Agriculture: farming robots and food security.

Robotics has been incorporated to livestock and general farming to increase productivity and also increase revenue by preventing losses.Africa needs to embrace more of technology-based agriculture to produce more and ensure food security. 

 Africa needs to make greater investments in science and technology to become more efficient and competitive in agriculture, says the African Development Bank (AfDB). 

According to the Bank, science and technology are critical in transforming the agriculture industry from one that manages rural poverty to a wealth creating sector. “There cannot be a secure Africa unless we first and foremost revive the rural economies. 

We must turn these areas into zones of economic prosperity. And for that to happen, we must transform the main source of livelihoods – agriculture – into a wealth-creating sector,” said Dr Adesina. The use of robots in agriculture will not only guarantee more harvest,but smart production methods.

 New agricultural practices such as hydroponics farming, biocrops and selective breeding will not only ensure food security but provide more jobs. read more

Agribusiness: Agricultural robots.

The release of the film Terminator,which featured a cyborg with the sole aim to destroy mankind really shook the box office. Little did we know it was an introduction into the future of possibilities. The world has evolved over time with the introduction of phones,internet and robots.

The machine actually called a cyborg was actually flesh over iron and steel programmed for an assignment. 

 The cyborg was really a type of computer; with a microchip with million of information that can be easily accessed.This cyborg could be anybody and could do any thing; he could change form, voice and was extremely powerful with laser-sharp focus.

The follow up was a build up to the first with more advanced technology;this time exploring the power of liquid metal to achieve the purpose of destruction.

 WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF ROBOTS!!!!. Technology is dynamic, really evolving over time and helping us get things done.Did you know that the cyborg was actually a super-duber computer with a microchip of stored data?

 Do you know that the same principle is being harnessed today to ensure safety, food security/food safety ,provide entertainment and employment. 

 Robots are used now a days to carry out activities on the farm, these are programmed and set up to supply food and water to animals .This reduces labor costs as a robot can serve so many animals with a time frame .There is also the assurance that the animals are fed. Read how a pig farm is using robots;http://www.wattagnet.com/articles/902-robot-takes-the-strain-out-of-strawing. 

The use of robots is not limited to any specie or function, as they operate according to specification. Read how robots work on dairy Precision farming , a method to ensure food security, also uses robots to ensure maximum production Precision Farming techniques, aim to vary the inputs in production systems so the output is optimized from both an economic and environmental perspective.

  Read Robots are also involved in food safety when you talk about the QR codes, this reading system works on the basis of stored data,information and analysis.

The robots basically operate on data, analysis and data generation which is basically what the computer world offers. Did you know that robots, biotech and mash up are intertwined???? Robots function on data/information; so does genetic engineering.

The scientific mixing and matching of desired traits(DNA) into another to produce a more stable and viable specie that is usually more productive.

The mashup is the same technique of mixing and matching to produce content from various sources. The future is really wrapped around technology to ensure food security and safety 

.In the world today, robots have been assigned more tasks than you imagine; ;

Nadine, a "receptionist" at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. She is friendly, and will greet you back. Next time you meet her, she will remember your name and your previous conversation with her. She looks almost like a human being, with soft skin and flowing brunette hair. She smiles when greeting you, looks at you in the eye when talking, and can also shake hands with you,and she is a humanoid. Read more (photo credit; internet)

PUERTO RICO REPORTS FIRST CASE OF ZIKA VIRUS.

The mosquito-transmitted disease has been confirmed in countries including Brazil, Panama, Venezuela, El Salvador, Mexico, Suriname, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Guatemala and Paraguay, according to public health officials. Brazilian authorities in November linked Zika to a surge in babies born with microcephaly, a birth defect that seriously limits a child’s mental and physical abilities. Brazil has reported nearly 2,000 cases of babies born with microcephaly, or unusually small brains, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this month. The WHO said the cause of the outbreak in Brazil had yet to be determined. Between three and 12 days after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus, three out of four people come down with symptoms including mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, headaches and joint pain. Puerto Rico has reported its first case of Zika, a mosquito-borne virus that has been spreading across South America and the Caribbean and has been linked by Brazilian authorities to a serious birth defect. Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, said in a statement his office had been in touch with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which had confirmed the single case of Zika on the island. Read more here;http://newsdaily.com/2015/12/puerto-rico-reports-first-case-of-zika-virus-spread-by-mosquitoes/#yTtRkcB7Hp3vTkif.15

HOW TO FEED CHICKENS WITH WATERMELON .

