ProAgri Zambia 76

ProAg Pro Agri ri technology for the farmer

Z a m b i a No 76

Keep the family business in business

Free

Agrico turns water into profit Pigs thrive on Novatek

Well-equipped for your construction success www.agri4all.com

www.proagri.co.za

Cover John Deere provides highquality equipment and well-trained experts to the farmers of Africa.

What do farmers do

during winter?

W

e are firmly in the grips of the winter. Some regions might experience more severe cold fronts than others, but climatologists predicted a very cold winter.

Certain stereotypes immediately come to mind when one thinks of the winter months. It’s not an off-season, that’s for sure. Many farmers say winter work has become increasingly important.

To those living on the periphery of the food and the farming world, winter’s toll on the land may seem like an opportunity for producers to take a long nap and rest before the ground thaws and it’s time to grow again. The truth? It is anything but that.

Most farms all over the country reserve the coldest months of the year to get on track for the next season. For some it is harvesting time, for others it is a time where the cold is severe, and special precautions must be taken to protect livestock and other assets such as feed.

This time of the year also offers us an opportunity to ponder on our family farming ventures, remembering those

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in whose footsteps we are following, but also those who have to take over the business after us.

Communication is the key to success in maintaining a successful family agribusiness. Should we wait too long to address continuation issues, it may result in permanently blocked communication.

In this issue of ProAgri Zambia, we take a look at breaking down the wall of silence, feeding your pigs for success with Novatek pig feed and John Deere’s mighty yellow machines.

As always, you will still find the latest in agricultural technology in the categories of mechanisation, crop production, livestock and resources management on www.proagri.co.za, and the right product for the best price on www.agri4all.com.

ProAgri will help you expand your farm with expert advice and a wide range of farming related products Farm smartly!

Bianca Henning bianca@proagri.co.za

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The trusted John Deere green now makes room for reliable yellow Take care of your pigs, and they will take care of you Agrico turns water into profit Your animals will thank you: Rumax feed mixers provide topnotch production Dekalb® to the rescue: More than just a seed Disease management is critical to prevent seeds pathogens transmission and protect crop establishment Rabbit farming Part 4: Feeding and watering the rabbits Tiger Animal Feeds: Enriching Zambian farmers with training Poultry farming Part 4.3: Raising chicks in a brooder Processing of condiments Part 17: Sauerkraut Beekeeping Part 3: How to start beekeeping Erosion control in Malawi Part 5: How to deal with flat, bare areas Ancient African food Part 2: The answer to Africa’s malnutrition and obesity?

Break down the wall of silence What is new in agriculture?

ProAgri Zambia 76

ProAgri technology for the farmer

Z a m b i a

Nangwenya House No. 7352 Nangwenya Road Rhodespark +26 (0)97-769-9786 www.proagri.co.za Copyright © 2022. All rights r­ eserved. No m ­ aterial, text or p ­ hoto­graphs may be r­ eproduced, copied or in any other way t­ ransmitted without the written consent of the publisher. O ­ pinions ­expressed are not n ­ ecessarily those of the publisher or of the e ­ ditor. We recognise all trademarks and logos as the sole property of their r­ espective o ­ wners.

ProAgri shall not be liable for any errors or for any actions in reliance thereon.

ProAgri Zambia Editor Bianca Henning Reporters Benine Ackermann Maryna Steyn Natasha Kruger

> +27 82-326-2572 bianca@proagri.co.za > +27 73-105-6938 benine@proagri.co.za > +27 82-261-9177 maryna@proagri.co.za > +27 81-736-4236 natasha@proagri.co.za

Specialist Writer Annemarie Bremner > +27 82-320-3642 annemarie@proagri.co.za Senior Production Manager: Zainab Pandor > +26 (0)97-769-9786 zainab@proagri.co.za Client Relations Manager: Carin Swartz > +27 84-233-0123 carin@proagri.co.za Marketing Manager Diane Grobler > +27 82-555-6866 diane@proagri.co.za Marketing Xander Pieterse > +27 79-524-0934 xander@proagri.co.za Johan Swartz > +27 71-599-9417 johan@proagri.co.za Tiny Smith > +27 82-698-3353 tiny@proagri.co.za Lelani Botha > +27 74-424-0055 lelani@proagri.co.za Creative Director Christiaan Joubert > +27 72-419-3990 christiaan@proagri.co.za Design Michelle Kruger & Lizelle Erasmus Enquiries Engela Botha > +27 12-803-0782 engela@proagri.co.za Accounts Ronel Schluter > +27 12-803-0782 accounts@proagri.co.za Business Manager George Grobler

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ProAgri Zambia 76

Left: A hardworking yellow John Deere TLB in action.

