Kudos For Cbn Over Intervention To Rescue Poultry Sector

K U D O S F O R C B N O V E R I N T E RV E N T I O N TO R E S C U E P O U LT RY S E C TO R

The poultry industry players have lauded the intervention of the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on the release of 50,000 metric tonnes of maize, to cushion the effect of the current challenges facing the industry. They described the intervention as timely and commendable, as it will reinvigorate the ailing poultry industry that has been weakened by high cost of feed.

Late January, the CBN announced that about 300,000 metric tonnes of maize would be ready for supply from strategic anchors under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), in a bid to modulate the price of the produce per metric tonne. The intervention was to ensure that the price of maize drops, thereby bringing it to a level that is sustainably affordable in the market, while bailing out the industrial sectors from supply gap induced high maize price. The General Manager, Administration and Corporate Affairs, Amobyng Nigeria Limited, a major feed miller, Dr. Agboola Belgore, described the development as “most commendable, and we hope the intervention is sustained till we get market price of the commodity to a level that is sustainable for both farmers and end users.

“This price level in my opinion should not be above N130, 000 per metric tonne, unlike the current N195, 000 per metric tonne the good intentioned intervention. You will recall that prior to the news that CBN intends to intervene by releasing up to 300,000 metric tonnes into the market sometime late last year, maize price that would normally not exceed N90, 000 per metric tonne in previous years postharvest, went as high as N200, 000 post-harvest with a trend that was poised to go higher. “This high price is unprecedented and led to feed millers adjusting finished feed prices accordingly since maize account for about 70 per cent of feed production. In the period between October 2020 and February 2021 feed millers adjusted prices of feed upward almost weekly to keep up with prices of maize and soya.” He noted that despite this incessant feed price increase, poultry farmers could not increase product prices due to storage constraint, a development that led to massive contraction of the poultry industry. “With the news of the CBN intervention, price of maize stopped climbing and by the time of actual release of the 50,000 metric tonnes, price crashed to around N180, 000 per metric tonne, providing a welcome relief to feed millers and by extension, poultry farmers. “I am also aware the CBN is driving increased yield in dry season maize cultivation concurrently, significant harvest from this initiative will increase supply to the market before traditional harvest period thus helping with further price modulation so that the CBN doesn’t have to do direct intervention perpetually.” General Manager, Premier Feeds Limited, Austin Daylop, said the intervention by the CBN was apt, coming at the right time. “But it is like a drop in the ocean, saying the 50,000 metric tonnes released from the 300,000 volume of maize announced though actually brought the price down a bit for about two weeks, but it went back to the initial price of N190, 000 to N200, 000, but we appreciate the gesture, our prayer is that we really get more of the intervention. “Secondly, there is information flying around that some maize merchants who have stock of maize in their warehouses are waiting for a time to sell at higher prices, we appeal to such people to release more of this maize so that the industry users can be able to get such maize because the price of feed today has doubled.

Daylop said the poultry industry alone consumes about 27 per cent of the agric value chain, emphasising the need for government to understand the importance of the poultry industry in Nigeria’s economy. To the Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos Chapter, Godwin Egbede, the intervention is laudable, “it has been able to cut off the middlemen. In terms of pricing, the rate is still very high. He maintained that if the middlemen were not cut off, they would still buy from the released stock and resell at a higher price. “CBN can still help to further reduce the price because a metric tonne is N160, 000, excluding the cost of logistics to get it down here from the North.”

K E N YA A D D S M A I Z E , C H I C K E N O N L I S T O F B A N N E D U G A N D A N E X P O R T S

Kenya has added maize on the list of exports from Uganda that are banned from its market.

This comes after the country in January banned importation of poultry and beef products from within and beyond East Africa. In a January 14 memo, East Africa’s biggest economy stopped all chicken, meat and egg imports on the pretext that it needed to support its “producers to recover from disruptions in their livestock enterprises occasioned by Covid-19”.

“We have instructions to suspend importation of frozen chicken carcases and cuts and chicken table eggs for human consumption. This … is to instruct you to suspend further approval of the said importation by issuance of import veterinary certification until further notice,” Dr Obadiah N Njangi, the Director of Veterinary Services, wrote in a memo, in which he notified all heads of veterinary services, officers in charge and ports of entry to implement the instructions without exception. Last Friday, Kenya also banned importation of maize from Uganda and Tanzania, noting there had been an acute increase in chronic aflatoxinrelated illnesses, some of which have resulted into death.

