Biotechnology will aid sustainable agricultural production in Nigeria.

Biotechnology will aid sustainable agricultural production in Nigeria. 

Benjamin Ubi, the President, Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN), says the adoption of biotechnology will facilitate sustainable agricultural production in the country. The benefits of biotechnology in agriculture cannot be over emphasized as the task of feeding the estimated 9 billion people by 2050 will require innovative strategies and techniques. 

Biotechnology in animal husbandry and agriculture will boost food production and sustainability. Food security can be achieved on a global scale if production processes are subjected to improved stock using genetically proven animals. The way to harness the advantages in using genetically proven lines include; selective breeding,rearing and cross breeding to develop strains/lines that can produce more in the desired country. The use of biotechnology in food security cannot be overemphasized as the introduction of biotech to food production is of immense benefits. 

Biotechnology.

The springing up of bio crops allows farming even in areas where there is much pressure on the land,thus availing the urban farmer an opportunity to participate in food security. Biotechnology making better crops and livestock by careful selection of traits to increase yield,produce disease and pest resistance and drought resistance products. 

This entails a collection of specific technique to improve plant and animals. Bio technology enhances breeders ability to make improvement in crops and livestock,this is achieved through various techniques used to improve plants and animals. Bio technology use gene modification,genetic improvement and genetic engineering.

Crops improved with transferred DNA referred to as genetic improvement have been developed to aid farmers to increase productivity . 

 Biotechnology holds the key to food security with higher yield and better products Genetic modification/genetic improvement/genetic engineering; refers to the process where there is transfer of useful characteristics into plants and animals. 

This process allows transfer of specific traits to plants or animals to produce improved and better breeds and strains that grow faster,bigger and most importantly resistant to diseases. more

#biotechnology #foodsecurity #biotech

Federal Government backs National Agricultural Show to draw foreign investment.

Federal Government backs National Agricultural Show to draw foreign investment. the Federal government has reiterated its commitment to giving agriculture a face lift through the National Agricultural show. This was revealed by the Minister of Agriculture and rural development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, in a meeting with a non-governmental organisation and organizers of the show, the Foundation of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria recently in Abuja. Ogbeh who commended the organizers of the show expressed confidence that it will feature agriculture exhibitions, road shows, cooking shows, and workshops and will attract foreign investors into the country’s agriculture sector. The Minister promised to hold a meeting with key stakeholders in the sector such as the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), World Bank, Africa Development Bank, embassies of China, Brazil, India, and South Africa for their input and support. continue

Onions in cattle feed can reduce methane emissions.

Onion a vegetable is widely cultivated and its of the genus Allium,which also has garlic as a member. Onions are cultivated around the world and used mainly as food item but lately their medicinal values have been explored. Onions have been discovered to stop aphid attack in tomato plants thus reducing the use of pesticides,read. 

Onions can be used raw or cooked and it causes irritation to eyes when sliced. This irritation is linked to the chemical it contains(allicin) which incidentally is the potent power of onions and garlic. Onions just like garlic have been shown to reduce pungent ammonia odor in poultry houses,these can be grounded and mixed with litter to prevent smell and also sanitize poultry house. 

The onion or garlic when grounded and spread around perimeter of poultry house prevents pest invasion,while grinding garlic and adding to water of birds prevents coccidiosis and deworms the birds. Cannibalism can be prevented by rubbing garlic paste on birds to prevent pecking. 

Read more A study published in the journal of agricultural and food chemistry has shown that cattle fed with onions have reduced methane emissions because the allicin kills the methane generating bacteria in the stomach of cattle thus reducing the farting associated with the methane emissions. 

The clause to the trial was that the milk had onion (onion milk) taste thus reducing palatability and acceptability of the milk. The scientists, determined to get the onion into the cow without creating onion milk, figured they could track propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO), the chemical that gives onions their scent, in the milk. 

They fed 100 cows normal cow feed, and spiked 100 cows’ food with PTSO-containing onion extract, increasing by five grams per cow per day for five days, up to 25 grams. 

They then continued to feed the cows 25 grams of extract for two months. The tests result shows that 25 grams per day was an adequate amount of onion extract to feed cows, and that 2 milligrams per kilogram of PTSO was the maximum concentration to avoid making the milk taste like onions.

HOW TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTORS TO AGRICULTURE WITH AGROTOURISM.

  Agrotourism involves any agriculturally-based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch thereby promoting the country and attracting investors.

Agrotourism setup usually involves a large expanse of land with various animals in cages or free flying birds in various zones, plants and other as ethics are used to beautify the place but most importantly a natural environment is created.

 Agrotourism can be a major source of foreign investment with planning and organisation of our zoos,animal resorts and conservation spots.

Agrotourism is a form of tourism that is considered as a growing industry in many parts of the world and its a style of vacation that normally takes place on a farm, ranch,zoo or animal resort.

Agrotourism can be real or virtual depending on your clientele and purpose ,see how to use virtual reality in agrotourism. Read ; I bet you will love to have a mini park,that is a leisure spot and your personal A.T.M. Welcome to our park; visit

New meningitis bacteria research could hold key to developing improved vaccines.

New meningitis bacteria research could hold key to developing improved vaccines. Meningococcal infections are the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the United Kingdom, a life-threatening disease that poses a continuing threat worldwide. With growing fears around the increase of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, understanding why certain strains don’t respond to vaccines could prove vital in helping reduce the number of global deaths from the disease. Kingston University London scientists have completed the genome sequence for a deadly strain of the bacteria that causes meningitis and – a breakthrough which could lead to improved vaccines to help prevent its spread. New meningitis bacteria research could hold key to developing improved vaccines,read

How to recycle grey water for use in agriculture.

Recycling grey water to conserve water is much more efficient than harvesting rainwater. Grey water is the water that is used and discarded in daily functions like bathing and washing clothes while water that is dispensed to sewage from toilets is called black water. The grey water that can be safely used for recycling is that which comes from washing machines and bathroom sinks as water from kitchens has a higher component of grease and this make it unsuitable. Studies have shown that grey water has only 1% of contaminants which can be easily removed,thus recycling is a far more efficient system of conserving water than rainwater harvesting. This recycling can be used in agriculture to grow crops and even as drinking water,this will be a type of closed system to ensure continuous water for irrigation of plants. more

Farmer feeds fish with cassava peels and makes millions.

Farmer feeds fish with cassava peels and makes millions. Evangelist Peter Ododa, owner and proprietor of an agricultural company called New Life Farms Agriculture Nigeria Limited based in Angwan Jikwoyi, New Karu, Nasarawa State. The 54-year-old started farming with N6,000 about four years ago with a pond and a small hut. Today, he is the proud owner of 48 ponds within the farm land and also owns a plantation that is about two and half hectares where he grows guava, banana, plantain, cassava, maize and other crops. The mission of this farmer is to prove that nothing is a waste in this world. The farmer feeds his chicken and fish with various waste food items; for fish, he uses rejected bread, palm kernel, soya bean chaff, Barbara nut, cassava peel, rice chaff to mention but a few. He has also explored other waste products to produce fish feeds in such a way that in four to five months they grow very big. The fishes thrive well on these waste products ,and after feeding for two to five months, their weights were between 2-3kg which he sold and made a lot of money. This is how ,read