African Agri Magazine-January-March 2021 issue

African Agri Magazine

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Choosing the Right Nozzle Pg.6

Pg.10 Zambian ecommerce platform targets the agricultural market

Pg.26 NitroStim: Discover the innovative biostimulant.

Pg.36 Ghana currently witnessing dramatic turnaround of agricultural fortunes

HIGH QUALITY NOZZLES

FOR ALL FARMING APPLICATIONS MADE IN

ITALY

TOPGUN www.asjnozzle.it export@asjnozzle.it

Contents

C O N T E N T S 4

Cover Story Pg.6 Choosing the Right Nozzle Agribusiness Pg.10 Valtra G Series Wins Tractor Of The Year 2021 Best Utility Award Pg.11 LEXION 8900 - 40 pence per tonne at 94 tonnes/hour Pg.12 Rwanda: Dutch NGO boosts strawberry cultivation in five districts Pg.13 Tractor sales signal confidence in agriculture Pg.14 Zambian e-commerce platform targets the agricultural market Pg.15 Ghana agritech startup secures $790k in funding Pg.16 GMO ‘scarecrow’: What’s keeping Africa from embracing genetically engineered crops?

Pg.18 Over 1400 rural women empowered through Climate-Smart Agriculture schemes Pg.19 FAO to scale up response to Fall Armyworm as pest continues to spread Pg.20 ICT Adoption can Increase Crop Productivity among young farmers in Tanzania – study shows Pg.21 How smallholder farmers are coping with the pandemic Irrigation Pg.22 RainFine Introduces Just-Fine Pipe Pg.24 Nigeria: Agribusiness - Gombe Farmers Receive Govt's Irrigation Pumps, Seeds, Others Pg.25 6 easy steps to get the perfect sprinkler pump Pg.26 BURKINA FASO: Buy-Us Solar launches solar-powered irrigation project Fertilizers Pg.28 NitroStim: Discover the innovative bio-stimulant.

Pg.30 Yara launches new maize fertiliser for western Kenya Pg.31 Sowing the Seeds of Industrial Farming in Mozambique Pg.32 GHANA: Farmers Hope to recycle cocoa waste in Kumasi Pg.33 Dangote US$2.5 billion fertilizer plant to commence operations in Q1 2021 Poultry Pg.34 New Meyn Wing Cutter For Big Birds Pg.35 Chickens to be culled after avian flu case in Redcar Pg.36 Dormaa poultry farmers call for removal of tax on poultry feed Pg.37 The local poultry sector could generate 150,000 jobs by 2025 Livestock Pg.38 Govt fights to contain FMD outbreak Pg.39 FAO partners with South Sudan to tackle livestock diseases Pg.40 THE USE OF CROP RESIDUES AS LIVESTOCK FEED Agrinews Pg.42 Ghana currently witnessing dramatic turnaround of agricultural fortunes Pg.43 Mwea Farmers Embrace High Yielding Hybrid Rice Pg.44 Senegal lifts ban on peanuts export Pg.45 Ethiopia deploys airplanes, helicopters to fight locust invasion Technology Pg.46 Valio’s Carbo farm calculator set to cut the carbon footprint of milk Pg.48 Addfield introduces poultry incineration solution Pg.49 Innovative post-harvest treatment, digital agriculture can help tackle food loss and waste

www.afriagrimagazine.com | July - September Issue 2020

Editor’s Note

From the Editor

January-March 2021 Editor Nicholas Mayo editor@afriagrimagazine.com Sales brenna.shumba@afriagrimagazine.com raymond.rusere@afriagrimagazine.com walter.hove@afriagrimagazine.com david.brunn@afriagrimagazine.com Accounts & Admin Collen Geza admin@afriagrimagazine.com Design and layout Black Heart Worx info@blackheartworx.co.za

This issue of the African Agri Magazine January-March 2021 edition, is the first of this year’s series. It is our mission to bring the leading agricultural news in African, aimed at bringing market insight and innovations.

In response to the growing requirement in the agricultural world to continuously update operating skills and keep up with new tools for managers, the African Agri Magazine will embark on bringing up to date news, research and articles that sure to equip our readers. This interactive, knowledge management endeavor of the journal will bring our reader closer to agriculture’s leading innovators, buyers, and suppliers.

With news from last year, we kick start this year with the Valtra G Series tractor, which took the tractor of the year at the TOTY awards which were held late last via a virtual ceremony, again the effects of covid 19. The pandemic has affected our daily lives and the way we conduct business, the world will never be the same again with the new normal in our work places and lives.

In this issue, NitroStim is an innovative biotechnology product, that is the result of research conducted by HUMOFERT S.A. R&D department in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Athens. NitroStim results in an impressive increase of crop yield with low cost and environmental safety, as The combination of nitrogen fixation and biostimulation, is provoked. To get an indepth understanding of the nitrostim you can read more on page 28. This segment is under the digital auspices of our arcade master, Mark Fisher. Stop by regularly to see what’s new.

This issue features several articles from how smallholder farmers are surviving during this covid 19 period to solar irrigation in Burkina Faso, through to e-commerce.

Finally, I would like to raise my hat to the incredible work of the team at the African Agric Magazine for the stellar work they have put in making the publication what it is.

They have done an outstanding job, making this journal to deliver the knowledge of our faculty to the agricultural sector.

Please stay tuned as we continue to explore the dynamics of agricultural processes in 2021 and beyond.

On the cover: Choosing the Right Nozzle Pg.6

Regards Editor Nicholas Mayo

Disclaimer: All Material is strictly copyright. The magazine or any part thereof may not be reproduced or adapted without written permission from the Publisher. African Agri Magazine welcomes material submitted for publication but retains the right to edit copy. The views expressed in the publication are not considered those of the Publisher, which accepts no liability of any nature arising out of or in connection with the contents of this magazine. While every effort has been taken in compiling this publication, the publisher does not give warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of its content. The publisher and the editor cannot accept responsibility for any loss inconvenience & damage that may occur there from.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | July - September Issue 2020

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Cover Story

Choosing the right nozzle

Although nozzles are some of the least expensive components of a sprayer, they hold a high value in their ability to influence sprayer performance.

Nozzles meter the amount of liquid sprayed per unit area, controlling application rate, as well as variability of spray over the width of the sprayer boom.

Nozzles also influence droplet size, affecting both target coverage and spray drift risk.

Nozzles come in a wide variety of types and sizes. The best nozzle for a given application will maximize efficacy, minimize spray drift and allow compliance with label requirements, such as application rate (gallons per acre) and spray droplet size.

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Selecting the best nozzle requires careful consideration of many important factors including: sprayer operation parameters (such as application rate, spray pressure, travel speed); type of chemical sprayed (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides); mode of action of chemicals (systemic, contact); application type (broadcast, band, directed, air assisted); target crop (field crops, vegetables, vineyard, shrubs and trees, etc.); and spray drift risk. “Selecting the Best Nozzle for the Job,” gives step-bystep guidelines for selecting the most appropriate spray nozzle for a given application situation.

There is a large type of nozzles to choose from. Each nozzle type is designed for a specific

type of target and application. For example, a nozzle designed for broadcast spraying is not good for spraying pesticides over a narrow band. While one nozzle may be best for a given situation, it may be worst choice for another.

At Ohio State University we have conducted field experiments to determine which nozzles to choose for two different application situations: soybean diseases, such as rust and white mold, and wheat diseases, such as head scab and stem rust. We included 6-8 different nozzles in the experiments. We found out that while a twin-fan pattern nozzle was best for controlling wheat head scab, the same nozzle turned out to be the worst choice to protect

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Cover Story

soybeans against rust and white mold when the soybean canopy is tall and dense.

So before buying the nozzles and putting them on the boom, check the nozzle manufacturers’ catalogs, which have charts showing which nozzle type will be best for a specific job. Check the websites of nozzle manufacturers to reach their catalogs.

Nozzle Size Once you determine the type of a nozzle you need to buy, you also must buy the right size of that nozzle, which will satisfy the application rate (gallons per acre or gpa) you wish to use as you do your spraying at different travel speeds. Nozzle catalogs are filled with tables and charts showing application rates, given a nozzle’s flow rate (gallons per minute or gpm) delivered at various pressures (psi) and travel speeds (mph). These tables are useful tools for selecting the appropriate nozzles, pressure and speed to spray chemicals at application rates prescribed by product labels.

However, the charts are only for a limited number of travel speed and nozzle spacing situations. There may be situations where the charts will not provide information associated with your sprayer setup (nozzle spacing) and operating conditions (travel speed and spray pressure).

The apps developed by most of the major nozzle manufacturers can provide you the exact nozzle flow rate required for any given set of application parameters, and identify a specific set of nozzle recommendations for the given application parameters.

To find these apps, simply visit the app store in your smartphone or tablet and do a search under “Spray Nozzle Calculator,” or some other keywords related to nozzle size selection. You may also want to do a search under the name of the nozzle company from which you are interested in buying the nozzles. However, some apps are not user friendly and sometimes do not take into account the droplet

size requirements when recommending nozzles.

Although these apps and tables in catalogs may expedite the nozzle size selection process, it’s best to understand the procedure and math nozzle manufacturers use to generate the values and recommendations they come up with in their catalogs and apps. By following the steps mentioned in the new OSU Extension publication mentioned above (AEX-528) you will be able to determine the exact nozzle flow rate (gpm) required for your spray application parameters. Once the exact nozzle flow rate is determined, you can then look at the catalog to select the nozzle that will provide you the flow rate at a practical pressure setting.

Keep Several Types of Nozzles on the Boom Remember that one specific type of nozzle will not be best for all applications. For this reason, it’s best to have several types and sizes of nozzles on the boom so that you can switch to the “best” nozzle choice for a given spraying job. There are various types of sprayer components and setups (see photos to the right) you can buy to configure your boom so the new set up allows you to easily switch from one nozzle to another instantly.

Keep Spray Drift in Mind One of the major problems challenging pesticide applicators is spray drift, which is defined as movement of pesticides by wind from the application site to an offtarget site. Drift is influenced by many factors, which are discussed in detail in OSU Extension publication Bulletin 816.

Equipment, especially the nozzles, used to spray pesticides play a significant role in generating — as well as reducing — spray drift. In nozzle catalogs, you can see a number of different nozzles of the same type, in terms of spray pattern. For example,

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

one can find nozzles within the same “flat-fan” category classified as “low-drift.”

Research conducted at Ohio State and elsewhere clearly indicates that nozzles labeled as “low-drift” significantly reduce spray drift. If drift is, or becomes a concern, it may be best to switch from a conventional flat-fan nozzle to a “low-drift” flat-fan nozzle with the same flow rate.

Therefore, it’s best to have more than one type of a “flatfan” pattern nozzle on the boom.

Some Final Thoughts Nozzles are typically the least costly items on a sprayer, but they play a key role in the final outcome from a spraying job: achieving maximum efficacy from the pesticide applied while reducing the off-target (drift) movement of pesticides to minimum. Pesticides work well if the rates on labels are achieved during application.

This can be achieved only if the right nozzle type and the proper size of the nozzles are on the sprayer, and the sprayer is operated properly.

Although the apps and tables in catalogs may expedite the nozzle size selection process, it’s best to understand the process and the math nozzle manufacturers use to generate the values listed in the tables, and to generate nozzle recommendations in their Apps. This procedure, explained in this new OSU Extension Publication (AEX528) hopefully will help you to determine the exact nozzle flow rate (gpm) required for your spray application parameters, while highlighting some other important parameters such as spray pressure, droplet size, spray coverage on the target, and drift, all of which should be given serious consideration when selecting the best nozzle for a spraying job.

Choosing the right type of sprayer nozzle can make a huge difference in how effective pesticides are during a growing season and whether growers have to respray their fields or in some cases, replant, said Erdal Ozkan, an agricultural engineering professor and spray technology expert with

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Cover Story

Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC).

Not only do farmers have to have a field clear of weeds and pests before they plant, they have to keep that field free of pests and weeds throughout the growing season, Ozkan said. And with the rising cost of pesticides and fertilizers, growers who also want to save money and spray chemicals as efficiently as possible need to make sure they choose the correct spray nozzle for their fields and keep in mind weather conditions and type of chemicals they apply, he said.

“Farming is a tough business, with a very narrow margin between profit and loss,” Ozkan said. “So anything we can do to widen that margin is a good thing.”

The costs are significant.

Farmers spend approximately $4.1 billion on pesticides annually, according to published reports. And large self-propelled sprayers can cost more than $250,000, according to the EPA. “Growers usually choose pesticides based on their effectiveness, not how much they cost,” Ozkan said. “So one way to find savings in crop production is how we apply pesticides, and choosing the right nozzle is a part of that process.

