African Farming May June 2014

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www.africanfarming.net May/June 2014

Europe m14.50 - Ghana C1.3 - Kenya KSH150 - Nigeria N200 - South Africa R18 - UK ÂŁ9 - USA $15

Tractors

Advances in technology

Poultry

Layer breeding for better egg production

Grain storage Testing equipment for mycotoxins

Serving

AGRICULTURE for

34

YEARS Sound storage is one of the secrets to mycotoxin-free grain. P34

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CONTENTS

Contents

www.africanfarming.net May/June 2014

News and Events

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Europe m14.50 - Ghana C1.3 - Kenya KSH150 - Nigeria N200 - South Africa R18 - UK £9 - USA $15

A topical digest of news, views and events including Farmers’ Calendar.

Analysis

11

Tractors

Advances in technology

Agriculture is the ‘engine of growth’ that Africa needs, according to the FAO.

Poultry

Poultry

Layer breeding for better egg production

13

Grain storage Testing equipment for mycotoxins

The consumer-led market has pushed poultry producers to incorporate advanced methods for better quality of eggs.

Serving

AGRICULTURE

Livestock

18

for

34

YEARS Sound storage is one of the secrets to mycotoxin-free grain. P34

Now more than ever it is essential to know the source of your minerals to ensure feed safety.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) says that mixed crop and livestock systems are the way to go in order to alleviate world hunger.

Focus on Angola

John Deere tractor in Côte d'Ivoire.

Photo: Tuleu Consulting Company.

22

Agriculture is vital to diversifying Angola’s economy as the country is currently engulfed by food imports but has fantastic agricultural potential across the value chain; followed by an interview with Lonagro Angola which opened in 2011.

Palm Oil

26

Surging global demand for palm oil is increasingly becoming a major driver of tropical deforestation in West Africa. A leading palm oil producer has agreed to ensure the oil it supplies will not result in any additional loss of rainforests.

Coconut Farming

28

Increased investment, value addition and opening up of the export markets has boosted coconut farming along Kenya’s coastal region with huge returns for local farmers.

Tractor Maintenance

Layer breeding is the key to better egg production.

30

A look at Sparex, a company that can repair and maintain Africa’s tractor fleet cost-effectively.

Rice Processing

32

Rice processing is set to become the next big investment opportunity in Africa

Grain Storage

34

A look at some of today’s testing equipment for mycotoxins, which can produce a huge array of health risks for humans and animals.

Tractors

38

Making use of developments in tractor technology can increase output and efficiency.

Equipment

44

A round up of new equipment on the market.

Huge agricultural potential ready to be realised in Angola.

Managing Editor: Zsa Tebbit Editorial and Design team: Bob Adams, Hiriyti Bairu, Lizzie Carroll, Andrew Croft, Prashanth AP, Ranganath GS, Rhonita Patnaik, Ian Roullier, Genaro Santos, Nicky Valsamakis, and Ben Watts Publisher: Nick Fordham Advertising Sales Director: Pallavi Pandey Magazine Sales Manager: Richard Rozelaar Tel: +44 (0) 20 7834 7676, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7973 0076 email: richard.rozelaar@alaincharles.com Country China India Nigeria Singapore South Africa UAE USA

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NEWS

Farming Calendar

Agritech Expo a huge success

June 4-6

IFTEX - International Floriculture Trade Fair 2014 www.hppexhibitions.com

NAIROBI

18-19

Risks in Agri Trading: Emerging Markets 2014 Summit www.agritradingrisks.com

GENEVA

22-24

Africa's Big Seven www.exhibitionsafrica.com

MIDRAND

22-25

Agrofood Libya www.agrofood.ly

BENGHAZI

July 2-4

RAC Africa 2014 www.exhibitionsafrica.com

31-5Aug 88th Agricultural & Commercial Show www.acsz.co.zm

AGRITECH EXPO “WAS a realised dream for ZNFU and all the farmers,” said Dr Evelyn Nguleka, president of the Zambia National Farmers’ Union, following the overwhelming success of Zambia’s first full-scale, live agriculture event, in Chisamba in early April.

The expo and conference were attended by more than 8,000 people, including Zambian vice president Dr Guy Scott, the minister of livestock and agriculture, the honourable minister Wylbur Simuusa, and former Zambian president Ruphia B Banda. 69 exhibitors displayed the latest technology in farming and postharvest equipment as well as products and services. Furthermore, 40 exhibitors from the country’s leading poultry event, the Zambia Poultry Expo, also joined the event.

CAPE TOWN LUSAKA

August 12-14

African Farmers Expo and Workshop www.africanfarmers.co.za

JOHANNESBURG

SEPTEMBER 1-3

AGRIFOODTEC East Africa 2014

30-1 Oct BCPC Congress 2014 www.bcpc.org

NAIROBI BRIGHTON

OCTOBER 30-31

Aviana Uganda 2014 www.avianaafrica.com

KAMPALA

NOVEMBER 11-14

Eurotier 2014 www.eurotier.com

HANOVER

11-16

Apimondia symposium www.apiafrica.org

ARUSHA

18-20

AGRA Innovate Nigeria www.informa.com

LAGOS

12-16

Eima International www.eima.it

BOLOGNA

African farmers’ expo and workshop ploughing ahead IN ONLY FOUR years, the annual African Farmers’ Workshop and Expo (AFWE) has grown from a local farming sector exhibition in Gauteng to a highly successful quartet of three-day shows additionally hosted in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the North West Province. The next Johannesburg event takes place from 12 to 14 August at the Johannesburg Expo Centre (Nasrec) and is expected to be the biggest and most exciting yet.

“The show aims to empower emerging and subsistence farmers across South Africa, and boost the national farming sector generally,” explained Mahlatse Masimini, CEO of Moshate Media, event organisers. “There has been increasing interest in the African Farmers’ Workshop and Expo since the inaugural show, and that prompted our decision to expand the event into the other provinces; the ultimate aim is to stage the expo in all provinces of South Africa, culminating in a flagship Johannesburg expo.”

Part of the enormous popularity and success of AFWE is its focus on key elements of the farming business such as a breeder’s expo, the Agri Youth Indaba and the Agri Bizniz Summit. Other components include an indoor expo, outdoor expo, and the highly popular free daily workshops.

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Agritech Expo was devised and organised by leading events organiser Spintelligent and key partners, the ZNFU, the USAID’s Southern African Trade Hub, Musika and GART, where the event took place.

Agritech Expo’s event director Liam Beckett said: “Zambia has cemented its reputation as the region’s future bread basket and agri powerhouse.

The feedback received during and after the show has been incredible.

From exhibitors to visitors, everyone involved saw tremendous value in participating and we are all looking forward to creating a legacy event.

The many deals that took place during Agritech Expo indicate that the Zambian market is ready for this kind of agri-event, where everyone is welcome, from the large scale to the emerging farmer.”

The global agri giant AGCO was the exclusive diamond sponsor for Agritech Expo. AGCO's director of operations in Africa and the Middle East, Nuradin Osman, said the first ever Agritech Expo to be held in Zambia “was an eye opener of how vast the agricultural sector is and its importance to the country and the region cannot be over emphasised. The expo not only brought customers and business together for great interactions but fostered discussions that will see the sector develop with concerted efforts. We are proud to be affiliated with the Agritech Expo as diamond sponsors and are already looking forward to next year’s event which we believe will be even bigger and better. Well done on a well-organised event.“ Stanbic Bank was the platinum sponsor. Other sponsors included: AFGRI, Action Auto, SARO, John Deere, BASF, Seed-Co, EFE, Du Pont-Pioneer, Valtra, K2, Kempston, Monsanto, Greenbelt, HarvestPlus, Lindsay, Zamseed, NWK and Rovic Leers.

The USAID’s Southern African Trade Hub presented free workshops designed particularly for smallholders and emerging commercial farmers, to provide them with the basic information and context to better understand the technologies that are on display and available.

During the keynote address of the conference, Zambia’s minister of agriculture and livestock, the Hon Wylbur Simuusa, reiterated the government’s commitment to the needed collaboration in the fight against poverty through agriculture, saying: “as the government of the day, we shall ensure to put our money in the mouths of our people”. The minister further attested to the fact that the future of Zambia’s economic development was anchored on agriculture.

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NEWS

Niger imports superior cattle breeds from South Africa

Small farmers key to Africa’s agricultural future

NIGER HAS BOUGHT more than 72 different breeds of cattle, apart from 700 boar goats and doper sheep from a South African firm UCK Investments. This is Most of the brown cattle are Bonsmaras. reportedly the first large-scale import into the West African nation.

Niger said that this is a step to upgrade the local breed of animals in the country and improve their yield at harvest periods, the Nigerian Tribune reported.

Anna Gogo Lanko, permanent secretary in the ministry of fisheries and livestock development, said, “The coming of these animals is a realisation of our dreams in upgrading our animals. But importing these animals did not mean that we have the intention of eradicating our indigenous breeds, rather we just want to upgrade local animals.

Veterinary consultant Isah Yahaya Vatsa explained that most of the brown cattle are Bonsmaras, which he described as a beef breed and a cross between African cattle and the European ones.”

He added that the red and white cattle were a breed for dairy production called Ayrshire.

“The challenge is just to get the young animals through the growth phase with good nutrition so that they can grow up healthy. These breeds will have the ability to improve the production capacity of local animals significantly in cross breeding programmes,” Vatsa added.

THE INTERNATIONAL FUND for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Zambia recently held a regional workshop for East and Southern Africa in Livingstone, Zambia, to review lessons learned from IFAD-funded projects and identify strategies to address challenges faced during their implementation.

Finance minister Alexander Chikwanda and agriculture and livestock minister Wilbur Simuusa of Zambia joined Périn Saint Ange, director of IFAD at the opening session.

The workshop attracted more than 200 participants, including government officials, representatives of other United Nations agencies, and bilateral development institutions, members of the private sector and civil society groups, and partners from IFAD-funded projects in the region.

In keeping with the United Nations’ designation of 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming, and the African Union declaring 2014 as the Year of Agriculture and Food Security, family farming and agricultural investment was a central focus of this workshop.

“Africa’s leaders are placing a greater priority on agriculture today, because they recognise that the sector has not met the continent’s needs and expectations,” said Périn Saint Ange.

“Small farmers are central to this process, because they produce most of Africa’s food, ” Saint Ange added. “Yet they face daunting challenges of low productivity, poor access to markets, insufficient capital, and the disruptive impact of climate change.

We need to seize on this moment of high economic growth in the region to provide small farmers with the support they need to provide food and decent incomes for themselves and for the region as a whole.”

Small-scale farming financing KENYA’S AGRICULTURAL FINANCE Corporation (AFC), together with three commercial banks, will offer US$50mn in loans to small-scale farmers over the next three years.

The credit facility is expected to increase to US$100mn in the next five years.

To underwrite the risks associated with agricultural financing, especially the vagaries of weather, the government has provided US$1mn to AFC, Barclays, Co-operative, and K-Rep banks.

“Alot of Kenyan farmers running productive and profitable businesses in the value chain sector have been excluded from financial services, especially by banks, for a long time”, observed Kenya’s treasury secretary Henry Rotich.

Credit will be provided at an interest rate of between 10 and 15 per cent based on borrower’s worthiness and will be skewed in favour of small and informal operators, according to Mr Rotich.

This financing is expected to lower the cost of production and in turn increase food output- lowering the price of food and cost of living.

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Pastoralists and small-scale farmers in dairy, cereal, beef and fruit subsectors will have access to the financing.

Officials from Barclays Bank of Kenya announced that it will increase its financing towards agriculture to US$100mn over the next few years.

While banks and other financial organisations have, over the years, considered farming a risky venture, it is increasingly becoming clear to these institutions that money can be made from crops and livestock enterprises.

Even with the risks involved, local banks and financial organisations have ventured into crops and livestock financing - funding individuals and groups involved in agricultural enterprises.

A report by Dr Robert Gichira, a micro-finance development specialist, indicates that financing small-scale farmers should be adopted in such a way that it would link financial institutions such suppliers, processors, buyers and service providers.

“Such an approach would help increase agricultural productivity and incomes of small scale farmers”, observed Dr. Gichira.

Mwangi Mumero

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NEWS

Sugar factory investment

A world of ‘firsts’ at Africa’s Big Seven

A MAURITIAN FIRM Omicane is investing US$200mn in the construction of a sugar processing factory in Kwale County on the Kenyan coast.

The planned factory will have a capacity to process more than 3,000 tonnes of cane per day. It will include a 30,000 litre ethanol production plant as well as an 18MW power plant to be run on baggasse - a sugar by-product.

Omicane has a 25 per cent stake in the Kwale Sugar Company with the rest owned by the Pabari Family. The company has leased 6,070 hectares to produce more than 75 per cent of its cane needs - with the rest coming from outgrower farmers.

Cane production started in 2008 and the company is using subsurface drip fed irrigation system to save water.

Officials say the firm plans to harvest 60 tonnes of rain fed cane per hectare and 140 tonnes or irrgated cane per hectare.

At least 1,200 registered outgrowers are to produce sugarcane on 3,200 hectares of land.

Operations are expected to commence in July 2014, according to Kenya Sugar Board (KSB), the market regulator.

