STARTUP : How 2 women turned recycled tyre business to international brands.

STARTUP : How 2 women turned recycled tyre business to international brands. H Laura ZABO – makes up-cycled belts and vegan accessories from reused bicycle tyres.“The ZABO story began in Tanzania, Africa where fell in love with the handmade and brightly painted sandals made from reused tyres. STARTUP : How 2 women turned recycled tyre business to international brands. The idea for footwear label soleRebels popped into the brain of Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu in 2004. Looking around her native Addis Ababa, she caught sight of the ubiquitous simple sandals made from recycled tyres and decided to turn them into an international brand. Twelve months later, soleRebels was launched in a local workshop with just five staff. SoleRebels has earned the soubriquet, the Nike of Ethiopia.more

AGRIBUSINESS: How to start a vegetable farm using tyres.

STARTUP: How to start a vegetable farm using tyres. Agriculture is the next big thing as all creatures need food,and with the estimated 9 billion people to be fed by 2050 all hands must be on deck to produce more food. 

 The need to produce more food has opened up new frontiers of farming as many people are using unconventional means to plant,many have turned to urban agriculture for profit and sustainability. 

The use of bottles,plastics,sacs barrels have been explored to plant vegetables but a very unconventional method still untapped is the use of tyres to start a vegetable farm. STARTUP: How to start a vegetable farm using tyres. 

 The use of old tyres to start a vegetable farm though very unconventional its very convenient and ecofriendly. Old tyres can be recycled and used in agricultural projects such as raising snails, making mattress for cows to increase milk yield, starting a fish farm ,planting vegetables, roses e.t.c. 

 The use of tyres for agricultural projects is a good alternative to the current method of disposing tyres  is burning which pollutes the atmosphere with severe health implications for man and climate warming. 

The project you want to embark on will determine the size of tyres to use and how to arrange them or stack them up to produce the result you desire.

 The tyres could even be layered so that you have more than a row of vegetables or sectioned so you have 2 or 3 sections in the tyres to produce more with less space.  

 STARTUP: How to start a vegetable farm using tyres. 

 1) Get old tyres,clean,wash and disinfect and set out to dry. The tyres can be painted to add a color code to your farm and also make it attractive.

 2) Prepare the site for the tyres,this must be clean,free of weeds and in an easy accessible place. The tyre is now further prepared by using a black plastic(polythene) to cover the base and to prevent any weeds then place a wire mesh on top to keep steady and create a partition between the surface and tyre base.

 3) Get the soil which must be treated to ensure no pests are inside. 

4) Get your compost and mix with soil to prepare for planting. #tyres.  

 The tyres can also be prepared like this

How to feed snails with watermelon.

 How to feed snails with watermelon. Watermelon are undoubtedly very useful in the food chain as they offer benefits to man as well as animals.

The role of watermelon in the poultry value chain has been explored and the results are outstanding ,see. Watermelon has also been used as medicine to ensure health of birds,see #snails

 Watermelon is very useful aside from the fruit itself the rind itself is food ,see the rind is also useful in feeding snails.


 The rind is washed ,sliced and then cubed into pieces before feeding them to the snails. The snails relish this delicacy , #snails.

‘Pokemon Go’ Inspired This Mom To Craft Pocket Monsters For Kids To Discover In The Wild.

Pokemon-fever is in full-effect as Pokemon Go continues to be one of the hottest apps on both Android and iPhone. So while a lot of the stories surrounding Pokemon Go tend to be sensationalized — the kind of stories about creeps in vans or people being attacked — it’s a breath of fresh air to see someone doing something positive for Pokemon Go players. According to Kotaku, a mom in Dallas decided to begin crafting her own Pokemon characters and started leaving them hidden at local Pokestops for children to discover. She’s hiding them all over and the response is staggering, with people hunting down her creations and sharing photos and stories of their kids finding and adoring said knitted-pocket monsters. What’s even better is that she’s sharing the patterns that she created to craft these Pokemon with the world — for free — so that other crafty-type individuals can follow her patterns and create their own pocket monsters and bring the same kind of joy to kids hunting down Pokemon with their parents. While the rest of the world is focused on Pokemon players walking into walls and people attempting to mug players, this woman is helping to make the game just a little bit more magical. credit((Via Kotaku)

AIO ROBOTICS EXPANDS CHINESE PRESENCES THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH SHENYANG MACHINE TOOL CO.

< When it comes to simplicity and ease, it’s hard to beat AIO Robotics. Using their Zeus 3D printer is as easy as plugging it in and pressing a button, which has made it an obvious favorite of schools, libraries, and consumers who want to avail themselves of 3D printing for prototyping or other purposes but don’t necessarily have the time or expertise for high-maintenance precision machines. 

 The Los Angeles-based AIO Robotics launched their flagship printer a couple years ago after a successful Kickstarter campaign, and has since spread across the globe with resellers all over the US and in Canada, Asia, Australia and Europe.  

 One market the company hasn’t significantly tapped thus far has been China, but that should soon be changing thanks to a partnership with Shenyang Machine Tool Co, Ltd (SMTCL). The Chinese company is the largest machine and tool manufacturer in the world, but they haven’t ventured into 3D printing until now, though they are a champion of technologically advanced manufacturing. In 2014, SMTCL introduced the i5, an intelligent CNC control and “Smart Factory” platform, which has accounted for a significant portion of the company’s business. 

