AGRIBUSINESS :Building A Globally Competitive Economy Through MSMEs Using Garri As A Point Of Reference.

AGRIBUSINESS :Building A Globally Competitive Economy Through MSMEs Using Garri As A Point Of Reference. Echbee foods,the indigenous garri themed company was at the NASME(National Association of Small and medium enterprises fair held on 2/8/18. 

 AGRIBUSINESS :Building A Globally Competitive Economy Through MSMEs Using Garri As A Point Of Reference. Garri is a staple food in Nigeria, affordable and easily accessible, creating a source of employment for millions of people and also a means of foreign collaborations.

 Echbee foods has changed the paradigm with garri,churning out healthy,wholesome snacks and meals. Echbee foods turns ordinary garri into extraordinary snacks and food. Echbee foods show cased garri flakes, packed garri with milk, sugar and groundnut. Innovative products made from garri and showcased are 1) garri fish fingers. 2)garri shawarma 3) garri fish fingers 4)garri peanut puff puff 5)garri akara and garri pancake with sauce. AGRIBUSINESS :Building A Globally Competitive Economy Through MSMEs Using Garri As A Point Of Reference.

Dogs prefer to eat fat, and cats surprisingly tend toward carbs.

Dogs prefer to eat fat, and cats surprisingly tend toward carbs.Dogs gravitate toward high-fat food, but cats pounce on carbohydrates with even greater enthusiasm, according to research into the dietary habits of America's two most popular pets. The study sheds new light on optimal nutrition for the animals and refutes a common notion that cats want and need a protein-heavy regimen.Findings were published this month in the Journal of Experimental Biology. "The numbers were much different than what traditional thinking would have expected," said the study's corresponding author, Jean Hall, a professor in the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University. "Some experts have thought cats need diets that are 40 or 50 percent protein. Our findings are quite different than the numbers used in marketing and are going to really challenge the pet food industry." Dietary proteins contribute to a number of important physiological functions such as blood clotting, production of hormones and enzymes, vision and cell repair. Protein also has the most power to make the eater feel satiated; carbohydrates are No. 2 in that regard, followed by fat.

FG to replace GES with agric mechanisation scheme.

FG to replace GES with agric mechanisation scheme. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh disclosed that the federal government is to introduce a new programme called “Agriculture Implement and Mechanization Scheme (AIMS)” as a substitute to Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES). The Minister made the disclosure during the unveiling of the SMART Model Farm Site by John Deere Tractors Manufacturing Company at Gwagwalada Local Government Area in Abuja. FG to replace GES with agric mechanisation scheme.

Africa must double cassava production to avert food crisis by 2050.

Africa must double cassava production to avert food crisis by 2050. As the Global Cassava Partnership for the 21st Century (GCP21) prepares for its 4th International Cassava Conference in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, scheduled for June 11-15, 2018, its Director, Dr. Claude Fauquet has warned that for the continent to avert a major food crisis by 2050, it needs to double her cassava production. Fauquet, who raised the alarm, at a world press conference in Lagos said though Africa accounts for 55 per cent of global cassava root production, its yield per hectare is the lowest in the world with about 10 tons per ha as opposed to Asia where average yield is 21 tons per hectare—or double the yield in Africa. Africa must double cassava production to avert food crisis by 2050. more

How to promote agribusiness with incubation hubs.

: How to promote agribusiness with incubation hubs. Agribusiness is the new gold and many people are moving into the sector but the growth impact is not as evident as it should be because of lack of organisation/structure in the industry.


 The issue of incubation hubs in agribusiness will promote agribusiness,provide more jobs and expand the  agricultural value chain markets to make money . Incubation hubs will give budding entrepreneurs platforms to start and grow the business and expand making more money.

    How to promote agribusiness with incubation hubs.

 Agribusiness today is big business and currently only the very big are calling the shots,but with incubation hubs many more will have opportunities.

How will the incubation hubs work? 1) It is a place where entrepreneurs churn out their ideas.

 2) Ideas are analysed and market possibilities are charted.

 3) Production is set in motion.

 4) Entrepreneur start to think about how to grow and multiply the business. Why is the incubation hub important?

Growth is the main purpose for the hub. The budding entrepreneur has to contend with a lot of factors which basically stifles growth,but if an incubation hub takes away most of these factors,then growth is inevitable.


Lets look at this idea: an entrepreneur wants to start making fruit juices ,he has to contend with power,rent of factory,employee, registration,documentation and so many hidden charges.


 When the budding entrepreneur sits down to calculate all he needs to start,he will have a rethink and postpone his startup and if he strives to startup he can only go mum-and -pop and if the idea is so great,the big guys will take over and hes out of business.