Already, the firm has applied to Kenya Power for collaboration on the contruction of a 19 km, 132 kV electricity transmission line for approval by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

According to the Kenya Sugar Board, sugar production is expected to climb by 17 per cent to 700,000 tonnes next year – helped by improved supply of cane and higher factory capacity.

Mwangi Mumero

VISITORS TO THIS year’s Africa’s Big Seven (AB7), the biggest food and beverage expo on the continent, can expect a number of exciting ‘first ever’ events. AB7 takes place from 22 to 24 June at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Johannesburg. ● Italian and Polish Pavilions: These two European countries join a growing list of nations that will host trade pavilions at this year’s AB7 expo. ● New product innovations brought from more than 40 countries. ● Taverner’s Forum. ● Free subscriptions to online trade magazines. ● DrinkTech Africa Conference: This one-day conference takes place on 24 June 2014. ● South African Airways (SAA) flight discounts.

A number of popular elements will feature again as part of this year’s show: ● Co-location with SAITEX: AB7 will once again be co-located with SAITEX, the Southern African International Trade Exhibition - the biggest business opportunities expo on the continent. Together AB7 and SAITEX feature almost 1,000 exhibitors from more than 50 countries. ● Free Business Matchmaking: This popular and highly effective online business matchmaking service enables exhibitors and visitors to pre-arrange meetings with pre-selected people online, weeks before the show. The service saves time so visitors and exhibitors can attend more meetings on each day of the show.

Ethiopian climate innovation centre launched to jumpstart climate-smart agricultural ventures WORLD BANK-SUPPORTED business hub, the Ethiopia Climate Innovation Center (ECIC), has been launched in Addis Ababa to support pioneering clean technology enterprises that address climate change while creating jobs and improving livelihoods. First of its kind in the country, the centre will help more than 3.1mn Ethiopians increase resilience to climate change and is expected to create more than 12,000 jobs in the next 10 years.

Ethiopia’s agriculture, which is highly sensitive to fluctuations in rainfall, represents

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the basis of the national economy. According to the World Bank report ‘Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change,’ without a proper green growth strategy, the total climate adaptation costs for Ethiopia could range from US$1.22bn to US$5.84bn per year.

To reduce climate adaptation costs and create opportunities of growth, the Ethiopia CIC will provide financing, mentorship, and advisory services to the growing number of local clean-tech entrepreneurs working in agribusiness, energy efficiency, renewable

energy and biofuels.

“The CIC is a unique initiative which will help to unleash the growth potential of local entrepreneurs, while at the same time enabling them to come up with innovative business solutions to challenges related to climate change. By employing emerging clean technologies these entrepreneurs will continue helping Ethiopia adapt to climate change while creating jobs and improving the livelihoods of local citizens”, said Guang Zhe Chen, World Bank country director for Ethiopia.

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NEWS

Kenya moves closer to GM maize KENYA IS INCHING closer to the commercialisation of a droughttolerant maize variety developed using the controversial genetic modification technology.

Local and international scientists estimate that the maize variety will be ready for farmers’ sampling in three years’ time.

The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) has harvested its confined field trials, the fifth since the experiments started in 2010, which impressed scientists.

In such experiments, confined trials are conducted for seven seasons, and then subjected to National Performance Trials for two seasons.

The scientists expect that legal challenges that disallow commercialisation

of GM crops will be resolved before the maize is available to farmers.

Dr Murenga Mwimali, country co-ordinator for Wema and maize breeder at Kenya Agricultural Research Institute-Katumani, said that the Wema project would bridge the gap in food inadequacy currently being experienced in most parts of the country.

He said preliminary results on the six trials conducted were showing the potential of increasing maize productivity by the minimum 10 per cent required than any other drought-tolerant variety currently in the market. “We expect to generate more evidence to support scientific data that the product being developed is superior to those already in markets,” he added.

A scourge of rural Africa, the tsetse fly is genetically deciphered AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM of researchers led by the Yale School of Public Health has successfully sequenced the genetic code of the tsetse fly, opening the door to a scientific breakthroughs that could reduce or end the scourge of African sleeping sickness in subSaharan Africa. The study is published in the journal Science.

It took nearly 10 years and more than 140 scientists from numerous countries to map the genome of the fly, also known as Glossina morsitans. Tsetse flies are the sole insect vectors of a disease that threatens the health of millions of people and devastates livestock herds.

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The genetic blueprint will provide researchers with the codes for the proteins that make up the tsetse fly, which is slightly larger than a common housefly.

It is essentially a “parts list” of what the organism is made from. Access to the blueprint is expected to accelerate research into the tsetse fly’s unique

biology and promote the development of improved tsetse control methods as well as the development of new control strategies.

“This is a major milestone for the tsetse research community,” said Geoffrey M Attardo, a research scientist at the Yale School of Public Health and the paper’s lead author. “Our hope is that this resource will facilitate functional research and be an ongoing contribution to the vector biology community.” The effort has already resulted in eight research articles that expand on the genome data using functional genomics methods and are being published under the banner “Tsetse Genome Biology Collection” in the PLOS-wide journals.

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New guidelines for Ugandan livestock farmers THE UGANDAN MINISTRY of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has introduced breeding guidelines for livestock farmers in the country aimed at teaching farmers the best breeds, depending on the changing weather patterns of their location.

The assistant commissioner for animal nutrition in the Ministry of Agriculture, Stephen Kajura, was quoted saying the guidelines were based on the profitability of a given area during a meeting of stakeholders in beef production in East Africa organised by Makerere University College of Agriculture.

"This is an expert guide to livestock farmers on the most suitable breeds for particular agricultural ecological areas. If you're living in Rakai district, for example, we shall be guiding you on which profitable breed you can take depending on the availability of water and pasture and how much you can sell a litre of milk or a kilogram of meat for in that particular area," he said.

Mr Kajura said that the government previously used to provide highyielding animals to farmers but with the liberalisation policy, farmers were left free to buy what they wanted noting that although Uganda's livestock production - especially meat - is increasing, there have not been guidelines for farmers to follow.

Meanwhile official figures show that livestock numbers increased between 2010 and 2012 and there were 11,797,000 indigenous cattle (91.3 per cent) compared to 861,000 (6.7 per cent) exotic ones. The indigenous breeds continued to be dominant.

The 2013 Statistical Abstract says the production of milk in 2012 was estimated at 1,461 litres of milk which was an increment of 43 mn litres, 3.0 per cent from 2011 adding that this was about the same percentage registered in 2011.

Breeding of high-yielding hybrid rice varieties BAYER CROPSCIENCE AND Kaiima Bio-Agritech Ltd, Israel, have announced their collaboration to develop advanced hybrid rice varieties.

The multi-year project combines Bayer's and Kaiima's expertise in breeding and technology in order to increase growers' productivity in important ricecultivating countries. The goal of the collaboration is to focus on the breeding of new high-yielding hybrid rice varieties utilising Bayer's elite rice germplasm and Kaiima's proprietary Enhanced Ploidy (EP) technology.

Kaiima has been able to successfully harness the benefits of polyploidy by developing its breakthrough, non-GMO EP technology. When applied to high-impact food crops, EP significantly boosts plants' productivity. EP is based on the genome duplication phenomenon that occurs naturally in plants, and is considered as one of the most important evolutionary processes that plants use to adapt to stressful environmental changes.

"We are always eager to partner with innovative scientists around the world to bring sustainable solutions to our customers," said Dr Steve Calhoun, international rice breeding manager for Bayer. "We look forward to working with Kaiima to take hybrid rice to the next level."

"There needs to be a collective effort to sustainably address food security," said Dr Doron Gal, CEO of Kaiima. "We are pleased to partner with Bayer CropScience - a global leader in innovative crop science - to develop a breakthrough in one of the world's most widely cultivated food crops," he added. "By applying our technology to Bayer's elite rice varieties, we can together bring new solutions to farmers that will help improve yield stability and secure productivity today and for years to come."

Bayer CropScience is the global leader in developing and supplying hybrid rice seed. Hybrid rice shows higher grain yields, better stress tolerance, and lower fertiliser requirements versus traditional openpollinated varieties. In addition, Bayer uses naturally occurring genetic variation to breed into their hybrids additional resistance to important pests such as bacterial leaf blight and brown plant hopper, as well as tolerance to abiotic stresses such as salinity and excessive flooding.

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ANALYSIS

African governments need to accelerate increased investment in smallholder farmers, that include rural youth and women to boost agricultural productivity, rural incomes and reduce malnutrition, said the FAO on the eve of the 28th Regional Conference in Tunis, Tunisia from 24-28 March.

Agriculture: ‘engine of growth’ that Africa needs

A

CCORDING TO THE Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), while the continent’s annual total growth rate has averaged 4.8 per cent up from 2.1 per cent in the decade 2000-2010, growth in the agricultural sector over the same period has slightly dropped from 3.2 per cent to 3.0 per cent.

Currently, seven out of the top 10 fastestgrowing economies in the world are situated in Africa, and the International Monetary Fund estimates that economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa will be 6.1 per cent in 2014.

The challenge for Africa is to make this economic growth more inclusive by

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targeting agricultural and rural development, women and young people.

Some 75 per cent of Africans are 25 years old and under, and the population is expected to remain largely rural for the next 35 years, with women heading up many households.

“Agriculture is the only sector of the economy capable of absorbing this workforce,” the director-general, José Graziano da Silva, has said. “There is no inclusive and sustainable way forward for Africa without women, youth and agriculture.”

“For many years and in many parts of the world, small-scale farmers, pastoralist families and fisher folk were viewed as part of the problem of hunger,” he said.

Improving access to financial services, training, mechanisation and technology can transform subsistence farmers into efficient producers.

“That could not be further from the truth.

Family farmers are already the main food producers in most countries, and they can do even more with the right kind of support.”

Improving access to financial services, training, mechanisation and technology can transform subsistence farmers into efficient producers.

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ANALYSIS

The work of the FAO and EU in Somalia shows that investment in agriculture can avoid future crises.

Through methods that increase production while preserving natural resources, family farming also provides a sustainable alternative to input-intensive technologies that have resulted in damage to soil quality, land, water and biodiversity.

The success stories range from rolling out of improved banana varieties in central Africa to the introduction of high-yielding varieties of maize in east and southern Africa. Productivity gains in cassava in western Africa have been immense, while cotton production in the Sahel region has been impressive. East Africa has stamped its authority on tea and floriculture production and is now the preferred choice of major markets in the world.

On the other hand, the recurrent food security crises in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel are stark evidence of the need to build resilience in the region and to cope with recurrent droughts that become more frequent and extreme with climate change.

The combined effects of drought, high food prices, conflict, displacement and chronic poverty has caused untold suffering to millions across the continent.

Africa has the possibility to change this and build on its success stories to advance food security and sustainable development in the region. The launch of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Plan (CAADP) in 2003 has helped spur food production and food security. African governments have shown their commitment to achieve food security, identifying their individual pathways under this regional framework. Experience has

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In order to compete successfully with imports in their own growing domestic and regional agribusiness markets, African farmers and agribusinesses will need to improve value chain efficiency at all levels, the FAO said.

Rural farmers should also tap on the emerging market brought about by increased urbanisation estimated at 40 per cent and which consumes over 50 per cent of total food production.

In addition governments should assist family farms to gain access to agricultural inputs, affordable credit, rural services and extension information that allows them to take advantage of the growing market.

The FAO estimates that poverty rates in Africa declined marginally from 56 per cent in 1990 to 49 per cent in 2010, leaving 388mn in extreme poverty and approximately 239mn chronically undernourished in the continent.

Agriculture, according to the FAO, can be a catalyst in lowering poverty rates and boosting food security in the continent.

shown that countries that have seen greater progress are those that managed to allocate at least 10 per cent of their national budget to the agricultural sector in line with the Maputo Declaration and implemented CAADP compacts.

On average, agricultural production in Africa has increased slightly less than one per cent per year, compared with about two per cent in other developing countries.

Agriculture can be a catalyst in lowering poverty rates and boosting food security in the continent.

“Investment in agriculture and strengthening governance and accountability mechanisms are critical to trigger a transformation in the capacity of countries to deliver sustained and broadbased agricultural growth and development”, observed Bukar Tijani, FAO assistant director-general and regional representative for Africa.

Increasing potential sustainably Governments should primarily focus on sustainably increasing the potential of agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry as a source of employment and income for the African youth and women. This is especially for the men and women that engage in agri-business ventures aimed at increasing family incomes.

According to the FAO, the majority of smallholder farmers in Africa produce food organically.

On a positive note, as of today, nearly 20 African countries have already achieved, or are on track to achieve, the first Millennium Development Goal of halving the prevalence of hunger by 2015 Three countries - Djibouti, Ghana and São Tomé and Príncipe - have also met the even more ambitious 1996 World Food Summit goal to reduce by half the total number of hungry.

2014 is a good year to raise awareness of the importance of agriculture and youth for inclusive, sustainable development in Africa. The United Nations has declared 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming and the African Union also celebrates its year for Agriculture and Food Security.