“The more precise and accurate growers are in their applications, the more growers can have a net savings. For example, if growers are spraying more than the recommended rate, it is a waste of money.”

National surveys of field application results have shown that only about one out of three sprayers are applying pesticides at the recommended rates, while two-thirds are missing the mark by either over- or underspraying, Ozkan said.

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Determine if the pesticide requires specific adjuvants to provide product efficacy, influence droplet size or solution evaporation rate, reduce drift and to improve deposit and retention on the target.

Understand that some pesticides are volatile and may require incorporation into the soil after application.

“Doing it right can result in better control and cost savings, and eliminates having to do a second application,” he said. “If you don’t do it right or choose the wrong nozzle, the mistakes won’t show up that day, but sometime later in the growing season when weeds, insects, disease, or all

“Farming is a tough business, with a very narrow margin between profit and loss,” Ozkan said. “So anything we can do to widen that margin is a good thing.” of the above start showing up in the crops in particular areas.”

Ozkan said growers can improve the performance of sprayers if they: Always calibrate the equipment with water before spraying to ensure that the sprayer is applying the chemical at the recommended rate. (For details, see the OSU Extension fact sheet “Boom Sprayer Calibration”).

Check sprayer components to ensure they are the right size and type; check the sprayer system for leaks; and check the tank agitation system to ensure that flow to the tank for agitation is effective.

Make sure pressure gauge on the sprayer is accurate and operate the sprayer within the pressure range recommended by the nozzle manufacturer.

Keep the boom height to a minimum to reduce drift.

Setting the proper boom height for a given nozzle spacing is extremely important in achieving proper overlapping. Conventional flat-fan nozzles require 30% to 50% overlapping of adjacent spray patterns. Check catalogs for specific recommendations for different nozzles.

Maintain uniform deposition of spray material on the target across the boom. Non-uniform coverage can result from using misaligned or clogged nozzles, nozzles with different fan angles, or from uneven nozzle height across the boom. This can result in streaks, untreated areas, or overapplication of chemicals.

Watch for pattern streaks in the nozzle output, which indicate particles are in the nozzles. Remove them from the nozzle tip using a wooden toothpick or soft object and clean the nozzle filter using a soft brush.

Mix chemicals in a small container before pouring them into the sprayer tank to achieve a uniform mix.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

HIGH QUALITY NOZZLES

FOR ALL FARMING APPLICATIONS MADE IN

ITALY

TOPGUN www.asjnozzle.it export@asjnozzle.it

Agribusiness

Valtra G Series Wins Tractor Of The Year 2021 Best Utility

VALTRA G135 VERSU TAKES HOME THE TROPHY The new Valtra G135 Versu has been awarded the title Tractor of the Year 2021 Best Utility in the virtual TOTY award ceremony on 18 December 2020. The jury awarded the multipurpose and utility tractor above 70 horsepower that offers the best solutions available on market.

The Valtra G Series is the first in the 5th generation of Valtra tractors and at the same time a new model series that fits between the popular A and N Series with its 105-135 hp. It is a

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compact but powerful multipurpose tractor for everyday farming needs. The G Series can move and manoeuvre in tight spaces such as barns or farmyards, thanks to the short wheel base and the front end design optimised to maximise turning circle.

model G135 Versu is equipped with the multi-award winning SmartTouch tractor terminal as the first tractor in the 100–145 hp range. This brings the ultimate in “easy to use” technology, and means a full suite of precision farming features.

The G Series has an advanced power lift and effective working hydraulics. The integrated front loader subframe, electronic controls, high visibility hood, and 5.7 square metres of glass area offers great visibility for front loader work. The winning

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Agribusiness

LEXION 8900 - 40 pence per tonne at 94 tonnes/hour Alnwick, Northumberland (all swathed)

Perth, Scotland (all chopped)

Crop (MC%)

Wheat (17.11%)

Wheat (16.45%)

Wheat (15.70%)

Oats (16.97%)

Wheat (19.10%)

Area

38

42

27

30

34

Yield (t/ha)

12.57

10.36

7.84

5.89

9.77

Throughput (t/ha)

94

77

53

37

61

Fuel use (l/ha)

11.98

10.65

8.99

13.74

12.44

Fuel use (l/t)

0.95

1.03

1.15

2.33

1.27

On farm assessments conducted this harvest have shown that while the latest LEXION 8900 may be one of the highest capacity and most powerful combines on the market, it is also one of the most fuel efficient with use as low as 0.95 litres/tonne harvested while maintaining a harvesting rate of 94 tonnes/ hour.

total of 141ha of wheat and 34ha of oats on two farms, one near Alnwick in Northumberland and the other near Perth. Conditions were far from ideal. The assessment followed a period of wet weather, with the result that moisture contents ranged from 15.7% to 19.1% and wheat yields also ranged from 7.84t/ha up to 12.57t/ha.

In addition, analysis of TELEMATICS data for all LEXION 8900 machines operating in the UK showed an overall average fuel consumption of just 66 litres for all engine hours.

A further comparison between the previous top-of-the-range LEXION 780 and its new LEXION 8800 equivalent shows a fuel saving from the latter of 3 litres for all engine hours, worth £378*.

“We wanted the assessment as far as possible to realistically reflect the efficiency of the new LEXION 8900 in a true farm environment, so included harvesting the headlands and the conditions certainly reflected that and were typical of what many farmers experienced this year,” states Adam Hayward, the CLAAS UK Product Manager for Combine Harvesters who operated the LEXION 8900.

Harvest 2020 proved a challenge for many farmers, especially in the north of England and Scotland where the on-farm assessments were carried out. Yet despite the testing conditions and at times high moisture contents, the LEXION 8900 still recorded fuel consumption figures for its 790hp MAN engine as low as 0.95 litres/tonne, or just 40 pence/tonne*. Over the course of three days in late August/early September, the LEXION 8900TT harvested a

In the first assessment in Northumberland, the LEXION 8900 harvested 107ha of wheat. Conditions meant that harvesting was only possible in the afternoon and evening.

However, it was here that the true potential of the LEXION 8900 in a high yielding crop was realised. In a 38ha crop yielding 12.57t/ha, the LEXION was able to maintain an overall average throughput of 94t/ha, including the headlands, using just 11.98

litre/ha or 0.95l/t. By comparison, in a 27ha block of wheat yielding 7.84t/ha, fuel use was just 8.88l/ha or 1.15l/t.

Moving north to Perth, here again harvesting was only possible in the afternoon and evening. As is often the case in the area, because they dry quicker the LEXION started the afternoon harvesting 30ha of oats before moving onto 34ha of wheat later in the day. Here again, despite a high moisture content of 19.10% and wheat yields of 9.77t/ha, recorded fuel use was 12.44t/ha or 1.27l/t.

Following these on-farm assessments, using data recorded by TELEMATICS, CLAAS UK have also studied overall fuel use for all LEXION 8900 combines working in the UK last harvest. This showed a total fuel consumption of just 66 litres for all engine hours, so including idling, road travel, etc in addition to working hours. By comparison, total usage for all the previous topof-the-range 625hp LEXION 780 machines working this year was 68l/hr, while its new equivalent, the LEXION 8800 (653hp), used just 65l/hr. Over the 300 engine hours a combine typically works in a season, this equates to a fuel cost saving of about £378*.

Total all engine hours fuel use (litres/hour) LEXION 8900 (790hp)

LEXION 8800 (653hp)

LEXION 780 (625hp)

Total fuel use 66 litres 65 litres 68 litres “These figures clearly show how fuel efficient the new LEXION 8000 series is even in testing conditions,” says Adam Hayward. “Fuel is a major running cost. While the LEXION 8900 may be one of the most powerful combines on the market, these assessments demonstrate how modern technology, such as the new APS SYNFLOW threshing system with its larger 755mm diameter drum, Dynamic Power and Dynamic Cooling all help to also make it one of the most fuel efficient combines on the market.”

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

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Agribusiness

Rwanda: Dutch NGO boosts strawberry cultivation in five districts Agriterra is a Dutch nongovernment organisation; it has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources to expand the ‘Bravura strawberry variety’ trials in Rwanda. Through the HortInvest project it introduced two Dutch strawberry varieties -Bravura and Furore- in Rwanda in 2020.

Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture visited the first trial fields operated by KOABUNYA cooperative in Rutsiro district and CODFM cooperative in Muhanga district and requested the NGO to help expand the strawberry trials

in the country. The decision to expand the growth of ‘Bravura variety’ comes after the initial trial results proved to produce higher yields and quality fruits according to Jean Marie Ntakirutimana, the Business Advisor at Agriterra.

“The trials in other districts seek to assess the performance of the Bravura variety on Rwandan soil since it gave good results from the previous trials,” he Ntakirutimana said He said that 70,000 seedlings of ‘Bravura variety’ have to be planted on 1.5 hectare in five

districts namely Rwamagana, Rulindo, Muhanga, Rutsiro and Karongi.

“Agricultural experts from The Netherlands trained local agronomists and cooperatives on strawberry farming. The Ministry of Agriculture supports the journey to make it successful. The crop takes only 90 days to mature and start harvesting,” he said. According to him, once trials continue to register success in all parts of the country, it will spell good news for farmers.

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www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Agribusiness

Tractor sales signal confidence in agriculture

AGRICULTURAL machinery sales last month continued to register growth, indicating confidence in the sector’s outlook.

In January, tractor sales increased by 28 percent to 445 units compared with 348 units in January last year. Last month saw the sale of five combine harvesters, a similar number as that of last year.

South African Agricultural Machinery Association (Saama) chairperson Karel Munnik said on Friday that market sentiment continued to be positive.

“Good crops, in general, good commodity prices and favourable rainfall in most areas are contributing to this.

There are still quite a few variables which may affect summer crops, so there is some caution in the industry.

Nevertheless, prospects look good in the short to medium term,” said Munnik.

Saama said initial estimates for the 2021 calendar year were quite encouraging, with sales likely to be up to 10 percent higher than in 2020.

Last month, FNB Agribusiness senior agricultural economist Paul Makube said that lower interest rates were positive for the agricultural sector, particularly at the height of agricultural activity and increased credit demand.

He said strong commodity prices had also to helped keep farmers afloat, although there were pockets of Covid19-induced challenges, such as in the wine value chain.

“The extended reprieve will provide an opportunity for farmers to do the necessary refurbishments and replacement of machinery and equipment,” said Makube.

FNB Agribusiness said recordlow interest rates, coupled with strong commodity prices, boosted machinery sales last year, as tractor and combine harvester purchases increased by 8.9 percent and 25 percent respectively year on year.

Makube said strong output by the agricultural sector would limit an uptick in food inflation, which was positive for overall consumer price inflation in the year ahead.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

“We still expect the agriculture sector to post another stellar performance during 2021,” said Makube.

This week,Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) chief economist Wandile Sihlobo said latest data from the agricultural sector reinforced the view that the 2020/21 production season could deliver one of the largest harvests on record.

The latest Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) planting data showed total summer grain plantings for 2020/21 at 4.2 million hectares, up by 6 percent from the 2019/20 season. This dataset comprised maize (white and yellow), soybeans, sunflower seeds, groundnuts, sorghum and dry beans.

There was an expansion in most crops, except sunflower seeds, whose plantings declined by 5 percent yearon-year to 473 300 hectares, the smallest area in nine years.

This decline was mainly due to some hectares being shifted to white maize plantings in the western regions of South Africa because of favourable prices.

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Agribusiness

Zambian e-commerce platform targets the agricultural market

eMsika is a Zambian ecommerce company selling agricultural inputs. The business was started in 2016.

Co-founder and CEO Gilbert Mwale (31) answers our questions.

1. Give us your elevator pitch.

We are an agritech company that digitises processes and activities in the agriculture space. We have two services: an online marketplace platform, eMsika, where farmers find and buy farm inputs; and secondly, we offer farmers on-demand video training on how to farm as a business using an e-learning portal.

2. How did you finance your start-up?

We began with savings of $250 and family contributions that brought it to $1,000. After two years, we won some competitions like the DataHack4Fi local event and the ZICTA ICT Innovation Programme; our prize money amounted to $10,000.

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3. If you were given $1 million to invest in your company now, where would it go?

We would continue investing in our last-mile logistics in rural areas by beefing up our fleet and regional distribution or fulfilment centres. We would also invest in our marketing efforts for increased reach to the intended users, particularly those people in peri-urban and rural areas via radio and television.

