Zambia Agribusiness Society - ZAS’ Post

Why Sheep Farming? Advantages of Sheep Farming: 1. Multi-faceted utility: meat, wool, skin, manure, and to some extent milk & transport…helps it to play an important role in the Indian agrarian economy. 2. The production of wool, meat and manure provides three different sources of income per year. 3. Since the two major products of sheep (wool and mutton) are entirely different in their production and utilization, the price of one may not necessarily have a bearing on the other. Wool may be stored and held for higher prices or sold at shearing time. A crop of lambs may be marketed from 5-6 months onwards (preferably before one year), bringing rather a quick return. 4. Mutton is one kind of meat towards which there is no prejudice by any community in India. 5. In addition to wool, mutton and to some extent milk, sheep provide employment to about 3 million people in the form of self-employment, as hired labour for tending flocks during migration, and persons engaged in wool shearing and in wool and skin processing. Furthermore, sheep farming is a logical source of livelihood in arid zones where crop production is an uncertainty and thus it suitably fits into desert development programmes in vogue by protecting them from the vagaries of drought and famine. 6. Most suitable of the small ruminants to utilize the sparse vegetation in dryland areas through rangeland management and developed (reseeded) pasture. 7. Unlike goats, sheep hardly damage any tree. 8. Better adapted to arid and semi-arid tropics with marginal and sub-marginal lands, otherwise unfit for crops, due to their superior water & feed (esp. protein) economy. 9. Since sheep eat more different type of plants than any other kind of livestock, they can turn waste into profit and at the same time improve the appearance of many farms (i.e. excellent weed destroyer). 10. Sheep dung is a valuable fertilizer, and since they are grazed on sub-marginal lands, their droppings are the only means of improving the growth of plants in such areas. Unique Characteristics of Sheep: 1. Strong herd instincts of sheep make them excellent ranch animals as they keep together in tight and easily managed flocks and do not disperse widely all over the available land, which would make it difficult to protect them from predators and difficult to round up. 2. Excellent ability to survive over a prolonged period of drought and semi-starvation. 3. Sheep have the ability to produce prime carcasses on roughage alone, thus they are well adapted to many areas unable to produce grain profitably. 4. The structure of their lips helps them to clean grains lost at harvest time, and thus convert waste feed into profitable products. 5. Less prone to extreme weather conditions, ectoparasites as well as other diseases. https://lnkd.in/dQxhKXFt

Meet Yemisi Iranloye, the Nigerian 🇳🇬 queen of cassava, overcomes all the multinationals and maintains the throne. With a production of 10,000 tons of cassava per year, she makes a mind-blowing annual turnover of 12 million dollars. https://lnkd.in/dCPdbkrP

How To Improve Soil Fertility 1. Practice crop rotation: By planting different crops in a specific order, farmers can help to prevent soil nutrient depletion and improve soil structure. 2. Use organic fertilizers: Natural fertilizers such as compost and manure can help to replenish soil nutrients and improve soil structure. 3. Reduce tillage: Excessive tillage can lead to soil erosion and degradation. By minimizing tillage, farmers can help to preserve soil structure and fertility. 4. Irrigate wisely: Proper irrigation techniques can help to conserve water and prevent soil erosion. 5. Plant cover crops: Cover crops can help to reduce soil erosion, improve soil structure, and increase soil fertility. https://lnkd.in/eZhxxYrz

Azolla Feed Azolla to your poultry birds, fish and cattle, cut you feed cost by half with high protein natural feed with very low input. Azolla has a wide range of use including fodder for dairy cattle, pigs, chicken, ducks and fish. Harvest Azolla every day and feed your poultry birds from your small backyard pond. Feeding Azolla to poultry improves the weight of broiler chickens and increases the egg production of layers. Azolla is a unique freshwater fern that is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet due to its symbiotic relationship with a cyanobacterium (‘blue-green alga’) called Anabaena. Azolla is very rich in proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin B12, Beta Carotene), growth promoter intermediaries and minerals including calcium, phosphorous, potassium, ferrous, copper, magnesium. On a dry weight basis, Azolla has 25-35% protein content, 10-15% mineral content, and 7-10% comprising a combination of amino acids, bio-active substances and biopolymers. Harvest Azolla every day in a shallow man-made body of water. Seed ZMK300/kg. Contact: Mufulira, Copperbelt Call/ WhatsApp +260-967771604 https://lnkd.in/d3n48nAT

“Just like you wouldn’t judge a book by its cover, don’t judge my farm by its size. I’m trusting the process despite the odds.” - Farmer Tusole #backyardgoals https://lnkd.in/dtZUS5Ce

Guidelines on vegetable farming When planning for a vegetable farm, you should consider several factors. Crops: Decide which vegetables to grow. This will depend on the demand and climate. Study the market carefully and adjust production accordingly. System: Decide which system you will use. Will it be open or protected? Layout: After deciding on the range of crops to be grown and the systems, the layout of the land must be planned. Here, care is needed. If the layout is bad, changing it would be costly. Remember too that roads, irrigation pipelines or buildings are involved. If sited wrongly, it would cost you an arm and a leg to move them. Cropping plan: Work out the rotational plan to be followed and details of cropping. This should be done early enough. Land preparation: The cost of clearing and preparing land must be considered. Labour needs: It is very important to plan for labour, especially when manual work is needed. Fencing and windbreaks: If fencing or wind break is needed, decide on the type and material as well as placement. Compost area: Decide on the location of the compost area and whether you will need a compost heap or pit. A compost heap/pit is necessary to provide a place for the disposal of organic debris. It also serves as a source of organic matter for use in the farm. It is generally located close to the nursery in an area unsuitable for crop production. Nursery siting/area: Lightly shaded areas are preferred or you may build a lath house. Preferably, the nursery area should be at most two per cent of the total land. You would also need to decide on the type of nursery to use. Will it be a seedbed or containerised? If seedbed, will it be raised, flat or sunken? Irrigation and distribution method: Decide whether irrigation will be needed. If yes, carefully choose the system and water source. https://lnkd.in/dYqWF2_w

