32 minute read
GMO cowpea Akara tastes so delicious
GMO cowpea Akara tastes so delicious, says Nigerian farmer’s group chief
Now that genetically modified (GMO) cowpea is on the market in Nigeria, consumers are having their chance to sample favorite foods made from beans. Chairman of the All Farmers Association Of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Otunba Oke Babafemi is full of praises for GM cowpea, which he sampled at a recent event held to raise GMO awareness in the West African country.
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“I’ve tasted the akara GMO,” Babafemi exclaimed at the inaugural Eating is Believing event held recently in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. “It is nice, sweet and so delicious!”
The “Eating is Believing” campaign is an initiative of Nigeria’s National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The initiative seeks to increase consumption and boost the demand of GM cowpea, which uses Bt technology to provide natural protection against the destructive pod borer pest. “The Lagos event was the first of its kind. We intend to do more to disabuse the minds of people thinking negatively as well as to disarm the anti-GM groups,” Dr Rose Gidado, the Deputy Director NABDA and Country Coordinator, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa, Nigeria Chapter, said.
So delighted was Babafemi after tasting the akara made with GMO cowpea that he now wants to serve this meal to Nigerian farmers at all their future conventions, ensuring that as many palates as possible partake in the savor. As an African proverb says, one who eats alone cannot discuss the taste of the food with others.
“Whatever the time we are having a meeting, we should always prepare that cowpea akara, at least for everybody to enjoy it,” he said, while exuding confidence that there will be greater acceptance and adoption of the cowpea among the country’s farmers.
The crop is already finding great acceptance among farmers, with demand for the seeds quickly outstripping supply. Farmers say they can make more money from the crop because they get better yields and use much less pesticide. “We are going to plant it more in our states,” he said.
Akara is a popular dish in Nigeria and various other parts of West Africa, and its main ingredients are ground black-eyed peas or beans, pepper and onions. It is a common feature in many breakfast tables. Nigeria officially released the GM cowpea in June 2021 under the PBR Cowpea Project, making this the first genetically modified food crop adopted in Africa outside of South Africa. The pod borer resistant cowpea variety, known as SAMPEA20-T, is engineered to protect itself from the insect pest Maruca vitrata, which causes up to 80 percent yield losses.
GM cowpea is expected to boost Nigeria’s food security while increasing farmers’ incomes and reducing the price of the popular food for consumers. AFAN, which comprises all 56 recognized commodity associations in Nigeria, projects that about eight million Nigerian farmers and their families will benefit directly from cultivating the pod borer resistant cowpea variety. Ghana has also developed its own varieties of GM cowpea, and the government is currently deciding whether it should be made available to farmers.
OFAB Nigeria is keen to ensure that the country maximizes the full economic and environmental benefits embedded in the adoption of GM crops. Speaking at the inaugural EIB event, Dr Gidado stressed the importance of building consumer acceptance of the product, which has the same good taste and cooking characteristics as conventional cowpea.
“Imagine if the farmers that have adopted the crops have no buyers? They will end up being discouraged, despite the fact that the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has certified that the crop is safe for human/animal health and to the environment too,” she explained.
So far, however, market acceptance of the crop has been good in Nigeria, with sellers reminding buyers that it is grown with little or no pesticides. Also affirming the safety of the PBR cowpea, AFAN President Arc Kabir Ibrahim called on all the farmers to start farming the biotech beans. The President went on to share his personal testimonies in both planting and cooking the pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea.
“The PBR cowpea is a game changer. When it was launched in Kano State earlier this year, I also bought some quantity for myself and family to eat and to plant. When I planted, I observed that unlike the local cowpea varieties, this particular cowpea variety was not in any way infested by Maruca vitrata, the insect that destroys beans on the farm. In addition to the fact that I had no need to spray my farm with chemical spray that causes environmental pollution, the yield is fantastic”.
The AFAN President added that with the new variety, which is both insect-resistant and highyielding, Nigeria would be able to make up for the short fall of 500,000 metric tons that is otherwise imported at the cost of 16 billion Naira annually. This way, Nigeria will conserve the much-needed foreign exchange, the President noted.
Promoting gender equality in agriculture on the African continent
Agriculture remains one of the most productive sectors across Africa, employing 70% of the continent’s population and contributing about 23% to GDP. Women make up a sizable portion of this workforce but face structural constraints that hinder their development within this critical sector of the African economy.