The trusted John Deere green now makes room for reliable yellow F

armers are excited about the good news that John Deere now also offers earthmoving and construction equipment for the farm.

This year, farmers can expect to see the yellow between the green at NAMPO from 16 to 20 May. NAMPO is one of the largest agricultural expos in South Africa and is held at NAMPO Park in Bothaville. During this event, John Deere’s yellow construction vehicles can be admired up close.

John Deere yellow machines include everything a farmer can possibly need for construction on the farm: Bulldozers, excavators, backhoe loaders and graders — you name them!

The best news of all is that the same technicians who keep agricultural equipment running also support these yellow ones! John Deere ensures that technicians are trained to service and repair construction vehicles alongside the agricultural machines. Machinespecific support systems, however, also exist within the dealership network.

“With this product range we are now a one-stop-shop for all equipment,” says Griffiths Makgate, Construction and Forestry Sales Manager for Africa and the Middle East area. “It is also important to note that the same farmers who experienced our capabilities before introducing the yellow machines, will receive the same level of service as on the agricultural machines.”

In fact, a farmer can rely on the same people who were there with him when he bought his first John Deere machine. They will take care of all his needs. Now, a farmer does not need to go to various companies, balancing

agriculture on the one hand and construction on the other. His trusted John Deere dealer provides both.

“In my opinion, it’s always best to purchase a vehicle if you can afford it, knowing that you can use it how you want to, when you want to,” Griffiths explains.

One of the advantages that farmers enjoy is that used construction equipment can be resold at higher prices because of the bigger demand for this type of equipment; farmers look after their machines much better than construction crews. With the higher resell

ProAgri Zambia 76

price, farmers can easily invest in more modern machines with better functions and increased comfort.

Some of the John Deere construction machines allow you to choose the work mode you want to operate in. This enables farmers to be more productive and use less fuel.

More good news for farmers is that there is a financing option just for them. The aim behind John Deere Financial is to assist farmers and businesses through tailor-made asset financing. They ensure that every client receives the best service and business solutions. That is why John Deere Financial built their business model on the four pillars of comfort, devotion, competitiveness, and insight.

It is not only the interest rate that sets it apart from a bank, it is also the fact that a farmer can enjoy a more flexible structured loan. When he wants to make a bigger deposit on the equipment, then he will reap the benefits in the form of a lower interest rate.

John Deere wants to show the farmer that he receives the same level of service, support, and knowledge regardless of whether his equipment is green or yellow. John Deere is ready to grow with farmers.

JDLinkTM is a unique trait of John Deere machinery. It connects the client and his smart device with the equipment. Farmers can connect to any implement in their fleet that is compatible with that service without any additional cost.

With that, a farmer can operate any of his implements through the John Deere operating system account on the web or mobile app.

The John Deere yellow wheeled front loader is just what your farm needs.

For any additional information, send an e-mail to africa@johndeere.com, or phone them on +27-021-127-3759 or +27-021-127-3760.

3

Valley Insights

®

powered by

Irrigation Insights Turn Data Into Action

Irrigation Insights Detect Crop Health Issues Early.

Valley® Irrigation, brings you Valley Insights® powered by Prospera: our advanced technology services based on artificial intelligence.

Valley Insights uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide you early detection and enhanced scouting capability, so you can make fast & informed decisions regarding your crops.

Pair with Plant Insights and get the powerful combination of full coverage throughout the season.

4

Quickly Identify Irrigation Issues and Prevent Crop Loss Guarantee your irrigation is on target with insights alerting you to any watering irregularities or pivot malfunctions.

We use aerial imagery to virtually scout for crop health concerns related to water application, or other issues in your field. Our flight operation captures visuals of your fields through various image types including true color, NDVI, and thermal imaging.