 Entrepreneurs in incubation hubs have a leverage such that much more can be done with his capital. Agribusiness with development of the value chains is a money spinner,but incubation hubs are the keys to drive the vision.

Thinking agribusiness,business development? think incubation hubs. Incubation hubs are more like furnished office spaces that you rent,you just go in do your business and go home.

  Agribusiness hub, a place setup for production,processing,packaging, distribution and even exportation.

The entrepreneur will just come in with idea,produce,package and sell while the hub will take care of necessary documents.#NAFDAC #NEPC #employee #certification. 

The incubation hubs  at advanced levels of production can provide  group certification of products, which will enhance productivity as well as facilitate easy tracing and tracking of projects.

The profit is worked out at a percentage that is fair for all parties and this will regulate the industry as you can easily trace and track products. Incubation hubs  are a jump start or kick starter approach to grow your business.

Agribusiness: how to start a small medium enterprise (SME) with zobo leaves.

Sorrel leaves popularly called zobo leaves is used to produce a healthy nutritious drink. Hibiscus sabdariffa commonly referred to as ( ZOBO LEAVES/sorrel leaves), has various uses and several benefits in man . 

Its referred to as zobo leaves and has found usefulness in treatment of hypertension, weight control, ant-inflammatory agent, diuretic and as a soothing tea. The leaves are also boiled,flavored and served as a refreshing drink,the leaves can also be used for preparation of jams,jellies and wine. 

The fiber from the plant have been used to make ropes as a substitute for jute bags. The leaves are known to be a good source of iron,calcium, niacin,vitamin C B vitamins,, carotene as well as manganese. 

The zobo leaves also contain protein,phosphorus,fat and fiber making it a perfect nutritional meal.

Zobo leaves are beneficial to man for health and wealth. The zobo leaves can be used to produce many products that have huge financial gains with minimal startup capital. The leaves can be used in the following ways to start an SME.

 1) Tea production.: The leaves are cleaned, dried and packed into tea bags such that the consumer draws the bags in the hot water. 

 The processed leaves can be packed and sold in fanciful packs,where consumers pour the packed leaves into boiling water and then sieve the leaves out of the pot and drink.

 

The leaves can also be cleaned, sorted and packed in teabags 

Tea bags materials can be sourced here

 2) Flavored drinks: The leaves are cleaned,washed and then boiled. The drink is filtered when cool and different flavors are added. 

The flavors are either natural or sweeteners depending on your market. Sugar is the most common sweetener but  the drink can be flavored with ginger, watermelon,strawberry or oranges. This can be packed in bottles or sachets for school children.

3) lollipops/Popsicle: can also be made using the zobo leaves. The leaves are picked and washed then boiled. The filtered drink is flavored and poured into the Popsicle maker to make a healthy treat for kids. 

The lollipops can be made without the Popsicle maker by using cups.The drink is poured in the cups,then the stalk/holder is set in the cup and frozen. 

The lollipops are removed from cup when fully set. #money #agribusiness #entrepreneur #Agribusiness, #zobo #businessdevelopment

FUNAAB trains extension officers in cassava development.

FUNAAB trains extension officers in cassava development.The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Prof. Felix Salako, has joined the call on the need for the nation to move away from its overdependence on oil resources and embrace agriculture as a sustainable route to national development. The vice-chancellor stated this while declaring open the facilitation and communication skills training programme that was organised in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, by the Cassava, Adding Value for Africa II Nigeria Project, for Agricultural Development Programmes’ extension officers and procurement personnel of the large-scale cassava producers.

The Next Agricultural Revolution: Smart Farming.

The Next Agricultural Revolution: Smart Farming. Seasoned farmers, young entrepreneurs and conscious consumers are working together to create local food systems that are both sustainable and humane. These passionate people are finding fresh ways to bring local and nutritious food back onto the table. The localization of food systems is perhaps the most radical step we can take toward creating more sustainable and just communities around the world.

The secret slimming effect of sweet potato waste.

The secret slimming effect of sweet potato waste.The sweet potato pie you eat during the holidays might not be good for your waistline, but according to a new study, the starchy water left over from cooking the sweet potato could have slimming effects . In the new study, mice on a high fat diet had significantly lower body weight after one month if they were also fed sweet potato peptide, which was produced by enzyme digestion of proteins in the water wasted during processing. This suggests the peptide plays a role in digesting fats, but more research is needed to determine whether this also happens in humans. In the new study, Dr. Koji Ishiguro from National Agriculture and Food Research Organization in Japan and colleagues wanted to find a new way to use this waste, so they investigated the effect of proteins found in the water on digestion in mice. "We throw out huge volumes of wastewater that contains sweet potato proteins -- we hypothesized that these could affect body weight, fat tissue and other factors," explained Dr. Ishiguro. "Finding alternative uses for the sweet potato proteins in wastewater could be good for the environment and industry, and also potentially for health."