Lastly, we would look at a regional expansion while we grow the expertise of our team by exploring exports into nearby countries and setting up mini offices, depending on what brings more efficiency.

4. What risks does your business face?

We are currently experiencing the common economic risk of currency fluctuations that make investment negotiations a bit more complex. Business continuity is also an issue owing to Covid-19, which has

forced our team to work from home more than ever.

5. Tell us about your biggest mistake.

Early in our business, some two months after starting, we went to recruit businesses as sellers on the platform. I was dressed in a smart suit. When I met some of the clients in the agricultural field – on-theground kind of people – they had a look of bemusement; almost as if to say, “Are you sure you’re in the right profession because we get dirty here?” I spoke to more than five suppliers and none accepted; not even when we explained they could join for free. It took another three months before I returned.

Thank God, they are now paid sellers on the platform. The lesson is simple: know your client so you are properly prepared.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Agribusiness

Ghana agritech startup secures $790k in funding Ghana-based agritech startup AgroCenta has raised $790k in pre-series A working capital and development funding from UK charity Shell Foundation, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), AV Ventures, and Rabo Foundation.

AgroCenta secures $790k in funding The funding secured will be utilised to further develop the agritech’s existing smallholder farmer inclusion programmes.

In a press release, Francis Obirikorang, CEO of AgroCenta and Michael Ocansey, co-founder of the agritech startup highlight the importance of the investment secured.

“This is a significant milestone for AgroCenta, having the support of leading institutions, particularly with the COVID-19 backdrop, underlining the strength of AgroCenta and the importance of its mission.

The demand for agricultural raw materials from off-takers in the brewery, manufacturing,

and consumer sector is increasing exponentially because of the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions that were put in place by the government of Ghana, hence this capital injection will help to secure purchases at fair and transparent prices from smallholders — a muchneeded lifeline for many who are at the proverbial bottom of the pyramid”.

AgroCenta Founded in 2016, AgroCenta is an agritech startup that has created an online platform that connects all the stakeholders in the staple food value chain such as smallholder farmers, partners, off-loaders, and logistics supplies to buyers.

Providing a much-needed service and platform to smallholder farmers in rural areas in Ghana, the agritech startup provides them with access to larger online markets to increase their revenue. In addition, smallholder farmers and farmer-based organisations’ produce is re-invested into the purchase of Agri inputs such as seedlings, pesticides, and more.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

This creates a two-fold solution to the major problems faced by smallholder farmers in Ghana, namely, access to market and access to finance.

Using technology, AgroCenta eliminates the need for middlemen or brokers, thus reducing the possibility of exploitative buyers that reportedly purchase produce from smallholder farmers for less than a third of its actual value. Essentially, the startup provides support for smallholder farmers within the value chain process.

AgroCentra’s CropChain platform enables smallholder farmers to execute transactions with accurate information and has reportedly increased the average CropChain farmer’s income by 35% since its launch. In addition, the platform provides reliable access to financing, inputs, and knowledge on the best agricultural , enabling smallholder farmers to contribute to sustainable food security.

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Agribusiness

GMO ‘scarecrow’: What’s keeping Africa from embracing genetically engineered crops?

The advent of climate change, coupled with new plant pests and diseases, has worsened the plight of Ghanaian farmers, relegating them to remain in poverty as their crop yields and incomes plunge.

Modern, climate-smart agricultural technologies, such as genetically modified crops (GMOs), can help combat these threats. However, scaremongering and misinformation, which Ghanaians term “scarecrow,” make farmers perceive such technology as white man’s witchcraft. Since they see it unnatural, they are stuck with crude, unproductive farming methods — the “hoe.”

The adoption of GM insectresistant cowpea and nitrogen use-efficient (NUE) rice could help farmers in Ghana to improve their yields, their incomes and their lives. These crops have been vetted and recommended by the CSIR of Ghana. But regulatory delays that prevent farmers from accessing these improved seeds, and lingering fears about technology, may erode these benefits in both Ghana and Africa at large.

In Africa today, nearly two out of three people depend on food production for their livelihoods. With its abundance of natural and human resources and favorable climate, Africa is well-positioned to expand agricultural production.

However, the current crop production management practices in Africa are unable to produce satisfactory yields to feed the increasing population.

Africa has one of the youngest populations on Earth while being the only continent where food production per capita is falling and hunger and malnutrition afflict at least one in three people. The

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population of Africa currently represents 17 percent of the world’s population and is swiftly increasing even now. By 2050 about one third of the world’s population will live in Africa. To feed this rapidly growing population, agricultural yields in Africa must be increased.

In an endless quest for higher yields from more resilient crops, technological breakthroughs and advancements in biotechnology gave birth to genetically modified (GM) foods. GM foods have become a critical solution to meet the demands for food on a national and global scale.

GM foods are developed and marketed because there is a perceived advantage to either the producer or consumer or both. This advantage often translates into a product with a lower price, longer shelf-life, lower production costs, higher nutritional value, better yields, pest-resistance, droughttolerance, etc.

These crops could help African farmers, whose plight has

worsened with the advent of climate change and the new pests (such as fall armyworm) and plant diseases that come with it. A lack of climateresilient farming practices and devotion to tradition have contributed to the low yields on the continent.

Agricultural transformation remains a strong policy priority for the government of Ghana.

For the better part of two decades, Ghana has emphasized “agricultural modernization” in its national agricultural policies.

Ghana President Akufo-Addo has repeatedly said, “My government is oriented and committed to the development of agriculture in Ghana to make it attractive to the youth.” The president’s agenda is on course as a majority of the youth today are farming because of the execution of some of these good policies by his government, including the “Planting for Foods and Jobs Policy.”

But at the same time, rural urban drift is converting most farmlands in developing countries such as Ghana to

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Agribusiness

real estate developments and uses other than farming. Loss of farmland contributes to lower agricultural productivity and less land availability for farmers.

It is well-known that as economies grow, the share of agriculture in total output falls.

This is true in Ghana, where agricultural production has been falling for more than two decades and currently hovers at around 20 percent of the GDP. This trend is not good news for Ghana as the country strives to feed its people.

Farming and agriculture play a fundamental role in achieving sustainable, equitable food security on the continent. For Africa, agriculture also serves as a backbone for economic development and poverty reduction. It is estimated that for every incremental increase in Africa’s farm yield, there is a 7 percent reduction in poverty. It is therefore important to consider the use of agricultural technologies in solving our issues with poverty as well as food security.

Africa is lacking technologically advanced farming methods and equipment, although important strides in the use of technology in its health and educational sectors are being made. Africa has had its fair share of development in the agricultural sector with numerous policies enacted by various leaders to make the continent a “food basket.”

Yet, according to the United Nations, about 815 million Africans go to bed hungry each night. Sub-Saharan Africa is still recording the highest prevalence of undernourished people and nearly one out of four people there are estimated to be hungry.

New agricultural technologies can greatly improve the lives of the farmers who work tirelessly to put food on our tables. And yet religious, political and cultural practices have created gaps in many aspects of life on the African continent. Many Africans grow up religious and children are indoctrinated with religious and superstitious beliefs. These

beliefs are an important part of our culture and inform our decision-making processes.

Tradition is important to us.

Technology isn’t new, but sometimes the word elicits a negative emotional response as people may be afraid of not understanding new ideas or processes. A high illiteracy rate of about 65 percent is a major factor enabling the spread of misinformation on the continent and we must never lose sight of that fact.

On a continent with a high rate of illiteracy and superstition, new technology is sometimes regarded as witchcraft.

GMO foods in particular challenge the norms of old farming practices in Africa.

They defy accepted time frames for farming and anticipated crop yields and offer unfamiliar resistances to diseases that affect crops. The generational gap in technology and lack of education on the continent both play a role in brewing insecurities and resentments among older farmers. The younger generation pursues white collar jobs and leaves the farming to the old folks who prefer to trust in their old methods and are adamantly opposed to using the “whiteman’s witchcraft” in producing the food they consume.

Colonialism has had a huge impact on the slow pace at which the indigenes accept GMOs and other biotech advances on the African continent. Most practices used in colonialism were characterized by deceit or hidden motives. The long-term effects of colonialism have sustained a deep-rooted skepticism about any good intentions on the part of colonial oppressors.

Sadly, the leadership of many African countries plays no role in mitigating these underlying concerns that are hidden within the hearts and minds of the populace. In a direct misrepresentation and repetition of mistrust that characterized the colonial masters, leadership of African countries is often deeply

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

stained with corruption and hidden motives by the very leaders elected to lead the people into the future. Current leaders fail to educate and eradicate the misinformation that the populace has about introducing GMOs or biotech discoveries into the agricultural industry. The ghosts of colonialism are evident in the actions of leadership, and such behaviors are a big contributing factor as to why those in agriculture continue to refuse to accept or adopt biotech discoveries and GMOs. There is an urgent need for Ghana to adopt biotech crops to produce food at a more economical and faster rate to meet the demands of the Ghanaian people and supply an export market to generate foreign exchange.

Economic studies and projections estimate adoption would increase internal revenue generation, employment and foreign exchange, which are key indicators for self-sufficiency and independence. The gap between demand and supply would be closed, collapsed and excess eventually generated.

Nigeria has approved two GM crops and is working to get seed to the farmers. Kenya is also moving to commercialize GM cotton and maize. These countries have strong government interventions and support for GM biotechnology. Progress by these first adopter nations provides an insight as to how GM crops are increasingly being viewed as one way in which the continent can invigorate its agriculture sector and achieve food security.

Achieving a hunger-free continent involves lots of education about available technology, training and efforts to change societal beliefs and mindsets regarding GM crops. There is still a lot of work to be done, and everyone’s help is needed if Ghana and the rest of the continent are to embrace these breakthrough discoveries and contribute to making Africa the food basket of the world.

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Agribusiness

Over 1400 rural women empowered through ClimateSmart Agriculture schemes In 2019, UN Women and Standard Bank Group came together to form a ClimateSmart Agriculture (CSA) programme aimed at empowering more than 50,000 women farmers in Uganda, and other African countries like Malawi, Nigeria and South Africa.

The partnership that was aimed at taking up modern and environmentally friendly farming technologies to increase yields and incomes across the agriculture value chain was also designed to provide women farmers with the skills and resources needed to grow their operations and succeed in a changing climate.

In Uganda over 1,400 women farmers received 276,320 highquality fish fingerlings of Tilapia species worth UGX2.6 billion and aquaculture farming technologies that have transformed their lives and livelihood.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Africa’s agriculture sector continues to be dominated by women with more than a third being employed and earning from the sector.

Ms Linda Manda, the Sector Head of Agribusiness, Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Bank South Africa says through the initiative, farmers have been able to access affordable inputs including feeds, accommodation and business management skills.

farming practices, seasonality, market proximity, and market prices,” she explains.

However, the information gap makes it more difficult for many women farmers to gain good selling prices, and to access financial services products. The implementation of the African Continental Free-trade Area, which comes into force this year, is expected to open up new opportunities for value-addition in Agriprocessing.

According to Ms Nidhi Tandon, the Socio-economic Advisor for the East and Southern Africa Region at UN Women, Africa’s farmers are at the frontline of climate change which means interventions are needed to help them adopt more sustainable practices while also adapting to the changing weather patterns.

Tandon explains that this is why the CSA project is providing them with access to droughtresistant seeds and more environmentally friendly fertilizers.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has also shown us why we need to push the boundaries of our natural environments and more must be done to restore and conserve biodiversity.

Climate change could impact women farmers more than men given that women tend to carry more household and other responsibilities,” she shares.

Ms Tandon adds that as a result, UN Women focuses on supporting women in agriculture to fully and equally participate in decision-making necessary at all levels development such as; appropriate policy interventions; deployment of more effective tools, technologies, infrastructure and institutions to implement measures to build resilience; and the achievement of sustainable resource management for resilient green value chains.

The Climate-Smart Agriculture project is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals which focuses on gender equality, access to decent work, and economic growth proved to have an immense economic opportunity for the countries.

This is especially if the right policies are in place, along with appropriate technologies and greater free trade and to ensure the success of the CSA initiative, Standard Bank has provided funding worth US$3 million as well as on-going support through financial literacy and other capacitybuilding programmes.

UN Women is responsible for full project development and management, technical support, coordination of partners, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.

“Alongside access to financial services and quality farmlands, access to information has been identified as one of the biggest barriers to Africa’s small-scale women farmers; particularly information and data on yields, soil health, weather patterns, good

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www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Agribusiness

FAO to scale up response to Fall Armyworm as pest continues to spread

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is increasing efforts aimed at bolstering the global response to Fall Armyworm (FAW), considered one of the top 10 devastating plant pests affecting food and agriculture.

FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, noted that great strides had been made by the Global Action for Fall Armyworm Control (GA), a coordination mechanism established by him a year ago, but emphasized that many challenges remain to be tackled in the sustainable management of this pest.

the pest is putting at risk up to 80 million tonnes of maize worth $18 billion per year in Africa, Asia and the Near East.

FAO recognises that farmers need significant support to fight the pest and protect crops through Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Qu indicated that eight demonstration countries and 53 pilot countries had been identified for the implementation of control strategies at the national and local level. The eight countries are: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Egypt, India, Kenya, Malawi and the Philippines.

Speaking at a virtual meeting of the Global Action’s third steering committee, the Director-General noted FAW’s reach was expanding, noting that it had been reported in four new countries in Asia and the Near East.

National task forces for the eight countries for Fall Armyworm control are being strengthened and technical support is being provided for each of them.

FAW is a voracious transboundary insect which targets maize and other food crops. Originating in the Americas, it invaded Africa in 2016 and has spread to over 70 countries in Africa, Asia and the Near East in only four years.

According to FAO’s estimates,

While noting that funding pledges of $7.9 million had come from China, France, Norway and the European Union between July and December 2020, Qu said more financial resources need to be mobilised, as FAO had done in the fight against Desert Locusts.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

He stressed there was also a need to improve country-level coordination to respond to FAW invasions, information sharing and the use of the latest technology for FAW surveillance, monitoring and management in the field.

The steering committee, chaired by the DirectorGeneral, oversees the Global Action, with support from a technical committee, chaired

by USAID Chief Scientist, Robert Bertram.

Bertram informed the meeting that the impact of FAW had been devastating for many farmers and it was important to optimize available technology to support plant health and combat increasing pest prevalence.

The technical committee has been working on the general guidelines for developing and implementing regional IPM strategies, distilling a large body of knowledge on various IPM interventions against FAW. These guidelines are to be offered for the demonstration countries to further tailor their own IPM strategies to fight the pest.

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Agribusiness

ICT Adoption can Increase Crop Productivity among young farmers in Tanzania – study among young farmers in the country, facilitating interactions among key stakeholders such as farmers, researchers, extension agents, input suppliers, traders, processors, and policymakers should be a priority in government intervention programmes and policies.

A study has shown that the involvement of Africa’s youth in rural development and agriculture will not only boost food security on the continent but also strategically provide solutions to the prevailing problem of unemployment plaguing African societies.

However, youth participation in these areas in most African countries is very low, this can be linked to so many factors which include drudgery, lack of infrastructure, low financial returns and lack of access to improved seed varieties. Until recent years, agriculture in Africa was seen as a sector meant for the aged and least educated.

While Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) have been listed as a major factor that can influence the involvement of youth in agriculture, by driving participatory communication, a study carried out in Tanzania

by Sylvester Jotta under the CARE project reveals that one of the problems facing young farmers in the country is the limited access to researchextension processes that can help with productivity.

According to Jotta, researchextension dissemination with the use of ICTs is key to the

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delivery of services in rural Tanzania as the study also showed that young farmers have limited interaction with important actors, such as agricultural training and research institutes, agricultural seed agencies and financial institutions.

Despite the high rates of economic growth in Tanzania in recent years according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), this has not had an encouraging effect on employment opportunities for the growing youth population.

With a lot of the rural youth in Tanzania faced with turning to agriculture as a means of employment and livelihood, ICTs is providing help with crop productivity by expanding communication, cooperation, and ultimately innovation.

According to Jotta, ICTs, especially mobile phones and computers, are driving participatory communication as organizations are using them to deliver services to larger numbers of rural people than they could reach before.

The study which focused on the adoption of ICTs in crop productivity by young farmers in rural Tanzania has recommended that to enhance crop productivity

This is part of research being carried out by young Africans across 8 countries under the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) sponsored CARE project being implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). It is extending solutions to issues around youth engagement in rural economic activities. This project addresses the interrelated issues of implementing quality research and disseminating the results to stakeholders which include policymakers in Africa.

Furthermore results from the study according to Jotta showed that adopters of ICTs had higher crop yields compared to non-adopters, an indicator that promoting crop productivity among young farmers in Tanzania requires access to related information and knowledge which can adequately be disseminated with ICT facilities like phones and computers.

CARE awardees during a session

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Agribusiness

How smallholder farmers are coping with the pandemic François Hakuzimana, a farmer from Rubavu district is an owner of a ranch where he rears poultry and grows bananas, beans and Irish potatoes.

Before the pandemic hit, he used to make money selling off his produce to markets in Kigali and in his district too. He also had deals where he would export chicken and eggs, with Democratic Republic of the Congo being his biggest market.

When the pandemic hit however, borders were closed and traveling with in and out of the country became restricted, which he says hindered transport of merchandise and consumption was affected consequently.

As smallholder farmers, Hakuzimana says they are faced with countless challenges such as limited market, wastage of produce and limited access to sources of agricultural productivity.

A reflection round the current state of most sectors, farming inclusive, shows that these are still unprecedented times with the pandemic continuing to disrupt a big number of undertakings.

Jean-Paul Munyakazi, the Legal Representative of Imbaraga Farmers’ organisation says where as there are still opportunities since the sector continued working during the pandemic, farmers are still affected.

it happened when farmers were mostly done with sowing.

“The biggest problem present is farmers haven’t managed to organise themselves in terms of making good use of their harvest.”

“The other challenge, though it’s not directly linked to the pandemic, is that faced by dairy farmers. Milk supply has been in excess, normally this happens in the month of March and April but this time it happened in January because that’s when it rained.

In some areas, factories didn’t buy milk from farmers as they usually do, this caused a big loss,” Munyakazi explains.

According to Eric Mbonigaba, the Director of Rwanda Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock at Private Sector Federation, because most of buyers of farmers’ produce (hotels and restaurants) were closed, it was inevitable for farmers to be faced with a limited market.

He also points out a lack of adequate infrastructure for conservation and storage of production for a long time especially for perishable products (fruits and vegetables) as well as livestock products (cow meat, chicken meat and pork meat).

Making agriculture viable Munyakazi points out however that, whereas the agricultural sector was affected by the pandemic, opportunities rose that even those who were not in the sector joined.

“People saw opportunities in this sector, they realised that they can invest in it and get profit.”

According to a new report the Africa Agribusiness Outlook, there is need to make agriculture attractive, viable and profitable rather than being looked at as a risky endeavour.

It indicates that the future of African agribusiness must include the smallholder farmer.

The report found that agribusinesses are incorporating more smallholder farmers into their business models. This is critical to sustainability.

And on the other hand, optimising local value chains can help mitigate the devastating effects of the pandemic on the economy.

For this to happen, there is need for innovative financing solutions to support the agribusiness sector. Financing, specific to the agricultural sector, will help build resilience and enable them to seize the moment.

To address the present challenges, Munyakazi says they are approaching each district encouraging farmers to organise themselves in terms of operations mainly.

“Only through the Economic Recovery Fund established by Government can we mitigate those challenges as actors can get money through their commercial banks to recover their economy,” Mbonigaba says.

“Some farmers were forced to sell their produce before harvest time, this is always done at a low price, which limits their profit,” he says.

He also adds that transportation of harvest to markets has been another hindrance, noting however the recent lockdown didn’t affect farmers that much since

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

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Irrigation

RainFine Introduces Just-Fine Pipe Corrosive water, caused by a number of factors ranging from high or low pH to variable mineral content to waste water applications, can weaken and deteriorate standard galvanized pipe, leading to premature failure.

RainFine Just-Fine irrigation uPVC lined pipes protect your irrigation pipelines from any corrosive components in your water, ensuring a long life for your machine.

“Farmers drive everything we do at RainFine – and water quality issues continue to be an increasingly prevalent challenge for growers around the world.

While several different options to handle corrosive water have existed in the market for years, farmers told us there was a real need to have a better solution,” said Wang Zhi, director of global sales at RainFine. “We looked at this issue with a new approach and redesigned an entirely different solution about which we are extremely proud and, even more importantly, that our farmer clients are telling us is an absolute gamechanger for them.”

Other poly pipe type offerings in the market rely on polyethylene pipes and flanges for structural integrity, but the poly flanges create a gap between the steel flanges at the joint and can compress and crack over time, resulting in leaks.

The new Just-Fine pipe features a manufactured insert uv-stabilised plastic flange that allows for positive flange contact and eliminates the potential for a gap between flanges at joints, resulting in improved strength and span consistency.

It is the same span joint design used for existing RainFine galvanized pipe, but with the

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added protection of the Just-Fine PVC liner through the span pipe to provide an unmatched level of quality and rigidity.

To address the pipe expansion and contraction challenges that cause the liner to move within the pipe, potentially leading to cracks and leaks, RainFine introduced two additional new design innovations.

1. Rigid uPVC provides the solid base for the pipe, and does not expand or contract like the poly pipes do and will not crack after time at any deviation like at flanges or pipe ends; 2. Stainless steel fittings (304) are used at the pipe ends for rigidity and keeping with the corrosion free goals. The Riser Pipes and Elbows are also supplied with 304 stainless steel; 3. The pipe uses an insert type flange with double rubber seals which allow for any expansion and contraction in the pipes, it provides a perfect fit and seal, eliminating any leakage; and 4. 4he pipe sprinkler outlet uses a ¾” 304 stainless steel outlets fitting with ideal unrestricted flow characteristics; with a strong nut that will not break off over time as poly ones are inclined to do.

Re-piping your older Lindsay or IrriFrance pivots with Just-Fine pipes and fittings can extend their life significantly, providing a longer-term solution to the conservative farm operator.

Benefits • Just-Fine pipe is a comprehensive protection against corrosion made from an inert PVC material, making it ideal for chemigation, fertigation and resisting corrosive water.

• No leaking – wide self-seating pipe flange, stainless steel

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•

•

• • •

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self-locking sprinkler outlet couplers ensure a water-tight seal.

Long lasting – the first machine with Just-Fine, installed in Australia is still operating with no leaks.

All structural components – from pivot pipe to last pipe – are lined and uPVC protected.

The joints are made of stainless steel maintaining structural integrity, while Overhangs are short and of minimum 6-5/8”.

Pipes available are 8” and 65/8”.

Not affected by abrasion from sand or sediment in irrigation water.

Highly resistant to sunlight and humidity as the pipe is completely away from any UV. No substantial extra machine weight.

Features • Warranty: A 20 years pipeline corrosion warranty includes unconditional replacement due to corrosion for 20 years.

This is the longest and most substantial warranty in the industry.

• Robust design: Designed for agricultural, industrial and municipal water applications • Greater profit and productivity: Allows you to take advantage of corrosive water, and allows chemigation and fertigation with aggressive chemicals.

• Minimizes pressure loss: Sprinkler outlets: Full size ¾” stainless steel self-locking couplings for minimal pressure loss and no leaks offering optimal flow characteristics.

For more information about protecting your pipes with JustFine pipes, contact your local RainFine dealer today.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Irrigation

Nigeria: Agribusiness - Gombe Farmers Receive Govt's Irrigation Pumps, Seeds, Others Farmers and physically challenged persons in Gombe State, have received Federal Government's irrigation pumps, multipurpose threshers, powered sprayers, and quality seeds ahead of 2021 farming season.

The free distribution of inputs to the farmers was done by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon Mustapha Baba Shehuri, and made known in a statement signed

by Director, Information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Theodore Ogaziechi.

Shehuri who flagged-off distribution of the free agricultural inputs and quality seeds to smallholders farmers at the weekend, maintained that the inputs would ensure food and nutrition security, create more jobs for teaming Nigerian youths and boost dryseason farming.

According to the statement the Minister said it is part of the mitigation measures against the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and flood disaster that wrecked havoc on the farmlands across the country.

The statement reads in part, "The Ministry would support breeder and foundation seed production and link up with the private seed companies to ensure that certified seeds are available to local farmers nationwide.

"Improved rural infrastructure and other value chain support would invariably contribute to the attainment of Mr. President's desire towards ensuring easy access to quality food and nutrition for Nigerians.

"The Ministry has supported Gombe State with subsidized inputs with over 350 3HP and 30 7HP irrigation pumps, multipurpose threshers, over 70 Motorized and dual powered sprayers amongst others.

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"Under our world bank assisted Nutrition Programme, we have provided multiple pieces of training and homestead farming input packages including tomato, pepper, pawpaw among others in five local government areas in the state as well as irrigation kits designed to improve the household nutrition.

