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www.africanfarming.net September/October 2013
Europe m14.50 - Ghana C1.3 - Kenya KSH150 - Nigeria N200 - South Africa R18 - UK £9 - USA $15
Maize Controlling necrosis
Irrigation Centre pivot for efficiency
Crop sprayers Self-propelled and trailed
Serving
AGRICULTURE for
33
YEARS John Deere’s 5430i self-propelled sprayer.
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CONTENTS
Contents
www.africanfarming.net September/October 2013
News and Events
4
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. Maize
Controlling necrosis
Analysis
Irrigation
12
Centre pivot for efficiency
Crop sprayers
The World Bank wants to revolutionise African agricultrual production by modernising the rules of property ownership to end land grabbing.
Poultry
self-propelled and trailed
Serving
14
AGRICULTURE for
33
YEARS
Feeding chickens for best health and performance. Artificial insemination in chickens.
John Deer’s 5430i self-propelled sprayer.
Livestock Breeding
Maize has become one of Africa’s dominant food crops, so it is essential to control maize necrosis.
20
Use of sexed semen is among the newer technologies dairy farmers in Kenya are employing to multiply their herds and increase milk production.
Integrated Pest Management
22
IPM for resource-poor farmers in sub-Saharan Africa: Can it work?
Maize
24
Controlling maize necrosis - a disease that has ravaged over 75,000 hectares in Kenya.
Mobile Communications
28
Feeding chickens on an organic diet containing fresh bamboo leaves results in them weighing up to 70 per cent more.
The productivity of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa is crucial and the focus of a number of global initiatives which are looking to the mobile phone as a solution.
Crop Sprayers
30
Self-propelled crop sprayers are a popular choice for those needing maximum output to handle a big work load. However, trailed sprayers offer a lower priced alternative.
Irrigation
34
Helping small farms to irrigate efficiently with centre pivot irrigation.
Pumps
38
Centre pivot irrigation is adapting to become more efficient.
Pumps and pumping in fertigation.
Managing Editor: Zsa Tebbit Editorial and Design team: Bob Adams, Hiriyti Bairu, Lizzie Carroll, David Clancy, Andrew Croft, Prashanth AP, Ranganath GS, Kasturi Gupta, 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 Russia Singapore South Africa Qatar UAE USA
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Subscriptions: circulation@alaincharles.com Chairman: Derek Fordham Printed by: The Manson Group, St Albans, UK US Mailing Agent: African Farming & Food Processing USPS. No. 015-224 is published six times a year for US$90 per year by Alain Charles Publishing Ltd, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London, SW1W 0EX, UK Periodicals Postage Paid at Rahway, NJ. Postmaster: send address corrections to: Alain Charles Publishing Ltd, c/o Mercury Airfreight International Ltd, 365 Blair Road, Avenel, NJ 07001. ISSN: 0266 8017 Serving the world of business
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EVENTS
Collaboration and co-operation critical to achieving home grown food security
Farming Calendar October 2013 17-19
2nd Palm Oil Africa www.cmtevents.com
21-25
The International Conference on Advancements in Poultry in the Middle East and African States www.pamcongress2013.org
21-25
3rd Africa Rice Congress 2013 www.africarice.org
24-28
FAGRO 2013
LIBREVILLE
ANTALYA
YAOUNDE
ACCRA
www.fagrogh.com 29-30
CropWorld Global 2013 www.pamcongress2013.org
AMSTERDAM
November 2013 4-8
ICTforag www.ict4ag.org
10-16
Agritechnica 2013 www.agritechnica.com
17-19
AgriBusiness Forum www.emrc.be
26-28
Food Processing & Packaging & Exposium 2013 www.interpack.de
KIGALI
HANOVER
DAKAR
NAIROBI
December 2013 3-5
West Africa Agro www.agrofood-westafrica.com
ACCRA
3-5
West Africa Food and Bev-Tech www.agrofood-westafrica.com
ACCRA
3-5
West Africa Food and Hospitality www.agrofood-westafrica.com
ACCRA
STRONG AND DYNAMIC partnerships will be key to addressing the challenges of poverty and food security in Africa; this is the message that Dr Frank Rijsberman, CEO of the CGIAR Consortium, delivered recently at the Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW) in Accra. During a plenary keynote speech on the topic of 'The challenge of food security and the evolution of CGIAR', Dr Rijsberman outlined how partnerships are contributing to CGIAR's commitment to clear development outcomes for which it will be held accountable. Dr Rijsberman highlighted the need for collaboration and co-ordination to ensure better alignment of research priorities, as well as to support uptake of new technologies. He also highlighted the reformed CGIAR, which supports 16 cross-cutting research programmes which are collaborations of the CGIAR Consortium's 15 research centres, along with hundreds of other partners, all focused on achieving a food-secure future. Dr. Rijsberman said: "The CGIAR Consortium is developing clear and standardised indicators for all of its research programmes, which will more clearly demonstrate the connection between our research and development outcomes, as well as the SDGs. But this will only be possible through strong partnerships with implementers as well as National Agriculture Research Systems (NARS), sub-regional organisations (SROs) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). In 2012, CGIAR invested 53 per cent of its funding in Africa, so we are clearly committed to supporting our African partners to reduce poverty and improve food security in sustainable ways.
January 2014 28 - 30 International Poultry Expo www.ipe13.org
ATLANTA
Africa ready to emerge as next palm oil hub?
CGIAR is committed to building strong and effective partnerships in Africa to propel the continent into a food secure future.
THE CENTRE FOR Management Technology, with supporters OLAM and the Gabonese Ministry of Agriculture, will host the 2nd Palm Oil Africa from 17-19 October 2013 in Libreville, a fast emerging key palm oil investment hub. It will unravel challenges as Gabon aspires to become the largest agriculture producer by 2020. Africa is tipped to emerge as a global palm oil hub due to an influx of investors seeking diverse participatory models in the Africa palm oil chain. Gabon, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria are all tapping into new palm-driven opportunities. Will this lead to Africa shifting from a net importer to an exporter? Held under the Patronage of His Excellency Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon, 2nd Palm Oil Africa will address the sustainability and viability of palm oil business models in the region; and define evolving structures of the palm oil industry, foreign participation and the palm oil value chain from seeds to high-end products.
Through our partnership with CAADP, and our MOU with the AUC, we are building stronger alliances with our African partners. This process is helping CGIAR research programmes to better align their research with the priorities of development partners including CAADP National Investment Plans. By ensuring the alignment of priorities and taking a collaborative approach to achieving these, we will help meet the real needs of smallholder farmers and their families, and the African people whose future depends on them. " This same message was echoed the previous day by Dr Jimmy Smith, director general of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Africa Agriculture Science Week was hosted by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in collaboration with the government of Ghana in July 2013 in Accra. Representatives from eleven CGIAR Research Centers and six CGIAR Research Programmes were in attendance.
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NEWS
Ticks threatening thousands of cattle in Uganda UGANDAN OFFICIALS FROM the Livestock Ministry said ticks are becoming drug-resistant, threatening thousands of cattle countrywide. According to the 2009 livestock census, there are close to 12mn cows across the country of which less than one million produce milk. The census put goats at around 8.4mn and pigs at 2.3mn. Some animals have died from tickborne diseases countywide over
the past few years, according to some farmers. The worst affected cattle corridor districts include Kiruhura, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Sembabule and Mubende. A study conducted by the National Drug Authority (NDA) between January and February 2013 revealed that ticks across the country have become resistant to acaricides. The director for livestock, health
and entomology in the agriculture ministry Dr Nicholas Kauta told the press that the resistance of ticks to drugs mostly emanates from improper use of drugs by farmers. “We have many drugs for killing ticks. It’s risky to use one chemical for more than three years without changing to another because then, the ticks will become resistant to that particular drug”, he said.
Moses Kalisa Seruwagi
Several mature male and nymphal Rhipicephalus pulchellus zebra ticks feeding on cow.
Impressive traffic of trade visitors at AGRIKEXPO and FOODBEXT AGRIKEXPO AND FOODBEXT West Africa was recently held at the Eko Conference Centre in Lagos. The three-day event was organised by 151 Products, a fast-emerging conferences and events company in West Africa, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development and the National Agency for Food & Drugs Administration & Control (NAFDAC), respectively. NAFDAC is the principal government regulator of food/beverage/drugs/chemical imports/business in Nigeria and was on hand to issue temporary import waivers to exhibitors to facilitate import of exhibit items in non-commercial quantities, strictly for the exhibition. It was a successful event for exhibitors and trade visitors alike, going by post event feedbacks and testimonies. The event hosted more than 67 exhibitors, as against 45 in the 2012 edition, which included various local and overseas companies from Indonesia, Spain, France, Egypt, China and South Africa. In the 2014 edition, the floor space will be increased by 60 per cent due to signals of more participation by companies and requests for pavilion presence by some diplomatic trade missions. It is a welcome development for agriculture and F&B business development in Nigeria since companies have long yearned for such a B-2-B platform for trade showcase. Foreign companies can now rest assured of a credible opportunity
to tap into the huge market of West Africa as they promote products, sign on new distributors, locate trade and investments associates. (Hitherto there weren’t any specialised F&B shows, in spite of the great opportunities.) All together, the 2013 event witnessed a marked improvement over the 2012 edition. In the 2014 edition, there will be more media with focus in the neighbouring countries of Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sénégal and Cameroon for an all-inclusive turn out of professional buyers and government decision makers. A total of 4,750 attendees broken into various segments (farmers/agro allied traders - 15 per cent, F&B wholesale distributors - 16 per cent, F&B import merchants - 25 per cent, HORECA/retail chain executives - four per cent, and top government officials - eight per cent, general public - 32 per cent) from different parts of Nigeria and West Africa (Benin Republic, Ghana, Togo,
Cameroon) visited. There were also some visitors from further afield. There were more than 360 key government representatives at various levels in attendance (federal/state ministries of agriculture/rural development, export development councils, investment promotion boards, agricultural development agencies, government parastatals). Testimonies and statistics from a commissioned survey of the 2013 edition showed that all the exhibitors recorded an impressive traffic of trade visitors and enquiries, with more than 115 spot deals. The average visitor record stood at between 80 and 90 per stand, and this figure is projected to rise by a 55 per cent margin in the 2014 edition. For many first timers, visitors and trade diplomats, it was an eye opener as most expressed satisfaction at the level of professional ambience and visitor turnout. Already more than 50 per cent of exhibitors in 2013 have confirmed interest to re-
ICCO workshop in Cameroon gathered worldwide experts to improve certification in the cocoa sector THE ICCO’S LATEST International Workshop brought to Douala a group of world experts to tackle the thorny issue of certification in the cocoa sector. The International Workshop on Cocoa Certification, which took place at the end of June 2013, attracted more than 150 participants from all over the African producing region and the world of cocoa. It was organised in conjunction with Cameroon’s ministry of commerce, the Office National du Café et du Cacao (ONCC) and the United Nations Forum on Sustainable Standards (UNFSS). The Workshop’s participants, who included farmers, government officials, representatives of the cocoa and chocolate industries, certification bodies, civil society and international agencies, reviewed cocoa certification with the aim of making recommendations on the
6 African Farming - September/October 2013
best approach to achieve sustainability. At the end of four days of discussions, the workshop, which heard from 30 speakers and panellists, adopted a list of recommendations including: enhancing transparency on the impact of certification on farmers’ livelihoods, through collecting and disseminating information on sustainability standards; acknowledging the role of existing certification schemes - alongside those in development - as potentially efficient tools through which to support the development of a sustainable cocoa economy; and requesting UNFSS consultation for a better understanding of sustainability standards. The workshop also requested the ICCO to facilitate a direct dialogue between governments representing cocoa producing countries and the cocoa and chocolate companies on this issue.
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NEWS
Ecobank, CFU and Musika seal finance deal ECOBANK ZAMBIA HAS signed an MoU with two agricultural institutions for a tractor finance leasing scheme to enhance conservation farming in the country. The agreement aims at accelerating conservation farming technology adoption. The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU)’s Conservation Farming Unit (CFU) and Musika Development Initiatives Ltd entered into the agreement with the bank to provide finance. Ecobank managing director Jolone Okorochichi, Musika managing director Reuben Banda and CFU chief financial officer Dutch Gibson signed on behalf of their respective organisations in Lusaka recently. The MoU was testimony of the bank’s commitment towards developing capacities of emerging farmers to make them active players
in the country’s development, Okorochichi said. The bank’s environmental and social policy supports organisations with clear environment conservation operations. The agreement will create employment opportunities and, ultimately, contribute to the food basket of the country. ‘’We acknowledge the initiatives employed by the CFU and Musika in supplementing the government’s policy of supporting food security through direct and indirect support to emerging farmers while improving environmental management by incentivising farmers with agricultural inputs and training in conservation farming,’’ she pointed out. Earlier, Banda said the partnership has the potential to develop entrepreneurship in the rural areas, access mechanised services such as
tillage, input and output haulage, spray services and grain shelling. The tractor finance initiative would see smallholder farmers accessing credit to buy tractors, associated implements from identified vendors to use at the farms and offer mechanised services to the surrounding farmers in their respective areas. ‘’I appeal to all parties involved to put in maximum effort to ensure that this programme succeeds, and contributes to the growth of the agricultural sector in Zambia,’’ he said. Increased productivity per unit area and household income levels due to early land preparation and other agronomic activities are some of the benefits of the initiative.