In the Tunisia conference, 54 African member countries participated. Additionally, other global nations such as China, France, India, United States, United Kingdom and the Netherlands attended as observers. h Mwangi Mumero

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Hotraco Agri’s new generation of poultry computers HOTRACO AGRI INTRODUCED a new, revolutionary touch screen poultry computer at VIV Europe 2014. It is completely different to earlier platforms and existing technologies.

Hotraco Agri is setting a new standard in design, versatility, computing power and userfriendliness with this launch. Based on more than 40 years of experience in the poultry sector and the proven technology of the existing Orion computer, Hotraco Agri is now focusing on improving a number of facets. The fixed controls and proven algorithms of the current generation of poultry computers have been developed to a higher level and have been added to the software to produce an extremely high degree of reliability. The fully intuitive touch screen operation is revolutionary. Its design can be customised by the user and is similar to a smartphone or tablet interface. A 3D overview of the housing can be compiled with the aid of clear symbols.

All texts can be configured and the computer can be set up in any language - even Chinese.

The result is an extremely user-friendly and clear poultry computer which, thanks to a PC application, can also be accessed via the Internet any time and place, thus making it possible for the user to access and retrieve all the information on the housing.

This completely renewed and innovative touch screen poultry computer by Hotraco Agri gives the user complete control over all housing processes such as climate, feed and water, egg flow and animal weighing. The new PC management programme enables users to optimise the living conditions of the animals as well as achieve considerable cost savings by reducing energy consumption, feed and labour.

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Round up from IEC business conference OVER 300 DELEGATES from 30 different countries attended IEC Business Conference Vienna 2014 to address the issues that really matter to their egg businesses. “Business matters” was the message at the heart of IEC chairman, Cesar de Anda’s, opening speech, as he welcomed delegates representing the egg industry from all over the world.

During the two days of conference sessions, delegates were addressed by a combination of high profile business leaders and world leading scientists. Speakers included: Danielle Cagan from Nestlé, the world’s largest food processor and manufacturer; Johann Morwald, former ALDI board member and CEO; Dr Franz Fischler, former EU commissioner of agriculture; Nan-Dirk Mulder from Rabobank; and world leading researchers and scientists, Dr David Swayne, Dr Ferry Leenstra, Professor Rudolf Preisinger and Dr Knut Niebuhr.

A key message repeated by speakers, was “be prepared” – prepare for volatility to remain in the market and prepare your business so it can adapt to change.

Nan-Dirk Mulder, from Rabobank, addressed delegates during the conference’s new business analysis session. He discussed the global feed grains outlook and the impact this will have on the global egg industry in the short term – during the next 12 months. He told delegates that despite declining feed costs and improving stock levels, the egg industry still needs to be prepared – prepared for a return to volatility.

Nigeria state government to revive poultry farm IMO STATE GOVERNMENT has pledged to revive the multi-billion-naira Avutu Modern Poultry farm, Obowo, established by the late Governor Sam Mbakwe but which was later abandoned to waste by successive administrations in the state.

Governor Rochas Okorocha disclosed this while on a tour of the Obowo local government area.

He said that the state government had engaged the services of some foreign and local agricultural experts comprising a South Africabased firm and Crux Industries (Nigeria) Ltd to bring the establishment back to business.

The farm reportedly covers an area of 20 sq km.

The managing director of Crux, Sir Frank Ibeziem,

who corroborated the governor's submission while on a facility tour to the poultry farm, said although abandoned for over a generation by past administrations with dilapidated, decayed and ramshackle infrastructure, arrangement had been concluded to resuscitate the institution.

This, according to Ibezeim, entails feasibility studies, installation of a one million water tank, administrative and residential blocks and at least, two poultry beds which would stock above 30,000 birds. "The capacity of the facility will be 2.5mn birds a year, 40mn eggs a year, processing plant with cold room, hatchery, feed mill, 45 poultry houses in nine plots", he said.

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The consumer-led market has pushed poultry producers to incorporate advanced methods for better quality of eggs.

Layer breeding key to better egg production

P

OULTRY MANAGEMENT IS a vital part of egg production as this ensures good quality protein in egg yolk and egg albumen as well as lipids, vitamins, nutrients and minerals and, therefore, producers must embrace custommade layer breeding According to Rudolph Presinger, at primary breeder Lohmann Tierzucht GmbH in Germany, for a layer breeding to be effective, the programme must look at least five years down the line in order to gauge future demand as well as consumer preferences and requirements. These will include the market and egg characters sought after by consumers and clearly differing between purchasing groups on various continents and in constituent countries.

Equally important are management systems used by poultry producers and checking whether the birds are raised and managed in either traditional cage systems, enriched cage systems or free range.

Choice may simply come down to preference of the producer but recently enacted EU (European Union) legislation outlawing traditional cage systems means producers in the 27-member EU nations are restricted in what they do. Such examples of restrictive and strictly enforced legislation related to bird welfare does not, as a general rule, directly affect Asia, but this is something Asian poultry producers will need to consider if they want to export eggs to other parts of the world where this type of legislation is in place.

The contemporary EU layer housing and management requirements, related to bird welfare and now enshrined in EU legislation, is consumer-led. They were established in countries like Germany many years ago, largely due to consumer pressure, and where even stricter and more restrictive laws related to bird welfare may now be in place.

Future demand and requirements Eggs almost certainly combine the most nutritionally effective and economic source of quality animal protein. This is especially

14 African Farming - May/June 2014

Focus must remain on maximising the genetic potential of layers to produce high quality protein at competitive costs.

The demand for eggs continues to rise in line with ongoing increases in world population which recently passed the seven billion milestone. true for developing countries where the biggest on-going increases in egg production and consumption are taking place and especially so in countries where the consumption of meat from other livestock is restricted. This may be due to constraints on production (eg, climate, pests, disease and restricted feed sources), lack of purchasing power for average consumers or enforced dietary restrictions due to religious considerations.

Such a combination of factors became only too clear five years ago as HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) H5N1 started to decimate poultry flocks (layers

and broilers) across Bangladesh. Reports from this South Asian country suggested mass culling of flocks (both layers and broilers) had a significant negative impact of the availability and consumption of quality protein by a significant section of the population, and thereby impacting on nutritional health.

The demand for eggs continues to rise in-line with on-going increases in world population which recently passed the seven billion milestone. World population is projected to increase at a rate of around 80mn per year for the foreseeable future.

World egg production has increased at a rate of one million tonne per year since 2005 and is expected to stand at 75mn tonne by 2015. In order to match and satisfy these demands, more than 50mn hens are being added to world flocks each year since 2005, on the assumption that conditions of layer management can continue to support the genetic potential for a 20kg egg mass produced per laying hen per annum.

Current per capita egg consumption and

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the rate of increase, if any, differs significantly between continents and countries. This depends on various factors including dietary tradition, purchasing power and the availability of other sources of protein-rich food. Europe and North America continue to indicate little potential for growth in egg consumption. In contrast, Asian countries including China and India, as well as Latin America and certain countries in Africa are predicted and expected to register considerable growth in consumption underpinned by changing consumer habits and especially for educated urban communities with increased purchasing power.

Egg preference Preferences for particular egg characteristics such as shell colour and egg size differ markedly between countries and also between defined groups of consumers within a single country. Japan, unlike equivalent developed economies and countries in Europe, has maintained one of the world’s highest levels of quality egg consumption at 300 eggs per capita for many decades. The Japanese custom of cracking and pouring a raw egg over a bowl of rice for breakfast goes a long way to explain this continued demand as well as the Japanese focus on quality — usually white-shelled eggs of superior internal quality and guaranteed free from contamination with Salmonella bacteria.

Enhanced genetic potential of laying hens cannot be fully exploited unless there is onfarm hands-on management, which includes disease control and proper nutrition.

Japan is not the only country to have a distinct preference for white-shelled eggs.

White-shelled eggs are also preferred in North and Central America, Middle East, India, Taiwan and the Philippines. On the other hand, brown-shelled eggs are preferred in most of Latin America and in Europe. You have to search hard in the United Kingdom to find white-shelled eggs on sale. Tinted eggs from birds which are crosses between White Leghorns and various brown-egg breeds are also popular in Japan and China but not so common in Europe.

Coping with change Layer breeding has demonstrated a remarkable ability to cope with new

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The ongoing rate of genetic progress in egg production efficiency appears to be even greater than it was 20 years ago.

challenges posed by significant changes in consumer demand and requirements. With suitably timed and significant changes in breeding technique and outcome, the layer breeding industry has maintained its edge over the last fifty years. Increased egg production and enhanced feed efficiency as well as meeting changing consumer preferences and increasing demand for high egg quality underpin the continued success in this sector of the world poultry industry.

In the absence of these genetic improvements, alongside improvements in poultry nutrition, pests and disease and general poultry rearing and management, the industry could not have achieved and maintained its current standing in the world food market. Focus must remain on maximising the genetic potential of layers to produce high quality protein at competitive cost, while at the same time taking on-board evolving requirements of the egg industry as dictated by cost competitiveness, changing consumer habits and also public opinion in relation to both egg quality and bird welfare.

Primary poultry breeders must look beyond current requirements and predict the opportunities alongside the demands placed upon them for at least five years down the line. Good communication between breeders and distributors is essential so that new breeds are introduced at the right time to obtain immediate maximum benefit from changing markets.

An overview of the global industry shows how different markets require diverse performance profiles from within the entirety of commercial layer breeds.

This dictates the need for wide gene pools with large elite lines that can be combined and integrated to generate strain crosses with specific attributes to meet specific market requirements.

The development and maintenance of new lines, testing, selection and reproduction of primary stocks will necessarily mean large fixed costs in the operation and a high level of expertise in quantitative genetics, as well as sound

internal organisation to keep track of the availability of different sub-lines for niche markets. Close communication between primary breeders and local distributors on genetic developments, marketing and technical support is essential. Without this, it will be impossible to provide the best possible service to producers and to fully benefit from changing consumer market requirements.

Molecular biology: A big step Advances in molecular biology enable novel techniques to be used in genetic selection. Through the use of informative genetic markers, geneticists can promptly identify individuals and families with special characteristics and thereby accelerate traditional rates of improvement in egg production and quality as well as layer behaviour. These innovations in biotechnology continue to complement traditional performance testing and evaluation methods based on phenotypic selection indexes of production, efficiency and quality parameters.

The capacity to combine all available performance records from relatives in multiple generations, locations and housing systems requires powerful computer programmes, but when achieved ensure that the best males and females are selected and mated to produce the next generation. DNA analysis is providing extra information for combined use with traditional breeding to select males at an earlier age and to differentiate among full brothers, which prior to the availability of DNA analysis recorded identical breeding values.

Performance testing and genome wide analysis in combination offers a promising tool for the development of new strain crosses with performance profiles customdesigned to meet specific requirements.

The on-going rate of genetic progress in egg production efficiency appears to be even greater than it was 20 years ago.

Enhanced structure and increased size of breeding populations and application of new testing and recording technologies, alongside more powerful computer systems for breeding value estimation, have all contributed to the more effective and efficient use of available genetic variation. Therefore, enhanced genetic potential of laying hens cannot be fully exploited unless there is on-farm hands-on management, which includes disease control and proper nutrition, and keeping pace with the new gene technologies. h Dr Terry Mabbett

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Vencomatic adds Nutrimix as Morocco dealer VENCOMATIC GROUP HAS added Nutrimix as a dealer for the group in Morocco. Nutrimix is a wellknown company in Morocco with a strong reputation among both layer and broiler breeder companies.

Nutrimix will provide sales and service support for the brands Prinzen, Vencomatic and Agro Supply.

Vencomatic Group, a global supplier of housing and egg collection systems for the poultry sector, was already active on the Moroccan market and has installed multiple successful projects. The partnership with Nutrimix enables Vencomatic Group to expand their market share.

Valentijn Crum, Prinzen area sales manager, stated: "We strongly believe in local sales and service to optimally support our customers.

Nutrimix has the right knowledge and a network in the Moroccan poultry sector to provide the local support needed to expand our market share."

Anwar Amhaouche, general manager of Nutrimix, shared this opinion: "We have many customers that are looking for solutions to cope with increasing labour costs. The equipment of Vencomatic Group offers sustainable solutions for increasing automated processes in the poultry industry. Combined with our dedicated local service support, it enables us to answer the needs of our customers."

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Ghanaian govt to support local poultry industry THE DEPUTY MINISTER of Food and Agriculture for Ghana, Dr Image: Seth Bokpe.

Hannah Louisa Bisiw, has indicated that the government is working on a proposal for funding to revamp the poultry industry in the country. That is part of efforts to ensure the production of adequate meat, animal and dairy products to meet the country's protein requirement, she said. It will also help the country to cut the huge import bill on meat and meat products, which is currently pegged at more than US$300mn. She said this at the launch of RE3, a new natural poultry and livestock mill feed additive from Canada, which was distributed by the Boris B's Farms and Veterinary Supplies Ghana Limited and Best Environmental Technologies in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi. The minister observed that given that the country's national annual meat requirement was likely to increase, the increase in demand for meat products would make a case for profitable business in the livestock sub sector. The CEO of Boris B's Farms and Veterinary Supplies, Mr Boris Baidoo, said the company's commitment to provide quality services and products to the poultry and livestock industry necessitated their partnership with Best Environmental Technologies to distribute RE3 to farmers in the country. He said the company would establish and set up a feed mill to produce quality feed for the poultry market at an affordable rate to alleviate the plight of farmers.

