Ministry introduces 'garri jollof' into school feeding menu: promotion of garri to a main meal.

Mrs Cynthia Maamle Morrison, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection has said “gari jollof” has been introduced as a new menu into the school feeding programme. She said the invention of the garri jollof, which food nutritionist has recommended as good would enhance the sustainability of the programme. 

                       A nutritious way to eat garri is to make Garri Jollof.

 Mrs Morrison made this known when she addressed caterers from 11 schools at Agona Bobikuma and Agona Kwamang in the Agona West Constituency of the Central Region at a training workshop to update their knowledge on the preparation of the new meal. 

 The workshop was on “Promotion of Garri into a main Meal.” She asked the caterers to fortify the meal by using locally available ingredients such as vegetables, carrot, cabbage, spring onions, legumes, beans, cow pea and egg, adding; “This combination makes it highly nutritional.” 

                                              

Garri Jollof with plantain.

 The Minister said the introduction of the garri jollof would ginger cassava farmers to increase production and improve food security.

 Garri jollof is nutritious and very delicious can be served with peas, eggs,veggies, shrimps, sardine, meatballs and plantain. 

Farmers to access 81,000MT of seeds.

Farmers to access 81,000MT of seeds.The Federal Government has said about 81,000 metric tonnes of seeds are ready for deployment to farmers for the planting season. Director-General, National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Dr. Philip Ojo, who made this known during a virtual press conference, noted that the seeds would ensure that agricultural activities were not disrupted as a result of the lockdown imposed across the country. According to him, “The Council will ensure subsidies only to be applicable to seed purchased from NASC approved seed companies and producers, and provide certification officers and seed companies with movement tags or permits”.

Veterinary scientist hailed for Faroe Islands' lack of Covid-19 deaths.

Veterinary scientist hailed for Faroe Islands' lack of Covid-19 deaths.A scientist who adapted his veterinary lab to test for disease among humans rather than salmon is being celebrated for helping the Faroe Islands avoid coronavirus deaths, where a larger proportion of the population has been tested than anywhere in the world. The north Atlantic archipelago currently has only one person in hospital with Covid-19 and it is one of three European countries, along with Georgia and Liechtenstein to so far not have any deaths from the virus. On Wednesday, the country’s prime minister, Bárður á Steig Nielsen, announced that as of 20 April the country’s kindergartens, nurseries and early years classes in primary schools would reopen. Pupils in the last year of secondary school will also return to class and sport will recommence without spectators. The success of the Faroese approach is said by local politicians to be largely a result of the foresight of the veterinary scientist Debes Christiansen, the head of department at the National Reference Laboratory for Fish and Animal Diseases in the capital, Tórshavn. In Nigeria, the

AGRIBUSINESS: Avian flu returns to commercial poultry in Nigeria, Russia.

AGRIBUSINESS: Avian flu returns to commercial poultry in Nigeria, Russia. Based on official reports, new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed in poultry and ostriches in India, Nigeria, Russia, and South Africa, while a low-pathogenic virus has been detected again in the Dominican Republic. Previous local media reports of new outbreaks of HPAI linked to the H5N1 virus subtype in India have now been confirmed. Two backyard flocks in Bihar state totaling more than 4,000 poultry were affected by these outbreaks in mid-December and early January, according to the report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). One of the flocks was located in Mungar — the same district as a previous linked outbreak — and the other was in Banka. That brings the total outbreaks in the state since November last year to three. Africa: Further outbreaks in South Africa’s ostrich industry, Nigerian poultry The H5N8 HPAI virus has been causing sporadic outbreaks of HPAI in commercial ostriches in West Cape Province since June of 2017. There were a further five outbreaks between August and November last year, according to the report of the country’s veterinary service to the OIE. There were a total of 159 cases of the disease among a total of more than 6,500 ostriches at farm in four different regions, including the city of Cape Town. Following a lull, the same HPAI virus subtype has been detected at two chicken farms in the central Nigerian state of Bauchi. The first outbreak in the second week of January was in a flock of 2,000 young pullets following the introduction of new birds, according to the official report from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. This event was followed the next week in a “backyard” flock of almost 850 mature laying hens. Prior to these outbreaks, the most recent detection of the H5N8 virus in the area was in neighboring Nasawara state in February last year. Low-pathogenic virus detected in Dominican Republic An H5N2 variant of the low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus was detected in the Dominican Republic in November of 2018, according to the latest agriculture ministry report to the OIE. Of a flock of mixed species in the northern state of Puerto Plata, 745 of the birds died, and the rest were destroyed or slaughtered. The last time this virus was reported in the country was in June last year.