Using artificial intelligence technology, your field images are then analyzed for irregularities, producing valuable insights sent directly to you, so you can take action quickly - saving you time and hassle.

valleyirrigation.com

ProAgri Zambia 76

Valley Insights

®

powered by

Why Choose Irrigation Insights Detect Irrigation Malfunctions Early Detect pivot-related faults whether it be plugged nozzles or leaky gaskets.

Easy-to-Use

Prevent under/over Watering

The Valley Insights application is easy to set up and simple to use.

Grower Trusted

Ensure crop uniformity and that your crops are getting the optimal amount of irrigation.

Leading growers in the field trust Valley Insights to give them the insights they need to make better decisions.

How Does it Work?

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

Initial Setup

Data Collection

Field Analysis

Accurate Detection

You or your Valley Dealer provides a list of your field and pivot GPS locations.

Our flight operation captures visuals of your fields through various image types, including NDVI and thermal imaging.

Using computer vision algorithms, the imagery is analyzed in search of irrigation irregularities.

Receive alerts regarding irrigation issues where your crops need attention.

Valley Insights is a targeted release, only in select regions.

Detect Irrigation Issues Difficult to See with the Naked Eye

Plugged Sprinkler Running Sprinkler

Potential Leak from Center Pivot

Under-watered area

Plugged Sprinkler

“Valley Insights predictive capabilities are really appealing to see things before they develop - not just as they develop.”

Multiple Sprinklers Over-watering

“The cost benefit is easy to justify. It’s a few dollars per acre to monitor your system.

It takes very few corrections to pay for itself.”

Greg Hirai HIrai Farms

Jim Klaustermeyer Klaustermeyer Farms

For more information, visit valleyirrigation.com/insights or contact your local Valley Dealer.

ProAgri Zambia 76

valleyirrigation.com

5

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ProAgri Zambia 76

Take care of your pigs, and they will take care of you

by Bianca Henning

Proper disease and health control Clean conditions and precautionary measures on the farm will make disease control easier. Once the piglets are weaned, it is essential to give them the necessary vaccines to prevent respiratory infections, diseases, and parasites.

Happy and healthy pigs on Novatek feed.

O

ptimum profitability on a pig farm starts by raising good quality gilts.

After that, feeding a high-quality creep feed to the youngsters will ensure a healthy digestive system, and in turn, lead to optimal growth performance.

Feed will be your biggest cost when raising pigs, but they reward careful feeding with excellent profits.

Patrick Mutimushi started farming with pigs in 2011. His farm, better known as Bird Bridge Farms, is based in Lusaka and mainly markets pigs at the age of six months at a weight of 90 kg to Zambeef and Zampork. Apart from the pigs, Patrick also farms with avocados, chickens, and ducks.

The use of good, highly productive breeding animals that grow efficiently is very important. Patrick has 100 productive sows, and the breeds include Landrace, Large White, Duroc and Hampshire.

Patrick says: “Looking at the business and the market of pig farming, I decided to start farming with pigs about ten years ago. Of course, there is a lot of hard work in pig farming, especially in feeding the pigs. We initially also started doing layer chickens, but when we compared the pigs and the chickens, the pigs showed more profit, therefore we decided to expand our pig production operation.

“The mechanism that Zambeef and Zampork have in place, makes pig farming much easier. When I have fifty or more pigs ready for slaughter, they come and collect them from the farm, and I get paid within three days of collection,” Patrick adds.

“The most important part of pig production is knowing the correct way to feed pigs. Whether browsing through a piglet feeding guide or studying swine management techniques, pigs need a high energy diet that is low in fibre, and contains ample protein,” says Patrick.

“Pigs quickly consume enormous

Piglets on Mutimushi's farm enjoying Novatek’s creep feed. quantities of food. To raise and maintain a healthy stock, maximise growth and reproduction, and increase production, it is necessary to feed them the right food and a balanced diet from wean to finish.

“The Novatek pig feed range is well balanced and ensures that my pigs reach their genetic potential.

I’ve tested other feeds, but nothing compares to Novatek’s feed. When I started feeding my pigs Novatek’s pig feed, I could actually see the difference in their productivity, their performance and overall health and growth.

The growth of my pigs is phenomenal,” explains Patrick.