Combining Solar Panels With Agriculture Makes Land More Productive.

Combining Solar Panels With Agriculture Makes Land More Productive.Solar panels are wonderful things, but they do take up a lot of space, especially for larger, utility-scale systems. In some densely populated countries like China and India, where loss of farmland can lead to hungry people, floating solar farms are being built to take advantage of the surface area of lakes and rivers.

AGRIBUSINESS: How to grow garlic at home and make money.

Cockroach milk as food supplement for human consumption.

Cockroaches are on demand in pharmaceuticals in China who believe the insects can be used to cure stomach, liver and heart ailments. Cockroach milk as food supplement for human consumption. A new research indicates that cockroach milk can be transformed into a food supplement worthy of human consumption in future. “Protein crystals in cockroaches have a whopping three times the energy of an equivalent mass of buffalo milk and about four times the equivalent of cow's milk” said Leonard Chavas, one of the scientists behind the research.

Scientists revealed that the insect’s liquid takes the form of protein crystals in the guts of baby cockroaches. “The Pacific Beetle Cockroach feeds its bug babies a formula which is remarkably rich in protein, fat and sugar and was found to be complete food. The proteins in the particular species of the insect have high energy content that it helps infants within this unique species grow much bigger than cockroach babies of other species.

Agriculture can sustain Nigerian economy.

Agriculture can sustain Nigerian economy. In a bid to break the monoculture system and widen the resource base of the economy, agricultural experts have advised that Nigeria should return to agriculture fully as it can sustain the economy. Speaking at the 2017 Agra Innovate West Africa conference in Lagos, the President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Nike Akande, said that agriculture had the potential to become the most significant way to achieve economic development in Nigeria. Akande, who described agriculture as a very significant sector, said more attention should be paid to the industry as it could provide employment for more than 75 per cent of the unemployed population in Nigeria.

Facts about African Swine Fever.

The emergence of cases of African swine fever identified within the pork producing countries,shows it is important to maintain high standards of biosecurity.

The knowledge about the signs of the disease, and equally most important is to know how to curtail the spread. The pig and its close relatives, boars and hogs are the only natural host of the double-stranded, Asfarviridae family of viruses, meaning the virus does not cause harm to humans or other animals. This does not mean that humans and other animals cannot spread the virus as carriers;


 African Swine Fever (ASF) is commonly carried by arthropods, such as the soft-bodied tick, through uptake of blood from infected pigs.

 Contamination generally occurs via direct contact with tissue and bodily fluids from infected or carrier pigs, including discharges from the nose, mouth, urine and feces or infected semen.

   It also spreads through transport and consumption of contaminated pork products, and some cases have originated from failure to comply with biosecurity standards by feeding waste food to domestic pigs..

   The virus in wild boar and hogs does not manifest any signs of the disease but it remains highly contagious across all swine species and can survive in pigs for long periods of time even post-slaughter and even in frozen carcasses.  It is also important to note that curing and smoking pork products does not destroy the virus.

 The common signs are as follows: 1). High fever 40-42°C.
 2) Loss of appetite.

 3) Depression.

 4)Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
.
5) In White skinned pigs: extremities (nose, ears, tail and lower legs) become cyanotic (blue-purple color).

 6) Discrete hemorrhages appear in the skin particularly on the ears and flanks.
 7) Group will huddle together and are usually shivering.

8) Abnormal breathing.

 9) Heavy discharge from eyes and/or nose.

10) Lethargic- sometimes refusal to stand or move.

11) Very unsteady when forced to stand up.

 12) Comatose state and death within a few days.

    Pregnant sows commonly undergo miscarriage or deliver stillborn piglets that are malformed. Piglets can be tested for the virus.

Mortality rate in infected groups of pigs is high and there is no vaccination proven to prevent or cure infection.

Prevention is key,here are some steps to follow

 Ensure strict biosecurity rules. Do not take pig meat onto farms, and restrict all food (and consumption of food) to a canteen.

All staff on farm should be inducted onto a strict programme of hand and equipment sanitation before and after contact with pigs.

 - Follow rules and regulations on disposal of food waste at ferry ports and airports.

 - Provide the means for staff and visitors to thoroughly sanitize their hands and equipment.