The United Nations states that if women in rural areas had the same access to land, technology, financial services, education and markets as men, agricultural production could be increased and the number of hungry people reduced by 100-150 million.
With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating extreme poverty on the continent and extreme weather events resulting in a loss of agricultural productivity, it is critical to explore ways of improving work opportunities for women in agriculture. One such way is to enable access to relevant solutions that support their development within the sector and lessen disruption to their livelihoods. funding, expertise, and skills needed to grow their businesses,” adds Groenewald.
To remedy this, Standard Bank has partnered with various organisations to implement several agriculture initiatives that focus on women and democratising access to data, finance, skills, and mentorship. These efforts are helping to close the gender gap in agriculture.
Although much more needs to be done to minimise this divide, positive progress is being made on the continent, and there are increasingly more examples of women in Africa who are starting to fill the gap in agriculture. Their resilience and determination to succeed in a gendered sector serves as an inspiration to other female farmers who wish to do the same.
Over the years, Standard Bank has played a key role in uplifting women in agriculture through various initiatives, including the UN Women Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) programme. The collaboration equips female farmers in Nigeria, Uganda, Malawi, and South Africa
“To limit the impact of climate change on farming operations and help farmers stay afloat, it is crucial that farmers leverage smart farming technologies. Digital farming methods can empower farmers to farm more efficiently and make more informed decisions. For example, insightful data on crop health and weather patterns can help enhance their yield,” explains Nico Groenewald, Head of Agriculture at Standard Bank.
Technology has completely transformed agriculture over the last few decades. These days, farmers are integrating everything from drones and satellite sensing to genetic modification and, more recently, artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations to reduce costs and improve production.
“Smart farms and modern technology will empower more women to run farms and take on leadership positions in this industry. However, African women, especially those working in rural areas and on smallholder farms, have limited access to reliable banking services. This requires interventions to ensure equitable access to the
with the necessary skills and resources for business growth and success. In addition to providing support through financial literacy, the bank provided US$3 million in funding to the programme. The project is closely aligned with Standard Bank’s purpose statement: ‘Africa is our home, we drive her growth’.
In South Africa specifically, the bank also sponsors African Farming – a local TV show that celebrates agriculture excellence by spotlighting successful black and female farmers to inspire up-and-comers in the industry.
For example, award-winning farmer and entrepreneur Mbali Nwoko, CEO of Green Terrace Farm, where she produces high-value vegetable crops for leading retailers and markets in South Africa. Nwoko applies her previously acquired business skills to her hydroponic farm, and by leveraging innovation and maximising land space, she has been able to establish more efficient farming methods. She shares her expert insights in podcasts and articles to empower aspiring farmers to better navigate the journey to agriculture success. Now, Nwoko has set her sights on targeting the export and franchise markets.
Similarly, internationally recognised farmer and mentor Pinky Hlabedi has a passion for mentoring young females and passing on her valuable skills. She has faced numerous challenges, including stock theft and having an entire herd of cows test positive for brucellosis after acquiring her farm. Despite these difficulties, she continued to pursue her dream. “I have overcome my challenges by focusing on my objectives. With the volatility that is prevalent in agriculture, it is important to have agricultural insurance and plan your cash flows sufficiently so that you can stay afloat when challenges arise,” explains Hlabedi.
Emphasising the importance of having insurance for your business, the World Bank’s Groundswell report, released in September 2021, projects that Africa will be hit the hardest by climate change. Increasing temperatures and sea levels, extreme weather, and drought all pose a significant risk to our agricultural sector. As such, sustainable farming methods have never been more imperative. Dineo Mokgoshi, the winner of the Department of Agriculture’s Best Farmer Award in 2014, experienced operational disruptions caused by extreme weather first-hand. After leaving her successful business to pursue her passion for farming, severe hailstorms killed her chickens and livestock. She remained tenacious and invested in chicken houses to protect her business from the possibility of a similar event happening in the future.
In light of this, it’s crucial to understand the risks that a farming business could be exposed to and have a risk mitigation strategy in place. More so, the relationship between a farmer and their bank cannot be overemphasised. The banker must understand the farmer’s plans for the business, whether to expand or diversify markets, and the risk mitigation products needed.
“Standard Bank has a team of agricultural experts who visit each client to understand their unique operations and can advise accordingly. From working capital to crop insurance, we provide a full range of specialised banking solutions for farmers,” concludes Groenewald.