"The smallholder farmers in the State will today receive the following free inputs; 10,000 Gum Arabic Seedlings, 15 metric tonnes of rice seed, 2.5 metric tonnes groundnut foundation seeds, 1,000 KG of Castor seeds, 1,500 KG of cashew nuts as well as Ratkin and Liptol - organic insecticides to combat armyworm infestation and Equipment like water pumps, maize threshers among others."

He also disclosed that his Ministry has been on similar exercise assisting farmers in various States because the Buhari-led administration places a high value on farmers.

"So far, the Ministry has performed similar exercise in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Oyo, Cross River, and Imo states, with this being the 8th edition, assisting smallholders farmers with quality inputs to ensure sustainable food security, job creation, and revenue generation to grow the nation's economy.

"In our input distribution efforts, at least 35 per cent of these inputs are targeted at the women farmers, this is in line with the targets set in our national gender action plan and policies aimed at ensuring increased opportunities for women.

"In order to alleviate the effect of the flood on farmers, inputs were distributed to farmers in Jigawa, Kebbi, Nasarawa and Benue state", he said.

However, the Minister tasked the benefiting farmers to make judicious use of the inputs to produce food for the nation as he called on other stakeholders to provide similar support to farmers.

"So that together we can defeat COVID-19 Pandemic and become self-sufficient in food production", he added.

Meanwhile, two physically challenged persons were the first beneficiaries to receive the packages from the Director Federal Department of Agriculture, Hajia Karima Babangida.

In a related development, the Minister also visited Soro Community in Bauchi State where the Ministry through the Department of Rural Development is constructing a 1.5-kilometer asphaltic road aimed at providing access road for farmers, increase production, and locally generated revenue.

Earlier, the Minister paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, and assured that, "the Ministry will continue to work with State Governments especially Bauchi State, Farmers and other stakeholders to achieve President Buhari's promise to diversify the economy, revitalize and modernize Agricultural sector.

"We want to see farmers earning a decent income and to be fully integrated into the mainstream of our National Economy.

While responding, Governor Bala Mohammed, said that the State has result-driven policies and programmes which allow investors to invest in the Agricultural sector, adding that the policies would provide a conducive business environment for willing investors, create jobs and boost the economic growth of the people.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Crops

6 easy steps to get the perfect sprinkler pump All pumps are not created equal.When choosing a sprinkler pump, figuring out the difference between one sprinkler pump from the other can get frustrating. However, consider the following easy steps to get the perfect sprinkler pump to match your needs: push water out than to pull water upward.

may require a high pressure gas pump.

3. How far are you pumping?

5. Priming method

Considering the suction head, you’ll as well need to consider how far you’re pumping the water so as to reach your sprinkler heads. The distance in which you’re pumping the water can affect the water pressure.

Most pumps are self-priming, however, at time they may require priming by filling the priming port and pump housing with water upon initial installation to force any air out and allow for the impeller to start sucking water.

In this case if the distance from your pump to the furthest sprinkler is under 100′, the standard 1-1/2″ discharge pipe will work. But, if the distance to your furthest sprinkler head is 100′-300′, you’ll need to go to a 2″ discharge pipe instead.If the distance from your irrigation pump to your furthest sprinkler head is 300′-600′, you’ll need to increase the diameter of your discharge pipe to 2-1/2″.

Any air pockets left in the lines or the pump will cause the pump to become air-bound.

An air-bound pump will not operate properly until the air is removed and replaced by water. As long as a check or foot valve is installed on the suction pipe, and you never lose suction, you should not need to re-prime the pump.

Another important factor to consider when planning to install a sprinkler pump is the amount of lift required to move the water from its source to your pump. The “suction head” must be less than 25 feet high, but ideally it should be not more than 5 feet high.

Basically, you need to increase discharge pipe diameter by one size for every 300′ of horizontal pumping distance in order to maintain the best possible flow and pressure.

Measure the distance from the surface of the water source straight up until it meets the elevation of your pump, to determine the suction head requirements of your sprinkler irrigation system, . That’s your suction head. It’s best to install your irrigation pump as close to the water source as possible without risking water-damage to the pump, given that, it’s much easier for a pump to

You’ll need to be sure you have the correct power supply. Most pumps are dualvoltage rated, that means, they will operate at either 115 volts or 230 volts. Nonetheless, some of the larger pumps are 2-1/2 HP, 3 HP, and are rated at 230 volts or 208/230/460 3phase. An alternative option to electricity is a gas-powered pump. However, depending on your requirements, you

Sprinkler pumps are not designed for suction head over 25 feet, install them as close to the water source as possible. Additionally irrigation pumps are not capable of sucking water beyond 25 feet above their water source.

Consider a different type of pump, if you have to locate your pump higher above the water source.

1. Sizing your sprinkler pump properly Figure out how many sprinkler heads you have along with their GPM (gallons-per-minute) and PSI (pounds-per-squareinch) requirements, in order to determine the correct sprinkler pump size.

Sprinkler heads are rated at a specific GPM and PSI. Perhaps, you will use sprinkler heads of the same GPM and PSI rating throughout your system, if so, then the PSI will remain the same.

Do not oversize your pump too much, doing so could blow out your sprinkler heads or cause a sporadic and disorganized spray pattern.

2. How High Are You Pumping?

4. Power requirements

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

6. Choosing a location for your sprinkler pump

Be sure to protect your pump from the elements. Your sprinkler pump should be located in a cool, dry area where it won’t get rained on, but will still have optimal ventilation. Keep the pump dry, keep it out of direct sunlight, and keep it well ventilated so it doesn’t overheat or become flooded.

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Irrigation

BURKINA FASO: Buy-Us Solar launches solar-powered

On February 4th, 2021, Buy-Us Solar launched a project in Burkina Faso to irrigate using solar energy. The Burkinabe supplier of solar motor pumps hopes to contribute to the development of irrigated agriculture in this Sahelian country.

The project aims to “reduce farmers’ working hours while boosting their production”. This is the aim of the “Irrigate with solar energy” project recently launched in Burkina Faso by the company Buy-Us Solar.

As part of this project, the Burkinabe company will offer farmers its solar-powered motor pump, called “Futurepomp SF2”. This equipment was presented to the public at the launch ceremony of the irrigation project. Each Burkinabe farmer will be able to purchase the motor pump for an average cost of 475,000 CFA francs, i.e. more than 724 euros.

The support of AECF Africa “During our various surveys, farmers have expressed the wish to have a reliable solution that allows them to obtain water at a lower cost. This was impossible with ordinary motor pumps running on expensive fuel. So, we set up

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‘Futurepomp SF2’,” explains Fleur Tapsoba, marketing manager of Buy-Us Solar.

“During our various surveys, farmers have expressed the wish to have a reliable solution that allows them to obtain water at a lower cost. This was impossible with ordinary motor pumps running on expensive fuel.

So, we set up ‘Futurepomp SF2’,”

The device is equipped with two solar panels of 60 W each and a suction pipe 7 m deep and 8 m high. The solar motor pump has a capacity of 3.6 m3/hour with a horizontal delivery of more than 500 m and is capable of irrigating ½ hectare to 1 hectare depending on the crop and the watering plan. Buy-Us Solar benefits from the support of AECF Africa (The African Enterprise Challenge Fund) in the implementation of its solar irrigation project.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Fertilisers

NitroStim: Discover the innovative bio-stimulant.

What is NitroStim?

NitroStim is an innovative biotechnology product, that is the result of research conducted by HUMOFERT S.A. R&D department in collaboration with Agricultural University of Athens. It is a microbial solution which stimulates plant growth thanks to the activity of specific beneficial nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which can penetrate into the above-ground plant parts (phyllo sphere) and become endophytes. It is important to say that NitroStim can be applied on all crops (Wheat, Barley, Oat, Rye, Hop, Maize, Cotton, Energy crops, Alfalfa, Clover, Fodders, Medicinal herbs, Rice, potato, fruit trees etc) by foliar application at the early stages of growth.

Figure 1: Application of Nitrostim on maize led to 27% increased yield per hectare, proportion corresponding to a higher yield by 3 tn/ha in comparison with the control.

MODE OF ACTION Nitrogen-fixing phyllo sphere endophytes fix atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into a readily assimilable by plants form, ensuring a rapid, intensive and balanced growth. In addition, they produce phytohormones intracellularly, which stimulate plant cells functions and unlock the potential productivity of plants that is

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encrypted in their DNA. The combination of nitrogen fixation and bio stimulation provoked by NitroStim results into an impressive increase of crop yield with low cost and environmental safety.

production source, which produces Nitrogen readily available to plant tissues.

2.

Continuously provide plants with nitrogen, as the process of nitrogen fixation can continue throughout the biological cycle of plants.

3.

Produce growth hormones (e.g. auxins) which

The Nitrogen fixing endophytic bacteria of Nitrostim: 1.

Provide plants with an internal nitrogen

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Fertilisers

stimulate and promote growth 4.

Increase nutrients uptake by the foliage.

BENEFITS • •

•

• •

•

It stimulates plant growth.

It increases crop productivity while at the same time decreases the production cost It reinforces plants against adverse environmental factors, such as drought, salinity etc.

It improves plant resistance against biotic stress factors.

It decreases the applied quantity of nitrogen fertilizers whilst in many cases it can fully replace them.

It contributes to the reduction of nitrate environmental pollution caused by the application of chemical fertilizers.

Figure 2: Application of Nitrostim on maize under severe corn rootworm attack, led to 30% increased yield per hectare, proportion corresponding to a higher yield by 1.8 tn/ha in comparison with the control.

TRIAL RESULTS

We produce what the plants need to grow...

Nu tri ti

for qu ducts alit o r ati p l ve a n o

s op cr

The effect of NitroStim on yield increase has been tested on maize cultivation in Greece.

The first experiment was performed on a healthy crop during a year of low yield expectations due to drought and the second experiment on a crop suffering from a severe infestation by corn rootworms (Diabrotica Virgifera). NitroStim was applied once by foliar spraying (2.50 L/ha) at the growth stage of 20-30 cm height.

In the first experiment, the application of NitroStim resulted in 27% increase of yield per hectare. More precisely, the yields of NitroStim-treated plots reached 14 tn/ha, in contrast to the untreated ones, which yielded 11 tn/ha. (Figure 1).

In the second experiment, where the crop was severely damaged by corn rootworms attack, application of NitroStim resulted in 30% increase of the yield per hectare. So, while the control yielded 6 tn of seed per hectare, NitroStim-treated plots yielded 7.8 tn/ha. (Figure 2).

Our philosophy Research Innovation Experimentation Application Success

Our power Microbialproducts Biostimulants Soilconditioners Watersolublefertilizers Liquidfertilizers Traceelements www.humofert.gr

1 Ermou&Theotokopoulou str., 144 52Metamorphosis-Greece, info@humofert.gr

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

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Fertilizers

Yara launches new maize fertiliser for western Kenya

Y ara East Africa has introduced a micro-nutrient fertiliser, Yara Microp, targeting to improve maize yields in Western Kenya.

Regional agronomist Kefa Maranga said soil analysis in the region revealed a need for a blended product that has Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Ammoniacal Nitrogen, Sulphur and Zinc enabling the maize crop to grow faster and produce higher yields.

“In keeping with our promise to work with farmers in provision of fertiliser that meet the nutritional needs of the various crops they grow, we at Yara East Africa have developed a blended fertilizer, Yara Microp,” he said.

Western and Nyanza regions territorial manager Samuel Murono said the new product had since been piloted among smallholder maize farmers for top dressing and it proved useful in enhancing their yields.

“Zinc helps in grain filling and increased grain weight while Sulphur improves utilisation of nitrogen and reduces susceptibility to diseases,”

nutrients needed for a good yield,” said Mr Murono.

The new products comes hardly five months after Yara unveiled a mobile application, Yara Farmweather that enables farmers know the suitable fertiliser for their farms based on soil analysis as well as a crop-specific fertiliser.

“Zinc helps in grain filling and increased grain weight while Sulphur improves utilisation of nitrogen and reduces susceptibility to diseases,” said Mr Maranga.

Mr Murono urged farmers to closely engage extension officers and download Yara Farmweather App to inform their investments, saying farm activities now require science to affirm good timely yields.

“Yara agronomists deployed across the region to advise farmers on the quality of nutrients in their soils informed development of Yara Microp, that is less acidifying while providing macro and micro

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www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Fertilizers

Sowing the Seeds of Industrial Farming in Mozambique With fertile river valleys, expansive coastal lowlands and the prolific Zambezi River as a source of irrigation, Mozambique is considered a mecca for crop cultivation, with climatic conditions catering to a diverse range of agricultural products.