“The authority [Agriculture and Food Authority] has been conducting surveillance on safety of food imports to Kenya. The test results for maize imported from Uganda and Tanzania have revealed high levels of mycotoxins that are consistently beyond safety limits … we wish to bring it to your attention that the Agriculture and Food authority has stopped any further maize imports into Kenya with immediate effect,” a letter by Mr Kello Harsama, the Agriculture and Food Authority director general notifying Kenya Revenue Authority, reads in part. The ban on maize will see Uganda lose an average of $121m (Shs447b) in annual revenue, according to data from Bank of Uganda. Uganda exports at least 90 per cent of its maize to Kenya with a cumulative average of 330,620 tonnes. For instance, between January 2020 and January 2021, Uganda’s maize exports stood at 351,420 tonnes with a monthly average of 50,203 tonnes. Of the $121m export earnings, $99.5m came from Kenya while the rest was realised from South

Sudan and eastern DR Congo, among others. Uganda has been a victim of trade blockades, many of which border on trade barriers and protectionists tendencies. The blockades, especially by East African member states, which are bound by EAC protocols, have created problems for Uganda’s export sector, losing billions in foreign exchange in the process. According to data from Bank of Uganda, Uganda Revenue Authority and Uganda Coffee Development Authority, trade blockades within East Africa cost Uganda $454.7m (Shs1.6 trillion) worth of export revenue in 2019. The figure could have increased significantly during 2020 as more products from Uganda were denied entry into some EAC markets.

For instance, sugar, milk products, cement, steel and beauty and household products have encountered blockades and prevented from entering markets of countries within the EAC bloc.

At the weekend Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde, said that whereas she was aware of the letters banning maize, chicken and meat exports, she needed more time to study the situation to comment on the matter.

Mr Emmanuel Mutahunga, the Ministry of Trade commissioner for external trade, said Kenya had not formally notified

Uganda about the ban, noting they would challenge the ban as and when it is communicated.

“Kenya has just assumed leadership of the [EAC] community at secretariat and executive levels, I doubt they would be choosing to do this at this moment. If indeed it is authentic, we expect them to formally notify us in line with international trade protocols. If, and when they do and we find that they are in violation of protocols [WTO and EAC], we would have every reason to exercise our rights under the protocols in such circumstances,” he said.

Since the measures, he said, appear to also target Tanzania, they would consider sharing ideas and agree on a common response. Attempts to get a comment from Kenyan authorities were futile by press time.

S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I C K E N TA R I F F I N C R E A S E S H I T C O N S U M E R S ’ B O T TO M L I N E

Less than a year after South Africa’s poultry import tariffs increased, ITAC has announced that it is launching an anti-dumping investigation at the behest of the South Africa Poultry Association (SAPA), against Ireland, Spain, Poland, Denmark and Brazil.

An editorial from the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) explains why tariff hikes on poultry may not be an effective way to strengthen the poultry industry. While all countries have the sovereign right to investigate dumping allegations, they must be rooted in two fundamental values: fairness and accuracy. This is critical, as without these values, consumers end up paying more for chicken and South Africa could run the risk of running foul of its bilateral relations with strategic trade partners. These are partners that we rely on for our own South African exports.

When poultry import tariffs were introduced in 2020, the South African National Consumer Union warned that these tariffs would push up chicken prices – a prediction that has come true. A bag of Individual Quick Frozen (IQF) chicken portions has risen from R63.87 to R77.61 – an increase of 9% – in one year. This means that minimum wage earners will struggle to afford what should be an affordable source of protein. Now poultry producers are asking for even more tariff protection on certain chicken imports. Poultry price increases – which are already exceeding inflation – would make chicken completely unaffordable to the 40% of South African consumers that are already regarded as poor. “These tariffs are aimed at cutting out imports completely,” said Paul Matthew, CEO of AMIE, “and creating a monopoly in the local industry. We need to ask why the local industry pursues protectionism to this extent despite the increases in price to the consumer.” The industry needs help, but not protection. As AMIE (Association of Meat importers and Exporters), we do not believe that imports are harming the local industry, and we do not believe that tariffs or anti-dumping duties are the way to solve the industry’s problems. AMIE’s focus is on the impact of prices on consumers. Botswana has banned poultry imports from South Africa and Zimbabwe in the past in order to protect the local industry, even though only 5% of the country’s poultry is imported. However, even that small reduction in imports led to a significant rise in price and the re-introduction of imports as soon as it was feasible.

“If you cut imports out, what will happen to poultry in this country? It will just become so controlled, the prices will just increase so that the lower LSM who enjoy the product will be unaffordable for their baskets.”