 - Ensure that wild boar, warthogs and wild pigs, and materials potentially contaminated by such wild species do not come into contact with domestic pigs.

 - Check infected regions before importation of goods that could potentially be contaminated. - Advise and educate people on the risks of bringing back pork products from infected regions.

World Food Day: Experts suggest agricultural sector reform .

World Food Day: Experts suggest agricultural sector reform .Experts have proposed the urgent reform of Nigeria’s agricultural sector to boost food production and rural development. 

They made the suggestion in separate interviews in Ibadan on Monday. Prof. James Adediran, the Executive Director, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, said that farmers, women and youths in agriculture should be given the needed support via capacity building. He said that they should also be assisted through the provision of farm machinery to enable them to produce large quantities of agricultural produce, while empowering all the participants in the agricultural value chain. 

World Food Day: Experts suggest agricultural sector reform . Adediran stressed the need for the rehabilitation of moribund farm settlements in some states, adding that government should invest in food security and rural development schemes. 

The executive director said that rehabilitating existing farm settlements and creating more centres of agricultural production would go a long way in addressing the problems facing smallholder farmers.World Food Day: Experts suggest agricultural sector reform .

Platform economy of the future is the pathway that will drive growth and jobs across Africa.

Platform economy of the future is the pathway that will drive growth and jobs across Africa. Many companies, whether they realize it or not, have already taken steps to embed themselves into the digital ecosystems that will drive their growth in future. 

However, the pace of adopting new digital platforms for doing business needs to increase – especially in Africa. These platforms are business models that create value by facilitating exchanges between two or more interdependent groups, usually consumers and producers. 

Platform economy of the future is the pathway that will drive growth and jobs across Africa.

AGRIBUSINESS: Garri on the go!!!!

AGRIBUSINESS: Garri on the go!!!! Garri, is a staple food in most African countries with various ethnic groups relishing the delicacy and Nigeria been the highest producer of cassava has a lot of potential for the business of cassava and cassava products.

 Garri otherwise called cassava flakes is one of the products from cassava and its a delicacy enjoyed by all classes of people and all age groups.

Garri is widely accepted and cuts across all tribes with each tribe modifying how they process,prepare and consume the garri. The standard when consuming the garri is by taking it with cold water or prepare it with hot water to make EBA another delicacy which can be consumed with any type of soup.

 AGRIBUSINESS: Garri on the go!!!! Garri on the go!!! this is an initiative of ECHBEE FOODS poised to make garri available when ever ,where ever its needed.

 In our fast paced world where everyone is looking for Instant stuff, garri on the go fits this profile as you can pack it in your lunch bag,purse,bag and carry to your office.

 Garri on the go is an agribusiness venture with export potential as cassava flakes are accepted all over with even Africans in diaspora seeking it out from African countries thus increasing its export potential.
Cassava flakes is highly nutritious , rich in dietary fiber, carbohydrates,and protein. Garri can easily be fortified with vitamin A to prevent eye problems especially night blindness.

Malnutrition in children can be addressed with feeding vitamin fortified garri, because its a staple food and easily accessible it can bee further fortified with other nutrients and minerals that will promote child development and growth.

 AGRIBUSINESS: Garri on the go!!!! Garri on the go, is processed from high quality cassava and packaged with groundnut for your delight.

Garri,is rich in carbs , is energy-giving and can be very handy when you need an energy boost. Garri with groundnut is cheap,very affordable.

The standard pack is 100 naira while the bigger version is 200 naira.


 AGRIBUSINESS: Garri on the go!!!! Garri is food and can also be medicine, garri can be used to treat diarrhoea.
When a person has diarrhoea,just give the person soaked garri and thee person is good to go.

Garri can also be used to treat wounds,when there is a cut bleeding profusely,just sprinkle some granules on the site to form a mat. The fiber in the garri will act as a substrate,initiating fast blood clotting before you seek medical care.

Management of infectious bursal disease virus( IBDV) in broilers.