Agriculture represents the second-largest sector of the Mozambican economy – accounting for more than 25% of GDP and employing 80% of the labor force – and is supported by staple crops including maize, cassava, rice, nuts, cotton, coffee, sugar and tobacco. Maize and cassava, for example, are grown by 80% of all Mozambican small-scale farmers and make up more than one-third of cultivated land. Yet the sector remains confined to subsistence farming largely due to a lack of investment, which impedes the development of critical infrastructure required to extend farming practices outside of the individual household.

In fact, smallholder farmers in Mozambique account for 95% of agricultural production, while roughly 400 commercial farmers – primarily producing sugar, soybeans, bananas, rice, vegetables, nuts, cotton and tobacco – account for the remaining five percent. With only 16% of land suitable for farming currently being cultivated – combined with a 1,500-mile coastline that enables export to Middle Eastern and Asian markets via ocean ports – Mozambique boasts considerable potential for large-scale, industrialized farming both in-country and for regional export.

From Net Importer to Net Exporter A key constraint to the development of commercial agriculture in Mozambique is limited infrastructure: insufficient roads, railway and ports, antiquated farming practices and high vulnerability to drought, floods and cyclones, leaving the sector susceptible to external shocks.

While discovery of Mozambican gas has accelerated energy infrastructure growth since commercial reserves were discovered in 2011, domestic transport and logistics sectors remain underdeveloped, leading to longer lead times and higher costs associated with storage and warehousing.

Moreover, limited electricity access and high fuel prices – given that the country relies on imported refined petroleum derivatives – can increase product costs by 10-20% per kilogram. To render small-scale farmers more resilient to climate change and improve farming techniques, resource-smart technologies such as drip systems, pumps, ultraviolet plastic filtration and postharvest storage have been implemented and met with intermediate success, yet sustained knowledge and technology transfer remains needed.

Despite its considerable export potential to the wider region, Mozambique carries a significant trade deficit, importing capital-intensive goods such as farming and transport equipment, along with processed produce, meat and livestock from its Southern African Development Community neighbors. As a result, integrated value chains that facilitate the manufacturing of cash crops – cashews, tobacco and sugar – stand to generate in-country value by refining raw agricultural goods into consumable products and establishing domestic and regional consumer markets in the process. Improved access to financial services and credit – in which smallholder farmers and small- and medium-sized enterprises can grow their businesses and access critical capital for improved farming technologies – would also serve to alleviate rural poverty and drive financial inclusion.

Natural Gas to Drive Expansion Ongoing gas monetization initiatives in Mozambique have a direct impact on the scale and expansion of industrial agriculture in the country, in

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addition to the potential that gas-to-power offers to power irrigation pumps, dry crops, heat greenhouses and so forth.

Under the administration of President Filipe Nyusi, natural gas has been positioned not as an end within itself, but rather as a means of generating longterm economic diversification, skills development and job creation across energy, agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing and construction sectors. President Nyusi’s focus on agro-industry and agro-chemistry seeks to achieve “zero hunger” in the country through the cultivation of self-sufficient farming and improved access to infrastructure.

More specifically, natural gas offers the ability to reduce costs of food production (and importation) and establish large-scale industrial farming through the development of locally manufactured chemical fertilizers. Natural gas – of which Mozambique holds 100 trillion cubic feet of recoverable reserves – plays an integral role in fertilizer production, as it is used as a primary raw material for the production of liquid ammonia and resulting carbon dioxide gas, which is then combined to create urea fertilizer.

Fertilization not only improves crop yields, but also boosts agricultural profitability and nutrient density. With enhanced crop efficiency and the early seeds of a downstream and manufacturing industry, Mozambique could serve as a regional – and even international – player in food production and security, a transition facilitated by the African Continental Free Trade Area that widens the reach of domestic agriculture and industry. For import-dependent African countries like Mozambique, food and energy security have risen to the forefront of the national agenda in the wake of COVID19 and disruptions to regional and global supply chains.

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Fertilizers

GHANA: Farmers Hope to recycle cocoa waste in Kumasi

"Asaase Nofosuo", the organic fertilizer made from cocoa waste by Farmers Hope, could soon be sold in three countries in West Africa, including Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin. The Ghanaian start-up plans to set up a larger waste recycling plant to be installed in Kumasi in southern Ghana.

Faso. “Farmers Hope will not accept any new orders until the new plant is operational.

We have enough stock to last until the second quarter of 2021,” says Akwasi Osei-Bobie Ansah.

Farmers Hope is looking at new markets in West Africa to distribute its “Asaase Nofosuo”.

The young company wants to sell its organic fertilizer in Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin. The Ghanaian start-up specialising in the processing of cocoa waste wants to increase its production in order to conquer new markets. Akwasi OseiBobie Ansah, the founder of Farmers Hope recently unveiled his project to build a new cocoa waste processing plant in Kumasi in southern Ghana.

The future cocoa waste recycling plant will be equipped with three locally manufactured machines.

Each unit will be capable of producing 400 bags of fertiliser per hour, i.e. 6,600 bags per day as opposed to the current 600 bags per day. This organic substance should provide the plants with additional nutrients to improve their growth and increase the yield and quality of the crops. Ghana is the world’s second largest exporter of cocoa, after Côte d’Ivoire (2.1 million tonnes). In 2017, Ghana supplied 882,175 tonnes of cocoa out of an estimated world production of 4.7 million tonnes according to

Officially launched in 2012, the organic fertilizer for the young shoots has since been introduced to markets in Ghana and Burkina

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The partnership with Olam

the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO).

Farmers Hope’s first major supplier of cocoa husks is ADM Cocoa, a company acquired

by Olam, a Singaporean food trading and brokerage company. The Ghanaian startup has also received funding from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) in the form of a loan, as well as an investment of about $500,000 from Acumen, a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) that fights poverty by investing in sustainable businesses, leaders and ideas.

“Farmers Hope is also testing a liquid fertilizer for certification.

We are also waiting for the Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) to certify “Asaase Nofosuo” fertiliser as an approved product,” says Akwasi Osei-Bobie Ansah, the founder of the start-up.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Fertilizers

Dangote US$2.5 billion fertilizer plant to commence operations in Q1 2021

Dangote’s US$2.5 billion West Africa’s largest fertilizer plant to commence operations in Q1 2021.

Dangote Fertilizer Plant, the US$2.5 billion plant owned by Africa’s riches man Aliko Dangote, looks set to commence operation in the first quarter of 2021.

The Urea Fertilizer plant was built to tap into Nigeria’s demand for fertilizer, a critical component of achieving food sufficiency for Africa’s most populous country.

also expected to be expanded to produce multiple grades of fertilizers to meet soil, crop and climate-specific requirement for the African continent, as Fertilizer is essential for agribusiness in Africa.

The opening of the fertilizer plant has been pushed back severally for several reasons such as access to forex, the ailing economy and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why this matters The Fertilizer plant is expected to manufacture 3 million metric tonnes of urea per annum, with core focus on the reduction of Nigeria’s fertilizer imports, and US$400m annual foreign exchange from export to Africa countries.

•

According to Dangote Group, “the coming on stream of the plant will not only boost food sufficiency in Nigeria, but also make Africa self-sufficient in food production and a net exporter of food to the world.”

•

The fertilizer plant will also compete with Notore Petrochemicals a 500,000 metric tonne Urea Plant in Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria.

The newly completed fertilizer complex, located at the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ), in Lagos State.

Nairametrics reported last year that the plant will be opened early in 2021 producing Granulated urea fertilizer plant. The plant capacity is

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

33

Poultry

New Meyn Wing Cutter For Big Birds The next generation flexible and convenient cut up solution

Changing consumption patterns and variations in flock uniformity can create additional challenges for poultry processors around the world. The pressure on poultry processors to be flexible with both their input and output has never been so apparent. In cooperation with poultry processors Meyn has redeveloped the Physic cutup line to cope with bigger birds more conveniently. As a result, Meyn is ready to launch the updated Wing cutter HY and start sales from early 2021. This upgraded automatic bird-size-adjusting wing cutter contributes to the need for flexibility and minimize down-time.

The Meyn Wing cutter HY for bigger birds The Meyn HY wing cutter removes whole wings from the birds with a highly consistent and precise cut. When required, the cut can include a maximum amount of back meat while minimizing the amount of breast meat, but other combinations can be selected as well.

In order to cope with bigger birds the dual circular knives and their stainlesssteel motors are fitted within a spring coil suspension to adjust to each bird individually.

Increased weight range without changing settings With line speeds going up to an astonishing 15,000 BPH, a smooth-running processing makes all the difference. The Wing cutter HY for bigger birds is able to process a higher weight range from 1 to 4 kg with a minimum of settings.

As a result, flock and breed variations do not cause extra challenges at the processing line.

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With hundreds of Physic cutup solutions sold worldwide, Meyn cutup technology has proven to be very successful among poultry processors around the world.

The next generation flexible and convenient cut up solution Changing consumption patterns and variations in flock uniformity can create additional challenges for poultry processors around the world. The pressure on poultry processors to be flexible with both their input and output has never been so apparent. In cooperation with poultry processors Meyn has redeveloped the Physic cutup line to cope with bigger birds more conveniently. As a result, Meyn is ready to launch the updated Wing cutter HY and start sales from early 2021. This upgraded automatic bird-size-adjusting wing cutter contributes to the need for flexibility and minimize down-time.

The Meyn Wing cutter HY for bigger birds

amount of breast meat, but other combinations can be selected as well.

In order to cope with bigger birds the dual circular knives and their stainlesssteel motors are fitted within a spring coil suspension to adjust to each bird individually.

Increased weight range without changing settings With line speeds going up to an astonishing 15,000 BPH, a smooth-running processing makes all the difference. The Wing cutter HY for bigger birds is able to process a higher weight range from 1 to 4 kg with a minimum of settings.

As a result, flock and breed variations do not cause extra challenges at the processing line.

With hundreds of Physic cutup solutions sold worldwide, Meyn cutup technology has proven to be very successful among poultry processors around the world.

The Meyn HY wing cutter removes whole wings from the birds with a highly consistent and precise cut. When required, the cut can include a maximum amount of back meat while minimizing the

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Poultry

Chickens to be culled after avian flu case in Redcar

A poultry flock is to be culled at a small farm in North Yorkshire after avian influenza was confirmed in a batch of laying chickens.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha) confirmed the presence of the H5N8 subtype on Saturday (6 February) at the commercial premises near Redcar.

All the poultry will be humanely culled on the site. A 3km and 10km temporary control zone has been imposed around the site.

The outbreak comes days after the same strain of avian flu was confirmed in pheasants at a gamebird farm at near Amlwch, Anglesey, on 28 January.

The H5N8 strain is highly contagious and it is sweeping across the country, but Public Health England says the risk to humans is “very low”.

There have been nearly 300 cases of avian influenza in wild birds, but strict biosecurity has

limited cases at commercial premises to 22.

The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (Bfrepa) said recent cases highlighted the need for every poultrykeeper in the UK and Northern Ireland to follow avian flu lockdown rules – or risk the disease decimating the egg and meat sectors.

Strict measures Housing measures to protect poultry and captive birds came into force in Great Britain in midDecember.

It is now a legal requirement for all birdkeepers – small- and large-scale – to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures to limit the spread of the disease.

Since 14 December, all poultry – including chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, partridges, quails, guinea fowl, pheasants and pigeons bred for meat – must be housed indoors.

Defra chief vet Christine Middlemiss said: “Whether you

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keep just a few birds or thousands, you are now legally required to meet enhanced biosecurity requirements. This is in your interests to do, to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.”

Bfrepa chief executive Robert Gooch said he was “deeply concerned” to hear reports of some poultry being seen outdoors during “the most serious outbreak of avian influenza we have ever experienced”.

He added: “It is not an ideal situation, but necessary as we all play our part in minimising the spread of this devastating disease.”

Notifiable disease Avian flu is a notifiable animal disease. Anyone who suspect any type of bird flu in poultry or captive birds must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301.

In Wales, call 0300 303 8268. In Northern Ireland, call 0300 200 7840. In Scotland, contact your local field services office.

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Poultry

Dormaa poultry farmers call for removal of tax on poultry feed Dormaa in the Bono Region is known as one of the leading producers of poultry in Ghana; from the production of eggs to the supply of birds.

In December 2020, poultry farmers in Dormaa came out with a price increment in their products. This increment in their prices, to the public, was an annual ritual as they attributed the price increment to the festive activities.

To the dismay of consumers, the price of eggs kept increasing even after the festive activities. This was as a result of price increment in maize and soybeans which are the main components in poultry feeds (concentrates).

