Agribusiness: Building a garri empire with innovative ideas.

  Echbee Foods, turning ordinary garri to extraordinary products. We are building a garri empire one recipe at a time providing nutritious food for children, empowering women and ensuring food security.

  Why garri? why not?  There is no home in Africa where garri is not on the menu at least twice a day, crunch the numbers and see the possibilities. If a larger % of the population eat garri, the cassava is here in the country, processing is done here then there is a market, a perpetual market.

 Introduction of garri to people is not necessary the catch here is to show how ordinary garri can be nutritious and affordable. Garri is easily accessible, affordable and a larger portion of the population are accustomed to the food.

Echbee foods thus decided to fortify what was already common in most homes to achieve our purpose of balanced meal with garri. Garri which is the most common by -product is food for over 800 million people in the world, thus fortifying the garri to produce a highly nutritious cereal can generate over 120 billion naira as revenue. 

  Welcome to the garri empire, a world of possibilities. We are changing the way people eat garri, one recipe at a time.

 The signature product of Echbee foods is our cassava flakes, which can be a snack or cereal.

 

  This is how most people drink #garri.

                                             #garri as  #snack and cereal.                                                 

Why drink #garri when you can have it #flaked? Follow us  for more mouthwatering recipes. For your next event try our garri puff-puff, cakes or finger foods.

Agribusiness : creating gender -sensitive value chain.

Gender equality is the fifth sustainable development goal(SDG) and to achieve zero hunger, food security with sustainable food systems there is the need for developing gender sensitive value chains.

 There is a gender -sensitive value chain frame work developed by Food and Agricultural organisation which has added 2 components to the core value chains. 

The frame work looks or analyzes the value chain based on individual and household level of involvement in the production circle.. This analysis will enumerate gender-based constraints along the production cycle as well as along nodes of production making it easy to proffer solutions.

  The adoption of the SDG goals and the execution necessitates the need to reshape and restructure our food systems to be:1) More inclusive of the marginalized population. 

2)Environmentally sustainable. 3)Capable of delivering healthy diets.

                 Why is gender relevant to value chains? 

48% of Agricultural labor force in the low income countries/ under developed/developing countries are women. 

The contributions of women to production and value chain development are usually not acknowledged,because  the services rendered are usually not rewarded with wages as most of the work are regarded as an extension of the domestic chores.

        

 

The analysis of operations and actors within the food chain and along the production cycle will show constraints encountered by players and also give an idea how to address the constraints.

 Women  within the value chain are challenged  in terms of access to land, livestock ownership, credit facilities,  access to information,access to technology and education. These constraints are fundamental and when tackled  will create  gender sensitive value chains were contributions of women will be highlighted, addressed and rewarded.

  Empowerment is the key to developing gender-sensitive value chains,where women gain power and control over their lives and acquire  ability to make strategic choices. 

Education is a chief component of the necessary action to stop  gender -based constraints  in value chains.

 Lets access the constraints in a value chain and proffer solutions.: Cassava value chain.

 

Agribusiness: building sustainable food systems using aquaponics.

  Aquaponics and  sustainable food systems.

Aquaponics is a method of farming and raising fish in the same spot, harnessing this opportunity will ensure a sustainable food system leading to food security. Reforms of the food systems requires innovative models to achieve goal of zero hunger.

Aquaponics farming involves raising fish and growing plants in the same space. This system if properly incorporated will ensure food security. The system maximize space and conserve water through recycling which reduces use of inorganic fertilizer thus saving money. 

Aquaponics system creates wealth by promoting fish farming and growing plants in same cubicle,thus creating job opportunities and food security. The system is a symbiotic one as the fish provides organic manure through the waste they pass out in the vats and the plants purifies water by removing the nutrients increasing oxygen concentration. 

The plants provide enough oxygen for the fish to thrive and the waste of fish gives nutrients to plants to grow and produce more oxygen,this unending cycle is the basis of the success of the aquaponics system. 

Learn how to set up

Ancient secrets to create wealth.

Health is wealth, a healthy person will create wealth. We can achieve a healthy status holistically or the orthodox way.

 Did you know that adding Cayenne pepper to poultry meal acts as an appetite stimulant,an antiseptic and digestive enhancement?

 Did you know that grounded pumpkin seeds are effective in control of tapeworms in laying birds ?

Did you know that giving ruminants dis canted water from grounded fermented corn is a source of probiotics?   This promotes growth of good bacterial in gut ..

 Did you know that ginger reduces stress? its an appetite stimulant and an antioxidant.

Did you know dissolving Vit C in water for your birds is an anti stress solution?

 Get more ,text vet to 35818. Read more tips.

Agribusiness: creating wealth with cassava/garri.

Cassava :How Farmers Can Earn N10trn From Cassava Processing.