 HOW TO FEED CHICKENS WITH WATERMELON.  . Fruits and vegetables have increasingly found usefulness in raising birds ,these has been incorporated as extracts or whole plants to tap into the benefits. The use of natural supplement in animal production is very necessary not only for financial implication but also on health grounds.

More and more people are showing preference for birds raised naturally, without antibiotics and other chemical supplements. This has resulted in a new dimension of the poultry value chain where plant extracts, vegetables are incorporated to poultry feed.

The benefits of water melon as discussed here; can be harnessed as follows; 1) wash and dice watermelon.
 2)remove seeds and cube.

 3) crush/blend the water melon.

 4) mix with water using this ratio; 1 litre of water melon mix into 2 litres of water.

The birds will be refreshed without any adverse reactions to stressful conditions, give your birds a boost # water melon smoothie.

AGRO-VETERINARY : THE BENEFIT OF WATERMELON ON POULTRY HEALTH.

AGRO-VETERINARY : THE BENEFIT OF WATERMELON ON POULTRY HEALTH. AGRO-VETERINARY : THE BENEFIT OF WATERMELON ON POULTRY HEALTH. Watermelon has proven to be a very nutritious fruit both to man and animals and the benefits derived are so valuable to growth and development.The fruit is 92% water making it very useful in cases of dehydration. Water melon can be processed and added to drinking water of birds especially in hot weather conditions,this not only cools the birds down but also gives a boost because of the vitamin C it contains. AGRO-VETERINARY : THE BENEFIT OF WATERMELON ON POULTRY HEALTH. Watermelon contains vitamin C, A and B; the occasional addition of watermelon juice to water of birds makes these vitamins readily available thus preventing deficiencies associated with lack of this nutrients. Chickens undergo severe stress not only when weather is hot, but also during time of vaccination and transportation and at periods like this the inclusion of the juice in the water days before scheduled programme will be of immense benefits. Water melon acts as an antioxidant, a fiber source and also carotenoids ,flavonoids, . Read more about benefits of water melon here

AGRIBUSINESS: STARTING AN EGG POWDER PROCESSING PLANT.

AGRIBUSINESS: STARTING AN EGG POWDER PROCESSING PLANT.

 The egg powder magic,  Are you thinking of investing in the poultry value chain? here is a niche that is viable but relatively new.

      How to set up a mini powdered egg plant. see

AGRIBUSINESS :EGG POWDER.

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  The importance of eggs in the poultry value chain can not be ignored,both the health benefits and financial implication show that eggs are very important in the value chain.

 Eggs can be sold in crates ,and the distribution can be quite cumbersome at peak of traffic, but the worst aspect in the distribution is the period of egg glut.

 The period where farmers have more eggs that out ways demand,leading to severe losses to the farmers.This singular reason is why producers are looking for ways to protect their investments and also ensure the health benefits of eggs are not ignored.

EGG POWDER. EGG POWDER !!!! is the way out. Powdered eggs are replacements for fresh eggs:this could be powdered egg white or powdered whole eggs .

The advantages of powdered eggs are 1) easy storage 2) longer shelf-life 3) easy transportation 4) non perishable. Powdered eggs are very useful in the food industry, camping arena,school feeding programmes, and catering institutes.

The extension of the poultry value chain to accommodate egg powder production is a viable project that need more players. The attachment of the egg powder production plant to the poultry can be a small scale or large scale production.

The small scale will require minimal investment and it can be sited within a local government to cater for the farmers within and also generate revenue from this venture.

 The large scale will be capital intensive,but will cater for a large number of farmers and the revenue from this venture will be very high and will cater for a wide variety of farmers, local and international.