AGRIBUSINESS: HOW TO TURN WATER HYACINTH TO A GOLDMINE.

AGRIBUSINESS: HOW TO TURN WATER HYACINTH TO A GOLDMINE. Water hyacinth our frenemy!!! Water hyacinth a rapidly growing aquatic plant that clogs the water ways,thus making navigation difficult and also reducing the permeability of the water surface,thus killing aquatic life,but this same plant offers tremendous potential for economic growth if properly harnessed. This aquatic plant has found favorable uses in animal feed production, where its harvested and used as fish feed and also pig feed. The cellulose and hemicellulose makes it suitable as bio fuel, some bio engineered forms have been used to produce aviation fuel and other bio-products. The waste to wealth project is the major benefactor of this water plant.The water hyacinth can be degraded in a biodigester to produce biogas,basically methane. This can be connected to power grid to provide electricity and also cooking gas for domestic and industrial uses. The sludge from the bio-reactor is nutrient rich and hence its a high quality fertilizer for crops.This will prevent the use of chemicals in the soil to stimulate growth,thus ensuring crops and other produce are grown naturally. AGRIBUSINESS: HOW TO TURN WATER HYACINTH TO A GOLDMINE. The aquatic plant can be processed and used for various types of furniture and household pieces that are very durable. This will provide employment for a lot of people which will equally boost the furniture industry. We can start making high quality furniture,with various innovative designs. There will be employment opportunities in various segments ,such as training officers,processors, marketers and distributors all with subsets making the employment opportunities very enormous. The water hyacinth can be produced in house by cultivating them in channels that stimulate the growth to meet growing demands, the invasive water plant is actually our green gold. (pics culled online ) join the train!! green gold # agriculture # economic growth.

FEED THE FUTURE ; HYDROPONICS SYSTEM.

Rose Chelang’at decided to take up hydroponics farming at her dairy farm in Kericho County, Kenya after receiving training by a representative from Hydroponics Kenya, a local company that helps smallholders use innovative technology to grow food. Hydroponics is the process of growing crops, including fodder for livestock, without the use of soil. The technology, which is gaining ground quickly in Kenya, speeds up growth while eliminating soil-borne diseases, such as aflatoxin. Under Feed the Future, USAID is on the forefront of this trend, encouraging hydroponics farming to ensure more nutrition for farmers’ livestock, which will increase milk production and raise incomes. Hydroponic farming is a new concept to Kenyan smallholder farmers, who are taking it up as they come to recognize its affordability and suitability for small-scale farming. Youth are becoming more receptive to the technology as well, as it is a major boost to the dairy sector and has created job opportunities along the value chain for youth who are now creating aluminum trays for sale to local farmers. Technology transfer is an important method under Feed the Future to get affordable, effective technologies into the hands of smallholder farmers around the world. In Kenya, USAID is supporting the dissemination of nine new agricultural technologies and management practices at different phases of development. As an exciting new way to increase animal fodder and dairy production, hydroponic farming is a bright spot in Kenya’s agricultural future. Chelang’at reported after introducing the hydroponically grown fodder into the diet of her herd, “Two of my dairy cows now produce four more liters per day, increasing their daily milk production from 11 to 15 liters. I get an additional 12 liters per day from my third cow. #food security # food safety # innovation story culled from feed the future/Kenya article.

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE AND THE IMPACT ON ECONOMIC GROWTH.

The role of of agriculture in economic growth is significant to any form of globalization. Women plays significant roles in agriculture,they are involved in all sectors and contribute to economic growth and development. 

 The empowerment schemes should involve more women as they are challenged on so many fronts,the contract farming is a way to encourage more women to join agriculture sector and support those already in the sector. Agriculture has so many facets and aspects that if properly coordinated will bring about food security and increase revenue generation. 

The higher the number of people actively involved in this sector,the greater the chances of a sustainable economy. 

The use of contract farming in the agricultural sector has the following benefits ; 1) employment opportunities. 2) increase revenue generation. 3)food security. 4)globalization through partnership. 5)broad-based learning platform. 6)empowerment. 

      What is contract farming and how does it work?? 

This is basically a platform for growth both for individuals ,companies and the countries involved.The scheme extols the benefits of various aspects of agriculture such as fish farming,piggery,cattle rearing, and poultry.

The various segments are handled by professionals,who corporate with stakeholders already in the agriculture business and these seek out interested candidates in these projects.These people undergo training for a specific period,after which they are provided with tools to start-off.These tools include chicks,drugs,feed, weaners,calves and cages. 

The tools also include spaces that are allocated at moderate prices so the farmers can afford this without affecting overhead costs. The contract farmer has access to needed tools to start the project with a memorandum of understanding which states; the expected return and time lapse. 

This scheme will allow more players in the agric sector,with access to latest innovations in the field which they can employ to rapidly turn around their investment. 

 The venture also involves provision of equipment to process the finished products for packaging such as stoves,drying kiln and ovens to process fish. Education on food preservation and provision of such equipment will help prevent losses of crops.A source of water is a very necessary factor for any production,and many women travel long distances to get access to portable water.