“A healthy pig usually maintains the same daily pattern of behaviour and remains alert and active. Since I started using Novatek’s pig feed my pigs are happier and healthier than ever before. Novatek is on the mark with their feed with all the necessary nutritional value that the pigs and piglets need.”

Ensuring a healthy and good environment for my pigs is also essential to ensure optimal growth. Patrick highlights some of the key aspects to keep in mind when having a piggery:

Correct feed One should know the feed requirements of the different age groups and feed each group the correct quantity of the right mixture.

Handling of manure It is important to stack the manure in such a way that water will be allowed to drain from the manure as quickly as possible. The compost can be used as fertiliser on cultivated lands. Patrick uses his compost as fertiliser for his avo plantations.

“I would recommend Novatek to any pig farmer because of the great experience I’ve had with their products. What I appreciate most about Novatek is the personal relationship that they have with us farmers. They visit the farms, check what is going on and advise you accordingly. They ensure a good clientdistributor relationship and that is key,” Patrick adds.

Patrick concludes: “I would advise young upcoming pig farmers to do proper research before starting a piggery. It is important to understand the business model of a piggery. It is crucial to really understand the animal that you are keeping, what it needs, when does it need, and how do I need to deal with any issues that arise.

Consult other pig farmers and do not hesitate to ask questions.”

Good management of the piggery Cleaning, disinfection, and vaccination of the pigs are crucial. Litter and waste management should also be done according to general practices.

Construction of your piggery Good housing that will allow the efficient production of marketable pigs is important. Growing and reproducing pigs must be protected against high temperatures. The houses must therefore be built in such a way that the pigs are protected against extreme temperatures and other bad weather conditions such as cold winds and continuous rain. It is also important to ensure that there is enough clean water for your pigs.

ProAgri Zambia 76

You can also improve your farming business with the help of experts. Contact Wiehan Visagie at wiehan. visagie@novatek.co.zm or +260-979-763-250. For more information, visit www.novatekfeeds.com.

7

CONTACT US AT

africasales@aggrowth.com

aggrowth.com

8

ProAgri Zambia 76

Agrico turns water into profit

O

ne golden key unlocks the door to success in any farming operation.

Whether a farmer grows crops or keeps animals, he wants to attain the highest income at the lowest cost. This cannot be done without water.

That is exactly why many farmers use irrigation systems on their farms: thirsty crops cannot produce. Likewise, without water, there would also not be feed for livestock.

However, an irrigation system is not a quick fix to increase production. On top of the initial capital outlay, the running costs need to be considered.

Over a centre pivot’s lifetime, running costs can add up to a lot more than the original purchase price. However, with careful planning and good design you can ensure the centre pivot remains a good investment. Agrico is thoroughly aware of this fact and therefore offers the farmer the best

value for money in both initial purchase price and running costs.

That was one of the most important reasons for Shaun Griffin from Glenury and Sharrow Farms near Mooi River, South Africa, to choose Agrico as his irrigation partner. Shaun keeps a mixed dairy herd consisting of approximately 1 250 Jerseys and Friesian cows.

In total, there are eight Agrico centre pivots on the farms to help produce silage for the cows.

Shaun plants grains and ryegrass to ensure that the herd has enough silage throughout the year to maintain a favourable average milk production.

“We produce 1,5 times more silage by growing maize under the pivots,” says Shaun.

Agrico centre pivots are manufactured locally, making a competitive price possible. Furthermore, Agrico ensures that the running costs remain as

Marius du Randt from Agrico ensures that Shaun Griffin’s irrigation remains a profitable investment.

The eight Agrico centre pivots ensure that Shaun Griffin’s dairy herd of 1 250 cows delivers the best production from the rations of silage they receive throughout the year.

An Agrico Windsaver tower has a wider base, which means it provides more resistance to strong winds.

The Cablesaver technology helps to prevent cable theft by hiding the electric cables inside the pipe.

ProAgri Zambia 76

by Jaco Cilliers

low as possible by ensuring water and electricity are used economically.

Shaun’s centre pivots are equipped with Nelson sprinklers that apply the water efficiently and need little maintenance.

For his youngest Agrico pivot, Shaun chose the Windsaver option. This model has a wider wheelbase for more stability against stronger winds. It has a four-year guarantee against being blown over. Shaun also decided to add Agrico’s Cablesaver which hides the electric cable in the structure to discourage cable theft.