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United Nations rural poverty agency IFAD set to boost its ethical investments
In a significant move to strengthen its commitment to ethical investments, the Executive Board of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) agreed on a policy to further shift the Fund’s treasury investments to green bonds and other Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investments, in addition to IFAD’s already established socially responsible investment strategy, which mirrors UN Global Compact principles. The policy was approved through a vote by correspondence.
With the adoption of the 2022 Investment Policy Statement, IFAD will also publish the list of industries excluded from its investments, strengthening its position as a responsible investor. At the end of September 2021, IFAD had US$1.35 billion invested in financial instruments. This amount is derived from replenishments (contributions from Member States), borrowed funds and loan repayments, which are then committed to developing countries under IFAD’s regular programme of loans and grants. with human rights, environmental, social and anticorruption principles strongly entrenched in our DNA. Today’s landmark decision is an ambitious step to further translate our principles into reality,” said Alvaro Lario, IFAD Associate Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer and Controller.
Going forward, IFAD will proactively increase its investments in green bonds and other ESG securities, including supranational, sovereign, agency and corporate bonds, and asset-backed securities in the impact bond market. IFAD’s ESG investments on financial markets have so far remained limited.
“Increasing our investments in ESG bonds is not only further proof of our commitment to strong ESG standards but it is also a long-term strategy to strengthen IFAD’s portfolio and align it to sustainable financial market practices,” added Lario.
IFAD’s primary investment objectives are to preserve the value of the assets invested and to ensure that resources are available when they are required to finance IFAD’s operations in developing countries. Subject to these two parameters, together with the reinforced overlay of ESG criteria, IFAD seeks to prudently optimize the returns on its investments.
The Investment Policy Statement explicitly states that IFAD will systematically exclude from its investments securities issued by entities involved with unethical products or services, including, but not limited to, weapons and ammunitions, coal extraction, coal-fired power generation, tobacco, alcohol and gambling – among others. While IFAD’s long time adherence and compliance with The Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact has ensured no such investments were made in the past, the publication of the list of excluded industries will strengthen transparency and further consolidate IFAD’s commitment to ESG objectives. IFAD has now joined other pioneering UN agencies and international financial institutions, which publish such a list.
Grain handling, storing and milling systems
Reliable Storage, High Grain Value
Having successfully serviced the needs of clients in other regions worldwide, CESCO EPC GmbH is taking its solutions to sub-Saharan Africa where there has been an increase in unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change.
Konstanz Office Luca Celeghini
By Eric Peters
Commercial grain farmers or organisations involved in grain handling, storing and milling in Africa should invest in reliable and robust grain storage and handling systems to safeguard their invaluable asset. This is in view of the effects of climate change, which have undermined traditional means of grain drying and storage. Currently, due to erratic weather conditions, farmers cannot rely on sunlight to dry their grain, in addition storage facilities cannot withstand water from heavy rain and flooding.
Drought conditions and grain scarcity
Environmentalists have warned that the current drought conditions will worsen. Ideally, with the ensuing grain scarcity, which is driving up prices, producers should be making more revenue. Thus, it is worthwhile for them to utilise modern grain storage, handling and milling equipment. Martino Celeghini, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CESCO EPC GmbH, assures grain producers and distributors in Africa that CESCO has relevant solutions to meet contemporary grain handling, storage and processing needs specific to African conditions. CESCO EPC GmbH, until recently known as PETKUS Engineering GmbH, is Germany-based globally focused company based in Wutha-Farnroda and Konstanz. It designs and supplies industrial plants for grain logistics and deep processing with handling, storing and milling systems.
Perfectly positioned
Celeghini affirms that CESCO is eager to replicate the success in meeting clientele requirements registered in other regions in sub-Saharan Africa. He asserts that the following attributes have made the company to perfectly positioned to handle clientele’s unique needs: broad business speciality, wide range of relevant products and services portfolio, client-centred value proposition and dynamic, access to financial assistance and experienced human resources.
Small wonder, it has been consistently building an enviable portfolio of successfully executed projects worldwide.
1. Broad business specialty
CESCO has tailored its business offering to cover a broad spectrum of clientele’s specific needs, mainly in the following niche areas: Domestic grain terminals, Inland grain storage terminals, Grain Port Terminals and Dry Milling Plants for Deep Processing.