How Farmers Can Earn N10trn From Cassava Processing.Nigeria is the highest producer of cassava in the world with over 40 mil­lion metric tonnes per annum. About 60 per cent of Nigerian farmers are in­volved in cassava production because it is one of the food security crops. Cassava roots can grow on any soil in Nigeria and it is virtually grown in the 36 states of the federation. It is very resistant to drought and sur­vives in a variety of soils. But today investors are yet to understand the untapped investment opportunities and farmers hardly see cassava crop as avenue to hit hard currency. GROWING and producing cassava for local consumption, processing for industrial use and meeting the stan­dard of exportation is a huge invest­ment that can transform Nigeria’s economy with its potential to earn over N10 trillion annually and turn individuals to millionaires, even mul­ti-billionaires from cassava project. Cassava tubers that may be pro­cessed into a variety of products that are gaining huge demand in the ex­port market including chips, flakes popularly known as garri, cubes, peeler, starch for industrial and pharmaceutical use, flour, which can be eaten as elubo lafun or used in the bakery industry, pellets, glues and adhesives, ethanol and glucose syrup, among others. The Na­tional President of Cassava Growers Association, Pastor Segun Adewun­mi, said that from cassava alone, Nigeria could make twice what the country was making at the peak of crude oil production. He pointed out that Nigeria has 84 million hect­ares of arable land, that if five million of hectares can be developed in five years, it would be enough to provide N10 trillion annually through indus­trial cassava to Nigeria’s economy. He added: “From cassava you get ethanol in two grades, including bio-fuel and the food grade. The food grade we are using in this country is worth N3 trillion and we have not even started with the one of bio-fuel and industrial starch.

Mange in pigs.

The importance of external parasites in pig production varies greatly among regions because of differences in climate and systems used to raise pigs. Sarcoptic mange caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var suis is the most important external parasite of pigs worldwide.

 Other external parasites include demodectic mites, lice, fungi and ticks. External parasites produce a range of clinical signs in pigs including rubbing, scratching, and skin lesions. Some parasites also cause significant economic effects due to reduced growth rate, reduced feed efficiency, and loss of carcass value at slaughter.

 Sarcoptic Mange. Two clinical forms of the disease are recognized: a hyperkeratotic form that most commonly affects multiparous sows and a pruritic or hypersensitive form that primarily affects growing pigs.

 The sarcoptes mite is a small, greyish-white, circular parasite about 0.5mm in length and just visible to the naked eye when placed on a dark background.

 Hyperkeratotic encrustations in the ears of multiparous sows are the main reservoir of mites within a herd. The boar helps to maintain infection in the herd because he is constantly in direct skin contact with breeding females and he remains a chronic carrier.

If pigs are housed in groups, there is increased opportunity for spread. Piglets become infested during suckling. Environmental spread is less important but exposure for as little as 24 hours to pens that have been immediately vacated by previously infected pigs can result in infestation.

 The mite dies quickly away from the pig; under most farm conditions in less than five days. This is an important factor in control. If a herd is free from mange, it is one of the easiest diseases to keep out because it can only be introduced by carrier pigs.

However, once it is introduced, it tends to become permanently endemic unless control measures are taken. In the acute disease,there is severe hypersensitive (allergic) mange in a sow.

Creep Feeding For Piglets.

Creep Feeding For Piglets.Creep feeding initiates and promotes gut and digestive enzyme development, which enables the piglet to digest nutrients from food sources other than that of milk. This encourages feed intake, which is one of the greatest challenges to post-weaning performance. Creep feeding becomes increasingly important and beneficial as weaning age increases. As piglets grow, their demand for nutrients similarly grows and with increasing age this demand outstrips the capacity of the sow to supply them, as the sow’s milk yield peaks at around three weeks and then slowly declines.Be committed: creep feeding is more successful the more time and effort is devoted to it. Proper creep feeding is a very valuable and worthwhile process but it must be done correctly to see the benefits and avoid wastage. Creep feed gets the piglet used to eating solid feed and makes the piglet familiar with what becomes the sole diet at weaning; studies have also shown that as creep feed intakes rise, post-weaning diarrhoea is reduced. #piglets A good creep feed must line up with the following : 1)Keep creep feed fresh and clean and out of reach of the sow. 2)Start creep feeding at seven to 10 days of age. 3)Begin by offering creep on a flat surface, for example, a shallow tray (heavy metal or plastic trays that can hook into the slats). 4)Place trays close to the piglets but not under direct heat as this will turn the feed stale too quickly; also, keep feed away from the dunging area 5)Begin with very small amounts replaced at least twice a day, preferably more. Always remove all uneaten creep; only unmedicated waste creep can be fed to the sow. 6) Offer creep when the sows are feeding as piglets are active and unlikely to be suckled for some time 7) Do not overfeed - feed to appetite. Litters often eat little and then suddenly begin to eat increasing amounts. 8)Introduce small troughs or top up the trays more often if litters are eating well. 9)Clean any fouled trays or troughs. 10)Store creep feed in a cool place and always close bags to prevent feed taking up the farrowing house odors and/or becoming rancid. #piglets Remember the importance of the sow: it is crucial to maximize milk yield, she will be providing the majority of the piglet's nutrition; Utilization of creep feed should always be considered as a supplement for increased benefit rather than a replacement for milk.Creep Feeding For Piglets.