Read more at: http://www.feedmachinery.com/news/africa/govt-to-support-local-poultryindustry-build-feed-mill-3234/ Copyright Š FeedMachinery.com

Research provides new insight to control blackhead disease THE UNIVERSITY OF Georgia in Athens, USA, has completed a funded research project, which studied blackhead disease in poultry. The project is part of the association’s comprehensive research programme encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.

An experimental live attenuated vaccine failed to protect birds against the disease. Studies on the transmission of blackhead disease indicate that spreading of litter from pullet houses in which flocks have had blackhead disease may be an important risk factor for spreading blackhead disease.

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Now more than ever it is essential to know the source of your minerals to ensure feed safety.

Avoiding feed ingredient contamination

W

ITH HEADLINES DOMINATING newspapers each day on horse meat contamination and E. coli spinach scares, it is more important than ever to have a traceability programme in place for both humans and livestock.

A study by AMR Research, a US-based international research firm, shows recalls are more common and costly than expected - expenses often exceed US$10mn per recall, with companies losing twice that much. An effective traceability system can make many of these recalls avoidable.

Safeguarding the quality of ingredients in animal feed is therefore essential in ensuring food safety.

Trace mineral contaminants In recent years, contamination of trace mineral supplements has been causing more frequent problems across borders.

China is a major supplier of inorganic minerals to the animal nutrition sector.

Recently, trace elements shipped from China, including sources of zinc, copper and manganese, have been included in a list of products that are subject to enhanced checks before being allowed to enter the European Union. Cadmium and lead contamination have been identified as the potential hazards in these shipments.

Dioxin is a general term for a large group of fat soluble organo-chlorine compounds, the polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans, about 30 of which are significantly toxic. Dioxins can potentially be formed whenever organic compounds, chlorine and high temperatures are involved. Common sources include volcanic eruptions, forest fires, exhaust emissions, incinerators and in the manufacturing of chemicals, pesticides and paints. Dioxins can also be formed

In recent years, contamination of trace mineral supplements has been causing more frequent problems across borders.

18 African Farming - May/June 2014

The use of trace minerals to supplement the diets of ruminants, swine, and poultry is a universal practice, but the market varies widely in terms of quality and safety.

during the processing of inorganic minerals. Metals, especially copper, can act as catalysts in dioxin formation.

Dioxins are termed “persistent organic pollutants” because they are very stable, resisting physical and biological breakdown to remain in the environment for long periods of time. Dioxins are known teratogens, mutagens and carcinogens in humans and animals.

The difference in PCBs PCBs, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, differ from dioxins in that they are intentionally produced for the manufacture of transformers, inks, plasticisers, lubricants and building materials. PCBs are present in inorganic trace mineral sources due to the recycling of metal sources, such as copper wiring. At least 70 per cent of copper sulfate is produced from renewable sources. PCBs are also a known carcinogen in humans and animals.

In recent years, contamination of trace mineral supplements has been causing more frequent problems across borders.

Heavy metals are a concern because they can enter the soil resulting in the contamination of inorganic trace mineral sources and can enter groundwater as a pollutant. Mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic can cause neurological signs in

livestock such as blindness, anemia, softshelled eggs, kidney and renal damage, and sudden death.

The use of mined versus recycled minerals has also been debated, however both have had negative implications. Mined minerals tend to be higher in heavy metal contamination, and the mining process can cause contamination with dioxins and PCBs. Dioxins can also be formed during recycling and often materials such as PVC coating are not removed during the process of recycling.

A global issue Dioxins, PCBs and heavy metals are a global issue. In December 2008, pork in Ireland was found to be tainted with dioxin contamination, resulting in the product being pulled from 24 countries. In July 2011, Belgian food safety officials found a 138 ton consignment of feed grade copper sulphate imported from Romania with higher than permitted presence of dioxin. In January of this year, China’s State Council publicised a circular on soil pollution that sets out a plan to contain the increasingly severe problem by 2015. For heavy metal alone, experts estimate the country’s pollution results in the loss of 10mn metric tonnes of grain and the contamination of another 12mn metric tonnes annually. www.africanfarming.net

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● Does the manufacturer test for dioxins,

In 2010, Alltech conducted a survey of more than 300 samples of various inorganic minerals, premixes, organic minerals and complete feeds from different countries in Asia. The test for the heavy metals of lead, arsenic and cadmium was determined using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry at the Alltech China facility. Results showed contamination from eight to 67 per cent.

Overall, 19 per cent of all samples were contaminated with at least one heavy metal (lead, arsenic and cadmium).

Quality control check The risk of contamination associated with inorganic minerals is a concern for manufacturers of all mineral supplement forms because inorganic mineral sources are used to manufacture organic mineral products. Quality assurance systems at every feed mill should implement a program with their manufacturer that

Quality control has to be at the top of each feed mill’s list when choosing trace minerals.

www.africanfarming.net

PCBs and heavy metals in all raw materials prior to sale? Traceability from raw materials to finished product is a must for all feed additives.

Currently, 90 per cent of meat eaten in East Africa comes from pastoralists, who move with their flocks and herds in search of grazing and water, and do not add trace mineral supplements.

addresses these concerns: ● Does the manufacturer use approved suppliers only? ● Does the manufacturer audit its suppliers? ● Does the manufacturer have third-party certifications from reputable groups to demonstrate its commitment to quality?

Besides contamination issues, many feed mills are turning to organic minerals to limit their impact on the environment. Growing awareness of the environmental pollution caused by those unused trace minerals has led to concern and even new legislation in parts of the world controlling trace minerals in feed and manure levels.

Quality control has to be at the top of each feed mill’s list when choosing trace minerals. As a result of past and current food crises, animal feed is an important area that affects the integrity and safety of the food chain. In addition, legislation concerning the production of feed is getting stricter. Routine analysis of feed and food ingredients and the assurance of equally high standards of quality and transparency from suppliers will continue to be critical in a global ingredient market to protect the food chain from contaminants such as dioxins, heavy metals and PCBs. h

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Mixed crop and livestock

Typical mixed crop-livestock farming of western Kenya. Image: ILRI.

While governments and researchers have continued looking to high-potential farmlands and singlecommodity farming systems as the answer to alleviating world hunger, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) says that mixed crop and livestock systems are the way to go.

A

CCORDING TO A recent ILRI report, farmers and policy makers will need to refocus from the already over-farmed pieces of land to mixed farming, especially in high potential areas.

“It is these mixed farms that, more than the traditional breadbaskets and rice bowls of the past, will feed the growing world over the next few decades”, observes the report, highlighting the need to change the way farming is done.

In Kenya, research organisations such as the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) have focused on increasing yields on one crop or livestock by coming up with new varieties that are disease resistant, high yielding and adaptable to harsh weather.

Already in many farming communities across Kenya and other high potential areas across the developing world, most farmers practice mixed farming with varying and profitable results.

For instance, Robert Kanyi, a retired teacher from Othaya, Nyeri, keeps three dairy cattle, a flock of chicken and goats as well as growing crops such as maize, beans, coffee, tea, napier grass and an array of agroforestry trees.

“Mixed farming is the only way to guarantee some income in small holdings

Mixed farming is the only way to guarantee some income in small holdings where land is scarce.

20 African Farming - May/June 2014

According to the ILRI report, groups of farmers mixing crops with livestock are the heavyweights in global food security. where land is scarce. With coffee prices erratic, farmers need to keep dairy cows to sell milk, get manure and cushion family income”, asserted Mr Kanyi, whose four-acre farm overlooks the scenic Aberdares Ranges.

But it is not just in the Central Highland where mixed farming has been practiced for generations.

Rice-duck enterprise In the low-lying Mwea Irrigation Schemewhere farmers toil in soggy black soils all day long, Ludia Wanja supplements her rice income with a fledging duck enterprise.

The rice-duck enterprise boosts family incomes, proteins and fertilises the kitchen garden where a variety of vegetables are grown.

“Ducks are cheap to raise as they rely on kitchen wastes for feed supplementation.

Wading through muddy water, they are able to pick worms and small fish in irrigation channels”, said Ms Wanja, a mother of three.

Duck eggs, occasional meat as well as guano (manure) boosts the farmer’s fortunes coming from rice farming. Ducks have also proved a viable enterprise in irrigation paddies in South Asia, where millions of peasants eke out a living.

She also has a fish pond where tilapia fish thrive and occasionally provides dinner and the much needed first class proteins for the family.

Equally important to smallholder farmers

in Kenya has been mixed systems that have incorporated dairy goats, rabbits and indigenous chicken with food crops such as maize, millet and beans.

Manure to boost soil fertility, milk for an income and proteins, regular incomes from sale of livestock or their products have always helped rural households cope with erratic weather patterns and unreliable payments.

According to the ILRI report, groups of farmers mixing crops with livestock - often located between high-potential farmlands and low potential rangelands - are the heavyweights in global food security.

Over the years, many farmers practicing modest mixed crop-and-livestock agriculture both in poor and rich countries have improved food security in many countries.

But it is in the developing countries where mixed family farmers tending rice paddies or cultivating maize and beans while raising a few chickens and pigs, a herd of goats or a cow or two on relatively extensive and rain-fed lands who feed most of the world’s poor people today.

Consequently, these mixed farmers neglected by governments are likely to play the biggest role in global food security over the next several decade when world population grows and peaks at around nine billion - an addition of another three billion people. h Mwangi Mumero

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Agriculture is vital to diversifying Angola's economy as the country is currently engulfed by food imports but has fantastic agricultural potential across the value chain.

Huge agricultural potential ready to be realised

T

WO-THIRDS OF Angolans depend on agriculture, most at a subsistence level. Cassava, sweet potatoes, and millet are the main staples. Yet less than 10 per cent of its available arable land is under cultivation. While this makes the development of agriculture potentially very promising, Angola currently imports half of its food.

Overpopulation due to displacement has also contributed to over-cultivation of land in some areas, decreasing soil fertility and reducing yields. But increased investment has contributed to the recovery of some cash crops, particularly coffee, bananas, sisal, sugar cane and oil palm.

With fertile soils, adequate levels of water, and a climate suitable for growing a vast array of different crops, there is enormous potential to increase agricultural production. Rehabilitation of agriculture is a key priority for the government in order to reduce dependence on oil, decrease food imports and lift millions out of poverty.

Heavy investment in infrastructure Already the government has invested heavily in infrastructure to improve road and rail links and enable farmers to access markets. Due to Angola's vast agricultural potential, foreign interest has also been significant. (Angola, Africa’s second-largest crude oil producer, is targeting sugar self-

Increased investment has contributed to the recovery of some cash crops.

FAO recognises Angola’s effort in fighting poverty.

22 African Farming - May/June 2014

There is enormous potential to increase agricultural production. Image: IFAD.

sufficiency as Brazil’s Odebrecht SA is due to start harvesting from a 42,000-hectare sugar plantation. The farm is to begin production by June and ramp up to 260,000 metric tons a year by 2018, according to managing director Carlos Henrique Mathias.)

The country has a climate that is favourable to a wide variety of tropical and semi-tropical cultures, and extensive grazing areas situated in the Southwest plateau. The agricultural sector has proven capabilities in the colonial past for crops of sugar, cotton, rubber, coffee, sisal, corn, peanuts, potatoes, cassava, beans, fruit growing and horticulture.

So in summary, a former self-sufficient country in all major crops except wheat, Angola is nowadays a net importer of all food leading to high prices in shops. The country is only slowly rebuilding its agricultural infrastructure and capacity which was devastated by the nearly three decades of Civil War With approximately 58mn hectares of total agriculture area (FAO, 2010), Angola

is the 16th largest country in the world in terms of its farming potential.

However, recognising the potential that agriculture has in Angola, foreign investment in the sector has started to pick up. Brazil, Spain, USA, Portugal and Canada are continuing their investments in the agro-industrial area in Kwanza-Sul, created back in 2010. The Japanese financed an infrastructure and irrigation project in the Moxito province last year and are continuing their de-mining cooperation with the Angolan government in Bengo. 2013 has seen the Portuguese business group, Delta Cafés, begin to promote the production of coffee in Uige province. The Chinese have announced the first rice harvest in Kuando-Kubango province, and they also have an investment in Malanje and Uige for agricultural study and research centres. Across all provinces, the revival of the Angolan agricultural sector province is beginning to stir.

Aware of the current predicament, Angola’s government has set up strategies to revive and diversify the country’s

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economy. One of the sectors of central importance to Angola’s economic future is agriculture. First, more focus should be placed on small-scale farmers who are responsible for 90 per cent of the agricultural production in Angola, by improving their yields and training them in

basic sales and marketing. Second, the cost of local production, which is still high compared to neighbouring economies, should be brought down and, most importantly, incentives to ease investments in the food processing industry to substitute the country’s heavy reliance on imports should

be offered. If this is done, the rest is simple: Angola is already endowed with high quality soil and water resources. Thus, there is no reason why the country shouldn’t fulfil its agricultural potential and find its way back to self-sufficiency and, eventually, rejoin of the podium of top food exporters. h

Angola, Brazil and FAO sign South-South Co-operation agreement ANGOLA, BRAZIL AND the FAO are to work closely together to strengthen food security in the Southern African country by boosting its agricultural and veterinary research.

