalese artisans have also been creating beautiful and lavish rugs out of banana fibers, as their moisture-wicking properties make them the ideal floor coverings for tropical climates. Alongside these traditional uses, banana fibers are also used for interior purposes such as cushion covers, curtains, tablecloths, bags and even paper and journals. This has also created a wealthy income to a Mr Patrick Gatare, an entrepreneur from Kirinyaga County was crowned the overall winner and bagged Ksh2 million cash prize. National Environment Trust Fund (NETFUND) recognized the 50-year-old for his Banana Fibre production initiative that has seen the community make mats, hand woven bags (Kiondos) and wall hangings, which have a robust market both locally and internationally, uplifting lives of the Kirinyaga residents.Read

Money making opportunity in koi fish farming.

Koi literally means ("brocaded carp"), are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp (Cyprinus carpio) that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi aquariums or water gardens. Koi varieties are distinguished by coloration, patterning, and pattern of scales. Some of the major colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream. The most popular category of koi is the Gosanke, which is made up of the Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, and Showa Sanshoku varieties. The common carp is a hardy fish, and koi retain that durability. Koi are cold-water fish, but benefit from being kept in the 15–25 °C (59–77 °F) range, and do not react well to long, cold, winter temperatures because their immune systems are very weak below 10 °C. Koi ponds usually have a metre or more of depth in areas of the world that become warm during the summer, whereas in areas that have harsher winters, ponds generally have a minimum of 1.5 m (5 ft). Specific pond construction has been evolved by koi keepers intent on raising show-quality koi. The bright colors of koi put them at a severe disadvantage against predators; as they are easily spotted and preyed upon. Koi are very hardy. With proper care, they resist many of the parasites that affect more sensitive tropical fish species, such as Trichodina, Epistylis, Ich and other ciliated protozoans. Two of the biggest health concerns among koi breeders are the koi herpes virus (KHV) and rhabdovirus carpio, which causes spring viraemia of carp (SVC). No treatment exists for either disease. The koi fish farming is a money-making venture as the fish can grow to 3 feet long,as they can grow 2 to 6 inches a year.The koi with the right body confirmation increase their prices and hence raise profit of farmer. Koi can survive extreme winter conditions by being dormant at the bottom of the pond where water temperature is warmest.The key to their survival is to put a hole in the ice so that oxygen can enter and carbon dioxde exits. The biggest threat to koi survival is water conditions as the fish cannot tolerate ammonia levels. The pond must have a functional filter to remove waste produced otherwise you find them dead,belly-up in the pond. The koi fish excrete ammonia through their gills and in their waste,a pond without a filter to process the ammonia will eventually lead to ammonia buildup leading to pollution of the water and death of fish. Fish must eat at least twice a day and are fed ready-made pellets. They also require at least 47 percent protein in their diet to ensure proper growth. The fish attract a high percentage of profit as the niche of clients are very rich,but also they require care to reproduce and thrive. A farmer is making money breeding and selling ornamental fish ,see how

Clinician quits job for wooden- matatus and his making money.

He decided to quit his job in June to follow his passion — his childhood love for toys. He traded his degree for his passion and his making so much money. “I completed my studies in 2013 before landing a job. But I loved making models of different things while growing up. I would at the time use papers and old cartons,” Lukaho told Ma3 Culture. He added that,“Most of the time, I worked during night shifts, which is why I utilised my day time to make doll houses and other toys. It’s my passion, I never did it for money.” Lukaho decided to make toys that resemble the modern day mathrees plying the city and Komarock estate route.Read more

WILDLIFE MISHAP: STRAY LION INJURIES MAN.

A male lion that strayed into rush hour traffic in the Kenyan capital injured one man before being captured and taken back to a reserve that lies on the edge of the city, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said. KWS, which manages the country’s safari reserves including the Nairobi National Park on the outskirts of the capital, said its units had caught the lion after images posted on social media showed it wandering along a main road near the park. A man who was injured by the lion (has been) taken to hospital, KWS said on its Twitter feed. KWS spokesman Paul Udoto told Kenya’s NTV that the elderly man was in a stable condition after the black-maned lion attacked him when it became agitated by the hooting of car horns by passing motorists. The images on social media showed the lion walking along a grassy verge next to the busy road and past some people who looked on from behind a closed iron-bar gate. Inside Nairobi National Park, which lies on the city limits, tourists enjoy views of lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras and other wildlife against a backdrop of high-rise buildings. Lions are occasionally spotted in the city close to the park after finding a way through fences that protect the built-up areas near the reserve. Read more at http://newsdaily.com/2016/03/stray-lion-injures-man-in-kenyan-capital-wildlife-service/#EOzmIpKULgBiTVBF.99

DAY OLD CHICKS AND FOOD SECURITY.