In January 2021, retailers of eggs began to increase the prices of a crate of eggs due to the continuous increment in the product. The prices had moved from GH¢18.00 per crate in December 2020 to GH¢25.00 in January 2021.

Suppliers in Sunyani on Friday, January 15, 2021, had

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lamented how the price increment has affected their businesses.

GH¢245.00 while that of soybeans has moved from GH¢140 to GH¢215.00.

In a brief discussion with Mrs. Gyamfi Deborah, the Egg Queen Mother for suppliers of eggs association in Sunyani, she stated that members had to sell one egg for GH¢1.00 in order to be able to cover up the cost. She indicated that this has had a huge impact on her business as she cannot make any profit from her sale.

Mr. Ababio added that the price increment in maize and soybeans affected majority of their members and that led to a decrease in production to meet the growing demand of buys.

A visit by a poultry farmer and a member of the Dormaa Poultry Farmers Association revealed that the price increment in maize and soybeans contributed to their decision to increase the price of their products. Maize and soybeans are the main ingredients they use to prepare concentrates to feed the birds.

An executive member of their association, Mr. Ofosu Ababio disclosed that a bag of maize that was sold at GH¢160.00 in December has increased to

Mr George Adu, another poultry farmer with over sixty thousand birds, appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture to push for tax reduction in poultry feed components.

He indicated that the removal of import duties on yellow maize and soybeans will reduce the cost of concentrates. Other members of the association suggested to the government to assist them with soft loans and also establish a bigger poultry processing factory at Dormaa to process their birds.

Top of Form

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Livestock

The local poultry sector could generate 150,000 jobs by 2025

BREEDING FOR 1ST QUALITY EGGS

In Togo, the poultry industry could create around 150,000 new jobs by 2025. The estimate released by the ministry of animal production is ten times more than the jobs the sector currently accounts for.

Nonetheless, the projection is likely to become a reality only if “local poultry is sold more” across the country. Also, importers should purchase more local products.

Indeed, while the sector has recorded some improvements in recent years (output soared from 8 million to 25 million heads between 2011 and 2017), there is more room for progress, both in terms of output and job creation.

In this framework, the ministry of animal production banned last month, imports of poultry to the country.

Institut de Sélection Animale B.V. Villa ‘de Körver’, Spoorstraat 69, 5831 CK Boxmeer, The Netherlands-EU. +31 485 319 111 layers@hendrix-genetics.com www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021 hendrix-genetics.com isa-export.com

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Livestock

Govt fights to contain FMD outbreak

THE Covid-19 pandemic is hampering efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform to contain the outbreak of the foot-andmouth disease (FMD) in the northern regions following a delay in the delivery of vaccine doses from Botswana.

Namibia imports its FMD vaccine from Botswana Vaccine Institute.

The disease first broke out at Onamulunga crush-pen in Olukonda constituency, Oshikoto region on 28 December 2020.

It then spread to other regions such as Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena and Kunene which were declared disease management areas (DMAs) and strict measures were instituted.

A further case of the disease was detected at Okadhiya crush pen in Uuvudhiya constituency in Oshana region on 6 January.

Chief veterinarian, Albertina Shilongo told The Namibian the ministry is engaged with the first round of vaccination in some areas although others in Ohangwena region are yet to get the vaccine as the ministry is experiencing a delay with procurement from Botswana.

“We started vaccination in early January and we are still conducting the first round in some areas of Oshana,

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Oshikoto, Omusati and Kunene regions. Ohangwena region will follow after we are done with the other regions.

“In Oshikoto where it (FMD) was first detected, we only managed to vaccinate the animals in the areas close to the veterinary cordon fence and Etosha National park. We do not have enough doses to vaccinate all animals in the affected regions at once; we are busy in the process of procuring vaccine from Botswana.

vaccinate all the animals,” she said.

Shilongo added that cattle in the north are at high risk of contracting FMD because of their constant movement between Angola and Namibia.

Once the vaccine doses arrive, we might be able to vaccinate all the animals within a very short period but for now, farmers must bear with us and remain patient as we try to contain the disease outbreak,” said Shilongo.

Many Namibian farmers own cattle posts in Cuando Cubango province in Angola.

She said in December last year a farmer in Ohangwena region moved 35 cattle from a post in Angola to plough his mahangu field, however, after a few days, the animals started salivating and getting weak, prompting him to report the matter to the veterinary officers in the region, and the animals were found to be infected with FMD.

She said the ministry has been able to vaccinate most of the animals in Kavango West and East regions for the second round, however only a few areas regarded as low risk areas were left out and the ministry plans starting the vaccination in those areas.

“Farmers with cattle in Angola are strongly advised not to bring their animals into Namibia, unless it is for vaccination purposes and they must report to the veterinary offices before they bring the animals into the country,” she said.

“Once the vaccine arrives, we will vaccinate all the livestock in the affected regions because in the past three years, the ministry only targeted high risk zones such as areas close to the veterinary cordon fence and international borders. Now the risk of infection is very high and we can only contain it if we

The public is also warned against slaughtering affected cattle.

Shilongo noted that a complete movement restriction of all live clovenhoofed animals within and out of DMAs has been imposed.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Livestock

FAO partners with South Sudan to tackle livestock diseases

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on announced partnership with South Sudan to respond to livestock disease outbreak in 79 counties.

Meshack Malo, FAO Representative in South Sudan, said the vaccination and treatment drive will target about 10 million livestock including donkeys, cattle, sheep, and goats to

safeguard animal assets, production, and food security.

“As we all know livestock is a very important livelihood and the economic support for South Sudan, we have about 36 million animals in this country and so the population that we see in this meeting totally depends on them,” Malo told reporters in Juba.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

He said the vaccination and treatment program will cost 13 million U.S. dollars, adding that the organization wants to help the east African nation to move toward commercialization of the livestock sector.

According to FAO, about 65 percent, an estimated population of 12 million, in South Sudan relies on livestock to meet their nutritional needs as well as a source of income.

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Poultry

THE USE OF CROP RESIDUES AS LIVESTOCK FEED One of the foremost challenges of livestock production in Namibia is the availability, quantity, and quality of feeds, considering both the forage resources on the rangeland and the fodder plants or crops that are used as feed resources.

Most farmers in the country depend on the rangeland as it is freely available and is the cheapest source of nutrition for the animals (cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys/horses). Most rangelands or grazing areas had their productivity potentials and values compromised by poor rainfall activities, overgrazing, and bush encroachment amongst others.

This in turn has compromised the productive potential of livestock because much of their daily nutritional (protein, energy, minerals, vitamins) needs including the dry mater or fibre intake are not fully satisfied.

On the other hand, livestock farming is becoming more costly as farmers heavily rely on commercial feed sources to compliment the rangeland.

Therefore, livestock feeding is an expensive exercise that continue to erode farmers finances or potential farm income. In addition, many farmers especially small-scale farmers, have limited or no access to these livestock feeds due to the costs involved and the distance to the suppliers.

These challenges hampers livestock improvement efforts in many areas, which then contributes to poor participation of these farmers in the value chains, thus, depriving them of the potential benefits from the markets.

The current rainfall season has provided a long-term hope for many farmers, but in general

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rainfall activities in the country remain erratic and are exacerbated by climate change forces. In this regard, farmers need to take advantage of the season and maximize fodder production and processing initiatives.

In particular, the most available feed source will be the crop field. With the good rains received, many farmers have planted maize, mahangu, beans, and sorghum amongst others.

Traditionally, after harvesting the grains or beans, many farmers open their fields to allow animals (cattle, goats, and sheep) to freely pick the residues or the straws. Apart from animals feeding on the residues, farmers are reasoning that the practice helps conditioning the soil by adding the organic matter or fertilizing the soil with dung or manure.

The disadvantage of the practice is that the animal’s intake is low, and the digestibility of the whole straw is slow due to its fibrous structure (roughage feed) and size. In addition, the straws could be spoiled or contaminated with urine, dung, as well as soil dirt amongst others. It is therefore advisable that these straws are collected and processed to improve their feeding value.

Processing of these residues entails reducing particle size, preserve and improve nutrients availability to the animal.

The process involves the addition of other feed stuffs

and ingredients that will enhance the nutritional value of the feed to meet the daily requirements of the animals.

For example, the feed stuffs include energy sources such as molasses, cereal grains (barley, wheat, corn), and protein sources such as cotton seed and brewers’ grain amongst others. Mineral supplements can also be added. More of this information can be obtained from livestock nutritionists, experienced farmers, and feed manufacturing institutions such as FeedMaster amongst others.

One important requirement to achieve sustainable fodder production and processing, is for the farmers to invest in useful farm equipment such as hammer mills and feed mixers, as well as to construct feed storage facilities at any suitable scale to serve as a fodder bank. These facilities should be well-designed and managed to allow enough ventilation and protection of feeds from spoilage and contamination from harmful substances.

In conclusion, livestock production in Namibia is significantly reliant on feed and lick supplementation, thus, farmers need to take advantage of the potential feed resources at their disposal to ensure continuous feed supply at minimal costs for their animals. The most sustainable way is through harvesting and adding value to forage materials from the rangeland, planted fodder plants, and crop residues.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Agrinews

Ghana currently witnessing dramatic turnaround of agricultural fortunes

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that Ghana is witnessing a dramatic turnaround of the agricultural fortunes under his administration.

Presenting his last state of the nation address in his first term, Mr Akufo-Addo said it appeared to some like the same old refrain when we said farmers and agriculture would get the highest priority.

say that our country is now a net exporter of food, and we no longer have to import basic foods like plantain and tomatoes.

that lesson to heart as we pursue the goal to industrialise, modernise and create jobs for the young people of our nation.”

“Throughout the ages, food processing has “The Oneprovided the takeoff point for the District-Oneindustrialisation of many nations, and we Factory is are taking that lesson to heart as we pursue programme part of the on the goal to industrialise, modernise and anchor which we are create jobs for the young people of our building the comprehensive nation.” industrialization

But, he said, the people can see the difference it makes when a government treats farmers with respect and spends resources and expertise on agriculture.

“We have seen the dramatic turnaround of our agricultural fortunes, due to the progressive policies that have improved the living standards of farmers in the country. The excellently executed policy for Planting for Food and Jobs has laid the foundation for the agricultural transformation of our country. We are able to

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“Mr. Speaker, Ghana rice is the preferred choice in an increasing number of our homes, as the growing, processing and packaging of rice become a more established and attractive industry. During this COVID crisis, we have, mercifully, been spared the spectre of food shortages. On the contrary, thanks to Planting for Food and Jobs, food has been in abundance in our markets across the country.”

“Throughout the ages, food processing has provided the takeoff point for the industrialisation of many nations, and we are taking

of our country.

Much of the work has now been done to put in place the framework for the rapid implementation of projects.”

“The factories, that are currently in place and in production, reflect the underlying principle of the programme, which is the equitable distribution of development projects around the country. The prospects of our becoming the automobile hub in West Africa are growing stronger every day, with the investments being made in the country by global manufacturing giants in the automobile industry.”

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Agrinews

Mwea Farmers Embrace High Yielding Hybrid Rice Rice farmers in Mwea have improved their crop after embracing the hybrid rice which is more yielding and early maturing Already over 200 farmers at Kabatiro in the suburbs of Kutus town are preparing to harvest their rice having been supplied with the hybrid rice seeds by a local NGO – Integrated Community Organization on Sustainable Empowerment and Education for Development (ICOSEED) The managing director of the organization Patrick Muriuki said they target to engage over 400 farmers in an endeavor to increase rice production in the county.

He said the farmers who were supplied with the seeds have confirmed that the new hybrid variety, true to the expert’s words has matured much earlier than the traditional rice.

African Agricultural Technology Foundation (ATTF) has been collaborating with Kenya Agricultural Research and Livestock Organization and the local NGO in Mwea in the development of the hybrid rice.

Muriuki speaking during a field day in one of the rice farms at Kabatiro said they were supportive of the presidents big four agenda especially on the food security ‘Our objective is to achieve prosperity for the farmers through technology as will be evidenced through the hybrid rice. He said He said there is much need for the adoption of the emerging technology in order to increase rice production and reduce rice importation which takes a huge amount of money from the government.

He said as a local Nongovernmental organization, their role will be to facilitate the farmers acquire the hybrid seeds working in collaboration with other stake holders like the Kenya Agricultural research and livestock organization (KARLO) Muriuki said the level of rice consumption in Kenya stands at 650,000 tons as compared to the production which is at 150,000 metric tons. As a result, the deficit is met by the importation of 500,000 tons of rice yearly.

