Reps summon Health Minister over outbreak of Monkey Pox .

Reps summon Health Minister over outbreak of Monkey Pox.The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to explain the measures taken by the Federal Government to tackle the outbreak and spread of the Monkey pox virus, aside containing other viruses.

Monkeypox.

Monkeypox. Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms in humans similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although less severe. Smallpox was eradicated in 1980.However, monkeypox still occurs sporadically in some parts of Africa. Monkeypox is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The virus was first identified in the State Serum Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1958 during an investigation into a pox-like disease among monkeys. Human monkeypox was first identified in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (then known as Zaire) in a 9 year old boy in a region where smallpox had been eliminated in 1968. Infection of index cases results from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of infected animals. In Africa human infections have been documented through the handling of infected monkeys, Gambian giant rats and squirrels, with rodents being the major reservoir of the virus. Eating inadequately cooked meat of infected animals is a possible risk factor. Secondary, or human-to-human, transmission can result from close contact with infected respiratory tract secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or objects recently contaminated by patient fluids or lesion materials. Transmission occurs primarily via droplet respiratory particles usually requiring prolonged face-to-face contact, which puts household members of active cases at greater risk of infection. Transmission can also occur by inoculation or via the placenta (congenital monkeypox). There is no evidence, to date, that person-to-person transmission alone can sustain monkeypox infections in the human population.

Simple Solar technology for irrigation saves water & fertilizer costs.

Simple Solar technology for irrigation saves water & fertilizer costs.Many smallholder farmers across Kenya and Africa as whole face many challenges including: unreliable rainfall, low crop yields, high energy costs, lack of access to modern farming technology and insufficient access to capital. An unpredictable rainfall pattern has led farmers to incur huge losses in their crops and livestock production life. But with the new SunCulture AgroSolar irrigation system it will be easier and cheaper for farmers to grow high quality crops and increase their yields by more than three hundred per cent (300%) while saving water. Unreliable rainfall means farmers are limited to two production seasons per year but with irrigation farmers are able to ensure maximum production all year round.

Solar Milk Pasteurizer to prolong milk shelf life.

Solar Milk Pasteurizer to prolong milk shelf life.A new milk preserving technology using a solar milk pasteurizer for smallholder farmers seeking to minimize milk losses along the marketing chain especially in the arid and semi-arid lands has been developed by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization. The new technology will help milk farmers and business vendors prolong the shelf life of milk and hence improve market- ability and generate more income. Milk marketing is an important income earning opportunity for people in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of Kenya. For a long time, farmers have been using limited firewood to boil the milk hence placing intense pressure on the forests and destroying the environment.

Agripreneur sells potted crops for urban rooftop farming.

Agripreneur sells potted crops for urban rooftop farming.Urbanites, who want to turn towns into vegetable production areas, can do so by buying potted seedlings, which can be placed on any available spaces with sufficient light and waster. Daniel Muguko, a Nairobi-based accountant, is planting and selling the strawberry and pepino melon seedlings to both property owners and tenants in the outskirts of the city and other surrounding towns such as Kiambu and Thika. The idea was to turn urban areas into agricultural production points that can cater for family vegetable and financial needs in cases of surplus production. It is a reality. Concrete roof tops and free spaces in front and the back of houses can be gardens that do not require tilling because the floor maybe paved.

Water hyacinth provides good substrate for mushroom farming.

Water hyacinth provides good substrate for mushroom farming.While the Lake Victoria hyacinth is driving fishermen out of business, Siaya County farmer, Naftali Oseka has converted the stubborn weed into the a substrate for mushroom production. The farmer, who lives along the shore of this biggest fresh water lake in Africa, learnt that dry hyacinth can support mushroom farming, replacing the need for expensive bagasse and sometimes seldom sawdust and sugarcane leaves. Instead of struggling to make ends meet with the fishing, he resorted to “befriend the enemy weed” as an alternative source of income.Mushrooms do not grow directly on the soil. They require a medium, substrate, which seats between them and the soil. Most farmers use saw dusts, bagasse, rice, wheat, millet and bean straws as substrates. However, dry hyacinth is a good mushroom substrate when mixed with other trash from organic farm waste.

Kisumu Entrepreneur Producing Paper from Water Hyacinth.

Kisumu Entrepreneur Producing Paper from Water Hyacinth.A Kisumu based entrepreneur is taking advantage of Kenya’s ban on plastic bags to produce Eco-friendly paper bags from water hyacinth menace in Lake Victoria. Michael Otieno, the founder of Takawiri Craft Enterprises turned the problem into a business opportunity. He has been using the weed and re-cycled waste paper to make business cards, book covers, and envelopes since 2011. In 2016 he started making gift bags which he sells together with the rest of the items to maintain sustainable livelihood.