The local poultry sector could generate BREEDING FOR 1ST QUALITY EGGS150,000 jobs by 2025

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.comwww.afriagrimagazine.com | April- June Issue 2021hendrix-genetics.com

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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.

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 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. The Nitrogen fixing endophytic bacteria of Nitrostim: 1. Provide plants with an internal nitrogen

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

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.

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.

TRIAL RESULTS

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).

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.

Case IH Seeding and Planting Lineup Boosts Efficiency, ROI

As the 2021 planting season nears, growers are looking at how to drive efficiency, boost yields and make the most of their equipment investments. Case IH shares how to achieve early, consistent soybean emergence to drive yields, and provides equipment investment recommendations for growers to consider to maximize ROI on their operation this year. In addition, new configurations of Precision Air™ carts bring the largest capacity in the Case IH tow-between model lineup for greater in-field efficiency, while new features for 2000 series Early Riser® planters enhance accuracy and minimize compaction.

Plant soybeans earlier to maximize yield potential While many growers prioritize planting corn before soybeans, studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign show that planting soybeans earlier can be critical to maximizing yield potential. When soybeans are planted early, they reach stage V1 earlier, resulting in more potential pods and seeds per acre.1

One effective way producers growing both corn and soybeans can expand soybeanplanting windows is by adding a lower-investment, highefficiency air drill to their operation. The Case IH Precision Disk 500T single disk, single-rank air drill, for example, is an ideal option to help plant soybeans earlier or into tough no-till seedbeds — all while maximizing ROI.

“For years, growers have traditionally prioritized planting corn before soybeans. Recent studies showing the significant benefits of early soybean planting, however, are causing some producers to reconsider their planting practices and plant soybean crops earlier,” said Trent Nowosad, Case IH marketing manager for seeding equipment. “Adding an air drill to a producer’s operation for soybean seeding can add valuable days to the growing season.”

Late-emerging soybeans can be costly In addition to earlier planting, key drivers to soybean yields that producers have control over are accurate seed placement and consistent emergence. Studies from North Carolina State University and the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association show that late-emerging soybeans can be costly — with a potential loss of up to $140 per acre when soybeans are just four days behind.2 Case IH Precision Disk 500T single disk, single-rank air drills are designed to deliver the most accurate seed placement in the industry, allowing growers to set up their soybean crop for success and help plants emerge earlier and more consistently to boost yields.

Case IH Precision Disk 500T single disk, single-rank air drills are agronomically designed with a parallel link row unit — a feature that sets this model apart from competitors. This row unit is built to efficiently cut through residue, open a uniform seed trench, accurately deliver the seed and effectively close the trench. For growers looking for a soybean-special air drill, a singlerank configuration with 15-inch spacing is now available for the Model Year 2021 Precision Disk 500T.

“With the Case IH Precision Disk 500T single disk air drill, producers don’t have to sacrifice accuracy and agronomic performance for efficiency,” Nowosad said. “Each feature and component is designed to contribute to earlier, more-uniform emergence to help growers boost their bottom lines.”

New Precision Air 5 series air cart models Delivering more capacity to help small grain producers make the most of their time in the field, Case IH is expanding the Precision Air 5 series air cart lineup with two new wide-body, tow-between models. The new Precision Air 3725 offers a capacity of 725 bushels, while the Precision Air 4765 carries 760 bushels — the largest capacity in the Case IH tow-between model lineup.

Each new model features a three-tank design, while the Precision Air 4765 air cart also is equipped with an auxiliary tank. The new models are available with a hydraulic jack to raise and lower the air cart, making it easy to hook up to the tractor, even when the cart is fully loaded. A multiposition rear hitch allows for proper drill height for added flexibility, accommodating varying types of drills.

Case IH also offers a new rice roller, available on all Model Year 2021 Precision Air 5 series air carts. Designed to meter both hybrid and conventional rice with unmatched accuracy, this option is available to order factory-installed. Current owners of Precision Air 5 series air carts can install the roller on their current models.

New features for Early Riser planter To help producers achieve accurate seed placement, Case IH is offering the Precision Planting® WaveVision® seed sensor as a factory-fit option for the 2000 series Early Riser planter. Available for Model Year 2022, this feature is especially valuable for growers in high-dust or extreme residue conditions where a standard optical sensor might provide erratic feedback due to interference.

