ICRA : Building agribusiness relations for sustainable profit .

Over the years, ICRA experienced that many business support services (BSS) face difficulties in offering services that have long-lasting impact. Most training events seem to have limited results and do not lead to the desired sustainable income increases and profitable businesses for their clients. As a result, BSS find it hard to attract new clients and projects. They need to invest a lot of time in search for new funding rather than in supporting small-scale producers and processors and doing the work they love and do best. Successful business support services not only assure that smallholder farmers and agri-entrepreneurs make substantial and sustainable profit, they also assist them in doing it more efficiently. Donors, business and governmental organizations line up to work with such successful service provides. ICRA is providing an opportunity to practical tips on how to secure a stable flow of income for your support services. more

Banaba Leaf Extract: A Natural Diabetes Remedy.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 25.8 million children and adults in the US have diabetes. That's 8.3% of the population and represents a 14-fold increase since 1960. This high growth has led to a growing number of pharmaceutical drugs attempting to treat the problem -- and with those drugs, a host of dangerous side effects, such as increased risk of heart failure. It's no wonder people are looking for safer, and possibly more effective, natural alternatives. Fortunately, there just might be a powerful natural alternative with banaba leaf extract. Banaba leaf, not to be confused with “banana” leaf, has been used for thousands of years in India and the Philippines to naturally treat diabetes and low blood sugar levels. It turns out these cultures were onto something -- banaba leaf and blood sugar control go hand in hand. The blood sugar regulating properties of corosolic acid, the active ingredient in banaba leaf, have been demonstrated in cell culture, animal, and human studies. In isolated cells, for example, it is known to stimulate glucose uptake. In fact, some studies have shown that it can help lower blood sugar within sixty minutes. It has also been shown to help correct leptin problems and food cravings that are typically found in overweight individuals who have elevated blood sugar. continue

3 people in Ontario contract Seoul virus spread by rats.

3 people in Ontario contract Seoul virus spread by rats.Ontario's chief medical officer of health says three people have contracted a virus linked to exposure to rats. Dr. David Williams says the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is investigating three human cases of Seoul virus among people who had prolonged contact with rats. Williams says no serious health problems have been reported. Seoul virus is a type of hantavirus that can be transmitted from rats to people through bite wounds or exposure to urine, feces, saliva or contaminated bedding. Officials say the health risk to Ontarians is considered low and Seoul virus is not spread from person to person.Rats do not show symptoms of disease when they are infected with Seoul virus. A person infected with Seoul virus may not develop symptoms or will only develop very mild symptoms. However, in some instances, more severe symptoms may include fever, severe headache, back and abdominal pain, chills, blurred vision, redness of the eyes, or rash. source

Lassa fever outbreak in Borno state.

Lassa fever outbreak in Borno state. Borno State has recorded its first victim of Lassa Fever as a 32-year-old lady, who resides in Zabarmari village of Jere Local Government Area, tested positive.Lassa Fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of two to 21 days duration and is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, said the victim fell sick last week and was admitted at a government hospital in Maiduguri, a sample of her blood was taken to Lagos for test and returned positive. Dr. Mshelia said though the situation is under control as the victim is responding to treatment, the ministry had to summon all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, to sensitise the public on the need to ensure proper sanitation and avoid eating rodents, especially rats. source

Ex-NFL player who made $25 million quit football to become a farmer.

Ex-NFL player who made $25 million quit football at age 29 to become a farmer.In 2009, Jason Brown signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the St. Louis Rams that made him the highest-paid center in the NFL. Five years later, after earning more than $25 million of that contract, Brown is a farmer who is helping to feed the hungry.Brown was drafted 124th overall in 2005 and played nine seasons in the NFL before getting cut by the Rams in the spring of 2012. At age 29, he still had plenty of NFL years ahead of him. He wasn't playing at the level he was in 2009, but his career was far from over. He had interest from numerous teams, including an offer from the Baltimore Ravens. Brown is doing this to help the less fortunate. He grows sweet potatoes and other vegetables and donates his harvest to food pantries. According to the New & Observer, he has given away 46,000 pounds of sweet potatoes and 10,000 pounds of cucumbers this fall. more

Saving The Rhinos With GPS Sensors.

Save the Rhino numbers show there are just 29,000 rhinos left in the world; only 20 years ago this number was closer to 500,000. In an attempt to slow this devastating decline, researchers from the Sigfox Foundation are fitting the wild animals with sensors to track their movement. By tracking the animals, the researchers can protect them from poachers, for example, and better understand their habits to encourage them to breed and ultimately conserve the species. Over the past six months, the prototype GPS trackers, developed by the foundation in association with the Loweld Rhino Trust, have been implanted in the horns of 10 black and white rhinos. This prototype securely sends three GPS signals per day, to three base stations and via the Eutelesat satellite, to local teams through a dedicated secured platform, also developed internally at Sigfox more

Gene-edited pigs show signs of resistance to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.{PRRS)

Scientists have produced pigs that may be protected from an infection that costs the swine industry billions each year. The team have used advanced genetic techniques to produce pigs that are potentially resilient to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). Early tests have revealed that cells from the pigs are completely resistant to infection with both major subtypes of the virus that causes the disease. PRRS causes severe breathing problems in young pigs and breeding failures in pregnant females. PRRS is endemic in most pig producing countries worldwide. Vaccines have mostly failed to stop the spread of the virus, which continues to evolve rapidly. Consequently, it is one of the greatest challenges facing pig producers today.