Under a new South-South Co-operation agreement, Angolan researchers will receive technical assistance and short-term training from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), which played a key role in Brazil’s successful domestic programme to drastically reduce hunger. “The availability of highly qualified researchers and innovators who understand the complexity of development challenges is key to making great strides in agriculture and food security in Angola,” said Laurent Thomas, FAO assistant director-general for technical co-operation.

“Brazil has much to offer in terms of proven technical know-how and this agreement is an important milestone in South-South Cooperation between the two countries. We believe it is a model that we hope will be followed by other countries of the global South.”

Facilitated by the FAO, the two-year project will be co-financed by Angola and Brazil, with Angola covering the US$2.2mn financial costs and Brazil providing an in-kind contribution of US$875,000

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through the work of EMBRAPA experts.

The project will formulate a national strategy for agricultural innovation in addition to training some 60 researchers from Angola’s Agricultural Research Institute and 45 from its Veterinary Research Institute.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Floręncio Mariano da Conceiçăo e Almeida, permanent representative of Angola to the FAO, said the project would contribute to national efforts on food security and poverty reduction which have already enabled Angola to meet the Millennium Development Goal target of halving its proportion of hungry people ahead of the 2015 deadline.

Antonino Marques Porto e Santos, permanent representative of Brazil to FAO, quoted a message by former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to Angolan President José Eduardo Dos Santos: “The similarity between Africa’s Savanna and the Brazilian Cerrado presents tremendous potential for EMBRAPA’s intervention in the African continent. Brazil would like to help Angola in diversifying and realising its immense economic and agricultural potential and securing its food self-sovereignty.”

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ANGOLA

Lonagro Angola was opened in 2011, and is trading well with its head office in Catete, east of Luanda. Several mega projects have been secured, and a new branch in Cacuso is currently being opened to support these. John G Dapling, managing director, talks to African Farming.

Turning Angola green John Deere green!

A

NGOLA HAS A long history and legacy of organised agriculture believed to be traceable back to the arrival of Bantu settlers around the sixth century AD. During Portuguese colonialisation, agricultural development was one of the main strategies and steady development was made. By 1975 Angola had a flourishing tradition of family-based farming and was self sufficient in all major food crops except wheat, as well as becoming a major exporter of maize, coffee, sisal, bananas, tobacco and cassava. The start of the civil war in 1975 saw an end to this development and prosperity, and agriculture suffered terribly, with only small scale subsistence farming continuing. Since the end of the war in 2002 there has been renewed interest in agriculture, but the progress has been slow due to landmines, poor infrastructure and displacement of knowledgeable and experienced people. However the speed of progress has increased in the last couple of years and there are many investments and initiatives either happening now or about to happen soon. The future looks very bright for Angolan agriculture.

John Deere, a world leader in the manufacture and distribution of tractors and agricultural machinery, has been present in Angola for many years. But the Angolan market during the war was small and difficult with little opportunity. In 2009 John Deere realised the future potential of the Angolan market and started discussions with the Lonrho Group in the United Kingdom to start a new, dedicated distributor in Angola. Lonrho had considerable previous experience in Angola of importing and supporting vehicles and equipment and were already representing

Lonagro was born and became a reality with two principle investors, the Lonrho Group and Agromundo, a local company involved in the agricultural sector.

24 African Farming - May/June 2014

Since premises were constructed near to Catete and Lonagro opened for business in 2010, the company has flourished with increasing sales and and an expanding customer base every year.

John Deere in other markets, thus they were a logical choice. So Lonagro was born and became a reality with two principle investors, the Lonrho Group and Agromundo, a local company already involved in the agricultural sector. Premises were constructed near to Catete and Lonagro opened for business in 2010.

Since then Lonagro has flourished with increasing sales and customer base every year, now employing more than 30 people and selling 350 tractors a year.

Excellent after sale service This success is based on an excellent product range with high reliability and a low maintenance cost, but with a special local factor! Lonagro management realised early on that success and differentiation from the competition would only be achieved by excellent after sales service. So they set out to make sure the John Deere products were supported by a large, actively managed parts inventory and a service and repair facility which functioned well at the company base in Catete but was also mobile and available around the clock to support customers in any part of Angola.

Mobile service units travel every day to different locations as needed and whilst in an area follow up is made of other users nearby, to see if they need assistance. This greatly reduces costs for each customer, spreading transport and accommodation

charges amongst them and improves efficiency and response times. This service has proved the basis of Lonagro’s success and development and a strong partnership has developed between Lonagro and their customers, all of whom appreciate the care and attention offered to help make their businesses successful. Lonagro with John Deere are committed to the future of agriculture in Angola and the long term success and prosperity of the farming community; in this business you have to see it as a partnership as dependencies and trust are at a high level.

More branches planned The next stage in Lonagro’s development is to branch out from Luanda and Catete and open more convenient and local facilities so that the customers can be nearer to Lonagro and be better served and supported. A Cacuso branch will be opened in the next few weeks close to the agricultural heart of Malange and the exciting new Biocom and CITIC projects.

Later in the year new facilities are planned for Waku Kungu and Huambo. Next year a further three locations will be added.

This development will necessitate considerable investment both in financial and people terms. Recruitment of suitably skilled people and subsequent training in John Deere products is paramount and already being planned and actioned. h www.africanfarming.net

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COCONUTS

Increased investment, value addition and opening up of the export markets has boosted coconut farming along Kenya’s coastal region with huge returns for local farmers. Mwangi Mumero reports.

A boost for coconut farming

T

HE FORTUNES OF the previously chaotic and disorganised coconut sub-sector took a turn for the better in 2007 with the creation of the Kenya Coconut Development Authority (KCDA), a government body mandated to boost investment and consumer awareness in this vital crop.

“In the last few years, investors in value addition have set up processing units along the coastal region from Malindi, Kwale and Kilifi. Investors attracted by increased awareness are targeting virgin oil, copra oil, soap production and textiles”, observed Mr Teddy Yawa, KCDA’s business development officer, during a recent expo at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology and Agriculture (JKUAT).

Industry officials note that Kenya has a potential of generating more than Ksh 25bn (US$294mn) from the coconut sub-sector with the widening local and international markets.

Huge export markets Huge export markets exist in Europe, the United States and the large East African Community (EAC).

But even with the huge potential only 200,000 hectares are under the crop in the country, with more than 99 per cent of the crop grown along the coast.

Away from the coast, coconuts have been doing well in Nyanza, Western Kenya, Eastern and the Rift Valley region.

Emerging coconut products such as virgin oil, coconut milk, desiccated coconut, and fibre are gaining prominence.

For instance, virgin coconut oil is rich in medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) said to boost the immune system and has no cholesterol.

While there is increased demand for coconut products that are said to be low in cholesterol by health conscious consumer, coconut growing still relies on more than 7.4mn trees that are old and of the low producing, East Africa Tall variety.

The East Africa Tall takes five to seven years to get its first fruits, but offers more avenues for income. The dwarf varieties take short periods but are mainly used for the production of a local alcoholic brew Mnazi.

“We have been actively involved in

26 African Farming - May/June 2014

KCDA has been working with KARI in mother palm identification for breeding new, better yielding varieties. seedling propagation programmes involving trained nursery operators. We have a target of 500,000 seedlings annually and so far over two million seedlings have been given to farmers to replace old stock,” asserted Mr Yawa as he explained KCDA’s campaign to increase access to seedlings.

In the last rainy planting season, more than 81,000 coconut farmers at the coast showed renewed interest in the crop with demand for seedlings shooting to over 100,000 seedlings.

At the same time, KCDA has been working with the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) in mother palm identification for breeding new, better yielding varieties.

Equally, the authority has been working closely with the Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI) in research in virgin coconut oil.

An ongoing research in collaboration

with the JKUAT in geo-textile shed nets will provide insight on use of coconut fibres in greenhouse technology. Research on development of locally fabricated coconut oil extraction machines is also ongoing.

Increased yields Better crop husbandry has also boosted yield per crop from 15 to 30 fruits annually to more than 100. An acre of land can carry 50 trees that can often be intercropped with low crops such a maize, beans and bananas - making better use of land.

“We are aiming to reach 300 coconuts per tree,” said Mwangi Hai, the manager in charge of KCDA’s extension services.

Seed propagators have been receiving irrigation kits from free from KCDA with more than 20 kits distributed.

Extension services targeting coconut farmers in area in crop husbandry has helped farmer in correct spacing, weeding and use of manure in boosting soil fertility.

Farmers are also being trained on pest control with rhinoceros beetles (Oryctes monoceros), coconut mites (Acerai guerreronis), coconut bug (Pseudotheraptus wayi) and termites considered the most harmful. Among the diseases, the Bole rot

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COCONUTS

(Marasmielus infescocophilus) and the lethal yellowing disease (Mycoplasma) are said to be the most destructive.

With an initial investment of Ksh2,500 (US$30) per acre for seedlings, and about Ksh17,500 (US$206) for compost manure and labour, coconut growing has few overheads-making it suitable for poor financed rural farmers. A seedling costs Ksh50 (US$0.6) to Ksh 00 (US$1.2) with one fruit selling from Ksh 5 to Ksh 30 at farm gate.

“Value addition through processing virgin coconut oil from the white fleshy kernel fetches Ksh 00 (US$6) a litre. Returns are better than just selling the fruits on farm gate”, said Mr Karisa Chai, a coconut farmer from Kaloleni, Kilifi Country.

Other farmers are also mixing the coconut oils with ingredients like aloe or Neem to make soaps and cosmetics, with 100gram of body lotion selling for over Ksh 200 (US$2.4).

According to Mr Yawa, most of the investors are at the cottage level mainly in the processing of virgin oil, copra oil, coconut cream, coconut milk and in the textile products.

Approximately, 2,000 farmers are currently channelling their coconut

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KCDA has been linking investors with financial organisation to access affordable credit.

Mr Teddy Yawa, Kenya Coconut Development Authority’s business development officer, showing off some of the value added coconut products at a recent expo in Nairobi.

Image: Mwangi Mumero.

produce through these processors - with the number expected to rise.

To increase awareness on the emerging coconut products, KCDA has been organising field days, documentaries, radio talks and road shows.

“Participation in local and international expos has also widened the net globally seeking foreign investments and exporters.

Already investors have set up a coconut milk processing plant in Mazeras and a desiccation unit at Kaloleni to tap into the new opportunities,” noted Mr Yawa.

The authority has also been linking investors with financial organisation to access affordable credit. Specifically, Equity and Co-operative Banks have been working closely with KCDA in this aspect.

On the other hand, the Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) has initiated a farm incubation programme through the establishment of cottages and the Malindi Coconut Centre for Excellence.

According to KCDA, the centre will mainly concentrate on development of fibre and products from the coconuts’ outer casings.

Husk fibre has been used in making rooting materials for the horticultural industry.

Coconut fronds have been used to make roofing material (Makuti) and brooms. h

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TRACTORS

The need to improve African agriculture outputs and open up the huge potential that exists in both existing cultivated areas and newly planted regions is well known. This article looks at a company that has introduced a range of high quality warranted parts for all popular tractor brands in a structured way.

Repairing and maintaining Africa’s tractor fleet cost-effectively

T

HE FUNDAMENTAL TOOL of agricultural mechanisation is of course the tractor, arguably the most versatile vehicle on earth, ploughing, seeding, fertilising, harvesting, transporting, pumping water, generating power are all functions a tractor is fundamentally designed to do. Much has been written about the need to increase the tractor population in Africa, and of course this is very true, however much less is said about the need for cost-effective repair and maintenance of the existing tractor fleet. The majority of the African tractor population is made up of rugged, reliable mechanical tractors, machines that have been in Africa since new together with used machines imported from Europe and beyond. Whilst the major manufacturers have worked hard to build up a professional sales and service network, many machines operate below the radar of manufacturer’s representatives and are maintained by independent mechanics using a host of aftermarket parts often of dubious quality. It is estimated that of a total tractor population in Africa of over half a million machines, around 70 per cent are more than 10 years old and many are either under-performing due to poor maintenance and wear, or not functioning at all following a failure of some kind.

Recognising this need is UK-based Sparex, a leading provider of quality tractor parts, accessories and implement wearing parts.

Sparex has used it’s team of engineers at a new technical centre in Exeter, UK, to develop a range of parts suitable for the maintenance and overhaul of all popular tractor models found in Africa. The full Sparex tractor parts range extends to more than 22,000 parts, details of which, along with a comprehensive application guide giving cross references to the original equipment manufacturers part numbers, are included in a new two volume catalogue and also on the website www.sparex.com. In addition, the website includes details of more than 20,000 accessories and complimentary parts; this range covers hydraulic hose and fittings, PTO drive shafts, bearings, belts, vehicle lighting and electrical parts along with workshop tools and equipment. The third category in the Sparex range is machinery wearing parts for ploughs, cultivators, seed drills mowing machines and much more.

Engineering and quality assurance procedure All parts pass through a detailed engineering and quality assurance procedure to ensure compliance with the relevant standards of

Delegates at a recent technical seminar held by Sparex in Kenya.