How to reduce bacteria during poultry processing.

How to reduce bacteria during poultry processing.Key points from harvesting to chilling can minimize bacterial contamination of processed chickens. #poultry. Processed chicken must be produced in hygienic conditions, and microbial contamination kept to a minimum in order for it to be safe for consumers to eat and also have a good shelf life.Various operations, starting with pre-slaughter, need to be closely monitored in real time to ensure that birds are kept clean. It is worth remembering that pre-slaughter and processing are highly linked, meaning that broilers must be as clean as possible on arrival at the processing plant if hygiene standards are to be maintained throughout processing. These operations include feed withdrawal,(poultry) capture and caging, transport and lairage, scalding, plucking and evisceration. During withdrawal, feeders should be kept at their normal height until the capture team arrives. The house temperature also needs to be closely monitored during feed withdrawal, especially in open houses.#poultry. Many companies operating in hot countries spray birds with water after they are loaded onto the trucks, prior to leaving the farm. This has the double benefit of not only removing fecal matter from them and the cages, but also of refreshing the birds prior to travel to the processing plant. #poultry.

During transport, birds will again defecate, and so the process of contamination continues. As at the farm, some processing plants wash the birds with water and disinfectant once trucks have been weighed to remove the organic load and bacteria.

What does the bump on the egg indicate?

What does the bump on the egg indicate? A bump on the egg’s head might indicate a serious problem. The image below was provided by Roodbont Publishers and is part of the Look, Think, Act series that will be published weekly on World Poultry. Hover over the icons within the image for more information.

TYRES : converting trash to cash.

TYRES : converting trash to cash. Recycle tyre business and poverty eradication. The effect of climatic changes are felt all over the world in varying degrees,with iceberg melting to extreme flooding,drought in other areas and severe hot weather in different regions. 

 The call to save our environment by changing our lifestyle,work style and agricultural practices has been on for a while birthing different initiatives but all with a common goal to save the environment. 

 Old tyres are usually collected and burnt in heaps thus polluting the atmosphere and also causing respiratory problems in man.The burning which releases toxic gases to the atmosphere which contributes to the warming effect of the climate. 

Tyres can be recycled to prevent damage to our health and environment. Tyres can also be recycled using machines to shred tyres and converting tyres into railings/ rubber stacking pallet/ fencing. Opportunities abound in the recycling business see

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.

How to set up a broiler farm.

Broilers are birds raised for meat and have a short production span of 42 days. The uniqueness of the broiler breed in its ability to turn feed to meat at a short time makes it a viable investment opportunity for short term investors. The production must be started with active,alert and normal chicks without any deformity,the quality of the day old chicks will determine outcome of project. Healthy birds must be selected to prevent losses as consumers are interested in well muscled and good quality birds. #poultry The factors to consider when you want to set up a broiler farm are as follows : 1) Land 2) water 3)quality of chicks 4) feed 5) equipment 6) management. Land: the poultry site should be a well drained site,without swamps or waterlogged areas. The land must not be bushy,or surrounded by bushes to limit the risk of rodents,reptiles and other predators. The land should be accessed,topography noted and the environmental impact assessment of project should be documented. Water:there must be on site a functioning source of clean water. The source of water must be readily accessible and it must be treated to ensure safety. Quality of chicks, are very important as the quality will determine outcome. Quality day old chicks must be sourced from reputable hatchery,and chicks must be alert and active. #poultry Feed is important when you are thinking of production,as the quality of feed will determine rate of growth and profit potential. Feed could be sourced locally,purchased from miller or setting up a feed mill to cater for your birds. read #poultry Equipment: the brooder,feeder,drinkers and farm tools are also important in production. The size,spacing and location of feeder and drinkers is vital to success of the production. Management: its important to practice an all in all out system,do not mix different ages and batches of birds. Biosecurity measures must be in place to ensure safety of birds and farm lands. Labor is vital to the success of the farm, skilled and unskilled hands are necessary for overseeing different aspects of operation.Waste management is an environmental issue and as such proper waste disposal techniques should be put in place. Litter type and management is another factor as the success of the project depends on how you use,handle and dispose it. #poultry Vaccinations should be carried out as at when due. read There is a need to engage the services of a veterinarian to assist with animal health and welfare issues. #poultry