According to Shaun, the maintenance on the centre pivot isn’t costly, nor is it time-consuming. “Only a few things need attention. If the tire pressure is right and there aren’t any blockages in the sprinklers, then the system works without any hiccups. The gearbox oil requires changing yearly, and moving parts and safety components should be checked regularly. That is basically all that it needs,” he declares.

Agrico’s people in Winterton ensure that Shaun receives excellent service.

They support the farmer throughout the entire process from the layout and design to construction and after-sales service. That is how they guarantee that the farmer, his crops and his livestock receive the maximum benefit from the centre pivot.

“I have never had to wait for Agrico.

If I need something, I simply call the team representative Marius du Randt and everything is quickly taken care of,” Shaun adds.

For more information, contact Agrico on +27 (0)83-455-5423 or +27 (0)21-950-4111. You may also send an e-mail to sales@ agrico.co.za, or visit their website on www.agrico.co.za.

9

THE TRUSTED COMPANY THE THETRUSTED TRUSTEDCOMPANY COMPANY THAT’S BREED APART. THAT’S THAT’SAAABREED BREEDAPART. APART. The TOPIGS Tempo boar is ideally adapted for African environmental conditions, this proven by

Theour The TOPIGS TOPIGS Tempo boar boar is ideally is ideally adapted adapted for profitability.

African for African environmental environmental conditions, conditions, thisthis proven proven by by client list,Tempo their production results and Many top farmers in Africa have invested ourin our client client list,list, their their production production results results and profitability. profitability.

Many top farmers in Africa inisAfrica havehave invested invested the breed with huge success.

Theand excellent healthMany status oftop ourfarmers genetics considered a major in the in competitive the breed breed withwith huge huge success. success.

Theproducers The excellent excellent health health status status of our of our genetics genetics is considered is considered a major a major advantage.

Many choose to repopulate with Topigs Norsvin genetics to competitive competitive advantage. advantage.

Many Many producers producers choose to of repopulate tothis repopulate withwith Topigs Topigs Norsvin Norsvin genetics genetics to to reap thechoose benefits advantage. reapreap the the benefits benefits of this of this advantage. advantage.

The TN70 The TN70 TN70 •The The TN70 is a

between • The • cross The TN70 TN70 is a is a the Topigs Large White cross cross between between the the and the Norsvin Topigs Topigs Large Large White White andLandrace. and the the Norsvin Norsvin Landrace.

Landrace.

Characteristics Characteristics Characteristics • Highly prolific, easy

use sow • Highly • in Highly prolific, prolific, easyeasy • Amazing weaning in use in use sowsow • Amazing • ability Amazing weaning weaning • Top contribution to ability ability pig quality • Top • finishing Top contribution contribution to to • Produces large finishing finishing pig pig quality quality of strong, • Produces • litters Produces large large uniform litters litters of strong, of strong, uniform uniform

TN70 & TN Tempo: The TN70 TN70 & ultimate TN & TN Tempo: Tempo: combination TheThe ultimate ultimate combination combination • TN Tempo brings robustness, • TN • Tempo TN Tempo brings brings uniformity robustness, robustness,and fast growth potential uniformity uniformity and and fastfast • The TN70 is and growth growth potential potential mother • The • excellent The TN70 TN70 is and is and which strengthens excellent excellent mother mother these qualities by which which strengthens strengthens contributing the these these qualities qualities by by best feedthe efficiency contributing contributing the thefeed finisher bestto best feed efficiency efficiency compared to to the to the finisher finisher any other compared compared to sow to in world anythe any other other sowsow in in • Together, the the world world the Tempo and • Together, • TN Together, the the TN70 offer you TN Tempo TN Tempo andand the potential to TN70 TN70 offer offer youyou the the produce the potential potential to most to output against produce produce the the most most the lowest cost, output output against against the combination the lowest lowest cost, cost, unrivaled. combination combination unrivaled. unrivaled.

GENETICS | TECHNOLOGY | SERVICE Zambian Pig Genetics is the distributor of Topigs Norsvin GENETICS GENETICS | TECHNOLOGY | TECHNOLOGY | SERVICE | SERVICE Zambian Zambian Pigin Pig Genetics Genetics is the is the distributor distributor of global Topigs of Topigs Norsvin Norsvin genetics Central Africa.