“There is a big opportunity for employment in the increased production of rice in Mwea and in the global market and this is why we are encouraging the farmers to go hybrid’ he said Muriuki said production of rice in Kenya stand at 2 tons per hector as compared to the global production of 4.3 per hectare, thus the deficiency of rice in the country Records has it that consumption of rice has increased by 13% while productivity grew by only 3% and therefore the big need to jam start rice production in the country.

“Adoption of hybrid rice will enhance income for the farmers besides creating the much desired job opportunities for the youths in Kenya.” he sai The hybrid project has already engaged 25 people who are on full time employment to deal with the challenge of inadequacy of information being availed to the farmers.

“This is why it is important for the government to create environment to make private sector invest in Agriculture” Muriuki said

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

“Already national rice performance trials started 10 years ago have managed to come up with 5 types of hybrid seed which are being availed to the farmers for planting” Muriuki said “It is going to be an economic booster since the hybrid rice has been proven to yield three times more than the traditional rice.

Muriuki said farmers if they fully adopt the hybrid rice will be able to meet the deficit and reduce importation of rice from Pakistan and other far east countries.

“The reason the growth in consumption is higher than production is due to improved livelihood, rural urban migration and rice being food for the elites as compared to cassava known as poor man’s food.” he said Stephen Thiga a rice production expert said the new rice variety apart for improved yield and early maturing is also better in the resistance of diseases and pest.

He said by 2030, Kenya should be able to produce enough rice to cut down the importation of the in the country.

The most popular brand of rice grown in Mwea at the moment is Basmati 370 with 80% market share followed by Basmati 217.

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Agrinews

Senegal lifts ban on peanuts export

Senegalese President Macky Sall has announced the lifting of the ban on peanuts export, local Wolof-language press reported on Friday.

He said that the Senegalese government will help Senegalese National Oilseed Marketing Company (SONACOS) and industrialists gain enough materials to function.

In an interview with the local press, President Sall welcomed the encouraging results recorded during the harvest, revealing a record production of 1,826,590 tonnes of peanuts.

The current peanut marketing campaign started in November 2020. The government has set the base price at 250 CFA francs (about 0.47 U.S. dollar) per kilogram of peanuts. But in some cities, the price per kilogram reached 350 CFA francs.

“We need reforms. SONACOS needs to change its approach. SONACOS must Since the Chinese entering go to the field. Staying at the factory traders into the and waiting for seeds to be brought to Senegalese peanut market in it, that cannot continue” 2014, exportation

He said that Senegal is playing a “balancing act” that allows the state to have a good supply for making oil and the need to preserve the export market.

Sall welcomed the involvement of Chinese traders in the peanut marketing campaign, which has brought benefits to farmers by encouraging the peanuts export.

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“We need reforms. SONACOS needs to change its approach. SONACOS must go to the field. Staying at the factory and waiting for seeds to be brought to it, that cannot continue”, he stressed.

Sall advised the state-owned company to try to enter the export market, which he said is “a promising field”.

of peanut products, in particular shelled peanuts, has relighted its traditional glory.

Senegal’s exportation of peanuts to China in 2019 is estimated at 327,000 tonnes, worth about 111.5 billion CFA francs. Enditem

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Agrinews

Ethiopia deploys airplanes, helicopters to fight locust invasion AS the country ushers into New Year 2021 more than 100,600 smallholder farmers in the country will be receiving grain and vegetable seeds’ grants worth US$ 493,500 to assist them in sustainable food production.

Through its new “Better Farms, Better Lives” initiative, Bayer, a life-science oriented multinational company will run the programme for the next 12 months, starting this month and it will cover 25 districts in the Mainland Tanzania.

Bayer will complement its current commitment of supporting smallholder farmers in Africa, by providing them with free hybrid corn and vegetable seeds.

The boost, according to Bayer Tanzania Manager Frank Wenga, is meant to assist them to combat effects of global Covid- 19 pandemic, which caused series of global food shortage crisis in the previous year.

“Smallholder farmers are essential in providing food security to billions of people, but the on-going Covid-19 pandemic is placing extra challenges on their ability to produce food for their communities and beyond,” said Liam Condon, President of Bayer’s Crop Science Division.

Also targeting to assist more than 700,000 small scale farmers across the African continent, Bayer’s ‘Better Farms, Better Lives,’ programme also aims at providing assistance with market access to the growers in line with Bayer’s overall aspiration in building a world, where there is ‘Health for All, Hunger for None’.

This special food security programme was launched at Bayer Life Science Tanzania offices in Njiro, Arusha by the Executive Director of the Tanzania Seed Trade Association Bob Shuma.

and 100 gramme of Seminis vegetables seeds brand all valued at US $493,500 to 25 districts among them Meru, Songea, Iringa and Kondoa.

The programme, though flagged off in Arusha, will be implemented in eight countries across the continent, including, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

“Together with partners, we aim to multiply the social and economic impacts of smallholder farmers in tackling poverty and hunger, improving health and livelihoods and, ultimately, spurring economic development for their families, communities and nations,” added Bayer East Africa Limited Managing Director, Laurent Perrier.

The initiative focuses on providing smallholder farmers with the assistance needed to address the additional challenges they may be facing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition.

To ensure maximum impact, Bayer will work and expand its partnerships with governments, recognised NGOs and local organisations; to provide accelerated access to agronomy services and knowledge; scale up existing and new value chain partnerships and further expand value chain partnerships across Africa.

“In line with our vision ‘Health for All, Hunger for None’, Bayer is focusing on providing smallholder farmers with the help they need to address immediate challenges, while building resilience for the future, and working to ensure the Covid-19 pandemic does not turn from a health crisis to a hunger crisis,” noted Klaus Eckstein, Head of Africa, Crop Science Division.

In Tanzania, Bayer will collaborate with Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and with the Agriculture Council of Tanzania (ACT) to distribute 200 metric tonnes of Bayer’s Dekalb corn

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population.

At the same time, the group aims at increasing its earning power and creating value through innovation and growth.

Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world.

In fiscal year 2019, the group employed around 104,000 people and had sales of 43.5 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.9 billion euros, research and development expenses to 5.3 billion euros.

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Technology

Valio’s Carbo farm calculator set to cut the carbon footprint

V

alio, Finnish manufacturer of dairy products, has unveiled a calculator for the farms to measure own carbon emissions and identify the most effective actions to lower them These actions are likely to result in dairy products with a lower carbon footprint. The methodology behind the tool is certified by global climate and sustainability experts, the Carbon Trust.

Emissions from milk production can be reduced in many ways. One of the most important methods is carbon farming that maximises the carbon sequestration capacity of fields. The carbon footprint decreases by increasing the per-hectare harvest of grass for feeding cows.

Cow welfare has a big climate impact. Emissions per litre of milk are reduced when cows

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live longer and produce milk well. The proper handling of manure reduces emissions: tilling manure into the soil rather than spraying it reduces nutrient runoff, and less industrial fertilizers are needed.

Some dairy farms are already using their own biogas plants.

The energy they produce from manure can be used to heat the farm and to power the milking equipment, for example.

Over the decades, Finnish dairy farms have done a lot of work to reduce their carbon footprint. The global average carbon footprint of raw milk is currently 2.5 CO2e per litre. In Finland, the figure is estimated around one CO2e per litre.

Using the calculator, emissions reductions can be measured and verified at the farm level.

Finnish cows’ methane emissions per litre of milk have halved in 50 years as a result of improved animal productivity, health, and nutrition. Cows today can produce more milk with the same amount of feed.

Despite this development, our climate impact is still significant. We are humble about the challenges and we are pursuing ways to lower the figures even further.

Actions reducing emissions are savings actions Rami Rauhala and his wife Johanna operate a 65-cow dairy farm in Sievi, western Finland. The carbon footprint of the Hilliaho dairy farm was calculated as part of the work to develop the calculator.

Climate-smart milk production is also resource-efficient, i.e. it makes good sense economically. Most of the fields on our farm are either grass silage or grazing pastures. We have also overseeded to make the vegetation as thick as possible. In our area, the significance of reparcelling is also big. Parcels that have over time become fragmented have been reparcelled into feasible parcels among landowners.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

Technology

When fields are closer to the farm centre, tractors use less fuel. It has been great to notice that we, milk producers, are part of the solution to climate change.

developed the calculation model.

Valio’s goal is that all its farms are using the tool within the next five years. So far, data has been collected from 100 farms.

“We have scheduled a training roadshow for dairy farms and we are providing them with online support, too.

The calculator is easy to use and the farmers already have most of the data at hand. I estimate that the average farm can lower its emissions by 30 percent by 2025. At the same time, we are of course working to reduce emissions from Valio’s factories, transportation and in packaging,” said Aleksi Astaptsev, Valio’s scientist who

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

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Technology

Addfield introduces poultry incineration solution Staffordshire agricultural incinerator manufacturer Addfield Environmental Systems has introduced a highly flexible solution for large broiler houses and poultry farms with the release and installation of the first A50L in the UK The manufacturer said that the A50L had taken agricultural incineration to new levels by being able to achieve almost continuous loading and operation. It is capable of managing more than one tonne a day or less than 100 kg. This gives farmers far more control over their falling stock than traditional solutions and increases their operational savings.

Addfield has now officially released the A50L Agricultural Incinerator in the UK, which Leedsway Farms was the first to receive in the UK. By enabling the waste to be loaded almost continuously via an automated hopper and bin tipper system, one of the many options available for this machine allows multiple throughputs during day operation compared to alternative similar size options.

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James Grant, business development director at Addfield, said, “It has been a very pleasant result taking off as it has in the UK. We work with farms of all sizes from micro small holdings through to some of the largest pig and poultry producers in the world. For which the A50L was initially developed for customers in the Middle East.

“It happened to be a genuine coincidence that we had this machine in development at a time when we started seeing

inquiries from larger poultry farms based in the UK looking for a bigger machine with a greater capability, which this machine was perfect for. We are over the moon that it has been received so well closer to our home in the UK.” The A50L is primarily designed for poultry markets and is not exclusive to birds, as it is also perfectly suited for pig and sheep farmers, due to its large loading chamber and increased capacity.

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

technology

Innovative post-harvest treatment, digital agriculture can help tackle food loss and waste

Innovative post-harvest treatment, digital agriculture and food systems and remodelling market channels offer huge potential to tackle the challenges of food loss and waste, said FAO directorgeneral QU Dongyu “Food loss and waste is a major challenge of our time,” he added, urging stronger partnerships, more public and private investment in training for smallholder farmers, technology and innovation to step up the fight against food loss and waste as “our planet is a small ship in the universe” UNEP executive director Inger Andersen encouraged governments to make food loss and waste a part of national climate strategies.

“Only 11 countries have so far included food loss in their Nationally Determined Contributions. None of them included food waste. By including food loss and waste and sustainable diets in revised climate plans, policymakers can improve their mitigation and adaptation from food systems by as much as 25%,” said Andersen.

Calling food loss and waste ‘an ethical outrage’ given that so many people are hungry, António Guterres, secretarygeneral of the United Nations, called on everyone to play their part in tackling these issue-from countries setting a reduction target and measuring their food loss and waste and policy action in this area to be included in the Paris Agreement to businesses taking a similar approach and individuals shopping carefully, storing food correctly, and using leftovers.

Solutions to reduce food loss and waste Solutions to stem food loss and waste include good data to know where in the value chain the major hot spots of food loss and waste are; applying innovation - for example, ecommerce platforms for marketing or retractable mobile food processing systems; government incentives to bolster private-sector food loss and waste action and collaboration across supply chains; investments in training, technology and innovation, including for small-scale producers; better food packaging and relaxing on regulations and standards on aesthetic requirements for fruit and vegetables; behaviours that value and make the most of food at home; redistributing

www.afriagrimagazine.com | January- March Issue 2021

safe surplus food to those in need through food banks; facilitating farmer’s access to consumers and shorter value chains through farmers markets and rural-urban linkages; and investing more to strengthen infrastructure and logistics, including sustainable cold chains and cooling technologies.

The new African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain based in Rwanda is helping farmers to market their produce quickly and efficiently-reducing food waste, boosting profits and creating jobs.

Sesi and the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for the Reduction of Post-Harvest Loss at Kansas State University are providing farmers in Ghana – Isaac’s home country - with an affordable moisture meter called GrainMate, which measures the moisture content of maise and other grains, helping farmers ensure the grains are sufficiently dried and tackle the main cause of postharvest loss in the grain insufficient drying before storage, which creates conditions for fungal growth, contamination and insect infestation.

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