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

CAMEL,GENES AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

The findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that the dromedary camel has their genetic diversity shaped by ancient trade routes. Scientists examined DNA samples from more than 1,000 one-humped camels. Despite populations being hundreds of miles apart, they were genetically very similar.Scientists explained that centuries of cross-continental trade had led to this "blurring" of genetics. One of the team, Prof Olivier Hanotte, from Nottingham University, explained that what made the dromedary so biologically fascinating was its close link to human history. They have moved with people, through trading So analyzing dromedaries, can help find a signature of our own past. In search of this signature, the researchers compared samples of DNA - the carrier of genetic information - from populations across the camels' range. Our international collaboration meant we were able to get samples from West Africa, Pakistan, Oman and even Syria. The domesticated dromedary was adopted as a beast of burden around 3,000 years ago and, well into the 20th Century, trade caravans that sometimes consisted of thousands of animals, would transport goods across the deserts of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Prof Hanotte explained: "People would travel hundreds of miles with their camels carrying all their precious goods. And when they reached the Mediterranean, the animals would be exhausted. "So they would leave those animals to recover and take new animals for their return journey." This caused centuries of genetic "shuffling", making dromedaries that are separated by entire continents remarkably similar. Crucially, this has also ensured that the animals maintained their genetic diversity - constantly mixing up the population. This means that dromedaries are likely to be much more adaptable in the face of a changing environment. Climate change, is characterized by rising temperatures, more extreme weather patterns and more areas becoming less suitable for livestock, .The dromedary will be our better option for livestock production - of meat and milk. These could replace cattle and even sheep and goats that are less well-adapted. read more from BBC NEWS.

E_FUN ZONE

Welcome,relax and have fun. #fun #zone

via GIPHY

Whisky made from diabetics' urine.

James Gilpin is a designer and researcher who works on the implementation of new bio medical technologies. He's also got type 1 diabetes, where his body doesn't produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.So he's started a project which turns the sugar-rich urine of elderly diabetics into a high-end single malt whisky, suitable for export. The source material is acquired from elderly volunteers, including Gilpin's own grandmother. The urine is purified in the same way as mains water is purified, with the sugar molecules removed and added to the mash stock to accelerate the whisky's fermentation process. Traditionally, that sugar would be made from the starches in the mash. Once fermented into a clear alcohol spirit, whisky blends are added to give colur, taste and viscosity, and the product is bottled with the name and age of the contributor. The original idea came from an (unverified) story he heard about a pharmaceutical company that supposedly set up a factory next to an old people's home and would swap cushions and soft toys for the residents' urine. They'd then process the urine to remove the chemicals that had passed straight through the dilapidated endochrine systems of the patients, which could then be put straight back into new medicine. The whisky, as you might have guessed, won't be widely marketed conventionally. In fact, it's more of an art piece, asking, Gilpin says, whether it's "plausible to suggest that we start utilizing our water purification systems in order to harvest the biological resources that our elderly already process in abundance" story from wired.co.uk.

Recycling Seafood: Oil From Fish Waste.

The waste from the fish industry might become a valuable raw material in the future. A German company has developed a system for recycling shrimp shells and other fish waste to create oils for the food production industry. The oils are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help prevent cardiovascular problems. The aim is to minimize waste from the fish-processing industry. Other potential leftovers are turned into a powder that is high in protein and may have anti-inflammatory properties. culled from NewsLook.com

Researchers create synthetic biopathway to turn agriculture waste into 'green' products.

Researchers have engineered a new synthetic bio pathway that can more efficiently and cost-effectively turn agricultural waste, like corn stover and orange peels, into a variety of useful products ranging from spandex to chicken feed. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have engineered a new synthetic bio pathway that can more efficiently and cost-effectively turn agricultural waste, like corn stover and orange peels, into a variety of useful products ranging from spandex to chicken feed. Researchers have been looking for more sustainable sources for the raw materials used to make the products we use every day. Recently, biomass made from corn or sugarcane is used in manufacturing of a wide range of non-food products from plastics to fuel. However, use of food to make inedible products is controversial because it affects the food supply and can elevate food prices. In this study, researchers looked at turning inedible biological byproducts, that scientists call lignocelluloslic biomass, to produce useful products to avoid the "food versus chemical" purposes. They specifically looked at the process to use lignocellulosic biomass to produce butanediol (BDO) that is used to produce more than 1 billion pounds of spandex each year used in clothing and home furnishings. In 2010, it was estimated that spandex was used in 80 percent of all clothing. story from papers from the University of Minnesota.

FECES TO ENERGY # WORLD TOILET DAY.

Feces can be used as an alternate source of energy.The same technique of using animal waste to biogas is applicable to human waste.This study extols more value from the waste-wealth programme. http://news.sciencemag.org/environment/2015/11/human-feces-developing-world-could-power-millions-homes