Wide range of relevant products and services portfolio
The company has a wide range of relevant product and services range in different categories.
The objective of having a diverse product range is to cater for the needs of clients in the grain processing value chain. currently, the following are the range of products: • Conveyors, namely chain and belt conveyors, bucket elevators; • Silos, namely cylindrical, and prismatic, flat and hopper bottom up to very large capacity silos, with all accessories; • Process equipment, namely pre-cleaners and filters, dryers, and MMW milling equipment;
• Steel structures for process dedicated buildings and structures for industrial plants in general, such as machinery towers, bridges, walkways.
2. Value proposition - Smart
Concept, Easy Operation
CESCO is an acronym which stands for CEleghini Smart COncepts. Celeghini as a trade name clearly refers to the extensive knowledge and experience in the design and realisation of grain plants of the co-investor and the long-time CEO of PETKUS Technologie and PETKUS Engineering, Luca Celeghini. In decades of activity, Luca Celeghini has created a strong team that has gradually collected a vast experience, now transferred to CESCO.
“As far as Smart Concepts are concerned, throughout the years of operation in the business we have realised that the key for the successful operation of the plant lies in understanding clients’ needs at the very beginning of a project and in creating in close cooperation with the client a tailored, smart concept of the plant. That is also why our motto states: “Smart Concept, Easy Operation,” Celeghini expounds.
CESCO is able to offer personalised turnkey solutions to suit specific needs of clients, which span designing and engineering, manufacturing, assembly, commissioning and maintenance.
For instance, the company can make some special provisions for the client in areas such as efficiency of operation and energy saving, internal basic and fine engineering including static design of steel structure, and Industrial design of manufacturing process, just to mention a few.
3. Access to financial assistance
CESCO is aware that for some of the clientele in Africa, the main obstacle could be raising the necessary finance to procurement equipment. What should certainly be of interest to clients, Celeghini points out, is that, where there is need for finance, CESCO is able to facilitate access to special funds and export guarantees. Financing arrangement is underwritten by the Government of Germany.
4. Perfect blend of youth and experience
What makes CESCO a robust and relevant outfit able to tackle a project of any magnitude in the grain storage, handling and milling is a perfect blend of youth and experience.
“The mix of our team makes us a dynamic entity - young people with fresh ideas, drawing on the depth of experience of veterans under the guidance of CESCO President, Luca Celeghini, who are committed to excellence. This makes us adaptable, a professional partner for realising advanced grain plant solutions around the world,” stresses Martino Celeghini.
Martino Celeghin
Project portfolio
Thanks to its committed team and the ability to deliver relevant solutions, CESCO has built a reputation as the supplier of first resort in grain storage, milling and processing technology.
True to form, if potential clientele in Africa needs further assurance of CESCO’s credibility, they only have to look at the diverse portfolio of projects. CESCO is currently developing global projects and facilities in more than 15 countries. Worth mentioning, it is active in Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Middle East and North Africa. So far, to its name, CESCO has supplied 34 grain terminals with 1.831.000 mt of storage capacity worldwide since 2010 and 3 Deep processing plants. Currently, CESCO is working on a project in Egypt and is looking forward to expanding in sub-Saharan Africa. “We consider sub-Saharan Africa as a key region for expansion. We see an invaluable opportunity to add value to clientele needs in grain handling, storage and dry milling in the region,” states Celeghini.
“We are currently completing two strategic projects in Sweden and Denmark and are in charge of several projects in Europe, Middle East and Africa, among which a new Barilla investment in Russia, a plant in partnership with GEA in Russia for deep processing of yellow peas and a large milling plant in partnership with Bühler in Africa for various grains.”
Reliable partner
With extensive international experience in large project management, as well as a wide portfolio of high-profile projects worldwide, there should be no doubt that CESCO is a reliable partner for investors. “What we guarantee is delivering the best possible German engineering, and adapting it to conditions in Africa,” pronounces Celeghini.
From its headquarters in Germany, CESCO EPC GmbH leverages on the certainty of supply of components from its subsidiaries spread across different countries in Europe to ensure that a project is delivered on time, within budget and to the exact specifications.