Nawa Mutumweno
New dairy plant set for Ndola --VARUN BEVERAGES, THE producers of Pepsi and other soft drinks in Zambia, plans to invest US$15mn in a dairy plant in Ndola on the Zambian Copperbelt. The company’s chairman Ravi Jaipuria announced this recently on the sidelines of the Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Ndola. In addition, the firm will soon open another beverages plant there.
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‘’All the milk that we will be processing will be sourced locally. There is no internal or external factor that will deter us from prospering,’’ Jaipuria enthused. He paid tribute to the Zambian government and the local citizens for providing an enabling environment for the company to operate. This year’s ZITF theme was ‘Value Addition through Global Partnerships’.
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NEWS
AATF targets Nigerian farmers for cassava mechanisation THE AFRICA AGRICULTURE Technology Foundation (AATF) has announced it plans to introduce cassava mechanisation and agroprocessing to more than one million farmers in Nigeria. The scheme, which will aim to accelerate cassava harvesting and processing, is set to help more than 10mn people across the continent. Denis Kyetere, executive director of AATF said, “AATF works towards food security and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa and its structure and operations draw upon the best practices and resources of both the
public and private sectors. It also contributes to capacity building in Africa by engaging African institutions in the execution of tasks that contribute to the Foundation's mission.” Kyetere added that the foundation aims to tackle areas such as the impact of climate change on agriculture, pest management, soil management, nutrient enhancement in foods, improved breeding methods and mechanisation. In addition, the AATF assists Africa’s smallholder farmers by confronting specific problems threatening most food crops such as bananas, cowpea, peanuts, maize and rice.
Kyetere, who said the foundation hopes to reach out to 300 farmers in Nigeria this year, added, “We already have 100 ha of cassava in Kwara State and we are going to complete the value chain from planting to the selling of the product. Our intervention is easy and very attractive in the sense that planting of cassava that usually takes farmers four hours or more will only take us 45 minutes, with application of fertiliser at the same time. This I hope will attract many people, especially youths, to embrace farming, which will in turn reduce the challenge of unemployment in the sub-region.”
Africa’s Big Seven – bigger and better every year AFRICA’S BIG SEVEN, the continent’s biggest food and beverage expo, ended in triumph yet again this year with record numbers of exhibitors and visitors arriving from Africa and all over the world. No less than 268 exhibitors set up shop at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg at the beginning of July, a nine per cent increase on 2012, displaying thousands of food and beverage products in over 400 categories.
“Quite clearly a lot of people want to do business, and they are using AB7 to do just that,” said John Thomson, managing director of Exhibition Management Services, organisers of AB7. “Many of our exhibitors confirmed the calibre and qualification of visitors was excellent; they were able to meet the right kind of businesspeople at the show. Most were eager to network, develop ideas, and explore all manner of opportunities.”
TIPEC-ZAS project to boost Zambia’s honey sector THE ENHANCED INTEGRATED Framework (EIF) Programme has launched the Trade and Investment Project for Enhanced Competitiveness of Zambia Apiculture Sector (TIPEC-ZAS) under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry. The project which will be implemented by SNV Zambia/Netherlands Development Organisation, a non-profit, NGO, is expected to disburse US$5,656,260.00 over a three-year period. The funds will be sourced from the EIF and the main implementing entity (SNV).
The overall objective of the project is to enhance sustainable entrepreneurship in the Apiculture sector through increased production and productivity, improved market access and improved quality and standards. Expected key results include: 5,000 small producers integrated in apiculture value chain through commercial and inclusive business arrangements; 5,000 small producers have access to training and extension services; 5,000 producers selling directly to processors through commercial contracts; a US$1.50 increase in income per
day per producer; an increase from 4,000 to 7,000 metric tonnes in volume of bee products by year three of the project; institutionalised norms and standards for bee products; 500 technicians trained to provide extension services; and improved research and development. The project will adopt a market-based value chain approach focusing on strengthening the production capacities of primary producers and building commercial relationships between upstream and downstream supply chain actors.
Ghana’s VP opened 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week THE SIXTH AFRICA Agriculture Science Week (AASW), was officially opened by His Excellency Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, vice president of the Republic of Ghana. AASW, hosted by The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), in collaboration with the government of Ghana, brought together more than 1,300 scientific researchers, extensionists, farmers, policy makers, development partners, civil society and NGO groups from across the world to discuss the theme “Africa Feeding Africa through Agricultural Science and Innovation”. Speaking at the Opening
Ceremony, H.E Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur said: “The need for action on agricultural research is urgent. African governments must increase funding for agricultural research and extension; farmers’ innovations must find their way into the research agenda to enable Africa achieve its goal of food sufficiency”. The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Africa Award for Excellence in Food Security and Poverty Reduction to HE John Dramani Mahama and the People of the Republic of Ghana by the chairman of FARA, Dr TiemokoYo.
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The award, which was received on behalf of the president by the honorable minister of agriculture, Hon Clement Kofi Humado, is the highest award by FARA to honor Ghana for its significant progress in meeting the MDG 1 target of halving poverty and hunger ahead of 2015. According to Dr Kanayo Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) who delivered the keynote address: “Over the past three decades, agricultural productivity in Africa has been stagnant or in decline.
Funding to agriculture, universities and research centres has fallen steadily and steeply. To make matters worse, average global spending on agricultural research also fell. We know what needs to be done. And we know what can be done. The development of a Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa, under the auspices of FARA, is an important step on the road to a strong agricultural sector. It is all the more important because it is Africa-owned and Africa-led. It holds the promise of African farmers and citizens reaping the benefits of African research.”
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Organic fertilisers have a lot to offer FERTIKAL, ONE OF the biggest manufacturers of organic fertilisers in Europe, focuses on the production of organic NP-K fertilisers and offers sustainable solutions The product. with a wide range of well-compressed, homogeneous products with an N-P-K-composition which fully meets the customer's needs. While the Benelux produces excessive amounts of manure, elsewhere in the world there is a strong need for nutrients in the agricultural industry. The necessity for global sustainable soil management demands an approach based on organic fertilisers. They are very popular because they do not only provide N-P-K, but also humus to improve poor soils and as such restore its biodiversity significantly. Thanks to its modern production plant, Fertikal’s organic manure granules meet all current fertilisation standards with respect to homogeneity, spreading accuracy, performance, hygienisation and traceability. And this traceability is guaranteed from source to end-user. Fertikal has invested in a quality system that guarantees stringent production control, which is equipped with an analysis protocol at batch level. The production process and distribution of organic fertilisers meets the European standards with respect to pasteurisation in Regulation (EC) 1069/2009. The fertilisers are made from natural vegetable-and/or animal-based ingredients, are free from chemical additives and pure in composition, and in conformity with the strict Belgian standards in this field. Organic fertilisers have a lot to offer. The benefits of these organic fertilisers are: ● no leaching, environmentally friendly ● gradual release of nutrients, long-lasting effect ● no scorching ● balanced plant growth, without stress ● organic particles are converted into humus and as such improve and preserve the soil structure ● stimulates soil life ● no additives, no harmful effects on humans, animals or the environment ● easy-to-use ● homogeneous and stable product Organic fertilisers effect from their main nutritional constituents and influence a healthy crop growth: ● nitrogen (N) = stimulates cell division (growth) ● phosphorus (P2O5) = stimulates root formation ● potassium (K2O) = improves firmness and the flowering and fructification process ● magnesium (Mg) = the main constituent for chlorophyll ● trace elements Fe, B, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo = prevent deficiency diseases The final product has gone through heat treatment (=hygienisation) for at least 60 minutes with a minimum temperature of 70°C. This treatment suppresses spore formations (clostridium perfringens), toxin formation (salmonella) and weed germination and as such results in a fertiliser which is free from bacteria, germs and weed seeds. Fertikal wants to expand their customer base in Asia, Africa and the rest of the world and are looking for new partners, agents and distributors in diverse countries.
10 African Farming - September/October 2013
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ANALYSIS
The World Bank says Africa could revolutionise agricultural production by modernising often-corrupt and complex rules of property ownership to end land grabbing.
Land governance to help secure Africa’s future
W
ITH NEARLY 90 per cent of rural lands undocumented, Africans are highly vulnerable to both outright land grabbing and poorly-compensated expropriation. "Improving land governance is vital for achieving rapid economic growth and translating it into significantly less poverty and more opportunity for Africans, including women who make up 70 per cent of Africa’s farmers yet are locked out of land ownership due to customary laws," said World Bank vice president for Africa Makhtar Diop. "The status quo is unacceptable and must change so that all Africans can benefit from their land.” Building on what it calls encouraging evidence from pilot projects in Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda, the Bank says Africans can better use an estimated 202mn hectares of unused tracts to create jobs and boost economic growth. The action plan calls for documenting all communal lands and prime lands that are individually owned as well as regularising the tenure rights of squatters on public land in urban slums that are home to 60 per cent of Africa's urban population. The Bank says new satellite and information technologies can cut the cost of surveying and mapping - computerising land registries to improve efficiency and reduce corruption with some 26 African countries already running at least one continuously operating reference station (CORS). When complete, a CORS network will provide a uniform reference system across the continent - part of what the Bank says is a needed investment of US$4.5bn over ten years to scale up policy reforms to overcome "weak governance and corruption endemic to the land governance system in many African countries." Improving performance and productivity "Improving the performance and productivity of Africa’s agricultural sector is vital for broad-based growth, more jobs, investment, and substantially less poverty," said World Bank director for sustainable development in Africa Jamal Saghir. "Land 12 African Farming - September/October 2013
governance is a proven pathway to achieving transformational change and impact that will help secure Africa’s future for the benefit of all its families." Every six days, foreign investors buy up an area of land the size of London, says the aid group Oxfam, too often evicting poor farmers to facilitate the growth of bio fuels and other commercial crops. The amount of land already sold off could feed a billion people. And Oxfam says the World Bank itself may be partly to blame as a tripling of Bank investments in agriculture over the last decade to nearly US$8bn has heightened risks. "Investment should be good news for developing countries – not lead to greater poverty, hunger and hardship,” said Oxfam chief executive Dame Barbara Stocking. "We would argue, based on the evidence, that in too many cases, the application of safeguards for affected communities has not been sufficiently stringent." Oxfam wants a moratorium on World Bank Group investments in land-intensive, large-scale agricultural enterprises after 21 formal complaints against WBG investments for alleged violation of land rights since 2008. "As the world’s leading standard-setter and a big investor itself, the World Bank should freeze its own land investments and review its policy and practice to prevent land-grabbing," Oxfam said. "In the past the Bank has chosen to freeze lending when poor standards have caused dispossession and suffering. It needs to do so again, in order to play a key role in stopping the global land rush." While the World Bank says it shares Oxfam's concerns about land grabbing, a moratorium "targets precisely those stakeholders doing the most to improve practices - progressive governments, investors, and us," it said in a written statement. "Taking such a step would do nothing to help reduce the instances of abusive practices and would likely deter responsible investors willing to apply our high standards." The World Bank Group has voluntary guidelines on land tenure as well as a Land
"Investment should be good news for developing countries – not lead to greater poverty, hunger and hardship." Governance Assessment Framework to determine the status of property rights, with more than half of those assessments in Africa. The Bank says its International Finance Corporation is working to promote responsible agricultural investments with regard to community tenure, informed consent and fair compensation, including new requirements when land is transferred from governments to private investors. "Securing access to land is critical for millions of poor people," said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. "Modern, efficient, and transparent policies on land rights are vital to reducing poverty and promoting growth, agriculture production, better nutrition, and sustainable development." And it's not just the developing world where land grabbing threatens rural populations. The "international peasant's movement" La Via Campesina says just three per cent of landowners now control half of all farmed land in Europe. While much of that wealth is held by European concerns, a European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC) study says there are also "new actors including Chinese companies and Middle Eastern hedge funds tied into increasingly global commodity chains and all looking to profit from the increasingly speculative commodity of land." ECVC's Jeanne Verlinden said land must again be seen as a public good. "We must reduce the commodification of land and instead promote public management of this common resource on which we all depend," Verlinden said. "Priority should be given to the use of land for smallholder and peasant agriculture and food production, rather than handing over land to those private property commercial interests who seek land for speculation." h www.africanfarming.net
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Zambia launches S3P programme for smallholders THE MINISTRY OF Agriculture and Livestock is implementing the Smallholder Productivity Promotion Programme (S3P) aimed at sustainably improving income levels, food and nutrition security for poor agricultural households in Luapula and Northern provinces with a view to expand to one or two other provinces at a later date. The programme is being supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). IFAD has provided US$24.8mn to accelerate growth in smallholder agriculture and reduce rural poverty in Zambia. The project is co-financed by the government of Finland through a US$7mn grant. According to information obtained from the ministry, the goal of S3P is to ensure that ‘income levels, food and nutrition security are sustainably improved for poor agricultural households in the programme areas’. The Programme Development Objective (PDO) is that ‘the production, productivity and sales by smallholder farmers in target areas are sustainably increased’. A phased approach will be adopted in the programme implementation, starting in eight districts in two provinces (Luapiula and Northern), expanding to 16 districts within these regions in Programme Year Two (PY2) and further expanding to a third province and a total of 24 districts in PY3. S3P complements the Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (SAPP), which is also IFAD supported, and the one programme is, therefore, expected to strengthen the other’s effectiveness, and vice versa, thereby enhancing the ability of both to achieve their overall objectives. The Programme is focusing on cassava-based farming systems and the associated commodities of cassava, beans, groundnuts and rice, which (with the exception of groundnuts) are included in the list of commodities SAPP works with. Nawa Mutumweno
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POULTRY
This article, from the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), looks at the different methods available for poultry farmers to feed their animals for the best health and performance.