How To Grow Potatoes To grow potatoes, follow these simple steps: 1. Choose the right potatoes: Pick a variety suitable for your climate and soil type. You can buy certified seed potatoes from a garden store.    2. Prepare the soil: Potatoes thrive in well-drained, loose soil with a pH of 5.0-6.0. Dig the soil and add compost or well-rotted manure. 3. Planting: Plant seed potatoes (cut into pieces with at least two eyes each) in trenches or mounds around 12 inches apart and 3-4 inches deep. Leave space for the plants to grow. 4. Hilling: As the plants grow, hill soil around the base of the plants to protect the tubers from sunlight, which can turn them green and toxic. 5. Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the growing season. Potatoes need around 1-2 inches of water per week. 6. Fertilizing: Potatoes are heavy feeders. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer, rich in potassium. 7. Pest and Disease Control: Keep an eye out for pests like potato beetles and diseases like blight. Practice crop rotation and use organic controls if needed. 8. Harvesting: Potatoes are ready to harvest when the foliage starts to die back. Dig them up gently to avoid damaging the tubers. Humble Beginnings 🫶   https://lnkd.in/dF-_f3sP

Soya beans and Women's Health Soya beans have a lot of health benefits. As you know soya beans contain protein, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. It is for this reason that this crop has many health benefits for both men and women. Today let us highlight one benefit for women and this relates to menopause. It has been observed that women in Japan and surrounding countries do not experience severe menopausal symptoms. This has been attributed to consumption of soya beans and its by-products like soy milk. To maximise the benefits later in life women and girls are encouraged to consume soya beans and its derivatives consistently. You have heard! https://lnkd.in/dQ6536CS

Successful Farrowing Management Just prior to farrowing, pregnant sows and gilts are moved to individual pens or stalls in the farrowing barn. De-worm the pregnant sow two weeks before farrowing. Move the sow to the farrowing house 7 to 10 days before the due to farrow date. This is done to enable the sow to get used to the farrowing environment and to avoid sows farrowing in-group situations. Before the sow enters the farrowing house it has to be washed thoroughly and sprayed with an acaricide like triatix to control the mange mites. The farrowing house where the sow is going should also be cleaned and disinfected before the sow comes. If there are no accommodation problems the farrowing quarters should be rested for at least 3 days between farrowings. Sows typically farrow from eight to twelve piglets, which as a group are called a litter. Most confinement operations place the sow in a farrowing pen or crate which restricts her movement to protect her baby pigs. Farrowing and lactation occur in the same facilities until the baby pigs are weaned. An average sow will raise three to five litters of pigs in her lifetime. Pigs are born with sharp teeth and curly tails. The tips of the teeth are clipped at birth to prevent injury to the sow’s udder and other piglets, and the tail is shortened to prevent tail biting. Piglets are weaned anywhere from 5 days to 4 weeks, with most business operations weaning at four weeks (28 days). This is where we will be ending our discussion for today. Remember to share your comments, views and opinions. by Revelation Agric, Tel: +263-787-615635, E-mail: mupambomacdonald70@gmail.com #piglets #sows #pig #farming #agriculture #agribusiness #foodsecurity #nutrition #organic #food #farm #farmers # #zas https://lnkd.in/d6HH3b6S

Success in Tomato Farming is never a One Size Fits All Affair Tomato is a seasonal crop, sometimes you make it sometimes you lose everything...keep planting every season. 1)   It is timely, sometimes planting early is a disaster because at time of harvest the prices are ridiculously very low...sometimes your timing is the best because at your selling time the prices are very good...keep planting at all times. 2)   It is about management of all protocols in the best interest of the crop (timely disease control, timely insect control, spot on fertilizer regime, instructional workers. If your workers don't get your instructions well - it will again be a disaster. 3)   It is about passion for the crop...a farmer will never stop farming tomatoes no matter the failures...that approach is a generational attitude which must be a top requirement for every budding farmer. 4)   Be business savvy...success in every business is about understanding the profitability and where you can maximize your hard earned resources. Be judicial about your spending, be keen to understand where you can sell at a good price with the quality of crop you have harvested...maybe not open market, maybe supermarket, maybe exports, maybe your own store, maybe processing into other products...let this journey be very clear to you. When everything is said and done, look at your business five years from today, plan, do, and check...keep moving. Success in tomato farming is a combination of many details. All the best and never get stuck because your problem maybe a message away. by Eric K. Mwenda, WhatsApp +260-966-784515 #tomato #farmers #farming #agriculture #farmlife #organic #food #agribusiness #market #marketing #success #learning #research #foodsecurity #ecommerce #nutrition #africa #zas https://lnkd.in/dtZUS5Ce