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Built Built on on ourour global research, research, innovation absolute commitment toglobal integrity and +260 +260 76 76 258258 9884 9884 | +260 | +260 97 97 278278 8521 8521 johan@crczambia.com | sales@zpgzambia.com innovation innovation and and absolute absolute commitment commitment to integrity to integrity and and biosecurity, our close partnership approach means your johan@crczambia.com johan@crczambia.com | sales@zpgzambia.com | sales@zpgzambia.com biosecurity, biosecurity, ourour close close partnership partnership approach means means your yourpassion. farm benefits directly from our approach experience, energy and farm farm benefits benefits directly directly from from ourour experience, experience, energy energy andand passion. passion.

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ProAgri Zambia 76

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ZAMBIAN PIG GENETICS: MEET OUR SALES AND TECHNICAL ADVISOR AND INDEPENDENT VETERINARIAN FRANCISCO KASUBA is ZPG’s Sales and Technical advisor. He provides support for pig farmers in and around Zambia, specifically to those who are involved in artificial insemination (AI) and those who bought breeding animals from Zambian Pig Genetics Ltd. Francisco’s support includes: • AI demonstrations with TN Tempo boar semen • Farm visits • Breeding advice • Free consultancy to ZPG (Topigs Norsvin) clients • Pig production techniques

FRANCISCO KASUBA

Sales and Technical Advisor at the ZPG Topigs Norsvin production unit in Chisamba.

Francisco is excited and optimistic about the newly bred TN70 gilt/sow.

He praises the TN70’s excellent mothering abilities, heavy weaning weights, and large litter sizes compared to previous TN60 gilts and other breeds on the market. Francisco further mentions that the TN70 gilt shows more prominent signs during pre-heat and post-heat periods, making them easier to breed than other animals.

Farmers should consider introducing the TN70 gilt to their herd to maximize their production.

DR. PIOUS SIMFUNKWE is ZPG’s (Topigs Norsvin) independent veterinarian who has been on board since 2018. He assists ZPG farmers across the country with artificial insemination, with an average of 10 to 15 gilts every week.

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His clients are impressed with the results of using TN Tempo Boar semen: • Improved uniformity • Excellent growth rate • Increased litter sizes

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ProAgri Zambia 76

Your animals will thank you: Rumax feed mixers provide top-notch production

by Bianca Henning

H

ealthy and balanced rations for livestock are key to performance and profit in livestock farming. If outstanding livestock production is your goal, then your animals’ feed needs to be cut and mixed to a uniform size. It doesn’t matter how difficult it may be to cut or mix the feed, Rumax feed mixers can do it with ease.

Albertus Steenkamp, a fourth-generation farmer on the farm Perdekloof between Calvinia and Middelpos in South Africa, does things differently.

Approximately ten years ago, Albertus started breeding his own sheep breed: The Perdeklower. It is a crossbreed between a Dorper, White Dorper, Meatmaster and Dormer.

The key to Albertus' success is the precision with which he feeds his sheep and also the careful selection of ewes.

He selects the ewes who raise two to three lambs year after year, because their feed conversion ratio is good.

Albertus has an extensive sheep farming system where he breeds hardy and adaptable sheep that graze in pastures. When it is time for the ewes to lamb they are moved to a shed.

Like many farmers in Southern Africa, Albertus has endured severe

The ewes’ feed is perfectly cut and mixed in the Rumax 15 m3 feed mixer.

The feed for the feedlot lambs cut and mixed to perfection with the Rumax feed mixer.

The 15 m3 Rumax feed mixer on Albertus Steenkamp’s farm is used to prepare the exact amount of feed his animals require.

Albertus’ lamb percentage increased with 40% since he started using the Rumax feed mixer to mix his feed rations. drought. “The grazing in the area is scarce and if you don’t have an alternative plan ready, your animals will suffer,” he explains.

Eight years ago, Albertus acquired his Rumax feed mixer. The mixer has now become an essential part of his farm. “If my feed mixer was to be taken away from me, I’d sell my farm!”