Feeding chickens for the best results
A
N IMPORTANT PART of raising chickens is feeding feeding makes up the major cost of production and good nutrition is reflected in the bird's performance and its products.
Feeding options The most convenient way of feeding chickens is with a balanced pelleted ration, whether the birds are confined indoors or allowed to range outdoors. Most diets contain corn for energy, soybean meal for protein, and vitamin and mineral supplements. Commercial rations often contain antibiotics and arsenicals to
14 African Farming - September/October 2013
promote health and improve growth, coccidiostats for combating coccidiosis, and sometimes mould inhibitors. However, it is possible to obtain unmedicated feed-check feed labels to see if they contain feed additives. In the industry, the feed is pelleted so the bird can eat more at one time. Chickens are nibblers and make frequent trips to the feed trough for small meals, which requires energy. Pelleting reduces the amount of energy required for a bird to feed. However, many producers of pasture-based, "natural" poultry believe that the meat is better when the bird receives more exercise. If the bird is eating a fibrous diet, grit is supplied to aid in
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grinding up coarse feed in the gizzard. Industry birds usually don't use grit because the diet is low in fibre. Outdoor birds also pick up small stones. Different rations are often used, depending on the production stage of the bird. Starter rations are high in protein - an expensive feed ingredient. However, grower and finisher rations can be lower in protein since older birds require less. Special diets are available for broilers, pullets, layers, and breeders. Whole grains can also be provided as scratch grains. Access to clean water is important.
Chickens will eat almost anything.
Home-mixed rations Some producers decide to mix their own rations in order to be assured that only "natural" ingredients are used. Poultry feed ingredients include energy concentrates such as corn, oats, wheat, barley, sorghum, and milling by-products. Protein concentrates include soybean meal and other oilseed meals (peanut, sesame, safflower, sunflower, etc), cottonseed meal, animal protein sources (meat and bone meal, dried whey, fish meal, etc), grain legumes such as dry beans and field peas, and alfalfa. Grains are usually ground to improve digestibility. Soybeans need to be heated - usually by extruding or roasting before feeding in order to deactivate a protein inhibitor. Soybeans are usually fed in the form of soybean meal, not in "full-fat" form, because the valuable oil is extracted first. Whole, roasted soybeans are high in fat which provides energy to the birds. Chicken feed usually contains soybean meal which is a by-product of the oilseed industry. However, chickens can also be fed unextracted (full-fat) soybeans. An advantage of feeding unextracted soybeans is that they still contain the oil which provides high energy fat to the bird. Since protein is generally one of the most expensive feed ingredients, the industry uses targeted rations and reduces the amount of protein in the diet as the birds grow (chickens require less and less protein as they age); however, it may not be costeffective for small-scale producers to have different diets for starters, growers, and finishers. Vitamin pre-mix is usually added but may be reduced by using vitamin-rich plant sources such as alfalfa. Other plants also provide vitamins in their leaves, hulls, and brans. Fish oil can provide vitamins A and D. Yeast provides some of the B vitamins. Sunlight is a good source of vitamin D for ranging chickens (converting a precursor to vitamin D). Poultry in cattle pastures may obtain vitamin B12 when picking through dung pats for insect larva. Sprouting grains, although a labour-intensive process, is used by some producers for vitamins when access to range is not possible. Sprouting can increase the amounts of carotene (vitamin A precursor) in the grain and as a source of year-round forage, could be an advantage for certified organic poultry production to reduce the amount of synthetic vitamins required in the diet. Eating plants may provide a yellow colour to the skin of slaughtered chickens and a deeper yellow colour to egg yolks. Trace mineralised salt is usually added to poultry diets, but other sources can provide minerals. Minerals, although not present in high levels in plants, are provided in fish meal and kelp (seaweed). Meat and bone meal is an excellent source of minerals, particularly calcium and phosphorus, as well as being a good protein source. However, if a producer does not want to use meat and bone meal, then dicalcium phosphate can be substituted. Access to pasture can reduce the vitamins and minerals needed in the diet since the birds get vitamins from plants and both vitamins and minerals from insects. However, preparing a balanced diet can be a complex, possibly costly process, especially for producers with little background in nutrition. Specialised knowledge is required about the nutrient requirements of chickens and the nutrients contained in feedstuffs. Feed ingredients need to be sourced, milled, mixed together according to a formulation, and the mix is usually pelleted. Ration-balancing of home-made diets is important, especially on a commercial scale, to achieve the right amounts of nutrients. If diets are not properly balanced, then birds will suffer from nutritional diseases. The National Research Council's Nutrient
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POULTRY
Requirements for Poultry specifies the amounts of protein, energy (carbohydrates and fats), minerals, and vitamins. The quality of the protein is important since it is made up of individual amino acids, some amino acids being essential to bird health. The proper amount of these nutrients needed in diets depends on breed, age, and type of production. In preparing your own diet, formulation is important. Some diets do not include meat and bone meal. If you are mixing a large volume, you may be able to get a local feedmill to mill, mix, and possibly pellet (requires different machinery) for you. Feedmills also have access to feed ingredients and staff with nutritional expertise who can formulate diets. Some producers feed whole grains. An "old-fashioned" way of feeding chickens is the "mash and grain" method which is a twofeed system of providing whole grains along with a high-protein ration in order to reduce costs. The whole grains cost less than the high-protein ration and can even be grown on-farm.
When raising birds in a pasture-based model, it is important to keep in mind that the digestive system of the chicken is geared towards the digestion of insects, seeds and grain. Certified organic diets Home-mixed diets are particularly useful to certified organic poultry producers. Although pre-mixed organic poultry rations are available for purchase, they can be expensive and may need to be shipped from long distances.
Feeding chickens on an organic diet containing fresh bamboo leaves results in them weighing up to 70 per cent more - this is particularly true in Ethiopia.
Many producers look for local sources of organic feed ingredients. When raising birds in a pasture-based model, it is important to keep in mind that the digestive system of the chicken is geared towards the digestion of insects, seeds and grain rather than the digestion of forage, and they will still need concentrate feed rations to produce well. However, chickens can make some use of high-quality forages, particularly legumes. Joel Salatin, in Virginia, USA, developed the popular "pastured poultry" model in which broilers are pastured in floorless pens which are moved daily to fresh pasture. Feed concentrate is provided in the pen, along with water. In this system, allowing the birds to forage on plants, seeds, insects, and worms reduces concentrate feed costs by 30 per cent. Salatin does not believe that forage species is important for poultry range. He believes that a diverse, perennial mix of forages is key to providing nutrients. He says the forage height is important and keeps his pasture sward at about five centimetres. If the grass is tall, chickens in the confined field pens ("pastured poultry") tend to mat the grass down and it becomes unsanitary. Fresh, vegetative pasture provides more nutrients to poultry than fibrous, stemmy pasture, and a good sod pasture prevents muddy, unsanitary conditions. Some producers use mangles, kale and even tree forage, such as mulberry or persimmon, as poultry feed. Salatin also developed a free-range model called the "eggmobile." This is a portable layer house which is moved every few days to a new pasture location. Birds range freely during the day. If chickens (particularly the more aggressive layer breeds) are raised in a "free-range" model such as the eggmobile, it may be possible to feed whole grains cafeteria-style instead of milled, mixed rations. Salatin feeds whole grains to his layers in the "eggmobile". Corn, wheat, oystershell, and meat scraps are fed cafeteria-style, so the birds can choose what they need. Although feed requirements can be reduced by allowing access to range and the accompanying insects, benefits of ranging poultry may lie more in marketing and animal welfare rather than in the feeding. Summary Chicken nutrition and feeding is an important part of production. If you are going to mix your own diet, great effort may be required to produce well-balanced diets, especially certified organic diets. Chickens are able to obtain some of their nutrients from insects, worms, and plants when on pasture, thus reducing costs. h
16 African Farming - September/October 2013
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POULTRY
Scientists at the Department of Animal Science at Kenya’s Egerton University are currently working on a project that will see the introduction of artificial insemination (AI) in chickens. Mwangi Mumero reports.
Artificial insemination in chickens
W
HILE THIS TECHNIQUE is widely used in the world by poultry breeders, it has not taken root in Kenya and so researchers are looking for ways to persuade farmers to use it. Natural mating in poultry has been the traditional breeding method among breeders in Kenya due to its low cost and ease. However, AI becomes useful in certain circumstances. At the same time, birds may not mate because of shyness, physical limitations, and lack of interest or social incompatibility. Unsatisfactory nutrition, age of breeders, management conditions, egg collection and holding practices, and incubation procedures can also influence production.
A high quality cock can produce large amounts of semen, which can be used to upgrade chickens over a wide geographical area without the need to transport the cock.
info.sa@kemin.com
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POULTRY
If birds do not reproduce when other conditions are adequate, artificial insemination is preferred. Ornamental birds are usually bred through this method. “A high quality cock can produce large
Churchill Arogo demonstrates how a cock is massaged to produce semen for use in artificial insemination. Pic: Mwangi Mumero.
18 African Farming - September/October 2013
amounts of semen and can be used to upgrade chicken over a wide geographical area without the need to transport the cock. It is also easy to move semen from another country and use it for upgrading local breeds cheaply”, observed Churchill Arogo, an animal science assistant from the Department of Animal Science during the recently held Nakuru Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Show. The process of obtaining semen from a cock is simple and farmers only require one week undergoing training, according to Joseph Gachoki, another assistant with the department. “The cock is held upright tightly by the legs and then stroked at the back by using one’s hands - from front to the back. This stroking can be repeated for two weeks for the cock to be well acquitted with the process and produce semen”, said Gachoki. On ejaculation, the semen is collected in a clean test tube and then diluted to increase the volume. The volume of semen discharged varies from bird to bird. Most males produce between 0.1 - 0.44 cubic centimeters during each successful collection.
Normally you can collect semen every two to four days without harming the birds. Individual males vary considerably in the time needed to replenish their semen supply. Normally, however, you can collect semen every two to four days without harming the birds. The semen should be used as soon as possible. It can be held for one or two hours without great loss in fertilising capacity, or longer under controlled conditions. Hygiene has to be maintained to reduce the introduction of infectious bacterial and other pathogens that might damage the sperms or fertilised egg. The hens are then inseminated using a special pipette and a technique that farmers need to learn. Experts say that it may be best to inseminate more often at the onset of production, but once some eggs have been fertilised, once-a-week insemination is enough to maintain a satisfactory level. Fertile eggs can normally be obtained 48 to 96 hours after insemination and up to three weeks thereafter. h
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NEWS
Pas Reform expands in Algeria LEADING DUTCH HATCHERY technology company Pas Reform continues its international expansion, with news of a series of new contracts in Algeria. Typically a relatively fragmented market, with many small producers and hatcheries, the tendency here has, said Pas Reform’s local representative Bob de Rycke, been to consolidate, while at the same time developing GP hatcheries to fuel growth. Notably, he said, Arbor Acres’ commitment to this dynamic and emerging region signaled an increase in the development of GP facilities, when they partnered with Groupe Kerbouche two years ago, to develop a state-of-the-art Smart installation for the production of female parent stock. Pas Reform’s new contracts include: Lounigrain Import-Export: Khaled Lounis, CEO, was instrumental in placing the first SmartSetPro setters and SmartHatchPro hatchers, to evaluate the machines in terms of chick quality, hatchability and ease of operation. Eurl El Rabie Engraissement de Volailles: headed by Saleh Rabie, who has chosen Pas Reform technologies for their new broiler project, because he recognises the need for greater day old chick uniformity to maintain a market-leading position. Smart single stage technologies will expand current weekly production capacity from 88,000 day old female pullets per week, to a weekly capacity of around 130,000. Eurl Ouarou Avicol: Youcef Ouarou is replacing existing machines and expanding the capacity of his broiler chick hatchery, with SmartSetPro setters and SmartHatchPro hatchers. The new installation will provide a capacity of seven million hatching eggs per year. Sarl Nutrimag, a growing young company, situated in the West of Algeria, close to Oran, specialises in animal feed and now plans to further expand operations with the development of a new broiler hatchery. The Nutrimag installation is for a complete incubation system, including SmartSetPro setters and SmarthatchPro hatchers, a complete HVAC system and hatchery automation, to ultimately produce and process 200,000 day old chicks per week/10mn per year. Sarl Cherrati Engrais de Volailles will invest in the further expansion of its broiler hatchery with six new SmartSetPro two setters and two SmartHatchPro hatchers, for a weekly production capacity of 65,000 day old chicks per week. Ouchelouz Sarl: Situated in Timgad, Batna, in the east of the country, Tarek Ouchen is investing in a new Smart single stage hatchery, with an initial capacity of www.africanfarming.net
100,000 day old chicks per week. Ouchen recently met with Pas Reform at the SIPSA exhibition in Algiers, to discuss the final stages of the installation process, and make plans for familiarising hatchery personnel with the new incubation systems through a programme of training with Pas Reform’s incubation specialists and technical training programmes. “Pas Reform has seriously invested in this new market, to make a strong and enduring commitment to the future of the hatchery sector here,” said Bob de Rycke, responsible for market development in Belgium, France and francophone Africa.
