AGRIBUSINESS : CASSAVA VALUE CHAIN AND FOOD SECURITY.

      AGRIBUSINESS : CASSAVA VALUE CHAIN AND FOOD SECURITY.


Cassava called Manihot esculenta, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates.

Cassava is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics, after rice and maize. Cassava is a major staple food in the developing world, providing a basic diet for over half a billion people. 

 FOOD SECURITY.

Investing in cassava is profitable for man and animals as the peels can be processed as feed of high value in the livestock industry.

Cassava is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, capable of growing on marginal soils and Nigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava, while Thailand is the largest exporter of dried cassava.

 Cassava can be processed into various products such as garri,tapioca, cake,bread and flakes. .



Cassava processed into garri otherwise called cassava flakes is one of the most common products and this delicacy enjoyed by all classes of people and all age groups.

How to Fix Your Fractured Feline Patients.( Feline Orthopedics).

How to Fix Your Fractured Feline Patients.( Feline Orthopedics). A 4 year-old cat arrives as an emergency after a road traffic accident. He presents with a flaccid tail and urinary incontinence. The radiographs show a tail pull injury. Which factors may help you in predicting return of urinary and tail functions? The presence of intact anal and perineal reflexes are positive prognostic signs for return of urinary function. In addition, intact pain sensation within 5 cm of the tail base, is strongly predictive of early return of bladder control. However, absence of tail base pain sensation does not preclude eventual recovery, as 60% of cats without sensation at the tail base will also recover. If normal urination returns, it usually does between 2–30 days. If normal urination has not returned within 1 month of the trauma, then it is unlikely to return. Tail function may take several months or longer to improve. Source: Feline Orthopedics Mini Series.

VETERINARY MEDICINE : Not just bite, dog’s scratch too causes rabies.

VETERINARY MEDICINE : Not just bite, dog’s scratch too causes rabies. 

 Fifty-year-old Savita (not her real name) was brought to rural doctor Himmat Bawaskar's hospital in Mahad on a May afternoon with an undiagnosed condition, but the diagnosis became obvious when the doctor mentioned 'pani' (water). 

 Savita severely choked just as patients with rabies do on developing its well documented symptom - hydrophobia (fear of water). 

 "She was brought to us on the fourth day of fever, body ache and breathlessness. She heard 'water' and got a laryngeal (vocal cord) spasm," said Dr Bawaskar. Soon, doctors noticed another rabies symptom -extreme sensitivity to light.  : 

Not just bite, dog’s scratch too causes rabies. Dr Bawaskar, who is credited with several researches on snake and scorpion venom, has written about Savita's case in the latest edition of the Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine to highlight poor awareness and dangerous societal practices vis-a-vis rabies. 

"People in rural areas go to tantriks after a dog-bite though the vaccine and immunoglobulin shots are available at government centres," said the doctor. 

 Savita died after four days at the Mahad hospital, managing to relate how a rabid dog in her village had bitten four people before tugging at her saree 'pallu'. She got a few abrasions on her feet. 

 According to the medical journal, Savita washed the wound and didn't bother about a vaccine as she felt only dog bites cause rabies. She only took herbal medicine from a tantrik.

 Dr Bawaskar, who has been in the news for filing a case against a diagnostic chain for offering him a cutback for referring a patient for a CT scan, said Savita must have got infected as dogs' nails and claws too harbour the virus as they keep licking them. 

"This case busts the myth that cuts don't result in rabies," he said. Vaccine is advised for any cut where blood flows out. #rabies #bites #cuts #vaccination.#travel

Vampire bat rabies kills hundreds of cattle a year in Peru.

Vampire bat rabies kills hundreds of cattle a year in Peru.The vampire bat is known to be the principle reservoir of rabies throughout Latin America, yet the burden of vampire bat-transmitted rabies on human lives and livestock has been largely anecdotal. Now, researchers have calculated that, in Peru, more than 500 cattle a year die of rabies. Rabies is among the most important zoonoses for human and animal health in Latin America. The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) is the principle reservoir, and the main prevention methods are culling of bats and vaccination of humans and livestock. In Peru, recent geographic expansion of vampire bat rabies (VBR) has raised public health concerns, but the true incidence of VBR and the rate of under-reporting of cases is unknown. #rabies #publichealth #agribusiness.

How to promote agribusiness with incubation hubs.

: How to promote agribusiness with incubation hubs. Agribusiness is the new gold and many people are moving into the sector but the growth impact is not as evident as it should be because of lack of organisation/structure in the industry.


 The issue of incubation hubs in agribusiness will promote agribusiness,provide more jobs and expand the  agricultural value chain markets to make money . Incubation hubs will give budding entrepreneurs platforms to start and grow the business and expand making more money.