Lessons from African nations powering up the business rankings.

Lessons from African nations powering up the business rankings. The World Bank Group recently launched its annual Doing Business report. In its 15th edition, the report investigates regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it in 190 countries. These regulations include starting a business, obtaining construction permits, availability of electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

As has been the case in the last several years, African countries were among the most improved nations on the list. Nigeria, Djibouti, Zambia and Malawi were amongst the top-10 reformers in this year’s edition. Nigeria (Africa’s largest economy, but currently facing strong economic headwinds) moved up 24 places to the 145th position, and so is by default a case study for this year’s report.

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 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.

How to start a profitable egg supply and distribution business.

Starting an egg distribution business,could be a full time or part-time business. Starting an egg business is easy and profitable and you can start today. The first phase is to identify your customers,then find a reputable source,that will provide high quality eggs and at reasonable price. Eggs are of various sizes and grades,and its better to have a mix of large,small and medium to cater for different clients. The ideal place will be to register with a farm, and sort out arrangements about frequency of collection and delivery. Eggs can also be collected at egg depots for further distribution to retailers and consumers. The targeted clients will determine your entry point to the business, you can be a big time player or small to medium player . You don't need a lot of money to start the business, its a low capital startup that you can venture into with 30,000,and expand your capital base as you progress.The key to success is marketing,vecause if you cant network you cant sell. The challenge is not money or the products{eggs} your ability to do great networking. I was amazed to find out that the demand for egg is huge. H Farm owners and bulk distributors, prefer having 30 customers who buys from them regularly than having 3 or 5 major buyers. The logic is with about 30 customers , at least 15 will be available on every sales day,thus creating a steady income. Major egg suppliers comes from outside Lagos. The bulk of eggs consumed in Lagos comes from Ogun, Ondo and Oyo. The farms in Lagos are attached to notable merchants, but smart business people prefer to get their supply outside Lagos because its cheaper. When you factor in cost of fuel, stress and unnecessary roadblocks,sourcing in your locality makes better business sense. Egg crates are important for the success of your business, plastic,paper or decorative seal- able crates are some of the options. The crates could be small or big depending on your egg sizes.While purchasing your egg crates, make arrangements for both the large size and small sizes. If you are transporting it over along distance, the use of big crates are advisable, because with big crates,the eggs will have space and you will experience lesser damages. When delivering eggs to retailers use the small ones,because when you use the big crates for delivery, the eggs look very small but with a small crate, small eggs look big. Starting with egg distribution and supply depends on how big or small you want to start,as you are your own boss you set the pace. You can decide to be a retailer, a wholesaler and you can combine the two. The key to profit is to set a goal,determine how many crates you want to sell in a week and at what level,may be wholesale or retail. 100 crates @850 = 85,000. when sold per crate @900 =90,000 naira. A profit of 5,000 naira. The same 100 crates sold on retail basis yields 1,200 naira/crate which is a total profit of 120,000 naira only. The difference is enormous and potential huge as you get this amount of profit even with wholesales with the right niche.The margin could even be much higher depending on your source. Superstores,shops, schools,eateries are a few of the places you can supply to and make money. Join our league of distributors and make money today. See

Olam invests $150M in Nigerian poultry, feed sectors.