A water for all project in forms of wells,boreholes and irrigation systems will boost production and increase sales.The larger percentage of the agricultural products are farmed in the rural areas and this is done by women. Empower the women; feed the world!!! Contract farming is an empowerment model that will fast tract growth in the agriculture sector,because the companies involved in this scheme collect products for sale in international market. 

The scheme also involves buying farmers products right from the farm,so the farmer tends its products carefully to attain specified standards.

This scheme will regulate products in the market because only those that meet required specification are purchased.

FOOD SECURITY.

Food security refers to the availability of nutritious food to citizen of a country or community.The rate of population explosion has threatened food security in most African countries, with the rate of increase in population not commensurate to food availability. Climatic changes and global warming are also factors threatening food security. Food security is one of the millennium development goals adopted by various countries to eradicate poverty.The food security is discussed on 4 points; 1) Availability...there must be a constant source/supply of food. 2) Accessibility...people must have resources to purchase the food.The people must have a source of livelihood,or a means of exchange to purchase the food. 3)Utilization..there must be the knowledge of basic food handling, preparations and food combination to ensure that food is nutritious. 4)Stability..the ability to access and utilize the food that results in stable and a sustainable life style. The process to ensure food security is multidimensional with women playing major roles in the production,processing and marketing of products. The challenges of food security differs among countries with each zone tackling issues from diseases,processing,prolonged drought,poor seedlings, and land issues. Food security is tackled now by incorporating new agricultural methods to produce,preserve and distribute these crops.Education of farmers is the major key to ensure food security, the introduction of new strains that are resistant to diseases, that mature faster and produce higher harvest. The road to food security is mashed in biotechnology, both in animal husbandry and crop production.When newer strains are produced,more harvest is expected over a short period of time.

BIO TECHNOLOGY AND FOOD SECURITY.

Biotechnology is one of the various ways of using scientific principles and techniques to produce crops that are pure strains and resistant to diseases. Biotechnology,nanotechnology,genetic engineering are all scientific interventions to produce better crops,improve plants,animals and microorganisms to enhance their value. The world today is faced with population explosion; the growth of the population is not at the same rate as food production and processing leaving most developing countries on poverty threshold and food scarcity. The world now is looking at strategies for food security and sustainability to eliminate hunger and eradicate poverty. Biotechnology has actually shown great potential to achieve food security in the agricultural sector where it has been used to develop plant strains that are resistant to pests and diseases. Biotechnology has also been employed to improve food processing,nutritional value better flavor and productivity of plants,vegetables and other food crops. Agric biotechnology is the use of scientific techniques to modify and improve crops by selective breeding. Advances in science especially in the field of molecular biology has provided scientist with ability to manipulate food at molecular level referred to as genetic engineering.The technique employed in genetic engineering is the transfer of DNA from species with specific desired traits into distantly related organisms. Genetic engineering allows the transfer of one or more traits from specific organism,plants,animals and microorganism and introduce them to new strains to come up with genetically modified strains with better productivity. The technology era has brought with it innovation , information , inputs and institutional support to enhance economic growth and development.The use of technology to ensure food security cannot be overemphasized,and so many options are at our fingertips to ensure food sustainability. Food can be cultivated in nutrient media instead of soil, and this is done in a controlled environment this system is referred to as hydroponics /aeroponics depending on the conditions of growth.This system enables farming even in your room or balcony or any small space that can house the system you want to adopt. Technology bringing change in its track; who could have imagined farming without soil or land? can you imagine planting tomatoes or vegetables or even yam in a column -like stand or table? Welcome to the world of BIOTECH; feeding the world with ease.

ATOVI; PREMIX FOR ANIMALS.

Animal production has taken a dramatic turn with the advent of antibiotic resistant bacteria,increase in cancer,obesity and early attainment of puberty in children. All these have been traced to animal husbandry; it is a known fact that more producers feed animals with antibiotic laden feed and growth hormones and these have resultant effects on consumers. People are kicking against the use of chemicals,antibiotics and medicated feed in production process,this has lead to search for more natural solutions which healthy benefits. Atovi is one of such alternatives; its a premix which when fed to animals enhances their immune system thus preventing diseases,it increases growth rate with high muscle mass,increases egg yield and size,it increases the rate of feed absorption thus ensuring better utilization of feed. The odor of feces of poultry birds are eliminated because of proper feed utilization,thus making management of poultry waste easy. The animals are not susceptible to diseases,thus reducing cost of production in terms of drug usage. Atovi has also found uses in growing of plant and food crops.Seeds to be planted are prep with atovi to energize them,prevent pest infestation and also enhance growth and yield of crops.Animal breeders also use the atovi to increase litter size, ensure high birth weight of pups and survival index. Atovi indeed is miracle supplement used all over the world to enhance performance of plants and animals naturally. Use atovi and increase production rate naturally,call for yours today. https://www.webmallng.com/my-profile