30 African Farming - May/June 2014

The Sparex Group Technical Centre in Exeter, UK, includes the latest measurement and material analysis equipment.

material and manufacturing, this is vital if a part is to perform reliably in the rigorous conditions found in Africa. Many critical parts are manufactured in house at the Sparex manufacturing unit in the UK. The facility operates with full ISO accreditation and also supplies a number of global OE tractor brands direct to their production lines.

In addition to the wide range of tractor parts suitable for Ford, Fiat, New Holland, John Deere and other popular brands and working in conjunction with leading tractor manufacturer Massey Ferguson, Sparex is now able to offer a range of parts that are fully manufacturer-endorsed and approved for use with Massey Ferguson tractors. Sold under the MF Heritage brand, the range covers over 5,000 part numbers and is available both through the Massey Ferguson franchised network and also through independent retailers who are usually much closer to the users of the older tractors that make up a crucial part of Africa’s tractor fleet.

Sparex has had a presence in Africa for over 20 years and currently has two warehouses in South Africa, in Durban and the Cape; however now the complete range of parts is being rolled out across Africa in a programme of presentations and practical demonstrations, a number of which were recently completed in Kenya. The presentations cover details of the range and important technical characteristics which allow mechanics and parts sellers to distinguish a quality Sparex part from an inferior part available on the market. The implications of fitting poor quality parts are explained: the consequences include poor tractor performance, premature breakdown and accidents through failure of a safety critical part. The impact on crop production of a tractor failure during a critical part of the season is of course immense.

Commenting on the initiative, Sparex Group managing director Jeremy Burgess said “this is the first time anyone has introduced a range of high quality warranted parts for all popular tractor brands in such a structured way. As we continue the introduction programme we are eager to hear from anyone interested in representing Sparex in their local market; our aim is to dramatically increase the number of stockists in order to make our high quality range available to a large number of farmers and mechanics”. h www.africanfarming.net

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RICE PROCESSING

Rice processing is set to become the next big investment opportunity in Africa, according to British manufacturers and exporters of grain processing systems, Alvan Blanch Dev Co Ltd.

Processing rice into profit

W

ITH NIGERIA LEADING the way in encouraging local rice production to substitute imported white rice by introducing a 100 per cent import rice tax in 2015, there is a clear potential across sub-Saharan Africa for local processors to benefit. Consumer expectations in Africa have developed from the international standard of white, polished, stone-free rice – which local processors struggle to simulate with domestic processing.

Global trends can teach us what to expect from Africa’s continuing rise in rice consumption. The International Rice Research Institute tracks rice consumption worldwide and shows the complete reliance upon rice as the main staple in countries like Indonesia where per capita consumption is 160kg/year, as well as the stable consumption of 75kg/year in India where the diet is more varied. With most African countries traditionally relying upon root tubers or grains like maize and sorghum as their staples, the growth of rice consumption over the last 50 years in sub-Saharan Africa has risen (see chart below) from 10 to 25kg/year. If we take India as an example there could be a threefold increase again in Africa before rice consumption settles at a constant – but this is notwithstanding the ever-rising population in sub-Saharan Africa now pushing one billion. These figures just go to show the need for a dramatic improvement in African rice cultivation, preservation and processing cannot be ignored.

Alvan Blanch have noticed the increase of interest from agriindustrialists and large farmers in paddy rice drying, cleaning, milling and parboiling systems.

Investing in complete rice milling systems This has led to processors investing in complete rice milling systems, with an importance placed not only on the whitening and polishing of the rice, but increasingly on producing stone-free all-white rice.

The managing director of the UK manufacturers and project

32 African Farming - May/June 2014

Assembly of complete rice milling line for UNIDO by the Alvan Blanch Nigeria team.

engineers, Andrew Blanch, announced the introduction of a new range of optical sorters, designed with experts from the sorting industry, with one of the sorters already in operation with an Alvan Blanch parboiling and milling system in Kebbi State, Nigeria, where they are now producing parboiled rice with no discoloured grains – worthy of competing with imported rice.

Parboiling has long been an area of expertise for the company – who have now directed their research and development department on re-designing their parboiling systems to use husk as fuel for the parboiling tanks and paddy drier – to make the process more viable as a business despite the rising fuel prices. They have teamed up with manufacturers of small-medium sized, durable, husk-fired boilers to utilise the waste husk from the paddy to create steam for the parboiling process, and to heat the drier. This technology has long been the basis for large scale parboiling, but the company can now offer this facility on plants as small as 16 tons/day.

This backwards integration through waste usage is to be an ongoing trend for Africa, where waste is plentiful, but power is not.

Bran, the other by-product from the rice milling process, is a vital source of fibre and nutrients in animal feed – for which Alvan Blanch are encouraging processors to consider investing in one of their small feed milling systems as an ideal second stage to rice processing operations.

The manufacturers, who have over 45 years’ experience of exporting to Africa, are confident that a focus on their de-stoning and colour sorting machines, to be sold alongside the usual rice milling systems, will change the rice milling industry in many African countries. With the incoming rice import ban in Nigeria at least, the farmers will be empowered to charge more for their crop and expand their operations, while giving processors an open, ready market of up to 170mn people.

With 40 per cent of Africa’s 21mn tonne staple rice consumption made up of imported rice, processors and traders have undeniable potential to turn local rice production and processing into a business capable of nation-wide distribution – but only if they can produce stone-free, white rice. Alvan Blanch project engineer and manufacture complete milling and sorting systems as well as parboiling and drying systems with a variety of capacities to suit small, medium and up to commercial sized processing operations, with a technical support office in West Africa. h www.africanfarming.net

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GRAIN STORAGE

The effects and consequences of mycotoxins were felt long before the culprit chemicals were discovered and described. Dr Terry Mabbett looks at some of today’s testing equipment.

New age testing for age old mycotoxins

E

ARLY CIVILISATIONS IN Egypt and Greece both documented the ‘curse’ of mycotoxins. The Salem witch trials in seventeenth century New England were almost certainly due to hallucinogenic effects in the accused witch victims, brought on by mycotoxin synthesised by the ergot fungus (Claviceps purpurea) in rye and wheat. The mycotoxin had remained intact and active through grain milling and bread baking.

The name ‘mycotoxin’ was first coined in 1962 following the mysterious death of 100,000 turkey poults in England and subsequently attributed to secondary metabolites (aflatoxins) from the fungal mould Aspergillus flavus. The term mycotoxin describes exactly the threat to humans and farm animals from acutely poisonous chemicals produced by specific fungal moulds. Mycotoxins which now number between 300 and 400 were identified, elucidated, and named during the next two decades. This period also saw the advent and advancement of mycotoxin testing equipment.

Mycotoxins are as variable and versatile as the fungal moulds which produce them.

Contamination may first appear on the growing cereal crop or during the postharvest processing and storage period, and subsequently right along crop commodity processing and feed and food manufacturing chains. Each and every mycotoxin is a ‘signature’ and a ‘calling card’ left by a specific fungus.

Huge array of health risks Mycotoxins can produce a huge array of health risks for humans and animals even at low concentrations and continue to prove catastrophic from medical, veterinary and financial perspectives. Mycotoxins are variously nephrotoxic, carcinogenic and genotoxic and have the capacity to kill livestock and humans. Research scientists

Mycotoxins are as variable and versatile as the fungal moulds which produce them.

34 African Farming - May/June 2014

Sound storage is one of the secrets to mycotoxin-free grain.

(Image: Bentall Rowlands)

and regulatory bodies work tirelessly by compiling toxicity data and correlating it with mycotoxin occurrence in grain, food and feed commodities, to provide appropriate guidance to industry for protection of human and animal health from mycotoxicosis.

Failure to monitor mycotoxin levels in grain, animal feed and food commodities, and maintain levels below legally binding limits, places producers at risk, increases production costs and prevents sales at national and international levels.

The most important mycotoxins Each and every mycotoxin presents a unique risk profile by targeting specific organs or organ systems in the body.

Mycotoxins of greatest importance to livestock feed producers are most likely to occur in those raw crop commodities (eg, maize and wheat grain) used as feed ingredients. The most widely damaging and understood are: ● Aflatoxins – Aflatoxin is synthesised by a wide range of Aspergillus mould fungi and covers a group of toxins causing severe liver damage and decreased animal growth. They operate at DNA

level to impair reproduction and induce tumour formation. Aflatoxin is classified as a Group I carcinogen according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and is regulated by at least 76 countries for animal feed and human food ingredients as well as finished food and feed products. ● Fumonisin – Fumonisin is produced by Fusarium verticillioides, a common fungal pathogen of cereals including maize (corn). Fumonisin causes swine (porcine) pulmonary edema (fluid on the lungs) and leukoencephalomalacia in equines. The latter is a deterioration of brain matter, often lethal or resulting in severely diminished capacities during the life span of the horse. ● Deoxynivalenol (DON) – DON is in the Tricothecene family of mycotoxins and like Fumonisins is synthesised by Fusarium mould fungi. DON produces its strongest effects in swine (pigs) including feed refusal, severe digestive and reproductive disorders to cause significant on-farm production losses. ● Zearalenone – Zearalenone is also synthesised by various Fusarium fungal moulds with accompanying estrogenic www.africanfarming.net

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GRAIN STORAGE

effects especially in swine (pigs), to cause reduced litter size, spontaneous abortion and even feminisation of young male pigs. ● Ochratoxin A (OTA) – OTA which is produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium mould fungi is a known kidney toxin.

OTA has been linked to human Balkan Endemic Neuropathy and according to IARC is a suspect carcinogen. ● T-2 and HT-2 – These mycotoxins are produced by Fusarium moulds and cause a wide range of severe problems in poultry. Together with immune suppression, T-2 and HT-2 are associated with poor weight gain, decreased egg production and oral lesions resulting in reduced feeding, as well as severe disorders of the central nervous system (CNS).

Two or more different mycotoxins may occur together as a result of increased temperature and humidity to favour several different mycotoxin mould producers at the same time. DON which is most commonly associated with Fusarium graminearum (wheat scab fungus) often occurs together with zearalenone (ZEN) produced by Gibberella species (corn ear rot fungi).

One mycotoxin can therefore be used as a ‘marker’ for others.

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Mycotoxins may originate in the growing crop – golden wheat fields at Timau in Kenya. (Image: Omex)

Mycotoxins are active and destructive at concentrations as low as several ppm (parts per million) or even ppb (parts per billion) and readily withstand the digestive systems of livestock, domestic pets and humans as well as most stages in the manufacture of food and feed, including those using high temperature conditions. Grain drying and high temperature stages in feed manufacture have little if any effect on

mycotoxin integrity.

Aflatoxins are commonly found in meat, milk and butter.

Trichothecenes like DON and T-2 are completely stable at 120°C and moderately stable up to around 200°C. The global impact of mycotoxins on feed and food production is staggering with costs to producers and losses in the marketability of food products that run into hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Union (EU) and other international regulatory standards now impose specific guidelines on acceptable levels for all mainstream mycotoxins including aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisin, zearalenone (ZEN) and T-2 and HT-2 toxins.

A new take on tradition Traditional methods of analysis for mycotoxins are generally considered to be accurate and precise but they may require expensive equipment and be complicated to use if operators are not trained in chemistry.

Such methods may require the use of various chemical solvents to extract mycotoxins which are not soluble in water

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alone. Solvent use is accompanied by storage and waste disposal considerations.

The global shift toward ‘greener’ and more sustainable practices is motivating food and agricultural commodity producers to reduce their use of hazardous materials without compromising the method’s analytical performance.

Traditional testing technologies such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), fluorometer with immunoaffinity (IA) columns, solid phase extraction (SPE), or laboratory methods including HPLC, UPLC or LC with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) are readily available and widely used by laboratory and government mycotoxin testing sites. They are effective and accurate but there is still room for simpler methods to provide rapid, accurate results with less investment to get started.

So, what should the next generation of mycotoxin detection kits look like?

Modern mycotoxin testing equipment Faced with the potentially huge health and economic consequences of mycotoxin contamination, modern testing equipment must be versatile in application and absolutely accurate in determining the level of contamination in food and feed materials prior to shipment, processing or consumption.

Without exception rapid detection technologies must be: ● Comprehensive in scope to identify the complete range of mainstream mycotoxins and sufficiently sensitive to detect mycotoxin at ultra-low concentrations, in parts per million (ppm) and parts per billion (ppb). ● Versatile. For use in the laboratory or on-site at any point along the crop commodity chain, including harvesting, on-farm and dockside storage, transit and shipping, and at the feed mill or food manufacturing plant. ● User-friendly for all laboratory staff or any on-site user with a minimum of scientific and technical training. ● Able to provide rapid, repeatable and highly accurate results within the required range of mycotoxin concentration.

Mycotoxin testing equipment options continue to be the driving force for agriculture, agro-processing, feed and food manufacturing industries to protect and secure the integrity of crop commodities and finished products, and thereby the health of livestock, companion animals and people.

Laboratory methods using fluorometry or HPLC with an immunoaffinity column are widely accepted and available but new technology is being developed to serve field and non-technical users and suitable for

36 African Farming - May/June 2014

Mycotoxin contamination is passed down the feed and food ‘chain’, such as maize grain used in poultry feed and causing mycotoxins to appear in hens’ eggs.