With the engineering done to high standards in Germany, the company is supported by: • It sources Nord electric motors and gearboxes in Germany • The silo storage equipment is manufactured by its half affiliate company, Silos Metalicos Zaragoza (SIMEZA), in Spain; • Key procurement decisions and mechanical components are made in Italy; • Siemens PLC components used in equipment control are assembled and the software is programmed in its affiliate company PPC in Serbia; and • MMW Milling equipment is assembled in a partner company in Hungary
Sufficiently supported
Load Cells for Silo, Tank and Hopper Weight Management Accurate weighing, Increased Revenue
The use of high accuracy load cells in weighing tasks ensures prudent usage, and reduction of wastage of products such as feed to livestock and poultry, and fertiliser. Ultimately, accurate weight translates into move revenue for a farming business.
By Eric Peters
Whereas there are many definitions of load cell, the basic one would be an electromechanical sensor (transducers) used to measure force or weight which is calibrated in grams, kilograms and tonnes. Wherever there is agricultural production, load cells are an essential tool to enable weighing of accurate amounts of products (irrespective of their nature) in vessels such as silos, tanks and hoppers. In the current environment, increasing cost of production is a clarion call for farming businesses to be more prudent in the management of resources, and one of the sure-fire ways readily available is use of robust and reliable load cells.
At the disposal of businesses is a wide range of load cells, mainly platform (single-cell), bending beam, shear beam compression and force load cells depending on the application. It is all up to end-users to make an informed decision on the appropriate product that best suits the geometry of their vessel and the specific application.
From engaging ten suppliers to the African market for information on the state of the load cells market in the contemporary environment, Farmers Review Africa has been able to get a clear picture of prominent trends in the following
areas: applications, product preferences, innovations and opportunities, and benefits. To avoid vouching for products and the companies behind them, names have been deliberately left out.
Applications
Most, agriculture-specific load cells are installed mainly in platform scales. They are used in diverse applications including but not isolated to mixing and preparation of fertilisers, accurate measurements of tracking crop yields, managing livestock and their feed, and managing feed ingredients.
Product preferences
Just as in other products used in agricultural production, relating to the procurement of load cells, there is more preference for the following features: low cost, higher accuracy, ease of installation and calibration, user friendliness, resistance against abrasion and corrosion, high temperature tolerance in harsh environments, above and beyond being applied to any type of tank, silo or hopper, either vertical or horizontal.
In addition, hyygiene and safety specifications are standard in every load cell. Also, noteworthy is the common usage of bending and shear beam load cells in the agricultural sector, where there is need to weigh small and medium-sized weighing systems such as vessels and hopper scales. Generally, these kinds of load cells are highly respected for versatility, accuracy, low costs and user-friendliness.
New innovations, more opportunities
Manufacturers are not resting on their laurels, embarking on research and development initiatives to improve their load cells. Technological advances are opening up more opportunities for the application of load cells in the agricultural sector. The adoption of programmable electronics in weighing is addressing the limitations of quality, reliability and functionality inherent in analogue technologies. Interestingly, some manufacturers have designed and developed load cells that incorporate industry 4.0. Some products have successfully passed the trial stage and will be launched in due course.
Informed decisions, high performance
The significance of making informed decisions – conducting thorough research on the veracity of claims by manufacturers on the performance of their products does not need to be overstressed. This is because of cell in agricultural production, The use of high accuracy load cells in weighing ensures prudent usage of products like feed to livestock and poultry and fertiliser minimise wastage - with respect to grains, accurate weight translates into move revenue for a farming business.
By Markus Heidl, Dr.-Ing., Product Management
“Phew, I’ve not gained anything!”: Aren’t you relieved when your bathroom scales show that? Probably – but actually your bathroom scales don’t measure your weight directly. Instead, the load cell built into it converts the weight force into a path. In many industrial applications, bending beams and shear beams are often used for such measurements.
Background: How is weight measured?
Whether your bathroom scales, a finely calibrated laboratory balance or the gravimetric level monitor of a silo: In all cases, these are measuring instruments that determine a mass. As a rule, they measure the weight force occurring. But unlike, for example, a beam balance or a spring balance, the load cells used for this determine the weight force indirectly.
For this purpose, these force transducers convert the weight force into a path. The principle: In the load cell, the weight force deforms a built-in spring or a bending beam. The intensity of this deformation then gives information about your weight, for example (more precisely about your weight force). And with that, it also answers the question of whether you can still order a dessert or just start thinking about a diet.