Olam International to invest in animal feed manufacturing, poultry breeding and hatchery in the states of Kaduna and Kwara in Nigeria. Olam International (also known as Olam Group) plans to invest NGN30 billion (US$150 million) in two state-of-the-art feed mills, poultry breeding farms and a hatchery to produce day-old chicks in Nigeria. A groundbreaking ceremony in Kaduna state last week was attended by Olam Group Nigeria and the governor of Kaduna State, H.E. Malam Nasir el-Rufai, and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Chief Audu Ogbeh, who was representing the president of Nigeria, H.E. Muhammadu Buhari. “This is the latest investment by Olam in Nigeria’s domestic food and agricultural production sector after our recent investments in wheat milling assets and the ongoing development of our 10,000-hectare rice farm and mill in Nasarawa state,” said Olam’s CEO for Africa, Venkataramani Srivathsan. “This new venture into animal feed is a win-win for Olam and Nigeria. Domestically produced meat is being hampered by a lack of good quality feed, support for farmers and availability of young stock, but consumption is set to increase. By investing in poultry and fish feed, we can utilize the wheat bran from our wheat milling operations, as well as maximize our sourcing networks to buy corn and soy from local farmers. Our investment in the hatchery will help boost poultry production and, in the long run, help reduce the country’s reliance on imports. This development underlines the continued confidence we share in Nigeria’s ambition for self-sufficiency.” Approximately two-thirds of the total investment is committed to building and operating the facilities in Kaduna state, with the balance to be invested in an integrated poultry and fish feed mill in Kwara state. Total annual feed capacity is expected to be more than 600,000 metric tons. The Kaduna mill will supply mainly Nigeria’s northern markets, while the southwestern region will be the main focus of the Kwara plant. Sourcing corn and soybeans locally, it is hoped the feed mills will encourage domestic production of these crops, and food security will be improved with Olam’s planned construction of in-house storage of 100,000 metric tons. The poultry breeding farm in Kaduna is expected to produce more than 1 million hatching eggs each week to the hatchery. Olam International,based in Singapore ,is a leading agri-business operating across the value chain in 70 countries, supplying a range of products across 16 platforms to more than 16,000 customers worldwide. They have a direct sourcing and processing presence in most major producing countries, Olam has built a global leadership position in many of its businesses. source Wattagnet.com

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

PROCESSING POULTRY FOR PROFIT.

All categories of poultry can be raised and processed for profit. The time of maturation of these birds differ hence the venture could be short term or a long term venture depending on your finances . Whatever the category, processing and packaging as premium chicken still is the best approach as it attracts high market value.

ANIMAL FEED # # ENHANCE HUMAN HEALTH.

The growth promoters in feed of animals has resulted in various side effects in man with a global concern of antibiotic resistance .This has prompted the research of better feeding techniques in animal husbandry to ensure food safety and better human health. The strategies involve the following; total exclusion of antibiotics from animal feed,feeding animals organically produced feed matter and introduction of green algae to the feed .Growth promoters are added to animal feed to ensure better feed absorption,utilization, better feed conversion,enhanced growth,better by products and attainment of market weight within a short time. The latest innovation to join the no-antibiotic -in feed train, is a premix made by nanotechnology to ensure growth with any resultant toxicity in man.The product is ATOVI POWDER,used in feed of all animals to ensure growth,improve feed conversion,increase in size of eggs,longer laying period,shorter molting period ,high carcass percentage and its environmentally friendly. The vitamin/mineral premix has been termed the miracle powder because of its success as growth promoter but more so because of its ability to keep pathogens away from livestock.The product developed in the Philippines,gained recognition during the outbreak of bird flu,as the flock raised with the powder did not succumb to the virus. The powder has made its way out of the Philippines to other countries which have benefited from the powder,its also in Nigeria and its potency verified.All hands must be on deck to ensure optimum health for our animals by appropriate feeding which will translate to better human health. WE ARE WHAT WE FEED OUR ANIMALS !!!!!!