Algerian hatchery sector welcomes Pas Reform hatchery technologies.
“These new contracts and installations represent a very exciting time for us – a true accomplishment, and we very much look forward to extending the same, continuing high levels of service and support for our customers in North Africa in the future.”
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LIVESTOCK BREEDING
Use of sexed semen is among the newer technologies dairy farmers in Kenya are employing to multiply their herds and increase milk production in a sector that has shown tremendous growth in the last decade. Mwangi Mumero reports.
Increasing the chances of breeding heifers
“W
ITH SEXED SEMEN, farmers can increase the chances of their cows giving birth to heifers necessary for herd expansion, milk production and profits,” observed Rebekah Mast, the genetic director at World Wide Sires Limited during a recent livestock fair in Nairobi. According to Mast, an American, the process of sexing semen is a tedious six-to-eight hour process. “Normal semen is coloured with a special dye. It is then passed through a laser beam which separates the sperms having the X and Y chromosomes. It is a wasteful process with a huge loss in semen. At the same time, it is a costly process –consequently making the semen expensive to farmers”, said Ms Mast as she explained the process to attentive farmers and journalists attending the three-day Brookside Dairies Livestock Fair. Sexed semen currently retails between Ksh4,500 (US$53) and Ksh8,000 (US$94) which is expensive compared to non-sexed semen. Depending on the source - whether local or imported - non-sexed semen costs between Ksh800 (US$9) and Ksh3,000 (US$35). “One advantage though is that it has a 90-95 per cent success rate in getting the preferred choice of calf and farmers are not disappointed”, asserted Ms Mast, who is also a farmer in the United States. While the use of sexed semen in the country is just catching on, embryo transfer is also on the roll as more farmers seek to improve the quality of their herds. “A cow - preferably a heifer - is injected with hormones so that it can produce more eggs, a process known as superovulation. A good harvest would be between three and 20 eggs per animal during seven days”, observed Dr David Nyaga, a veterinarian and the product development manager with
A good harvest would be between three and 20 eggs per animal during seven days
Implantation of the embryo into the recipient animals.
20 African Farming - September/October 2013
Fertilisation being done in test tubes.
Medilink, a Kenyan firm, during fair. The ova (eggs) are then fertilised either inside the body through artificial insemination (AI) or outside the body in a test tube under laboratory conditions. “The fertilised ovum - now known as embryo - may then be frozen and stored or can be immediately implanted into a recipient cow within seven days. The recipient may require hormonal treatment before the embryo is implanted to increase chances of success,” said Dr Nyaga, adding that thorough examination of the embryos is done before implantation. However, Dr Nyaga noted that the success of embryo transfer in Kenya has hovered around 50 per cent as it is determined by a myriad of factors that include the animal’s state of health, feeding, skills of the inseminator, timing and age of the recipient animal. Interest high but cost exorbitant While interest in this technology is high among youthful, educated and upcoming dairy farmers, the cost has remained exorbitant due to the lack of frozen embryos in the country. “Embryo transfer is still in the infancy stage here. We prefer it where farmers come together - mainly through dairy co-operatives or large scale farmers. This reduces the cost considerably for inseminating one animal”. It costs Ksh250,000 (US$2,940) per package - meaning availability of three donor animals and at least five recipients. “We have to produce embryos and implant them within seven days. It is an expensive process that requires farmers to come together and pool resources to benefit from this technology. The higher the number of recipient animals, the lower the cost to individual farmers”, added Dr Nyaga. In Kenya, semen is produced by the Kenya Animal Genetics Resource Centre (KAGRC) at Kabete, just outside Nairobi. But farmers seeking higher diversity and genetic potential have cast their nets wide importing genetic materials from Europe, the USA and South Africa. www.africanfarming.net
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Implantation of the embryo into the recipient animals.
Donor-funded livestock projects have also been promoting the use of sexed semen across the East African region. “We are working with dairy farmers across Kenya in promoting increased milk production. Technologies such as sexed semen and embryo transfer improve herd productivity and increase profits for regional farmers”, said Dr Charity Nguyo, a Kenyan veterinarian working with a World Bank funded Eastern Africa Agricultural Productivity Project (EAAPP) during the fair. The project incorporates research organisations such as the the Kenya Agricultural Research Organisation (KARI), Ministry of Agriculture extension service division, large scale farmers, KAGRC, Kenya Livestock Breeders Association as well as smallholder dairy farmers in self-help groups.
The aim is to increase the number of heifers that can be distributed to as many farmer as possible. The project is currently being undertaken in Kenya before dissemination to other eastern Africa countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Kenya was identified as the appropriate host for the Dairy Centre of Excellence due to its relative advantage in the dairy industry in the region in terms of superior genetics, feeding technologies, animal health technologies and organisation of farmer producer units along the lines of the successful co-operative movements. Accordingly, the country is in a better position to assist other countries in the region in the development of a robust dairy sector based on the smallholder model. The project has so far distributed 18 artificial insemination (AI) kits and 5,500 semen doses. This has resulted in 529 in-calf cows and 167 calves born - 98 female with the rest males. Among the dairy goats, 488 have been inseminated with 221 kids being born, according to the organisation’s latest report. “We have identified large scale farmers for germplasm multiplication which involves breeding of animals using the latest technologies. The aim is to increase the number of heifers that can be distributed to as many farmers as possible”, asserted Dr Joseph Njuguna, a county veterinary officer in charge of Uasin Gishu County in Kenya’s Rift Valley region, where the bulk of milk in the country comes from. Nearly 800,000 Kenyan smallholder households depend on dairy farming for their livelihoods, and the dairy sector provides employment to over 350,000 people in milk collection, transportation, processing and sales. Dairy industry plays an important role The dairy industry plays an important role in meeting the livelihood needs of poor rural-based household as well as contributing to Kenya’s economic development. h www.africanfarming.net
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INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
A Virginia Tech research programme has confirmed the presence of an invasive insect in Senegal - tuta absoluta - a dangerous pest in tomato crops.
IPM for resource-poor farmers in sub-Saharan Africa: can it work?
M
OST FARMERS IN sub-Saharan Africa are resource-poor in terms of access to natural resources, credit, information and external inputs. In traditional cropping systems, crop protection is based on a combination of techniques to constrain pest development. Resource-poor farmers are experimenters and inventors, who learn and generate their own technology. Their agricultural practices are often very well adapted to the agroecological and socio-economic conditions, and farming systems are flexible and responsive to all kinds of risks, including those of pests. These low-external input systems often operate near the optimum, but generally do not produce high yields. To increase yields and reduce crop losses, agricultural development programmes have been launched. Subsidised pesticides were made easily available and have been a major factor in disrupting traditional pest management practices. The technology transfer model has been used, based on results of formal research which did not take very much into consideration the typical agro-ecological, human health, environmental and social aspects of low external input systems. A more integrated, site-specific approach to development is necessary to solve the many problems related to sustainability in agriculture. The original concept of IPM emerged in response to the negative consequences of chemical pest management in high external-input agriculture. However, for resource-poor farmers, IPM should be considered a methodology for arriving at appropriate pest management systems using participatory methods in problem definition and technology development. The informal research and development capacity in Africa should be the basis for a resourcepoor farmer Green Revolution 'from within'. This approach of stimulating the farmer to become an experimenter and a generator of technology goes against most of the current thinking on agricultural policy, research and extension, but it could achieve the full potential of IPM in Africa. 22 African Farming - September/October 2013
Tomato damaged by Tuta absoluta in Senegal.
Resource-poor farmers are experimenters and inventors, who learn and generate their own technology. IPM research programme in Senegal A Virginia Tech-managed research programme, the Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research Support Program, has confirmed the presence of Tuta absoluta in Senegal, the first confirmation of the insect’s presence in that country. Tuta absoluta is an invasive tomato leafminer native to South America. “The insect affects the ability of thousands, and possibly millions, of small farmers to grow healthy tomato crops,” said Rangaswamy Muniappan, the programme’s director. Tuta causes damage primarily to tomatoes but could also affect other crops, making it a risk to food security and agricultural production in countries where it is found. The confirmation was made possible
through efforts of scientists at Virginia Tech, Senegal’s Direction de la Protection des Végétaux (Crop Protection Agency), the Institut Sénégalais de Recherche Agricole (Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research), and the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. No natural barriers to its spread The insect was first identified outside of South America in Spain in 2006 and has spread to other Mediterranean and European countries, North Africa, and the Middle East. Now that it has reached subSaharan Africa, there are no natural barriers to its spread across the continent. The Tuta larvae primarily cause damage to leaves of tomato plants, although they sometimes burrow into the fruit. The pest’s feeding results in decreased production, decreased fruit quality, and sometimes 100 per cent damage to the plant. Where the pest has been detected, associated costs with insecticide-based www.africanfarming.net
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INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
management have substantially increased. Further, reports have shown that the pest has developed resistance to certain insecticides. According to Douglas G. Pfeiffer, professor of entomology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and principal investigator for the programme’s project in West Africa, “We now must address how to deal with this pest in our region in an appropriate way. We’ll start with monitoring and educational efforts aimed both at farmers and plant protection specialists.” The programme is working to develop suitable tactics to control the pest and will eventually incorporate the recommendations into its tomato package in Senegal. “Packages” refer to a suite of holistic tactics that may be used to control an insect pest and plant diseases for a specific crop. The packages use integrated pest management, an approach that reduces pest damage without harming the environment. Further, by helping Senegalese tomato growers control the pest, the programme helps slow the pest’s spread into additional African countries. “Invasive pests have the potential to disrupt successful integrated pest management programmes the world over, and Tuta is no exception,” said Pfeiffer. The programme, funded by the US
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Tuta absoluta
On hatching the caterpillars normally attack the leaves and stems.
Agency for International Development and managed by the Office of International Research and International Development at Virginia Tech, operates in 17 countries in six different tropical regions of the world, encompassing about one-third of the world’s population. It has developed several economical, ecologically friendly, and effective alternate technologies that reduce the use of pesticides and combat food insecurity in the developing world. The Office of International Research, Education, and Development is part of Outreach and International Affairs at Virginia Tech, which links the university to the private sector, government agencies, non-government organisations, individuals, and communities in Virginia, the nation, and the world. h
TUTA ABSOLUTA IS a devastating pest of tomatoes. Originating in South America, recently Tuta absoluta has been considered to be a serious threat to tomato production in Mediterranean region, and has now reached subSaharan Africa. This pest can breed between 10-12 generations a year. Each female can lay 250-300 eggs in her life time. This pest is crossing boarders and devastating tomato production in both protected and open fields. The length of the life cycle depends on temperature and is quoted typically as between 29 and 38 days. On hatching the caterpillars normally attack the leaves and stems, biting a hole and adopting a mining habit inside the plant tissue. Although the maturing fruit is not the favoured site for feeding, in heavy infestations both green and red fruit can be attacked. On larger fruit the entrance hole is very easy to see as it quickly becomes necrotic resulting in a distinct pale cream or yellow mark. Holes in the fruit are more likely to allow invasion by fungal pathogens
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MAIZE
Scientists in Kenya have developed three maize hybrids that have shown much resistance to the recently emerged maize necrotic disease that has ravaged more than 75,000ha in the country. Mwangi Mumero reports.