The “core” of bending beams and shear beams
How can you determine how far the measuring bodies of a bending beam or shear beam load cell deform? At this point special strain gauges or thin-film sensors come into play. These are attached to or mounted in the measuring bodies. In the measurement process, they act as a mechanical intermediate stage. As an alternative to these glued foil strain gauges, there are force transducers with welded-in thin-film sensors: a technology that the WIKA Group excels in and with which, in the field of force measurement, it is the only supplier on the market.
The thin-film technology offers a consistently high quality, an exact measurement directly in the force flow, very good temperature characteristics and a high long-term stability. With bending beams and shear beams, the standardised sensor is welded into the measuring element using a laser, which enables automated series production.
Application fields for bending beams and shear beams
Bending beams and shear beams are used in weighing technology to determine the weight of small and medium-sized vessels and are also frequently used in force measurement. In agricultural engineering, for example, such load cells are frequently encountered: for example, when weighing livestock, dosing animal feedstuff, in gravimetric level monitoring of vessels and silos or for weighing straw or hay bales directly in the baling press.
FOR AFRICAN AGRICULTURE THAT IS NATURALLY FERTILE !
All the continents, and especially Africa, should take on a challenge for the future :
To feed more and more populations under increasingly difficult soil and climatic conditions. In the future, agricultural production should be intensified sustainably and with respect for the environment.
Who are FCA Fertilisants and Fertilux ?
Located in the middle of Europe, the geographic position of their production sites gives FCA Fertilisants and Fertilux direct access to natural raw materials for the agro-industry and microbiology.
Despite significant progress, productivity in the African continent is still below the other regions in the world and remains a primary concern. At present, one person in four on the continent still suffers from chronic malnutrition. The situation will get worse over the next decades, considering that demographic growth in Africa, forecast at 1.3 billion additional inhabitants by 2050, will further increase the challenge to the African food system.
This is compounded by intensifying climatic changes which will put crops and animal rearing in peril and heighten food safety issues. Without adaptation strategies, the production of corn, which is a basic food in Africa, could fall by 40% between now and 2050. Although the extension of cultivated land has considerably increased agricultural production in the past, it has been to the detriment of the environment. Through their patented know-how in soil life biostimulation technologies, FCA Fertilisants and Fertilux enable farmers to take the initiative towards a naturally fertile agriculture by following four principles :
Enriching soil fertility Significantly reducing the carbon effect in comparison to standard fertilisers Increasing the effectiveness of inputs Decreasing the environmental impact
What are the solutions ?
The solutions for eco-friendly fertilisation provided by FCA Fertilisants and Fertilux stabilise the soil by including nutrients and nourishing the microorganisms that are naturally present.
Through a symbiotic relationship with plants, these microorganisms shape plant health in two ways :
By helping to fight off diseases or pests By reinforcing the resistance to biotic and abiotic stress
Proven by the results of official experiments, the performances of FCA Fertilisants and Fertilux solutions provide an answer in the African context.
SUMMARY :
Eco-friendly fertilisation has several advantages :
> An increase in yield
> Sustainable strengthening of soil and plant health
> Perpetuation of the biological, physical and chemical fertility of the soil
FCA Fertilisants and Fertilux are dedicated to the preservation of relations with farmers and devotedly carry out tests each year directly on "pilot" farms in order to continuously evaluate the pertinence of their solutions and optimise their recommendations and fertilisation programmes.
We invite you to follow the results of these tests and partnerships in the next issues of Farmers Review of Africa...
To contact us : Mr. Sébastien DAVID
sebastien.david@group-shfc.com +33.6.51.17.54.62
Mr. Christophe MONNOT
christophe.monnot@fertilux.lu +33.6.74.23.68.27
How animal welfare can boost productivity and enhance good health
According to World Animal Protection, animal welfare refers to the quality of life experienced by an animal and encompasses how well the animal is coping with his or her current situation and surroundings.
The need to care about animal welfare arises from the belief that nonhuman animals are sentient and that consideration should be given to their well-being or suffering, especially when they are under the care of humans. A sentient being is one who perceives and responds to sensations of whatever kind—sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell.
Therefore, animals should be provided with proper diet and this also include: Clean water in sufficient quantities daily (dairy cows for example need up to 150 litres each a day!), Sufficient food and possibly supplements to meet nutritional requirements, Clean, disease free living conditions including paddocks and shelters, essential grooming including hoof care and shearing Room to exercise safely.
In simple terms, farmers should check if their animals get good Nutrition live in a good environment and with good health. It is also important that animals are in good behaviour and mental state.