 In addition to being an easy-to-use 3D printer, the Zeus is also a 3D scanner, copier and fax machine, and recently AIO Robotics further enhanced the machine’s capabilities by integrating it directly with the MyMiniFactory printing platform. 

 Users can now access the site’s expansive 3D model library and download and print files directly from their printers with the push of a button, making the Zeus even more ideal for educational settings. 

The classroom-friendly attributes of the printer are certainly a big selling point for the community-focused SMTCL, which shares many of AIO’s future-thinking values. SMTCL is the fourth Asian reseller to pick up the Zeus, joining Taiwan’s Smartec Scientific Corp, Japan’s Santec, and the also-China-based Trustworthy Technology Co.  

 Read more at 3Dprint.com

AGRIBUSINESS: CONTRACT FARMING AND INDUSTRIALIZATION.

AGRIBUSINESS: CONTRACT FARMING AND INDUSTRIALIZATION. 

 The role of of agriculture in economic growth is significant to any form of globalization. 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. 

 AGRIBUSINESS: CONTRACT FARMING AND INDUSTRIALIZATION. 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. 

 

AGRIBUSINESS: CONTRACT FARMING AND INDUSTRIALIZATION. 

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. #contract farming # money # tomatoes # packaging #globalization,government # empowerment.

CATTLE BY-PRODUCT PROCESSING AND USES.

Cattle by-products can add value to the beef processing value chain if properly managed and marketed. The cattle by-products include; horns,tail-hair switch) ,blood and skin. Horns, from the cattle are collected and processed.

The processing involves washing; the horns are washed ,disinfected and dried.The inner core of the horn is removed and chemicals are applied to fix the horns and to prevent it from decay.

 The horns can be colored using various dyes and are sold internationally as decorative ornaments.The horns can be sold plain,colored or can be grounded and processed to make buttons and fashion accessories. 

 The horns are a source of foreign exchange as they can be used in various industries such as fashion, pharmaceutical and tourism. 

  

 The tail-hair are collected and processed.The tail-hair popularly called switch is also another money-spinner,this is sold also in foreign market.The tail-hair is collected, washed and processed.

These are processed into traditional ornaments,used as decorative pieces, they are also processed to hair extensions which attract high market value. The ruminal content though in waste management category has a place in this piece.

The ruminal content, collected and processed by drying can be used as fertilizers in vegetable gardens.These can also be processed and used as supplement for animal feed. The processing of the content in large volumes will involve use of biodigester produce bio-gas. 

 The collected blood is processed by boiling ,drying and used as blood meal in animal feed.The skin usually processed for consumption can be processed into leather products.

The leather by-products from the skin command high market value with great foreign exchange potential.

HOW TO START RAISING SNAILS FOR PROFIT.

Snail farming also referred to as heliculture is a lucrative business with high export potential.Snails are small,hardy and easy to manage.They can be raised on small or large scale using various means of housing.The snail business is easy to set up, with simple management. Snail farming is not capital intensive and the feed are readily available and cheap. Snails are not a nuisance to the environment because there is no noise from the pens, and effluents are odorless. 

 The snail is divided into 3 parts; the shell, muscular foot and the visceral mass. The shell is the most visible part which makes up 30-40% of the whole body.The shell is a means of identifying various species, and it has ornamental values.The shell increases with body size,thus its also a means of determining the age of the snails. The muscular part also referred to as foot is the edible part, and makes up 45% of the body weight.Its also the means by which the snails move. The visceral mass houses the internal organs and the reproductive organs. The snails are hermaphrodites, but they still require another snail to lay eggs. 

 Snails can be housed in various enclosures depending on size of stock; old tyres with wire netting,drums,wooden cages, cemented high/low fenced pens or natural gardens .The housing must be intact with no openings for rodents,ants and mosquitoes.The housing must provide shade,to prevent heating up the snails resulting in death. Snails feed on greens,tubers and fruits. Snails can feed on leaves of pawpaw,cassava,fruits of mango,banana,orange.They can also be fed well ground broiler ration,chick mash or layer ration.

The feed must be balanced with adequate components of carbohydrate,fish meal and calcium supplements. Water is very important in snail diet and it must be readily available. The housing of the snail must be covered with loamy soil which must be kept moist to allow the snails to burrow and lay eggs.

The snails/ hatchlings that are to be the foundation stock must be carefully chosen, they should be of good weight (300-350g),with no cracks on shell and no nodules.The snails must be well stocked to prevent cannibalism,death and poor growth. 

 A stocking density of the snails should be 40-50 hatchlings/m2, 30- 40 growers/m2 and 12-15 adults/m2. The sexual maturity of the snail is 5-6 months, upon maturity they lay eggs in presence of other snails and the eggs are buried deep in the sand to protect them. The snails a clutch of 80-100 eggs .Snails can lay up to 300 eggs in a year.

The incubation period is about 18-30 days and the hatchlings come out of soil a day after hatching.If the soil is hard,the hatchlings will not be able to come out,hence wetting of the soil is important.

 HEALTH BENEFITS OF SNAILS. 1) It has low fat and cholesterol content. 2)It is rich in iron,thus recommended for anemic patients. 3)Its a good source of protein. 4)The meat is juicy and tender suitable for young and old.