The management of infectious bursal disease virus( IBDV) in broilers for most farmer is to ensure a strict and vaccination regime for their breeders. The maternal immunity passed on to chicks will usually help protect them until they are 3 to 4 weeks of age. This projection of conferred immunity sometimes does not work out like planned due to certain factors; 1) Efficacy of some vaccines. 2) Vaccine failure or break. 3) Early infection of flock before 2 weeks of age leading to permanent immune suppression despite maternal immunity. When IBDV infection in broiler flocks occurs after 3 to 4 weeks of age , when maternal immunity has waned it can result in reduced feed efficiency, slowed growth rate and uneven size of flocks. This will also lead to temporary immune suppression with a higher risk of secondary infections, which often become more critical in antibiotic-free production. The prevention of the damaging effects of IBDV by farmers can be initiated by simulating active immunity in their flocks. Live, attenuated vaccines used in layers with high success rate can also help prevent IBDv in broilers. Farmers have turned to in-ovo vaccination at hatchery at day 1 to forestall any disease occurrence. The common vaccines are the recombinant herpesvirus of turkey HVT- IBDV and immune-complex (IC) vaccines. . The efficacy of HVT-IBDV vaccines has been demonstrated as these vaccines have been shown to induce protection against multiple IBDV strains with no risk of bursa damage. The key to effective use of HVT-IBDV is that it should be the only recombinant vaccine used in the flock to prevent interference. Combining recombinant HVT-IBDV vaccines with other recombinant HVT vaccines e.g for Newcastle disease or infectious laryngotracheitis is not recommended because viral interference can occur between the HVT viruses. In cases where an HVT recombinant vaccine is needed to manage either of the respiratory diseases, an alternative to the HVT-IBDV vaccine is recommended. The immune-complex vaccines (IC) contain a mixture of modified-live vaccine virus and anti-IBDV antibody. The antibodies in these products bind to the IBDV vaccine virus. These antibodies greatly reduces the ability of the vaccine virus to replicate early in the broiler’s life ,thus damage to the bursa and immune suppression are minimal and often undetected. This ability to act early in the of the broiler makes the IC-IBDV vaccines a safe alternatives to HVT-IBDV vaccines. Vaccinating with an IC-IBDV vaccine in the presence of maternal antibodies to IBDV seems counter intuitive or counter-productive but these vaccines have been shown to stimulate active immunity to IBDV, even when maternal antibody titers are relatively high.

Probiotics have a ‘positive effect’ on stress and anxiety: Meta-analysis

Probiotics have a ‘positive effect’ on stress and anxiety: Meta-analysis: Probiotics consumption may have advantageous effects on mental health by lessening the psychological symptoms of perceived stress, depression and anxiety, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis.

Value addition to tomatoes.

Tomatoes are healthy fruits with massive health benefits as they are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid with antioxidant properties, which is responsible for the deep red color of tomatoes. Food rich in lycopene will give antioxidant and is often associated with boosting our immune system by removing free radicals from our bodies thus decreasing the risk of stroke, lowering our bad cholesterol levels and preventing artery hardening. Tomatoes contain Zeaxanthin,a flavonoid that helps eyes stay healthy and with vitamin A that is found in tomatoes as well will take a good care of eyes if this fruit is eaten regularly. Fresh raw tomatoes are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, and some B-complex vitamins, tomatoes are also low in calories as 100 grams of tomatoes have around 18 calories. Tomatoes can be processed to paste,puree and ketchup alongside other products. The tomato market is large and a lot needs to be done to prevent the losses currently experienced from farm to market. Investors in the chain can actually tap into value addition in the form of processing the fruit into other products that are also equally beneficial in terms of health and wealth. Tomato value addition; 1) Tomato juice: I remember this product in my school days, it was always available especially during parties,but it gradually disappeared thanks to sugar flavored drinks. The juice is actually a healthy beverage with a good taste and aroma and a high vitamin content not forgetting the antioxidant effect on our cell. A high quality tomato juice contains 0.4 percent citric acid, 0.5 percent salt and 0.1 percent sugar. 2)Tomato ketchup : this is by far the most common form of processing,with various brands adding specific ingredients to make their products unique.Ketchup is commonly used with snacks and ready-to-eat foods,the chicken and chips delicacy is not complete without it. 3)Tomato paste: this is easy and most convenient for working mums, the tomatoes are cut up and processed into ready to use paste. There is another value addition with the tomato paste,it could actually be blended with pepper and some salt to produce a tomapep product. This is a handy ingredient for homes,eateries,school cafeterias and definitely a travel companion when camping out. 4)Tomato powder: tomatoes can also be dehydrated and grounded into fine powders that can be packaged in cans and sachets. 5)Tomatoes :can also be preserved and processed as dehydrated tomatoes. Tomatoes can be dehydrated and stored for further processing into powder or stored and used as dried tomato slices. Value addition to the tomato fruit cannot be fully explored as so many products can be derived from the tomato,what is required is the plan to cut the losses from site of production to market and then fresh produce to consumers. Investors in this value addition can actually site factories within the cluster of production,or better still farmers could even engage in this value addition by using dehydrators to save the excess tomatoes ,which will now be ready raw material for tomato processing plants. The funny side of tomatoes; see