Measuring animal welfare
The Animal Welfare Foundation has outlined ways of measuring animal welfare. According to the foundation, animal welfare is assessed by observing or measuring physical or behavioural features of the animal or qualities of the animal’s environment. These signs of animal welfare are known as ‘welfare indicators’. Welfare is complex, so it is usually important to assess more than one indicator to reveal the extent to which welfare is good or bad, rather than assessing just one aspect of the animal’s biology or environment.
There are three main sources of welfare indicators: 1. The animal in its current situation, e.g. frequencies or durations of abnormal behaviour, concentrations of hormones, or body condition; 2. The animal in a decision-making test, e.g. preference tests (reviewed in 3) and cognitive bias tests and 3. The animal’s environment or situation, e.g. quality and quantity of the diet, presence of a hiding place, exposure to weather, or details of husbandry routines.
Costs of Improving Farm Animal Welfare
Improving animal welfare means ensuring that the experiences of the animal are as positive as they possibly can be, which often requires changes to infrastructure and practices by the people responsible for the care and handling of the animals.
But there are costs associated with farm animal welfare, however. Some of the costs are one-time costs associated with changing infrastructure and switching practices, some are ongoing operational costs, and some are costs to which all businesses in an industry must contribute indirectly.
All of these costs are likely important factors in the decision about which improvements should be made. One-time costs associated with improving farm animal welfare can be significant, especially if major changes to infrastructure are required. Some interventions to improve farm animal welfare may require ongoing additional personnel, and there may be ongoing costs associated with supplies, such as the purchase of pain relief or enrichment materials, or additional veterinary expertise. These ongoing costs must all be incorporated into the cost of the product, and thus they must ultimately be financed by consumers.
Benefits of farm animal welfare
To the animal, the benefits will likely manifest in the physiological and behavioural functioning, although these may not always be obvious. Behavioural changes in the animal are the most readily assessed indicators of welfare, whether by direct observation or with the assistance of monitoring technologies.
The most readily assessed benefits of improving farm animal welfare are the benefits to the business, which take the form of tangible gains in productivity or of competitive advantage and market premiums.
It is often taken for granted that improving farm animal welfare will improve productivity of the animals. There are numerous examples in the literature of positive correlations between farm animal welfare and various measures of productivity (e.g., weight gain and reproduction), but often the benefits of improving welfare are not expressed in economic terms.
It is widely acknowledged that poor animal welfare often has implications for productivity metrics, such as fertility and body condition. This may be because the adaptive responses that animals use to cope with their environments can sometimes contribute to chronic stress and poor physiological and behavioural functioning. For example, it is known that prolonged or sustained stress can disrupt reproductive processes in female pigs.
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Mandals lay-flat hoses have been the preferred solution in the global agricultural sector for decades. The durability and wear resistance provide long lasting hoses for such demanding use. Quick deployment and retrieval, combined with excellent flow rates and long life time, reduce operating cost.
We offer hoses especially designed for use with umbilical drag hose systems. This ensures environmentally friendly and safe manure distribution, and also prevents hard-packing of the soil.
Mandals Dragman is especially designed to withstand the extreme tensile stress, pulling forces and abrasion from umbilical slurry systems. Some diameters are available in 300-400 meter lengths. Mandals Superman is a hose intended for large volume transfer under high pressure and is widely used as supply hoses for large agricultural systems.
Mandals Flexitex Standard and Extra are intended for use as feeder hose for smaller irrigation and slurry units. This hose is a reinforced fluid transfer lay-flat hose for agricultural systems, but it may also serve as a drag hose in smaller umbilical systems, or for irrigation in the agricultural sector.
READ ARTICLE: The hose that makes farmers more productive
UMBILICAL
DRAG HOSE SYSTEM
DRAGMAN SUPERMAN FLEXITEX
TPU DRAG LINE TPU SUPPLY LINE RUBBER IRRIGATION
WE ARE LOOKING FOR NEW DISTRIBUTORS
Mandals (a Michelin Group company) is a world leading manufacturer of premium lay-flat hoses. With over 245 years of experience in production and distribution of lay-flat hoses, you can trust us as your next business partner. Mandals has become a well-known brand though our worldwide sales and distribution strategy. We are looking for new partners in various industries, such as agriculture/irrigation, oil and gas, mining and portable water. We are always open to explore new industries as well.