    How to promote agribusiness with incubation hubs.

 Agribusiness today is big business and currently only the very big are calling the shots,but with incubation hubs many more will have opportunities.

How will the incubation hubs work? 1) It is a place where entrepreneurs churn out their ideas.

 2) Ideas are analysed and market possibilities are charted.

 3) Production is set in motion.

 4) Entrepreneur start to think about how to grow and multiply the business. Why is the incubation hub important?

Growth is the main purpose for the hub. The budding entrepreneur has to contend with a lot of factors which basically stifles growth,but if an incubation hub takes away most of these factors,then growth is inevitable.


Lets look at this idea: an entrepreneur wants to start making fruit juices ,he has to contend with power,rent of factory,employee, registration,documentation and so many hidden charges.


 When the budding entrepreneur sits down to calculate all he needs to start,he will have a rethink and postpone his startup and if he strives to startup he can only go mum-and -pop and if the idea is so great,the big guys will take over and hes out of business.

 Entrepreneurs in incubation hubs have a leverage such that much more can be done with his capital. Agribusiness with development of the value chains is a money spinner,but incubation hubs are the keys to drive the vision.

Thinking agribusiness,business development? think incubation hubs. Incubation hubs are more like furnished office spaces that you rent,you just go in do your business and go home.

  Agribusiness hub, a place setup for production,processing,packaging, distribution and even exportation.

The entrepreneur will just come in with idea,produce,package and sell while the hub will take care of necessary documents.#NAFDAC #NEPC #employee #certification. 

The incubation hubs  at advanced levels of production can provide  group certification of products, which will enhance productivity as well as facilitate easy tracing and tracking of projects.

The profit is worked out at a percentage that is fair for all parties and this will regulate the industry as you can easily trace and track products. Incubation hubs  are a jump start or kick starter approach to grow your business.

Agribusiness : how to make lollipops from zobo leaves.

Agribusiness : how to make lollipops from zobo leaves. These are the steps to turn your zobo to refreshing lollipops for sale. The lollipops could be made at home using cups or you get a mold to make for large scale production. 

 Agribusiness: how to make lollipops from zobo leaves.

 How to make lollipops with zobo leaves. 

1) get the leaves,clean and wash .

 2) boil the leaves for 45 mins. 

3) pour in clean bowl and add flavor. 

 4) pour in your mold and freeze or pour in your plastic cups and freeze. 

 5) remove from mold /cup when frozen and enjoy.

  #Christmas #giveaway #money #startup #agribusiness #leanstartup.

#businessdeevelopment 

#entrepreneur

Agribusiness: how to start a small medium enterprise (SME) with zobo leaves.

Sorrel leaves popularly called zobo leaves is used to produce a healthy nutritious drink. Hibiscus sabdariffa commonly referred to as ( ZOBO LEAVES/sorrel leaves), has various uses and several benefits in man . 

Its referred to as zobo leaves and has found usefulness in treatment of hypertension, weight control, ant-inflammatory agent, diuretic and as a soothing tea. The leaves are also boiled,flavored and served as a refreshing drink,the leaves can also be used for preparation of jams,jellies and wine. 

The fiber from the plant have been used to make ropes as a substitute for jute bags. The leaves are known to be a good source of iron,calcium, niacin,vitamin C B vitamins,, carotene as well as manganese. 

The zobo leaves also contain protein,phosphorus,fat and fiber making it a perfect nutritional meal.

Zobo leaves are beneficial to man for health and wealth. The zobo leaves can be used to produce many products that have huge financial gains with minimal startup capital. The leaves can be used in the following ways to start an SME.

 1) Tea production.: The leaves are cleaned, dried and packed into tea bags such that the consumer draws the bags in the hot water. 

 The processed leaves can be packed and sold in fanciful packs,where consumers pour the packed leaves into boiling water and then sieve the leaves out of the pot and drink.

 

The leaves can also be cleaned, sorted and packed in teabags 

Tea bags materials can be sourced here

 2) Flavored drinks: The leaves are cleaned,washed and then boiled. The drink is filtered when cool and different flavors are added. 

The flavors are either natural or sweeteners depending on your market. Sugar is the most common sweetener but  the drink can be flavored with ginger, watermelon,strawberry or oranges. This can be packed in bottles or sachets for school children.

3) lollipops/Popsicle: can also be made using the zobo leaves. The leaves are picked and washed then boiled. The filtered drink is flavored and poured into the Popsicle maker to make a healthy treat for kids. 

The lollipops can be made without the Popsicle maker by using cups.The drink is poured in the cups,then the stalk/holder is set in the cup and frozen. 

The lollipops are removed from cup when fully set. #money #agribusiness #entrepreneur #Agribusiness, #zobo #businessdevelopment