In addition, Case IH offers a 2x2 frame-mounted liquid fertilizer factory-fit for Model Year 2022, ideal for growers looking for precise placement of starter fertilizer with their planter pass. Available for 2160 Early Riser planters, new track offerings include a 24-inch-wide track spaced at a gauge width of 132 inches to help growers minimize compaction.

For more information, contact your local Case IH dealer or visit www.caseih.com to learn about how Case IH seeding and planting equipment is agronomically designed to maximize ROI.

Could Toyota’s latest battery announcement change tractors forever?

Toyota announced in 2020, that it is in the late stages of developing solid state battery (SSB) technology that, it claimed, would enable a recharge time of just 10 minutes from empty to 100% full.

Lack of range and long charging times are seen as the main barriers that stop people from dipping their toe in the electric vehicle (EV) world. Therefore, this news from Toyota is a game changer in the EV/ battery technology world and brings into focus the question: At what point does it become feasible to replace the suck/ squeeze/bang/blow internal combustion engine in agricultural vehicles with solid state rechargeable batteries? Tesla is the world leader in EV range. It uses Panasonic-made lithium-ion batteries in their vehicles which Tesla claims to achieve an energy density of 260Wh/kg (watt per hour). Solid state batteries are reported to have approximately 2.5 times the energy density of their lithium-ion equivalents. That effectively means a possible energy density of 650Wh/kg for the soon-to-be released SSB. What Does This Mean For The Tractor Owners? There are obvious benefits to a tractor using battery power. A farmer using a conventional tractor will often leave it idling while they are opening gates, opening bales, or loading a fertiliser spreader. All the while the farmers hardearned money is being blown out of the exhaust. However, for an EV when it’s not in use it doesn’t use or waste power. Operating an EV in enclosed spaces like a shed for example, won’t pollute the air leaving a safer and healthier environment for the farmer to work in. So how much work should a farmer expect to get out a fully charged tractor with a solid state battery? Bearing in mind the removal of the engine and fuel tank, it is reasonable to assume that it would be possible to place a 1t (1,000kg) solid state battery in a mid-sized tractor. This would equate to a theoretical total energy capacity in the battery of 650,000Wh or 650kWh (there are 1,000W in 1kW). The performance in terms of power output and how long this lasts for depends very much on the task at hand for the farmer.

Tractor Battery Charge

For the purposes of this analysis, let’s first assume an eight-hour working day. With 650kWh contained in the battery, this effectively means that the tractor operator would have 81.25kW or about 109hp (horse power) available for the duration of the eight-hour working day. A tractor completing the typical farm tasks like feeding animals; topping; or spreading fertiliser would in all likelihood not require 108hp all of the time. Any reduction in power requirement increases the theoretical length of the working day to allow for a longer time between charges of the battery pack.

Agri Contractors

What does this mean for the agricultural contractor? A tractor outputting 108hp will not do the job – increasing the power requirement will reduce the theoretical running time. Working from 8:00am to 1:00pm is a five-hour working block. Considering that it is claimed in Toyota’s announcement that it will be possible to recharge in 10 minutes, this effectively means that it could theoretically be recharged while the driver is having lunch. Dividing 650kWh by five is 130kW or 174hp. Heavy draft work like ploughing or power harrowing would require all or a large majority of the 174hp available obviously save for turning in the headlands. However, haulage work such as drawing silage would demand peak power at certain times but almost certainly not all the time, thus likely extending the working block. Other contractor work such as umbilical slurry spreading would require a fraction of the available 173hp which would increase the working block further.

Cost

It’s important to note that in carrying out this analysis, fuel consumption rates may not be 100% accurate. Fuel consumption rates will vary between tractors, and the price of fuel will fluctuate so there is no rate that is absolutely correct. Using a night rate electricity cost of €0.09+VAT (9c) per kWh for 81.25kWh for charging, leaves a running cost of €7.31/hr for a 108hp electric tractor. The 108hp diesel-burning tractor burning approximately 12.5L/ hour at €0.57+VAT/L has a running cost of €7.12/hour. Using equivalent rates, the 174hp electric tractor has a running cost of €11.70/hour while its diesel rival burning 20L/ hour will cost €11.40/hour. As can be seen above, there is no appreciable cost difference between the different power units. It’s feasible in the future for a farmer using a tractor doing light work to choose a solid-state powering option. However, the logistics and the unwieldy equipment requirements of remote charging make it unlikely to be a runner for larger horsepower tractors in the foreseeable future. If Irish farmers follow their European counterparts and begin installing electricity generating solar panels on farm building roofs, then the EV project becomes a much more economical option.