(Image: Dr Terry Mabbett)

producers and buying operations, as well as on-site laboratories.

This new dimension to mycotoxin testing is the quantitative lateral flow strip tests increasingly offered by test kit manufacturers. Lateral flow diagnostic tests eliminate the need for highly skilled technical users, which means that accurate results can be obtained at the growing, buying and processing points along the chain of custody for raw materials such as grains, oilseeds and other raw materials used in the production of human food and livestock feed.

One recent state-of-the-art development in mycotoxin testing equipment was developed by a company not far from Salem in Massachusetts, USA, where the first suspected case of mycotoxicosis in ‘modern’ times was recorded. VICAM, a Waters Business, based in the USA, and provider of versatile field and laboratory detection methods for mycotoxins, recently introduced the Vertu lateral flow reader. The equipment utilises digital lateral flow readings for fast, user-friendly and quantitative mycotoxin results at the point of delivery during storage or processing. This development is a significant step forward in an industry that has traditionally relied upon lengthy laboratory tests and skilled technicians to obtain actionable mycotoxin data.

Cereal grain producers and exporters use onsite mycotoxin testing equipment to ensure regulatory compliance and meet internal quality standards for protection of human and animal health. A wide range of new detection systems is available for qualitative screening and full quantification screening of what are considered to be ‘major’ mycotoxins, singly or in multiples, whether onsite or for in-laboratory screening.

Qualitative strip tests can produce yes/no results in a few minutes with a target

threshold in parts per billion (ppb) or parts per million (ppm). Strip tests may also provide highly sensitive, quantitative results which compare with high-end laboratory analysis by LC or LC/MS/MS. For example, VICAM’s DON-V lateral flow strip test correlated to LC/MS/MS results better than its contemporaries in a study carried out by a major pasta producer. Further refinement in lateral flow strip tests is expected to broaden their use for mycotoxins and other important contaminants of grains, animal feed and human food.

Food safety diagnostics come of age Global food safety legislation and initiatives show sweeping moves toward prevention with emphasis on supplier verification, traceability and ‘Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point’ (HACCP) requirements. Food and agricultural commodity producers are required, more than ever before, to understand and verify every link in their supply, processing and delivery chain.

Whether the target analyte is a food allergen, pathogen, mycotoxin or veterinary drug residue, rapid diagnostic tests help producers, processors, importers and exporters to ensure compliance with internal quality guidelines and external regulatory requirement. Operators and managers can specifically assess the suitability of raw material for storage or processing, thereby protecting business interests while simultaneously safeguarding the health of livestock, pets and people around the globe.

Rapid diagnostic technologies such as VICAM’s Vertu lateral flow reader and kits lead the way in prevention and better food safety outcomes, thereby making mycotoxin contamination less prevalent throughout the global marketplace and helping food and agriculture industries. h

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TRACTORS

Choosing a bigger engine with more horsepower has always been the obvious way to increase output in the field, but another option is to use advances in technology to boost productivity and efficiency, says Mike Williams.

Technology for efficiency

B

UYING MORE POWER can be an effective way to boost output, which is why the engine size in new tractors bought each year has been increasing for years. In most European countries, for example, the typical engine power in the 1950s was 25 to 30hp and since then it has been rising almost every year, currently reaching 130 to 150hp in much of Europe, and the trend is expected to continue. Horsepower figures for African countries are not so readily available, but the trend is clearly upwards although the rate of increase is probably slower.

A different approach to increasing output and efficiency is to make use of developments in tractor technology and examples from the past include improved pulling efficiency through using four-wheel drive, three-point linkages for more efficient implement attachment and control plus replacing spark ignition engines with diesel power’s better torque characteristics.

Constantly variable transmissions or CVTs are a more recent development, but their benefits have already brought a big increase in popularity and more new tractor models equipped with CVTs are on the way.

transmission plus a high technology electronic control system, and it offers advantages that can help the driver to increase output and efficiency for intensively used tractors. One of the CVT special features is the ability to adjust the travel speed without altering the engine speed or power output, increasing efficiency when working with some p-t-o equipment. It also avoids the need for special creeper gears when full power output is needed at a very slow travel speed.

The first production tractor with a CVT arrived in 1995 when Fendt announced the 260hp Vario 926, and high horsepower models soon followed from other manufacturers. After a slow start sales were soon increasing rapidly and most of the leading tractor companies now offer their own CVT models. Helping the big increase in popularity is the fact that the new transmission is no longer reserved for high horsepower tractors, but is increasingly available in the small to medium power range. The smallest CVT tractors are 70hp models with the Vario transmission from Fendt, currently the only manufacturer offering this type of drive system on all models.

Small to mid-range CVT models are also available in the

The trend [for engine power in Africa] is clearly upwards although the rate of increase is probably slower.

Agrofarm TTV series from Deutz-Fahr with models from 109hp upwards, and the John Deere CVT is available on their special AutoPower models starting with a 116hp version in the 6R series. The big batch of new small to medium tractors announced last year also includes three additional T6 Auto Command CVT models from New Holland with power outputs between 110 and 131hp, all available in 40 and 50 kph versions. Case IH also announced lower horsepower CVT models last year, producing additions to their Maxxum CVX series from 110hp upwards.

Last year’s developments announced by Claas included a completely new CVT transmission which will be available later this year as an option for the 140 to 184hp models in their Arion 500 and 600 tractor series. Called the EQ 200, the new

Benefits of CVTs A CVT is a combination of a mechanical gear drive, an oil-operated hydrostatic

Massey Ferguson's MF 6600 series tractors produce up to 185hp from four-cylinder engines.

38 African Farming - May/June 2014

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TRACTORS

Claas transmission is backed by more than 80,000 hours of development and testing and it features a new control system providing stepless range changes without a power break.

The Italian-based Argo company which builds tractors under the Landini and McCormick brand names announced a move into the CVT sector of the market for the first time. There are two development programmes, one using a transmission made by the ZF company in Germany will feature in new models from 143hp upwards, and the second project is a new transmission being developed by Argo engineers for future Landini and McCormick models with power outputs from about 110hp.

Another of the new developments announced in 2013 was the news that the Korean-based TYM tractor company has developed a new CVT model. This is significant because it is the first example that has not come from the long established American or European tractor manufacturers.

The TYM TX1500 tractor is powered by a 150hp Perkins engine from Britain and uses a CVT made in Germany by ZF. Progress in diesel engine efficiency Diesel engine efficiency has been making rapid progress, mainly because of pressure to meet increasingly strict regulations in many countries to produce cleaner exhaust emissions. Most of the technical developments used to clean the exhaust gases aim to burn fuel more efficiently, which also means producing maximum power output from each litre of diesel to give lower fuel costs per hectare.

One example is turbocharging, the most widely used method for achieving a cleaner engine exhaust. A turbocharger forces extra air into the combustion chamber, producing more power by allowing additional fuel to be burned but also burning the fuel more efficiently. Adding a turbo typically boosts the power output of an engine by between

Three new Maxxum models from 110hp upwards were added to the Case IH CVT tractor range last year.

40 African Farming - May/June 2014

An important way to improve efficiency and reduce labour costs in manufacturing is to use automation or robotics.

20 and 25 per cent and improves the fuel efficiency – the amount of power produced from each litre – by about 15 per cent.

Another method used by many of the leading tractor manufactorers for cleaning the exhaust emissions is Selective Catalytic Reduction or SCR, which means using a special additive that turns up to 90 per cent of the unwanted exhaust gas into harmless nitrogen and water. The additive works during and immediately after the combustion process, and it also has the additional benefit of reducing the engine’s fuel consumption per hectare by between five and 10 per cent.

Search for cleaner engines The search for cleaner engines that cause less environmental damage has also brought a switch to four cylinders in the power range previously dominated by sixcylinder engines. The tractor industry guideline used to be three or four cylinders for engines up to approximately 100 or 110hp, with six cylinders taking over above this level. The recent trend is for fourcylinder engines to move up towards the 200hp level with Massey Ferguson currently leading the way. Its new MF 6600 series tractors introduced last year have fourcylinder engines producing up to 185hp.

The reason for the engine change is that using fewer cylinders reduces the power losses due to friction and the energy needed to move each cylinder, and the result is lower fuel consumption and cost.

An important way to improve efficiency and reduce labour costs in manufacturing industries is to use automation or robotics, but farmers have so far been reluctant to adopt this approach for crop production.

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TRACTORS

The idea is not new as various automatic control systems for driverless tractors have been demonstrated since the 1950s, starting in England with a buried cable carrying signals detected by a sensor on the front of the tractor. The cable followed the route the tractor would regularly use, with information from the sensor operating the steering and other controls. At least two buried cable systems were installed in orchards for grass mowing between fruit trees, but the idea was abandoned because of cost and reliability problems although buried cable guidance is still widely used for robot vehicles in factories and warehouses.

Research continues, but the aim now is a half-way stage which needs a driver but provides the technology that can increase productivity and efficiency, and an example is Guideconnect developed by Fendt to allow one driver to control two tractors. The lead tractor is driven conventionally and is followed by a driverless tractor, and both are connected by a control system using radio signals, advanced electronics and a link with the GPS space satellite network. The GPS link keeps the robot tractor positioned at a constant distance behind the lead tractor and offset to match the width of the

42 African Farming - May/June 2014

Machine Sync from John Deere allows the combine driver to manage the grain trailer tractor by remote control.

implement, and the control system also makes the robot tractor imitate speed changes and other actions including headland turns carried out by the driver on the lead tractor. Fendt started the Guideconnect research programme in 2012 and development work continues.

Special control systems are being developoed by some companies to improve efficiency when transferring grain from the combine to a trailer or chaser bin. The John Deere version is called Machine Sync and small scale production started for last year’s harvest. Machine Sync needs a driver to take

www.africanfarming.net

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TRACTORS

the tractor and trailer to and from the field and to bring the trailer close to the combine for unloading the tank. At this stage the combine driver takes over, using remote control to position the tractor and adjust the travel speed while grain is transferred.

One of the advantages of using the combine driver to take complete control during trailer filling is that he has a better view of the process and can achieve a full load more accurately with less risk of spilling some of the grain. This can be particularly important when the most experienced operator is on the combine, leaving a less skilled driver with the grain

trailer, and it is one of the reasons why Case IH introduced Vehicle-to-Vehicle or V2V remote control trailer management as an addition to their Advanced Farming Systems or AFS technology. V2V allows the combine driver to take control when the tractor and grain trailer comes within 100m of the harvester, enabling him to synchronise the travel speed and the position of the trailer.

A more complete control system has been developed by Kinze Manufacturing, a United States machinery company with a product range that includes chaser bins.

With the Kinze System the tractor hauling

the grain is driverless and remains in the field under the constant control of the combine driver. When the grain tank is ready to be emptied the combine driver uses the remote control system to start the tractor, bring it beside the harvester, load the trailer or chaser bin and then park the tractor at the edge of the field where the grain is transferred into a large capacity truck for road transport. Another option where two or more tractors and trailers are used for grain harvesting is for one driver to take the full trailers to the grain store and return them empty to the field where the combine driver takes control. h

Mahindra & Mahindra looks to revolutionise African agri sector MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA was present at the recently concluded CII Africa India Conclave in New Delhi.

Sanjay Jadhav, senior general manager exports (Africa and Middle East), spoke to African Farming about the agricultural scenario in Africa and how Mahindra has been helping farmers across the continent by providing state of the art products as well as prompt and reliable after sales support.

Africa’s arable land in Africa is vast but there is very little land under cultivation and productivity is also very low. The obvious reason for this is the low level of mechanisation. However, Mr Jadhav feels that the situation is changing. “With the economic growth of the continent and strong focus on agriculture sector by governments, farm mechanisation levels are going up. This is where Mahindra has been contributing with its products and the services in the overall agri value chain.”

He said that in terms of agriculture, Africa today is where India was in the 1970s. India has progressed reasonably well in the last four decades. “We have experience in bringing about a revolution in agriculture, which we can try and replicate in Africa as well.”

“We would like to work on bringing farmers to prosperity through mechanisation and techniques that will improve yield thereby improving the profitability. From smaller hp low cost tractors that cater to farmers with marginal landholdings, to high performance tractors with superior features, we’ve revolutionised the farm equipment space. Our farm equipment and services provide a comprehensive support system to help farmers prosper,” Mr Jadhav said.

Mahindra operates in more than 30 countries in Africa with a strong network of distributors and dealers providing excellent after sales service support to the farmers. Mahindra has a wide range of tractors from 20 HP to 95 HP which are suitable for varied soil conditions and applications making it the right choice for medium and small scale farmers. It has created local assembly plants in countries like Nigeria, Mali, Chad and Ghana for tractor assembly.

“This helps in terms of employment and industry development in the country,” Mr Jadhav opined. Going forward Mahindra and Mahindra is committed to increasing its focus on Africa to participate in the overall growth of the continent.

International Tractors equipping African farmers INTERNATIONAL TRACTORS, ONE of the top farm equipment manufacturers in India, showcased its strength at the recently held CII Africa India Conclave in India Under the brand name ‘Sonalika’, International Tractors is one of the oldest agricultural equipment manufacturing companies in India that was set up in 1969.