Controlling maize necrosis
F
IRST OBSERVED IN the Longisa division of Bomet County in the Southern Rift Valley in September 2011, the viral disease, known a maize lethal necrosis or MLN, has spread to neighbouring Trans Nzoia, Narok and Nakuru counties –causing massive losses to maize farmers in these regions. “Use of hybrid varieties which show some level of resistance to the virus is the most successful way of managing the disease. Farmers are also being encouraged to grow alternative crops in order to break the virus transmission cycle”, observed Dr Anne Wangui, a virologist with the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) during a recent media briefing in Nairobi. Among the most suitable alternative crops, according to Dr Wangui, are potatoes, cassava, cabbage, carrots and sweet potatoes. Already KARI scientists have found out that the maize necrosis disease is caused by a combination of two diseases. “The Sugarcane Mosaic Virus and the Maize Chloratic Virus have been identified through molecular techniques with the latter accounting for more than 60 per cent of yield loss”, asserted Dr Wangui. The two diseases are transmitted by aphids and thrips respectively. Symptoms of the disease Symptoms of the disease include mild to severe mottling on the leaves, usually starting from the base of young leaves in the whorl and extending upwards toward the leaf tips; stunting and premature ageing of the plants; dying (known as “necrosis”) of the leaf margins that progresses to the mdrib and eventually the entire leaf. And finally necrosis of young leaves in the whorl before expansion, leading to a symptom known as “dead heart” and eventually plant death. Plants frequently die before tasseling, according to an initial disease report produced by KARI. Infection rates can be very high Infection rates and damage can be very high, seriously affecting yields and sometimes causing complete loss of the 24 African Farming - September/October 2013
Members of the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease scouting team inspecting a maize field in Lugale for signs of infection.
Already KARI scientists have found out that the maize necrosis disease is caused by a combination of two diseases. crop. Infected plants are frequently barren; ears formed may be small or deformed and set little or no seed. Field observations indicate a 30-100 per cent loss of the crop depending on the stage of the maize when first affected. Farmers planting maize after neighbouring farms have experienced heavy losses suffer badly as the young seedlings have less resistance and wind-blown insect vectors can transmit the disease from the infected field to the new crop. “We are advising farmers in one region to plant maize concurrently so that by the time the virus becomes active, the crop has developed and become more resistant to the disease - escaping intense damage,” said Joshua Oluyali, a Ministry of Agriculture extension officer in Uasin Gishu, the main maize producing region in the country.
Agricultural experts have also warned that mixing several varieties of maize on one farm and failure to practise intercropping and crop rotation may be exacerbating the problem. For instance, experts note that intercropping sweet pepper or onion with maize, kale or beans reduces the impact of the maize virus. Having a closed season when no crop is grown also eliminated the disease through breaking the viral cycle. “In most of the maize growing areas, planting is a continuous process. This is sustaining the disease and the vector cycle. By the time farmers realise the presence of the disease, the damage is already done,” said Fred Kanampiu, crop systems agronomist with the Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT). In its latest food security report, the Ministry of Agriculture has projected that Kenya will harvest about four million bags of maize by September - a long shot with the outbreak of the maize disease which has affected parts of the Rift Valley that form the breadbasket in the country. Farmers are equally worried about their diminishing fortunes as the year progresses. www.africanfarming.net
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MAIZE
A farmer gathers arid corn crops on his farm in Kwale, Kenya .
“A huge section of my farm is affected and we anticipated over 40 per cent loss in yields this year. I am thinking of moving to other crops such as wheat or even to dairying as viable alternatives”, observed Lispar Chemboi, a farmer in Longisa in Bomet County. Such a move by Chemboi of reducing acreage under maize is bad news to the government which relies on the crop to cushion against food insecurity. Already, Kenya has doubled its maize imports from Uganda and Tanzania and expects to import more than 54,000 tonnes by September to fill the deficit. The cabinet secretary in charge of
agriculture Felix Koskei recently noted that tackling the maize disease was critical in ensuring food security in the country. “While Kari has developed the resistance varieties, the Kenya Seed Company has been advised to dress all seeds with necessary chemicals to decrease attack by the virus. The agricultural ministry has also identified a chemical to be applied to the affected farms to reduce the spread,” observed Koskei. The way forward? In the short-term, farmers are advised to: ● Uproot and remove affected plants ● Avoid growing maize in consecutive seasons, opting for crop rotation or grow alternative crops ● Be aware of specific season and planting time to avoid spreading of the disease ● Apply good agronomic practices ● Chemical spraying of vector under specific circumstances In the long-term both technical and programmatic interventions are required for more sustainable solutions. ● Technical interventions:
Investment in promotion of good agricultural practices ● Breeding of resistant or tolerant seeds ●
● Programmatic interventions:
Regional dialogue for coherent responses and regulations with a role for private sector stakeholders ● Expansion of markets for alternative crops and diversification of food habits ● Effective and efficient surveillance systems need to be set up. h ●
Intercropping can reduce the impact of the maize virus and produce a healthy crop.
26 African Farming - September/October 2013
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CROPS
Cassava-goat research project THE NAIROBI-BASED International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) together with regional partners have initiated a research project in Tanzania that will explore how small scale farmers can better integrate production of root and tuber crops, such as cassava and sweet potatoes, with rearing dairy goats to improve the food and nutritional security of their households. Across the nation, cassava and sweet potato provide human food in periods of hunger, provide feed for ruminant animals leaf meal from cassava and vines from the sweet potato plant - and can be grown in semi-arid areas. Working closely with Sokoine University of Agriculture, the study will be conducted in the Mvomero and Kongwa districts of Morogoro and Dodoma regions. Project staff distributed Toggenburg and Norwegian improved breeds of dairy goats to 107 farmers in February 2012. Together with farmers, the scientists are setting up community-managed breeding programmes for dairy goats and introducing improved varieties of cassava and sweet potato. Drought-tolerant varieties of cassava and sweet potato have never before been farmed
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on a large scale in the region and dairy goat keeping has previously been restricted to the wetter areas of the districts. “This is changing because, with the use of these crops, we can now introduce dairy goats in dry agro-pastoral areas”, observed Faustin Lekule, a professor with Sokoine University of Agriculture. The ILRI is serving as a knowledge-support partner for the project and is providing expertise on goat production, gender integration, monitoring and evaluation, and assessing food and nutritional security. “We’re combining project- and communitybased indicators to ensure that farmer decisions guide the project’s implementation,” said Pamela Pali, a scientist at ILRI who is leading the monitoring and evaluation component of the project. Both Sokoine University of Agriculture and the agricultural research institute in Kibaha are training farmers on how to raise dairy goats. “I received a goat in February this year. As a result of the training, I now understand how to feed the animal, construct a better goat house and identify signs of diseases for my goat. This project has improved my farming skills,” said Subeida Zaidi, a woman
farmer in Mvomero District. The researchers are using the information generated to put checks against interventions that are likely to impact men and women, especially those that will narrow the gender, nutrition, income and asset gaps between them. This project, entitled ‘Integrating Dairy Goats and Root Crops Production for Increasing Food, Nutrition and Income Security of Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania’, is funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre, and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Other participants in the project include the University of Alberta in Canada and a nongovernmental organisation, the Foundation for Sustainable Rural Development.
Mwangi Mumero
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MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
The dependence on smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa is huge, and their output accounts for 80 per cent of all the food produced here for local/regional consumption. Improving the productivity of these all important smallholder farmers is crucial, and is, thankfully, the focus of a number of global initiatives, which are looking to the mobile phone as a potential ‘saviour of mankind’, as Tim Guest reports.
Mobile communications a revolution for rural farmers
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ROM SMALLHOLDER FARMERS, to every link in the agri-supply chain, mobile telecommunications can help growers, buyers, distributors and exporters to trade with each other more efficiently than ever before, and it’s a technology set to have a profound impact on women in developing countries where, in some regions, they account for as much as 70 per cent of the total agri-workforce and are, effectively, responsible for producing almost half the world’s food. It’s no wonder, then, that across Africa, many regional mobile phone operators as well as organisations like USAID, Nokia, Vodafone, the Bill & Mellinda Gates Foundation, the GSM Association and others, are forging ahead with research and projects, which recognise the importance to future food security of putting mobiles into the hands of African farmers. Connecting the unconnected Over the next five years, the mobile communications sector is expecting global mobile subscriber growth to be driven by demand from among an estimated 1.8bn unconnected people in developing countries. It will come as no surprise to the readers of African Farming that a huge majority of these people are to be found in remote, rural locations where they depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. To the mobile industry this is a significant untapped market; for the rural farmer, a gathering revolution. Projections galore By 2020 the world’s population is expected to grow by 750mn, and the impact of such things as climate change and water scarcity will be acutely felt. With this fastapproaching, potentially bleak future, action needs to be taken now to improve the efficiency of food production and its distribution - a 70 per cent increase in that 28 African Farming - September/October 2013
production is projected as what is needed by 2050, when the Earth’s population will have hit 9.2bn. If we don’t reach that target… who knows. Among the organisations actively pursuing mobile agriculture is mobile comms group, Vodafone, which commissioned management consultancy, Accenture, to conduct a study in 2011 on the viability and potential of mobile communications in agriculture. With its vast mobile footprint across much of Africa, and its communications services already provided to a wide range of major agricultural businesses, it made sense for Vodafone to understand the potential for mobile technology to improve agricultural efficiency and productivity.
Many mobile phone operators recognise the importance to future food security of putting mobiles into the hands of African farmers. The research looked at how, by giving farmers access to basic mobile financial services and agri information services, as well as providing new agricultural techniques and market information, this could lead to farmers securing improved prices for crops and higher returns on their investments. With an ever-improving, harvest-by-harvest income the study said these farmers would be able to invest in better seeds, fertiliser, pesticides and agrochemicals, and even have more time to generate income from elsewhere. The report also said that mobile financial payment services, together with access to mobile agricultural information services, would account for ‘75 per cent of the total increase in agricultural income’
Cell phones empower women farmers.
for these farmers. Indeed, additional incremental income for farmers of US$52bn by 2020 was also projected along with water savings amounting to some six per cent in many regions, through the use of mobile agriculture services. As for the mobile operators themselves? They can expect revenues from over 174mn fee-paying connections to mobile services per annum. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Lesotho and Mozambique were cited in relation to weather-related information services delivered to farmers over mobile phones, which the report said could potentially help achieve a 10 per cent, or more, savings in total freshwater usage, and contribute to additional agricultural income of US$34bn across those countries in 2020. Such weather forewarning will help farmers plan their planting, irrigation and harvesting schedules, to avoid using water when it’s about to rain, or quickly harvesting crops if damaging storms are predicted. Just looking at the sky for clues is a thing of the past! An NGO view While the Accenture report was largely welcomed by NGOs such as Oxfam, which has its own efforts in places like Tanazania where it has been piloting mobile communication services to share market information and weather forecasts with www.africanfarming.net
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MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
A Maasai pastoralist checks his mobile phone in southern Kenya.