The process of of enhancing the performance of birds is aimed at producing more eggs,bigger chicken , reducing time of rearing and also extending laying periods.The seed for the poultry is the day old chicks,these must be sourced from proven hatcheries to ensure the goals of optimum growth and production is accomplished.Day old chicks must be clean,alert and vaccinated before they are ready for sales.There are a lot of technicalities that goes into hatching these chicks, the most important factor is that the parent stock must be proven,with desired traits before the breeding and incubation phase.The proper setting in incubators with stipulated temperature and humidity will ensure that the purpose of careful selection and breeding are not futile. The selection and breeding are carried out basically to increase productivity.This can be further harnessed by breeding exotic strains with local strains to ensure proper adaptability to environment . Many countries are implementing this practice at Nairobi International Trade Fair once again proved to be the hub of new innovations and technologies in agribusiness. A rooster weighing eight kilos worth Sh2,000 drew crowds at the trade fair.This is almost the weight of a dik-dik antelope and twice the size of a normal rooster. Kukuchic company sales person Nathan Koech said the 11-month rainbow rooster is a dual-purpose breed.The breed is originally from India. Koech said such weight is not ideal for natural fertilization as the rooster might hurt the hen.He said they do artificial insemination.“At five months the rooster is ready for the market,” Koech said.He said they have 20,000 roosters at the Eldoret-based company and sell day-old chicks at Sh100 each. Unfertilized egg costs Sh15. (The star). Call today to order day-old chicks.

CAMEL AND THE FOOD CHAIN.

. Women in Kenya have taken processing of camel to a whole new level. They process,package and sell dried camel meat and also process and package the milk as yoghurt. The first camel milk cooperative society called Anolei Women Camel Milk Cooperative in Isiolo county was launched this year. It started processing and packaging camel meat, which is locally known as nyirnyir. Gerald Mureithi, the manager, says the meat goes through various processes before it is packaged.First the meat is sliced into rows, then it is sun dried and after drying, it is cut into small pieces, deep fried and eventually packaged. A 50 gramme packet of dried camel meat costs Sh100.“When stored at room temperature, the dried camel meat has a shelve life of one month and if stored in the freezer, it can stay for almost three months,” says Mureithi, adding that they also make camel yoghurt. He says camel milk is pasteurised then starch and sugar is added to it before being innoculated with bacteria culture to help in fermenting.They sell the camel products to the local market. Mureithi says they now want to venture into supermarkets and other retail markets.A 150 ml bottle goes for Sh40, the 250 ml at Sh60 while 500ml and one litre bottles will cost you Sh120 and Sh140 respectively. “We receive about 800 to 3,000 or more litres of camel milk daily from our members. Our main market for camel milk is in Eastleigh but during the rainy season when production is high, the market is low and that is why we came up with the value addition,” says Mureithi. The women cooperative has 29 active members and there are other 91 members who are passive and only supply milk to the active ones. Story source; The star.

The ‘charolais’ bull.

The bull was originally bred in France in a place called Charolais, hence its name. It is a naturally horned beef animal.In Africa, the largest population of the breed is found in South Africa followed by Kenya, mainly in Laikipia .The Bull heavier than buffalo fetches Sh600,000.Weighing in at 1,050kg, a bull heavier than a buffalo was auctioned for Sh600,000, equivalent to the price of a Probox car. However, if slaughtered in the farm, the bull could fetch Sh1 million.The ‘charolais’ bull was the main attraction during the East Africa Growers Council agribusiness expo in Kabarak University.The four-year-old bull from Kabarak Farm Ltd only feeds on grass and drinks a minimum of 60 litres of water a day, according to the farm manager Joseph Bett.Bett says there are about 107,000 of such animals in the farm and a single dose of artificial insemination costs Sh1,000. The agribusiness expo brought together more than 15,000 farmers, sponsors and exhibitors. Source;The star

ANIMAL MATS FOR COMFORT.

These mats made from recycled tyres provide support and protection to the animals. The benefits of the mats are as follows; 1) hygienic stalls. 2)prevents injuries. 3)prevents falling ,slipping. 4)absorbs pressure especially in forelimbs. read more here http://www.animat.ca/en/equine/;

SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME.

Feeding children to keep them in school has taken a new dimension; http://www.international.gc.ca/development-developpement/stories-histoires/kenya/feed_school_children-nourrir_ecoliers.aspx?lang=eng