Urban Agriculture : Cricket farming is the latest money code.

The art of insect rearing for commercial purposes originated from the Netherlands, but has now spread to different parts of the world including Africa.. Crickets are black or brown insects that belong to the class insecta, order Orthoptera and genus Acheta. They are categorized into two groups; house cricket and field cricket. These creatures are the latest money code in agriculture.

Crickets is independent of climate change. Farmers are able to rear them throughout the year and thus their profitability is ensured. This cheap startup has found its share in urban agriculture,the crickets can be raised in-house,outdoors in bucket,crates or bowls. The relative ease of raising these creatures coupled with the health benefits derived has made the cricket ,food of the future. Crickets have a higher feed conversion ratio converting most of their feed into protein. The insect has a high protein value an advantage that is tapped in area of malnutrition. Crickets are a rich source of fats, especially the polyunsaturated fatty acids ,they also contain minerals such as iron and zinc. Crickets can be used directly as food or ground into flour to fortify other foods. 

Cricket flour can be used as an ingredient to make products such as biscuits, cakes, porridge, chapati and mandazi. For example cricket farmers in Bondo have been incorporating cricket flour to make different confectioneries. Farmers in Kenya utilize buckets where female adults lay fertilized eggs under a wet cotton wool. After a month, the eggs hatch into nymphs that feed on vegetables, soy flour and water.It takes three months for crickets to mature into adult stage. An adult cricket weighs about 0.5- 1.5grammes. 

 Harvesting of the mature crickets is by emptying into boiling water for about 5 minutes. These are then cooled in cold water before being dried in a solar drier to a moisture content of below five per cent. This reduces the growth of bacteria and molds, making them have an extended shelf-life and safe for human consumption. MORE

FEEDING FISH.

Feeding fish accounts for about 65-75% of total cost of production,hence there is a need to understand the requirements of fish,the feed stuff ,and how to get the desired value for the cost of feeding. Fish feed must be a balanced meal consisting of carbohydrate,protein,fat and oil,and vitamin premix.The sources of these component will depend on availability,cost and weighed advantages of the feed stuff over other options. Carbohydrate sources can be any of the following; millet,maize,wheat,rice bran or sorghum.Protein sources include; soya beans,fish meal,groundnut cake.Fat and oil include palm oil,vegetable oil or fish oils.The vitamin premix is a combination of additives and supplements . Atovi premix is the choice for enhanced growth and early harvest. The combination of these various feed stuff depends on the age of the fish with regards to the crude protein level,and stage of development.Fish feed must posses certain qualities for it to be considered suitable for use; 1)it must be balanced;contain all components in required quantities. 2)it must be attractive and palatable to fish. 3)it must be cost effective. 4)must promote growth of fish. 5)must be stable in water but must not pollute the pond. fish feed depends on the management employed; feeding may be by using natural feed,compounded feed,live feed or a combination of natural and compounded ration.The compounded feed are presented in powdered ,granular or pelletized forms.Fish feed could also be presented in flakes,this is usually the form for ornamental fish.Natural feed include the normal feed that fishes are exposed to in their natural habitats such as aquatic weeds,water hyacinth and water lettuce. Phytoplankton,zoo-plankton,insects,shrimps,maggot,tadpoles and earthworm. Animal offals are also sometimes used to feed fish; these offals include chicken intestine,pig scrapings, and cattle cuttings. The offals are washed properly,boiled and then coated with cornflour to absorb oil,this is then fed to the fish.The flour helps prevent pollution in pond by limiting /preventing oil deposits. Eggs can be used as well; the eggs are boiled,shelled and the yolk is mixed with water to form a paste.This is then broadcast ed on the pond for fish to feed.The disadvantage of feeding with yolk is that the pond must be flushed after every meal to prevent contamination of pond. Fish are fed at specific times to create a rhythm/pattern,the feeding is done at specific points so that the fish can be easily observed and weak/inactive ones are isolated. The quality and quantity of the feed is important,as it plays a vital role in the success of the production.When feed is incomplete,inadequate and has potential to pollute pond,these hampers the growth and development of fish.

FISH FEED.

Fish feed are natural components such as phyto planktons,zoo plankton,insects,maggots and shrimps.The compounded feed are a combination of wheat offal,fish meal,bone meal,groundnut cake,maize and soya bean meal.The best procedure will be a combination of natural and compounded feed. Phytoplanktons are natural water plants that are also used as fish feed. The making of zoo plankton as fish feed: 20kg of chicken waste,5kg of lime,5kg of NPK and 2kg of fish meal.These components are mixed ,then spread on the water surface.The zoo planktons will be observed by the 3rd day,these are observed as whitish bodies swimming in the pond. Maggots are produced for the fish by keeping a large piece of meat in a container and placed in a cool environment,the meat decomposes,and maggots evolves.These are then used to feed the fish.