smallholder farmers, Oxfam itself stated that the report only went part of the way in its analysis. The NGO wanted to see future mobile research emphasis placed on government safety net systems, gender equality and new inclusive agricultural practices, to see how mobile technology could support the poorest and most food insecure small farmers, as well as encouraging mobile operators, like Vodafone, to fully address barriers to the use of mobile technology affecting women. They also want mobile technology to address agricultural adaptations to climate change. Mobile initiatives Agricultural development is one of the largest initiatives of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has so far dedicated over US$2bn to such efforts, with sub-Saharan Africa one of the regions of chief focus. The Foundation’s approach is to listen to farmers in order to address specific needs about the crops they want to grow, eat and sell, and understand challenges that may be specific to individuals or individual communities. In its research to identify solutions that farmers will use, the Foundation sees mobile and emerging digital technologies as crucial in empowering smallholder farmers with the latest information to help them make informed decisions about their agricultural practices. And with the support of the Gates’ Foundation and USAID, the GSM Association’s (GSMA) mAgri programme is probably one of the most important initiatives currently active. www.africanfarming.net
Fiona Smith, mAgri Director at the GSMA, speaking in Q1 2013 at the Mobile World Congress, told an audience of mobile industry professionals that ‘if the viability of a farmer’s business can be improved through mobile services then farmers can, in turn, spend more on getting additional mobile services that will add further to their improving situation’. A winwin, which is why the GSMA is working to create commercially viable mobile agricultural services together with USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on its ‘mFarmer’ initiative. The GSMA has been involved in mAgriculture for more than three years and is now gaining insight into how farmers use their phones and what kind of information they want to help them in their farming practices. Smith said that last year 70 per cent of farmers in developing regions had wanted information about pest and disease control; as if in response to such demand for information via mobile, she said that by the start of this year more than 100 mAgri services had become available and were now in use in those regions. One of these is the Kilimo service in Tanzania, run by regional operator, Tigo. It’s a helpline to deliver weather, agronomy and market price information services to farmers across the country and according to the GSMA’s Business Development Manager for its mAgri Programme, Natalie Pshenichinaya, speaking at the same
If the viability of a farmer’s business can be improved through mobile services then farmers can, in turn, spend more on getting additional mobile services that will add further to their improving situation. congress earlier this year, ‘Kilimo is a service that provides both male and female farmers with accessibility to these services with the aim of reaching half a million farmers by early 2014’. Kilimo (which means agriculture in Swahili) started out by offering information on five basic crops but currently enables farmers to find weather information, market price and agronomy tips, which can benefit them by providing: information on a wide range of crops; current weather forecasts, which may impact when to harvest a crop; market prices, which may
help them make a decision about whether ‘today is the right day’ for making a long journey to market, or not. The only stipulations Tigo make are that anyone wanting to access and sign up to the Kilimo service ‘must have a sufficient balance on the main account’, and if that’s in place then it will cost a user 100Tsh per item of content (approx six US cents) to access information on the service. One important factor that has been highlighted by both Tigo’s Kilimo service and other such services around the world is the importance of education as a factor not only in determining what information to disseminate but also in what format. Indeed, even the basic use of standard mobile handsets has needed to be part of a general education programme in many regions. It seems, however, that once farmers have been shown how to use a handset they are comfortable doing so early on. Tigo actually trains its distributors to train the end user, which Pshenichinaya said had worked very well. Tigo Tanzania is expected to be the first to tie in locationbased services to its Kilimo service, using cell ID to provide subscribing farmers with very localised details. A mobile future for Africa’s farmers There are now far too many mobile agriculture initiatives and projects underway across Africa than can be mentioned in detail in this short article, but before closing mention should be given to the Nokia Life service, which already delivers education, health, and agriculture services to 90 million users in China, India, Indonesia and Nigeria and is expected to expand into other countries during 2013. Africa’s smallholder farmers are set to benefit greatly from the attentions of the world’s mobile communications sector – as is that sector from the needs of Africa’s farming community. h
In January this year, Nigeria’s Business Day newspaper reported that the government was to give around 10 million phones to the country’s farmers in what it said was a ‘bid to boost agricultural production in the country’. The information was said to have originated from the federal government’s office of the permanent secretary in the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development, Ibukun Odusote. The report said those receiving the handsets would have access to information on delivery dates, farming seasons, fertiliser, product prices, and scarcity periods.
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SPRAYERS
Self-propelled crop sprayers are a popular choice for those needing maximum output to handle a big work load, but the capital cost is high and trailed sprayers offer a lower priced alternative. Mike Williams reports
Crop sprayer progress
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ALES OF TRAILED sprayers are increasing in many countries because they can match the output of big self-propelled sprayers at a lower initial cost. Most of the price difference is because the trailed models are powered by a tractor which can be available for other work during the year, while self-propelled sprayers include the cost of their own transmission, engine and cab which is used only for spraying. Some of the operating expense of the tractor must be added to the trailed sprayer cost to make the financial comparison fair, but the extra versatility of having a separate tractor can be an important advantage. Interest in trailed sprayers for larger acreages has also been encouraged by improvements in design and performance. One of the developments has been adding a suspension system to give a smoother ride, a feature that was already included on self-propelled sprayers. The suspension is usually mounted on the sprayer’s axle to reduce shock loads when travelling over rough ground, and both air and hydraulic systems are widely used. Another option is to add a suspension system to the sprayer’s drawbar, helping to absorb shock loads from the tractor, and on some trailed sprayers both types of suspension are used. A smooth ride for the sprayer is important, improving boom stability to maintain accurate application, and in some cases it can help to increase output by allowing a faster forward speed or a wider boom to be used. Another important development on trailed sprayers is adding a steering control system. A problem with the early trailed sprayers was the fact that the sprayer wheels did not follow the same track as the tractor wheels when turning at a sharp angle, and this could damage plants when spraying row crops. Providing either an axle based steering system or using a special drawbar steering control can ensure that the tractor and sprayer wheels follow the same track to minimise crop damage, and an added advantage of the axle based systems is that they can be used to improve accuracy by preventing sideways drift or ‘crabbing’ 30 African Farming - September/October 2013
A specially adapted version of the Micron Varidome shielded application system for herbicides being tested for weed control in sugar cane.
Factors influencing the work rates for crop sprayers include the size of the tank, which affects the frequency of refill stops. when working on a steep side slope. Also helping to reduce crop damage while spraying is a generous amount of underside clearance to avoid contacting plants that are sprayed at a later growth stage. This is a feature of the recently improved Leader 3 model from Team Sprayers, which features a new suspended axle allowing 1.0m of ground clearance. The Leader 3 is available with up to 4,000 litres of tank capacity and a 30m maximum boom width. Factors influencing the work rates for crop sprayers include the size of the tank, which affects the frequency of refill stops, with bigger tanks available on some of the latest trailed, self-propelled and tractormounted sprayers. The popular tank size for trailed sprayers is from 3000 to 5000 litres, but many of the leading manufacturers offer
extra capacity for bigger work loads. Oceanis models in Kuhn Farm Machinery’s extensive trailed sprayer range have tank capacities in five sizes from 4,500 to 7,700 litres, and the top model in the Amazone UX series can be supplied with up to 11,200 litres capacity and to cope with the weight the standard specification includes a hydropneumatic suspension system with anti-roll control. The biggest trailed model in the Dammann range has 14,700 litres capacity, probably the world’s biggest sprayer tank. Increasing the boom width Increasing the boom width can also help to increase output, but stability becomes an increasingly important factor with wider booms and an efficient suspension is needed to maintain the correct working height. The Tenor trailed sprayer range from Berthoud includes booms up to 42m wide, and the larger models are equipped with the recently introduced Ektar B2 boom which features a pendulum based axial suspension system with an in-cab control enabling the operator to make adjustments to suit the working conditions. www.africanfarming.net
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New Growsmart by Lindsay Sensors LINDSAY CORP, MAKER of Zimmatic irrigation systems, has announced the addition of soil moisture monitoring and a weather station to its Growsmart by Lindsay product line. These plug-and-play add-ons use a wireless connection to report relevant weather and soil water data from the field to a secure customer account on the Web. FieldNET by Lindsay software and supporting mobile apps, provide the graphical user interface, convenience and reporting growers need to make more informed irrigation decisions, according to Dirk Lenie, Vice President of Global Marketing at Lindsay. According to Lenie, the Growsmart sensors are designed to provide growers information that enhances irrigation management using FieldNET’s management tools, which allow growers to remotely monitor and control their entire irrigation system. “Integrating soil moisture and the weather station with FieldNET allows growers one easy-to-use platform that controls pumps and pivots, records water and energy usage, tracks soil moisture levels and trends, and logs local weather station information. Growers are automatically notified about conditions that require action,” he said.quick access to field feedback that can result in better overall irrigation management and improved crop yield and quality,” Lenie says.
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3547 - PBSI Sep13 Edn.indd 53
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SPRAYERS
John Deere's 5430i self-propelled sprayer has a 230hp engine, a hydrostatic transmission and a 4000 litre tank.
This year’s new addition to the John Deere sprayer range is the R952i trailed sprayer with up to 40m boom width and with an options list that can include the BoomTrac advanced electronic system to control the boom. BoomTrac takes 50 height measurements per second and signals a correction if an adjustment is needed to the height setting or to the boom angle. Automatic height and tilt adjustment also feature on booms up to 40m wide on the latest Trailblazer trailed sprayer from Knight Farm Machinery. The Trailblazer specification also includes an air operated shut-off control for the nozzles, a feature that is increasingly popular on both trailed and self-propelled sprayers. An advantage claimed for the air system is that it operates instantly with a totally positive opening and closing action along the full width of the boom. Air operated nozzle closing also features on the new
A lightweight tubular boom on Lemken Eurotrain sprayers protects the spraylines and nozzles.
32 African Farming - September/October 2013
Entry level machines provide a cost-effective alternative to buying a used sprayer. iXtrack C Pro trailed sprayers from Vicon, which can be equipped with up to 45m boom width and are available with either axle or drawbar suspension – and in some cases with both. A special feature on some Lemken sprayers including their EuroTrain trailed models is the design of the boom which is made from an aluminium tube. Using aluminium helps reduce the weight of the boom and the tubular shape provides extra strength and rigidity while also enclosing the spray lines and the nozzles to provide damage protection. EuroTrain models have boom widths up to 30m and tank capacities from 2,800 to 6,350 litres and the equipment list can include automatic boom height control and a drawbar steering control that can operate automatically. Some of the recent arrivals in the trailed sprayer market are new models with a smaller tank capacity, a more basic specification and a lower price. They have been developed as entry level machines providing a cost-effective alternative to buying a used sprayer or to attract customers wanting to replace an existing mounted sprayer to achieve more output. The trailed Eco-Star model from Househam Sprayers is an example, offering 2000 and 3000 litre tank choices and 20 or 24m boom widths, and with simplified controls for easy operation. Tecnoma’s new GT2500 sprayer is also in the entry level category with a 2500
litre tank, up to 24m maximum boom width and the axle is manually adjusted to provide track widths from 1.6 to 2.2m. The lowest priced trailed sprayers from FarmGEM are in the Quartz series where the boom width choice is from 18 to 24m with hydraulically operated lifting and folding. A self-levelling boom suspension is standard and the tank capacities are 2,000 or 3,000 litres. One of the standard features included on many self-propelled sprayers is a hydrostatic transmission providing infinitely variable speed adjustment. The drive system is based on an engine driven pump that delivers a flow of oil to the wheel motors, and the result is precise control of the travel speed without adjusting the engine speed combine with ease of operation and has a reputation for long term reliability. Hydrostatic drive systems for sprayers are usually equipped with two or more speed ranges covering slow and faster working speeds plus a faster range for road travel, and with self-propelled sprayers often travelling between different farms and to outlying fields, increased travel speeds are available from many of the leading manufacturers. A 40kph travel speed is widely available on many of the big capacity sprayers and some, including the Agrifac Condor and the Rogator 600B models from Challenger, have a 50kph top speed. Demand for more output The popular size for self-propelled sprayer tanks is generally between about 3,000 and 5,000 litres, but the demand for increased output has encouraged some manufacturers to offer 8,000 litres or more. The emphasis on performance has also brought more powerful engines into the sprayer market,
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SPRAYERS
and examples include a 200hp engine for the Amazone Pantera self-propelled sprayer with a 4,000 litre tank, FarmGEM offers a 200hp engine option for the Sapphire II sprayer with up to 4,000 litres capacity and up to 242hp is available for the recently introduced AGCO Challenger 600B series Rogator sprayers with tanks up to 6000 litres available. A new feature available in both the Berthoud and Tecnoma self-propelled sprayer ranges is a front-mounted cab that
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can be lowered to ground level to allow an easy exit or entry for the driver, and is then raised hydraulically to the normal working height. The moving cab avoids the need to use steps when entering or leaving the cab and this, the makers say, reduces the risk of a fall and is also more convenient for some older drivers. A development from Micron Sprayers is the Varidome system which is used to spray herbicide for controlling weeds close to sensitive crop plants. The spray droplets are
released under a protective shield that keeps the chemical away from the crop while concentrating the herbicide on weeds growing between the rows. The Varidome system is available with up to 9.0m working width, and the design includes easy adjustment to suit different row spacing. The system is already used commercially for a wide range of row crops including maize, vegetables, ornamentals and some root crops, and it is currently being evaluated in Africa for weed control in sugar cane. h
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IRRIGATION
Sub-Saharan Africa has huge agricultural potential but unreliable rainfall, resulting in drought and climate change. Irrigation can eliminate these problems. Valmont Industries looks at how to make it affordable for smallholder farmers.