Rajiv Wahi, senior president, International Tractors, said, “Today, we have one of the largest integrated manufacturing facilities making about 400 tractors per day at one place. We manufacture 80 per cent of tractor components, engines, components and more in India.”

Talking about the African farm sector, Mr Wahi added that the African condition is similar to India. Africa is today where India was 30 years ago, he asserted.

“India’s tractor market is at 700,000 and Africa is nine times the size of India.” However, the business is still low. “30,000 is the total annual tractor market in Africa at present out of which Sonalika supplies 6,000 Tractors per annum. There is a huge gap in tractorisation and mechanisation.” www.africanfarming.net

He said that most of the land in Africa is not even cultivated, though it is arable.

Mr Wahi said that International Tractors believes that a cost-effective tractor would go a long way to help farmers in Africa.

“A farmer in Africa cannot afford expensive equipment. Agriculture in Africa should be done as a business and a farmer must make money — for which he needs a cost-effective and simple tractor, which gives value for money. We have been exporting for 11 years.

The first country we went to was Côte d’Ivoire.

“We do business in 35 countries in Africa and have three assembly plants in Algeria,

Cameroon and Nigeria.”

The senior president said that skills of farmers should be improvised and therefore International Tractors was setting up training centres in Africa.

“Farmers in Africa still use manual labour or cows. Our technology isn’t too complex but farmers there still need to know how to use a basic tractor. So far, African agriculture has focused on northern and southern regions, the central part has been left out. So now we are looking at sub-Saharan Africa to expand into.”

With an endeavour of serving the global farming community better, the company plans to introduce its new range of narrow tractors, tractors for paddy applications and higher HP tractor range from 100 to 150 HP to the global market.

Mr Wahi said, “We are bringing a 26HP tractor, a range of narrow tractors for vineyard, food vegetation.”

Recently, International Tractors also joined hands with a new business partner in Turkey and Morocco in North Africa to expand its business in the continent.

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Ca

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NEWS

UPL Ltd strengthening roots in Africa and Asia UPL LTD, A global leader in crop protection and seeds company, participated and exhibited at the recently held 10th CII-Exim Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership in New Delhi.

Speaking at the summit, Jai R Shroff, CEO of UPL Ltd, said, “India can be the best business partner for Africa in many areas because we understand the democratic way in which their governments work. We have a private sector and Indian entrepreneurs can invest in multiple projects.”

UPL has many projects across Africa where the company has been getting involved with farmers, giving them better seeds and chances for better productivity, better chemicals, spraying technology and create better linkages by involving several NGOs in the projects.

“We hope to see a big impact in the next few years. Right now we are in the investment phase. We are setting up agriculture extension centres in the continent, where we train farmers on how to use seeds, plant seeds better, use hybrid seeds.”

Mr Shroff added that farmers do not have the best understanding of how to plant hybrids.

Therefore, the company’s mission is to teach the appropriate use of fertilisers and chemicals, which is a part of Brew Africa to create a network of companies for cash flows to farmers.

Talking about their presence in the continent, UPL can be traced in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.

“We are trying to get them to produce rice, sorghum, sunflowers and we are helping them develop forages to improve cattle. We have a stronghold in Thailand and are growing steadily.” The CEO said that the company was constantly researching for new products and has recently registered a new rice type called ‘EROS’ in Indonesia and launched corn hybrids in Vietnam.

44 African Farming - May/June 2014

Case IH showcases full line of equipment and launches new offering at Nampo 2014 CASE IH SHOWCASED its full line of equipment at the recent Nampo Harvest Day 2014 with an impressive display of its tractor ranges, harvesting and haymaking equipment, precision farming solutions and its new range of implements that made their first public appearance at the show. ● Case IH showed its full line-up of tractors, from the smallest in the range, the 42 kW JX55T, right up to the 492 kW Quadtrac 600. The Magnum tractor range was centre stage. These mediumhigh horsepower tractors deliver power and productivity (up to an additional 36 hp, increasing performance by up to 14 per cent) in the toughest conditions together with exceptional fuel efficiency (up to 15 per cent lower fuel

consumption compared to previous models). ● Also on show were the Patriot self-propelled

sprayers that use the best technologies available to enable timely, consistent coverage at the right rate and droplet size. These technologies include the AIM Command spray system, designed to maintain a constant rate and pressure under a range of speeds and conditions, and the AccuBoom automatic boom section control that prevents overlaps and over-application. ● A new range of Case IH implements for optimal soil conditions: The Case IH Ecolo-Tiger & True Tandem 330 Turbo. ● The Case IH Axial-Flow combine range was centre stage at the Nampo show, with special presentations to highlight the benefits of its proven singlerotor technology: thorough threshing, lower losses and the gentlest grain handling. ● The Case IH maize headers can increase productivity by as much as 15 per cent over 24 hours. ● Case IH importer Northmec held practical demonstrations of the Case IH AFS guidance systems with RTX DGPS guidance. The demonstration showed the exceptional accuracy of the Case IH guidance system with Quantum tractor and an orchard sprayer.

Flagship CR range of combines at Nampo NEW HOLLAND’S ACCLAIMED range of twin rotor CR combines are present at the New Holland South Africa stand at Nampo show. The stand was animated by daily demo activities, videos and all New Holland best product displays.

“The latest CR upgrades are testament to our unceasing quest to improve the harvesting productivity of the world’s professional farmers and contractors,” stated Hedley Cooper, head of combine harvester product management. “The all-new and proven dynamic feed roll, with integrated dynamic stone protection has improved capacity by up to 15 per cent. The range continues to offer intelligent innovations that improve harvesting productivity and operator experience such as the SmartTrax system and the IntelliView IV colour touch screen monitor.”

The all-new Dynamic Feed Roll, located in front of the rotors, positively feeds the rotors for smoother, streamlined feeding and automatically directs stones into a dedicated trap. The additional roll, available on all models, improves feeder performance by up to 15 per cent thanks to greater throughput. Furthermore, the on-the-go Dynamic Stone Protection means you can keep harvesting on stony ground without the need to stop.

Productivity can be further increased via advanced PLM technology. All CR combines are delivered PLM connect telematics ready, which enables eventual retrofit by authorised New Holland dealers.

New Holland has developed the SmartTrax system in-house to ensure that it is the perfect match for CR combines. The triangle structure has been designed to reduce ground pressure by up to an

impressive 57 per cent, when compared to wheeled machines, and to improve stability.

The grain handling system on the CR range has been further upgraded to match the increased capacity and throughput of the range.

New Holland has developed the SmartTrax system in house to ensure that it is the perfect match for CR combines, which are available in both narrow and wide frame versions.

For extensive harvest operations, the twin pitch rotors are the default choice for people searching for high performance in all crops and conditions.

They can be precision adjusted to cope with changing conditions. The Opti-Clean system optimises the stroke and throwing angles in the cleaning system for enhanced cleaning efficiency.

The CR’s feeding system has been redesigned to further increase throughput capacity and to allow the fitment of wider headers, as well as the grain handling system which has been further upgraded to match the increased capacity and throughput of the range.

www.africanfarming.net

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Silvandersson celebrates 32 years!

The Swedish company Silvandersson, a leading environmentally friendly pest control manufacturer, was born in 1982. An interview with its director, Kenneth Silvandersson...

I

T ALL BEGAN as an idea in 1982. My father, Mr Silvandersson, who had many contacts with dairies, found that they lacked a practical and non-toxic means to get rid of the flies that invaded their buildings. So he then contacted the largest dairy co-operative and developed, together with its members and in co-operation with the Swedish Defence Research Agency, a new type of glue trap, incorporating a special adhesive that, unlike the old fly-papers, does not stick to fingers. In 1984, he filed a patent for the world's leading window glue trap. The inventiveness of the company has never wavered since.

Ceaseless creativity In 1997, the company developed the Silvalure system for non-toxic insect and pest control. All products are designed to provide the best possible effect while only having a minimal impact on the environment.

In 1998, a patent was filed for glue traps in fluorescent colours and patterns. In 2000, the company launched a UV resistant adhesive. In 2001, its first patent for the Cryonite system was approved. Cryonite eliminates pests with the help of dry ice (-78°C). This method is perfect for the food and other industries and has been tried and tested in many parts of the world.

In 2005, he launched CoreDot, a precision technology for applying the glue on the boards exactly the way you want it. There are many advantages: ● High degree of precision – it provides a sharp gluing margin with both glue-free and glue-covered surfaces exactly the way you want it. ● High degree of flexibility – the glue board is custom-made and is formed and adjusted to match your wishes. ● High degree of freedom of choice – with CoreDot you can select exactly the model and form that you want on the glue surfaces, based on the design, construction and function of your insect trap.

In 2008, a new brand was created aimed at the general public. Finally, in 2010 , it was extended to professional pest control and crop protection.

Diverse opportunities Silvandersson targets both consumer and professional and agricultural markets (farming, greenhouse crops), with specific ranges. The distribution is done either by shops accessible to individuals or through professional distributors.

The very positive image of Sweden in terms of environmental protection is an asset to this company. If the early years were devoted to conquering the domestic market, now 90 per cent of the production is exported to some 35 countries worldwide.

The ecological challenge "30 years ago, we did not talk much about the environment. We were ahead of our time and it was difficult at first to convince the market.

We have however been helped in this by the dairy co-operative, which was our first client. Ecological ideas spread and our products have attracted an increasingly wide clientele.

"We must remain reasonable. I do not say that our products are 100 per cent safe for the environment. But if they are not used according to our recommendations, their impact will be minimal," said Kenneth Silvandersson.

And the first of these rules is to focus on prevention. "In the case of flies, for example, preventive measures at the right time can avert pest www.africanfarming.net

Catch it with flies.

problems completely, at the height of the season. If you wait for them to multiply before you act, it is already too late. And we must have recourse to chemicals. We must constantly educate our clients whether agricultural or private, on the benefits of prevention. This is a real job."

A future market This market is growing. " We develop mechanical traps, glue and systems using pheromones. And the demand is growing. We also work a lot with food manufacturers, hotels and restaurants. Their approach is a little different. Our products are used primarily to monitor their insect populations, to detect the presence of parasites.

Meanwhile, the Swedish company operates cryogenic processes, for which demand is real. This is the case of Cryonite, for which the firm has filed patents, "a technology that uses carbon dioxide to kill insects by freezing. The nozzle ejects a patented carbon dioxide, having a particle size and an optimal speed. Cryonite is an environmentally friendly product that can be used almost anywhere, including food establishments, hotels, hospitals and schools, where there are insects at different stages of development.

The biological pathway, further noted Kenneth Silvandersson, also seems to be a promising future. In the future, he said, whenever possible, environment friendly technologies will replace chemical processes. But they still remain essential and will continue to make progress. h

IPM - Integrated Pest Management IN INTEGRATED GROWTH protection, pheromones and sticky boards are used to supervise fly activity as well as to make diagnoses. By doing this, attacks are supervised early on and measures can be taken.

Sticky boards are also used to capture both incoming insects and those already established. Depending on which insect is in question, either yellow or blue sticky boards are used.

This year Silvandersson is running special programmes for field trials for free in Africa to show the techniques to the growers and help growth and quality in Africa's agricultural industry.

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New Holland at Nampo

Maschio Gaspardo doubles with Feraboli

LABCELL HAS INTRODUCED the Em50G remote data logger that logs and transmits data collected from a range of different sensors for monitoring soil conditions. With its internal batteries and onboard SIM and GSM module, the Em50G is a very costeffective way to monitor soil moisture, temperature and other environmental conditions without having to make site visits.

It can also help to save water through better management of irrigation.

Simple and quick to set up - in around 20 minutes from opening the box - the Em50G collects data at user-defined intervals from up to five sensors, stores up to 36,000 data scans on 1MB of non-volatile Flash memory, then transmits the data to a secure server four times per day. This passwordprotected data can be accessed via the internet or via Decagon’s DataTrac software package. Customers need not get involved with contracts with mobile phone service providers, as Decagon Devices handles this and simply provides customers with an annual data plan.

Compatible sensors enable measurements to be made of soil moisture, soil temperature, soil electrical conductivity, leaf wetness, air temperature, air relative humidity, rainfall, wind speed and direction.

MASCHIO GASPARDO, LEADER in Italy and among the top world producers of agricultural equipment for tillage, seeding, crop care and landscape maintenance, has signed an agreement for the acquisition of the Feraboli Group, a historical company from Cremona that produces agricultural machines, and is known at a national and international level for its hay making equipment. In 2012 the group had a turnover of approximately US$41mn (60 per cent coming from the internal market) and it has three production plants in Italy, with 200 employees overall.

Maschio Gaspardo Unigreen keeps on investing in Italy, where it has 13 production plants, to be added to the three overseas, and is concluding its fourth acquisition in the last two years. In particular, thanks to this important operation, Maschio Gaspardo has completed its product range with the hay making equipment, reaching the full line and offering a variety of high-quality and high-tech products that covers all the phases of agricultural mechanisation.

Among the machines produced by the Feraboli Group for tillage, harvesting and hay making, the patented round baler with

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