Helping small farms irrigate efficiently
I
N JUNE 1976, Scientific American magazine called centre pivot irrigation systems “perhaps the most significant mechanical innovation in agriculture since the replacement of draft animals by the tractor.”1 The centre pivot concept is simple. A long pipeline, attached to a central point, travels over a field in a circle. As it passes over crops, sprinklers spaced along the pipeline emit water, nourishing the crop below. Although the centre pivot construction is simple, its effects have been revolutionary. Nowhere in the world is that more visible than in the United States where widespread conversion to centre pivot irrigation has indeed transformed irrigated agriculture. By using mechanised irrigation equipment that is more durable and efficient, US growers increased their revenue and their crop yields. Farmers grow more food with less water while being released from the drudgery of conventional irrigation methods and putting their labor to better use. Founded by Robert Daugherty in 1946, Valmont Industries has sold more than 250,000 of its Valley brand of centre pivot machines worldwide, and those machines irrigate more than 12.5mn ha around the globe. Daugherty’s vision has changed the look of the world, which can easily be seen from the sky. Crop circles created by center pivot irrigation can be seen all around the world – even in the desert. Aggressive investments in irrigation, hybrid seeds, and fertiliser during the past 50 years have brought famine and poverty under control in Latin America, China, and South Asia while most of subSaharan Africa has made little progress during this same time period. Economists and social scientists cite many reasons for this failure ranging from the tribal nature of society to the lack of institutional support and poor governance. Limited investment in technology and infrastructure resulted in limited commercial farming in the region. An exception in sub-Saharan Africa is South Africa where Valmont introduced centre pivots in the 1970s and built its first manufacturing facility in 1986, producing more than 20,000 Valley centre pivots. This technology has moved beyond South Africa into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, and Kenya. Currently, more than 90 per cent of Valmont’s business in Africa has been with medium and large commercial farmers who have experienced tremendous success. The same drivers of this success can serve as a model for small growers. “We are now looking at how this tool can work for small farmers too,” said Rich Berkland, Vice President of International Sales at Valmont Irrigation. “Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, well over 90 per cent of the farmers are subsistence while the population spends over one half their annual incomes on food costs. This leaves very little left over for education, health, and housing needs.” In contrast, only six per cent of US household income is spent on food.2 Great agricultural potential Yet there is great agricultural potential in sub-Saharan Africa. It has vast areas with good soil, plentiful water, and a climate that can support double or triple cropping. But many African smallholder 34 African Farming - September/October 2013
Pivot irrigation in the United States grain belt.
farmers remain poor because they depend on unreliable rainfall, making them vulnerable to drought and climate change. These disadvantages could be completely eliminated by irrigation, which roughly doubles the output of agricultural land production. Only four per cent of farmland in Africa is irrigated, and certainly these growers could benefit from the practice. But modern technologies, such as centre pivots, are often cited as “too expensive” for Africa’s farmers. Indeed, the cost per hectare is too high for a 1-10 hectare pivot. “So why not have multiple small farmers under one centre pivot?” Berkland said. “If those same growers pool their resources they can greatly increase their effectiveness. Valmont is working with NGOs and with governments trying to develop a model of shared pivots for small growers.” If small farmers can be organised to share that centre pivot, the cost drops dramatically. A low cost per hectare is achieved by using a simple geometric equation in the farmers’ favour. Figures 1 and 2 demonstrate the dramatic reduction in cost of a centre pivot once the radius of the field exceeds 300 metres.
Figure 1
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African Farming - September/October 2013 35
S09 AF SepOct 2013 Centre Pivot Irrigation_Layout 1 26/09/2013 11:22 Page 36
Figure 2
Figure 2 is based on the typical cost for water supply, which may not be applicable to all conditions. This is the same exponential economic advantage that largescale farmers around the world enjoy with centre pivot irrigation. An association of smallholder farmers, or a large commercial producer serving as an irrigation and crop marketing provider, can own and operate the center pivot in cooperation with the smallholder farmers. Figure 3 illustrates how a 60 hectare pivot can divide land into two hectare parcels for small holders. This approach puts precise, efficient irrigation technology into the hands of small farmers, and the impact on farm production is dramatic
Figure 3: Field divisons.
because water is available where and when the crop requires it. Widespread use of this model could turn subsistence farmers into profitable commercial farmers by increasing yield and empowering farm workers to increase their incomes by using less labor for irrigation. The choice of centre pivot irrigation has the potential to jumpstart the development of modern agriculture in Africa. Centre pivots will be a visible reminder that, once the infrastructure is built, once the inputs are available and once the farmers are organised, there will be water for a full crop all year round. Without irrigation, Africa will remain in a state of poverty no matter how much money is spent on infrastructure and training. With efficient irrigation, Africa can feed itself and the world. h 1. Splinter, William E. 1976. “Center-Pivot Irrigation,� Scientific American, Volume 234, p.90. 2. World Bank 2009, U.S. Department of Agriculture 2009, Euromonitor International 36 African Farming - September/October 2013
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IRRIGATION
As Africa’s agriculture sector grows, more and more farmers and project managers are using irrigation to improve their yields. Senter 360’s Theuns Dreyer talks about the advantages of centre pivot irrigation.
Why centre pivot irrigation is best for large areas
C
ENTRE PIVOT IRRIGATION is the most cost effective method of irrigating large areas.
Which crops are most suitable for centre pivot irrigation? Who should consider using this type of irrigation? Practically all crops are suitable given that the plant is not too high to be accommodated under the centre pivot. There are, however, centre pivot systems available for taller crops such as sugar cane and citrus. Although centre pivot irrigation is best for irrigating larger areas, there are quite a lot of smaller systems in operation, covering areas of as little as three hectares, very often towable units. Given the precise application of water, low maintenance and labour costs, centre pivot irrigation can be financially viable even on such small areas. Because centre pivot irrigation does not require any additional labour to operate and can easily be automated, it is well suited for small and large scale irrigation projects. The advantages of centre pivot irrigation Centre pivot irrigation offers accurate water distribution at low pressure. It is also the cheapest way of irrigating on a large scale. The cost of each centre pivot tower is the same (only differing with the difference in
Centre pivot irrigation is the cheapest way of irrigating on a large scale.
pipe diameter) whether you have a small or a large system. With each additional tower you add, the radius of the circle is extended and the area under irrigation increases exponentially to the outside making it cheaper per hectare as it becomes larger.
Centre pivot irrigation is the cheapest way of irrigating on a large scale.
Maintenance for a centre pivot irrigation system Maintenance on Senter 360’s system is very low and basically just requires routine checks such as making sure there aren’t any leaking oil seals on the drive units, that the pressure of the wheels is correct, air vents on the gearboxes are open and that tower drain valves are kept clean. The centre pivot
Senter 360 is to install 55 pivots for the Taung irrigation scheme in the North West province.
Centre pivot irrigation offers accurate water distribution at low pressure.
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gear box oil has to be drained and replaced preferably once a year. The rest of the system is electrical with very low maintenance. Senter 360 offers an excellent after sales service in the unlikely event of anything going wrong. Senter 360 is a competitively priced South African designed and developed centre pivot of international standard. One of the main factors that sets the company apart from the competition is that it uses pipe trussing, which makes the structure much stronger and lighter. Another advantage would be its I-Wob sprinklers that have a perfectly engineered droplet size resulting in more water in the soil. In addition, Senter 360 has introduced a number of small features that make a major difference. For example, it has a patented technology to keep the last sprinkler constantly clean, thus maintaining the full irrigation application on the outer hectares of the centre pivot, normally prone to under-irrigation. Senter 360’s systems are currently being used across the African continent. A recent achievement has been the allocation of an international tender for the supply of more than 55 centre pivots to the South African government for the Taung irrigation scheme.h African Farming - September/October 2013 37
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PUMPS
"Fertigation" is the combined application of water and nutrients to a crop – a mix of fertiliser and irrigation. It can be adapted to all types of crops, but is most common in cash-crop segments, rather than broad-acre or arable crops. Dr Terry Mabbett looks at the different types of pumps used for this.
Pumps and pumping in fertigation
F
ERTIGATION IS EXACTLY what it says – the application and provision of fertiliser (nutrients) to crop plants via an irrigation system. Fertigation offers a considerable number of real advantages including: ● Significant economies in outlay associated with both labour and the energy that is otherwise expended during standard fertiliser application, whether using fertiliser spreaders, power sprayers or granule applicators. ● The nutrients applied via fertigation are immediately and readily available for root uptake and utilisation by the crop plant, because they are already in an aqueous solution - dissolved in the irrigation water. ● Fertigation offers the farmer and greenhouse grower much more flexibility in nutrient application by making the crop fertilisation programme that much easier to schedule. ● Minimal soil compaction as a collateral benefit from eliminating the need for heavy fertiliser application equipment including tractor-mounted fertiliser spreaders and tractor-drawn power sprayers. ● Farmers and growers are given considerably more control over the application process both in its timing and the amounts of nutrients supplied to plants. Micronutrients can be applied in their required small amounts while farmers and growers can ensure their crops receive required specific nutrients in exact appropriate amounts when they specifically need them. For example fruit formation in tomatoes, capsicum pepper and aubergines and tuber initiation in potatoes and other root crops. The basic core components of any fertigation system are the storage and supply tanks of irrigation water, mixing tanks where the product formulation of water soluble nutrients is dissolved in water at the appropriate concentration and of course the injector unit; the network of pipes for distribution and supply of the nutrient solution and the emmitters which actually apply the nutrients, now dissolved in the 38 African Farming - September/October 2013
The 'pump house' showing the fertiliser injector mounted on the wall and the nutrient mixing tank.
Fertigation offers the farmer and greenhouse grower much more flexibility in nutrient application. irrigation water, to the actual plant foliage and/or to the soil around it depending on the irrigation system used. Be that as it may, the pump and pumping operation required to inject the nutrient mixture into the irrigation system and convey the now appropriately diluted solution into the field or the greenhouse is without doubt the most pivotal part of the system. Pumps for fertigation Fertigation injection devices can be operated on a piston flow system that utilises and harnesses the power of positive displacement pumps, or on a system of vacuum generation using suction or negative pressure venturi-type principles. The range of positive displacement pumps which are used may include proportional injectors, rotary pumps, and peristaltic pumps. Electric, gasoline, or hydraulic powered motors are typically used to power positive displacement pumps.
The key and major advantages of harnessing the power of positive displacement pump systems are an unquestioned accuracy in nutrient provision and easy user-friendly adaptation into an automated application system and fertilisation programme. Both rotary and peristaltic pumps are able to move plant nutrients from the supply tank and into the irrigation system. Rotary pumps achieve this transfer of solution by using a system of rotating gears, while peristaltic pumps use a partial vacuum to effect transfer of the nutrient solution. Irrespective of the pumping system used, the net required result is the generation of a consistent flow of nutrients, without the rate of nutrient injection being at all affected compromised by any changes in the rate of irrigation. Peristaltic pumps are typically used to inject nutrients into microsprinkler irrigation systems, the required rate and amount of chemical injection being achieved by the squeezing action of the rotating rollers on a flexible tube. Metal and other corrosion prone materials used in the manufacture of peristaltic pumps are protected against any corrosive effect caused by nutrient chemicals because they [the chemicals] flow through a www.africanfarming.net
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PUMPS
tube, and therefore do not come into contact with any inner components of the pump. Chemical (nutrient) injectors operating on the venturi principle utilise differential pressures generated across these devices. This effectively means the rate of chemical injection will vary with the differential pressure that is generated. The rate of chemical injection is governed by the drop in pressure, the bigger the pressure drop then the higher the injection rate. Correct and proper operation of such devices requires a pressure drop across the venturi and the requirement for at least some minimal pressure to secure even a low rate of chemical. This constraint can result in the low efficiency of chemical injection and accompanying problems in the accurate quantification of fertigation. The majority of centrifugal pumps work on the principles of vacuum-generation and will offer the user a range of advantages which includes: ● Simple and easy operation with no moving parts to worry about ● Very easy to set up and maintain the installation ● Considerably superior control over chemical injection rates ● An ideal system for nutrients marketed in a dry (crystal or powder) formulation Use of this method of chemical injection requires that the pressure produced by the centrifugal pump is higher than the pressure in the irrigation main line on which the flow rate of chemical from the pump will depend – the higher the pressure in the irrigation main line then the smaller the flow rate from the injection pump. Centrifugal pumps need regular calibration to ensure precise rates of chemical injection. The Fertigation Direct95 is a top quality metering pump and a complete, ready to install fertiliser injector package.
40 African Farming - September/October 2013
A large and reliable supply of water needs to be stored.
Backflow prevention for fertigation security Required safety levels during the fertigation operation demand the correct and secure connection of all components in the system. These will include the supply tank, injection devices, and the irrigation system itself. The supply tank is connected to the irrigation system via a supply pipeline with a pair of small open-ended tubes located in the supply pipeline, deployed so that the end of one tube faces upstream while the end of the other tube faces downstream. Water flowing through the supply tank displaces the chemical stored in the tank which is consequently forced into the irrigation supply line. The pressure thus created causes water to flow into the
Required safety levels during the fertigation operation demand the correct and secure connection of all components in the system
upstream tube and the chemical to flow out of the downstream tube, this being due to the differential pressure created between the up-and-down stream ends. Water pressure may be controlled by installing a pressure-reducing valve between the inlet and outlet ports in the supply pipeline. However, failure to install and operate a properly functioning backflow prevention system will mean the ever present danger of contamination. A common cause of contamination is cessation of water supply while the chemical injection unit is operating. This situation is aggravated and worsened if the irrigation water flows back through the injection unit into the chemical storage tank thus causing the tank to overflow. Check valves situated in the irrigation main line and also in the injection line, vacuum relief valves, low-pressure drains, and interlocking circuits are examples of the many safety devices which are deployed in fertigation systems and installed to prevent and avoid backflow and the risk of contamination. h References: Boman, B., S. Shukla, and D. Haman. 2004. Chemigation equipment and techniques for citrus. University of Florida, IFAS Circular 1403. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/CH184 Calder, T. 2001. Selection of fertigation equipment. Agriculture Western Australia. Farmnote 35/2001 http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/importe d_assets/content/hort/eng/f03501.pdf Fares, A., and F. Abbas. 2009. Irrigation systems and nutrient sources for irrigation. University of Hawai‘i at M noa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, publication SCM-25. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/p df/SCM-25.pdf. Fares, A., and F. Abbas. 2009. Injection Rates and Components of a Fertigation System. University of Hawai‘i at M noa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Engineers Notebook. EN-4 2009. www.africanfarming.net
S11 AF SepOct 2013 Equipment_Layout 1 26/09/2013 10:58 Page 41
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AGROTRAC 150 The DEUTZ-FAHR Agrotrac range is designed and built to tackle a wide variety of farm work. Because they are so productive and versatile, Agrotrac tractors are perfectly at ease with demanding open field work, even carrying implement combinations. They also excel in fast transport. A good power-to-weight ratio, correct weight distribution, and advanced technical specifications guarantee maximum efficiency under all conditions, while intelligent ergonomics and an intuitive control layout make them easy to operate from the moment you climb aboard. For more information please contact: roberta.merigo@sdfgroup.com
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S11 AF SepOct 2013 Equipment_Layout 1 26/09/2013 10:58 Page 42
WASTE TREATMENT
A new waste treatment technology for agribusiness in Africa.
New approach to treating organic wastes
I
N MANY AFRICAN countries, it is not uncommon to see piles of coffee husks and pulp, cocoa pulp or chicken manure being dumped away on fields. It usually takes several weeks to several months to decompose such wastes under natural conditions. Not only that, but it takes a long time and such a practice also takes up huge land space and poses bio-security issues with disease-causing pathogens. Landfill has become increasingly challenging as we have witnessed the environmental side effects of it. A 24 hour digestion The Rapid Thermophilic Digestion Technology developed by Biomax Technologies is a revolutionary approach to treating organic wastes. Based in Singapore, a country known for its advancements in biotechnological
research, Biomax had developed a mixture of specially formulated enzymes that would break down organic wastes into organic fertiliser in just 24 hours - the fastest technology in the organic waste treatment industry. This technology has been perfected by a team of Biomax scientists after five years of R&D efforts and financial resources. This 24 hour treatment process is very simple too. Wastes are loaded into a digester where they are mixed with the powder-form enzymes at 80°C. This high
This system is flexible enough to treat a variety of wastes, such as livestock wastes, crop residues and food wastes.
temperature kills off all the harmful pathogens, insect eggs, weeds, seeds and larvae during the 24 hour process. Moreover, this short processing time does not compromise on the stability and quality of the end-product as the fertiliser is perfectly pasteurised and mature after 24 hours – ready to apply back into the farms directly. A one–for–all solution This system is flexible enough to treat a variety of wastes such as livestock wastes (animal manure, beddings and straws, slaughtering and hatchery wastes), crop residues and food wastes (municipal food waste and food processing waste). The technology is also able to treat different kinds of sludge such as biogas sludge, wastewater sludge and sewage sludge. It can be complemented with existing waste
Fertilizer output from the Biomax digestor.
42 African Farming - September/October 2013
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WASTE TREATMENT
become a valuable asset for the farming community in Africa which needs to improve their soil quality and increase yield.
The market potential for such technology is huge, considering the growing human population accompanied by an increasing amount of organic wastes.
facilities to turn the low grade sludge into high quality output while at the same time creating a close-loop waste stream. The premium output The organic fertiliser produced from Biomax’s system is in powder form, pathogen-free, odourless and rich in nutrients. Since it is produced under a controlled environment, the fertiliser contains more than 70 per cent organic
matter which is beneficial for improving soil fertility. Due to over-application of chemical fertilisers, the soil quality usually deteriorates over a period of years. This is where organic fertiliser comes in to rejuvenate poor and sandy soil. Farmers can apply organic fertiliser as a supplement to their existing chemical fertiliser usage for the first few harvests and gradually increase the use for future harvests. This kind of quality organic fertiliser has the potential to
The economics Finally, when farmers and industrial players consider adopting a technology, it all boils down to whether the method is cost-efficient and feasible. The Biomax system requires a very minimal floor space, for example, a machine that can handle up to 15 tons of waste input per day requires only 300 sq m for the factory area. The Biomax digester is very robust and steady, thus the only maintenance that needs to be done is cleaning and lubricating some moving parts. Besides, only two to three people are required to operate a 15-ton machine. Overall, through its quality output, the system is considered an investment with attractive returns. Within four years, Biomax Technologies has set its footprint in more than 13 countries across four continents. All those installations are up and running and treat wastes such as poultry waste, food waste, sludge and plantation waste. h For more information on Biomax Rapid Thermophilic Digestion Technology, visit www.biomaxtech.com
Complete Plants for Rice Processing
Machinery, plants, also on turnkey basis, for processing grain and pulses – sorghum, cooking plants for bulgur etc. F. H. SCHULE Mühlenbau GmbH Dieselstraße 5-9 · D - 21465 Reinbek / Hamburg Phone: +49 (0)40 7 27 71 - 0 · Fax: +49 (0)40 7 27 71 - 710 schule@amandus-kahl-group.de
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African Farming - September/October 2013 43
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EQUIPMENT
Economic crushing of feed mixtures, cereals, legumes and ilseeds ANIMAL NUTRITION RESEARCH findings have shown that not only the formula and the ingredients contribute to the feeding success, but also the feed structure. Kahl crushing roller mills break the grain into smaller particles with an as low as possible fines content. Thus, granular crumbles with a low fines content are produced instead of meal. The crushing rollers are provided with a “sharp to sharp“ corrugation and have different speeds so that a cutting effect is obtained instead of a crushing effect. The speed of the rollers and the grinding gap can be changed during operation or quickly and easily adapted for changing formulae. The Kahl crushing roller mill WSB is very appropriate for economic grinding of different products, particularly for grain and other feed components. There are many nutritional advantages particularly for poultry feed, as poultry require
a coarse feed structure due to their muscular stomach. The crushing roler mill can produce a uniform feed structure and feed losses due to the meal content, which is not eaten, are reduced. Due to the coarser structure, the retention time in the stomach is longer and the manure is drier. The drier manure results in less replacement of the litter and a lower sick rate due to thickening of the foot balls, particularly in turkey fattening, better housing climate and better meat quality. With cattle feed there is the lowest possible starch degradation in the rumen, since high starch degradation can cause metabolic disorder (ketosis) and thus reduced performance of the animal. A coarse structure reduces the starch degradation in the rumen thus preventing this effect. The grains must only be halved/quartered. Further crushing of the (oat) husks is not required. Cattle need a coarse,
KAHL crushing roller mill.
fibrous structure for the ruminant activity. It is important to produce a good balance between fermentative (rumen) and enzymatic digestion (intestine). Technical Advantages of the Crushing Roller Mill: Narrow particle size distribution, simple roller gap adjustment, about 50 per cent lower power consumption than hammer mills, reduced wear, smooth operation, simple roller change. Examples of Products: Wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, lupins, maize, soybeans, rape and feed mixtures.
New Holland renews support of ‘Kids of Africa’ in Uganda NEW HOLLAND AGRICULTURE and its distributor in Uganda, Cooper Motor Corporation Ltd (CMC), have jointly donated a TT55 tractor to the ‘Kids of Africa’ nonprofit organisation. CMC will also donate training and technical support. The tractor was handed over during a ceremony attended by H.E. (Mrs.) Janet K. Museveni First lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs, top Government officials, New Holland Agriculture Africa Business Manager, Mr Marco Raimondo, the children of ‘Kids of Africa’, their caregivers and the organisation’s staff, representatives of the local councils, as well as the national broadcast and print media. This donation follows from the previous gift of a 3030 NX tractor in August 2009, as part of New Holland’s and CMC’s Corporate Social
Responsibility programmes, which aim to support the country’s social and economic development. The 3030 NX tractor has enabled ‘Kids of Africa’ to establish mixed farming on its land, with intensive vegetable production. This has helped the children’s village, home to 93 children and 50 members of staff, to achieve a high degree of food self sufficiency. Since 2009 Kids of Africa have cleared and developed 10 acres within the village form organic vegetable farming, relying on drip irrigation. They have also hired 15 acres from a local church organisation, which have been dedicated to the production of beans, maize and sunflowers. They have done such an excellent job with the tractor that they have been ploughing and harrowing land for a growing number of neighbouring farmers, providing assistance to
Hon Bright Rwamirama, State Minister for Agriculture, with the new tractor.
44 African Farming - September/October 2013
the local community. The arrival of the new TT55 tractor will enable ‘Kids of Africa’ to significantly step up their farming activities. These general-purpose tractors are blessed with outstanding power and fuel efficiency. They are designed to meet the most varied needs, providing very easy access on and off the driving seat, and a comfortable workstation. Highly reliable, they are quick and easy to service, with the onepiece rear hinged hood that gives excellent access to all components from the ground. The new TT55 tractor will enable ‘Kids of Africa’ to farm the additional two acres they recently purchased and expand the 15 acres of land hired from the local church organisation, as more than 50 acres of unfarmed land are available to ‘Kids of Africa’. In addition, ‘Kids of Africa’ will be able to extend its support of local farmers, providing ploughing and land preparation work on a hire basis to the wider community around the village. This will make a huge difference to local production, as, before the arrival of New Holland’s tractors, local farmers only had hand hoes to prepare the soil and therefore tended to plant too little, too late, which resulted in a poor harvest. The children of ‘Kids of Africa’ are growing up with first-hand knowledge of sustainable, mechanised farming practices. They are learning how they achieve good yields while preserving the quality of the soil by preparing the land for planting with proper ploughing and harrowing followed with mixing into the soil of biological materials such as compost and manure from the village’s animal production. Sound farming practices for a sustainable future of Uganda’s agriculture.
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S11 AF SepOct 2013 Equipment_Layout 1 26/09/2013 10:58 Page 45
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Flagship MF 8700 tractor series hits 400 hp WITH POWER MANAGEMENT generating up to 400hp, the new MF 8700 Tractor Series includes the most powerful tractors from Massey Ferguson ever built. Set for launch at the Agritechnica Show in November, the new MF 8700 Series builds on the success of the award-winning MF 8600 Series, which were the first ever agricultural tractors to use Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. The five new models are powered by the latest, most advanced AGCO Power engines, which comply fully with the strictest Stage IV/Tier 4 final emissions regulations and feature changes to the transmission, cab and controls to further boost performance, efficiency and ease of use. All are now available with a choice of efficient or exclusive specifications. “Fuel economy, reliability and simplicity are the most important considerations for farmers looking for a tractor in this power sector. The new MF 8700 Series delivers even better performance and economy than the well proven, award-winning MF 8600 Series,” said Campbell Scott, Brand Development Manager. “From the outset Massey Ferguson designed these flagship tractors to be equipped with SCR technology. So the new components required to meet the stricter rules have always
A D V E R T I S E R S
been an integral part of the design. There are no huge filters or external appendages - the technology is all still contained neatly within the tractor’s original design,” he added. For Massey Ferguson the introduction of the new AGCO Power engine for the MF 8700 Series is the culmination of an engine technology journey, which started with the introduction of SCR on the MF 8600 Series in 2009, the first ever to use SCR. From the outset tractors have been designed to comply ultimately with the strict Stage IV/Tier 4 final emission regulations. This means there are no radical design changes, which allows Massey Ferguson to still fit the slim, sloping bonnet and retain the impressive forward and side visibility. The system also remains maintenance free. The new AGCO Power six cylinder, 8.4 litre engines now employ optimised high pressure common rail fuel injection, which limits the emissions of particulate matter (PM) and means there is no need to fit a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Also new is a double stage turbocharger with electronic wastegate control, between which is fitted an air/water intercooler to further improve fuel economy. An element of External Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) is used to reduce the
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temperature and cut AdBlue and fuel consumption. Meanwhile the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) remains neatly tucked away under the slim, sloping bonnet. The dimensions of the narrow, oval-shaped exhaust stack are also unchanged. All Massey Ferguson has had to do is increase the size of the catalysers inside to meet the tough final regulations. Engine power management (EPM) now provides a 30hp power boost for PTO work and transport (above 20km/hr). Massey Ferguson has introduced a new, higher capacity cooling package to further improve performance while still fitting neatly under the same bonnet and retaining the industry-leading forward visibility. Air is directed through a fuel cooler and then a Charge Air Cooler (CAC) where it increases speed through the intercooler. The pack also contains the water radiator, oil cooler and condenser. All new MF 8700 Series tractors are now also available in the Efficient specification. This provides the T-lever transmission control on the right-hand console and offers the option of specifying a new Datatronic 4 terminal, AGCOMMAND telemetry and factory ready for easy fitting of Auto-Guide 3000, automatic steering.
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