“I feed the sheep very easily with the Rumax feed mixer and it has never let me down. During the extreme drought in 2019, I was able to feed 1 800 ewes per day as well as 1 200 lambs in the feedlot without any hassles. I am very impressed with my feed mixer.

“I had hammermills before I purchased a feed mixer, but the machines were labour intensive and it was too expensive to use two tractors,” says Albertus. “That is exactly why I purchased the feed mixer — to save time and money. With the feed mixer, wastage during mixing is minimal. Sometimes the wagon cannot drive all over the farm, so we fill bags full of feed and go and feed the sheep from the bags with the bakkie. The release mechanism on

ProAgri Zambia 76

the feed mixer is secure and the process of bagging feed is effortless.

“It is always important to ensure that the contents of your feed, which usually consists of a variety of textures and quantities, thoroughly mixes so every animal consumes the right amount of the right nutrients with every bite,” he adds. “Rumax succeeds outstandingly in this challenge.”

Correctly prepared feed ensures the well-being of the farmer’s livestock and the benefits that strong, healthy animals bring. The favourable result of improved feed on Albertus’ flock was an increase of lamb percentage by 40%. No farmer can let such an opportunity go by.

The Rumax feed mixer makes the task of providing the animals with a balanced diet a lot more convenient.

For every farm, big or small, the quality of mixed feed, the correct length of roughage and careful mixing composition are the basic characteristics of a good feed mixer.

The Rumax feed mixer has a horizontally controlled mixing capability of 15 m3. The compact mixer also has a low electricity usage, saving the farmer time and money. Rumax designs their equipment to be tough and reliable, thus ensuring maintenance and repair costs remain minimal. The mixer is also mounted on a scale with which the weight of the portions can be measured very accurately.

Albertus cannot stop talking about the excellent service of Rumax. When asked about what he does to feed his animals when the mixer breaks down, he simply answered: “A Rumax mixer doesn’t break down, but if it were to happen, then the Rumax-people will surely make a plan before my sheep go hungry.”

Rumax offers a variety of feed mixers, each with its own capabilities and features to fit the unique needs of every farmer. Get your Rumax mixer today and feed your livestock successfully while making a profit.

Albertus Steenkamp’s flock thrives despite the drought — his Rumax feed mixer makes sure of that!

For more information, contact Jaco Pieters on +27(0)-82-335-3970 or +27(0)-23-342-6070. You can also send an e-mail to jaco@ rumax.co.za or visit their website at www.rumax.co.za to see the full range of equipment.

13

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onstant attacks are launched against farmers by various vicious pests and plagues. Fortunately, Bayer offers a complete arsenal of weapons for farmers to defend their crops against these threats.

Bayer is one of the world's leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control.

Bayer crop protection products With the acquisition of Monsanto, Bayer Zambia Ltd is now widely known for its maize hybrids of Dekalb and a variety of crop protection products. Fungicide crop protection such as Nativo, Antracol and Folicur for vegetable crops and fruits, targets early- and late blight and powdery mildew.

Herbicide crop protection such as Roundup, Auxo and Bullet for maize crops targets burns in all plants, broad leaves and grasses.

Insecticide crop protection such as Belt, K-Obiol, Confidor, Bulldock, Thunder and Decis Forte targets bollworm, fall armyworm, large grain borer, weevils, whiteflies, aphids, scales, and termites, cutworms and caterpillars, thrips, leaf miners and heliothids for maize, tomatoes, vegetables, potatoes, citrus, soya beans, pulses, vegetables and other crops.

Product focus: K-Obiol grain protectant Insects can compromise the quality of grain which is why it is crucial that protective measures should be taken.

K-Obiol is a synergised grain protectant for use on uninfested grain, including cereal grains, malting barley, sorghum, rice, and maize.

It can be used on any type of storage, sealed, or unsealed. It is suitable for use by grain growers and grain accumulators. K-Obiol is a liquid and must be evenly applied as a dilution to the grain as it is fed into the storage. It is not suitable for oil seeds or pulses, and not recommended for eradicating pests when they have infested grain.

The active constituent is deltamethrin. Piperonyl butoxide is added as a synergist; meaning it increases the effectiveness of the deltamethrin.

Deltamethrin has a different mode of action to the common grain protectants which have been in use until now.

This means there is less risk of insect resistance and therefore a better chance that your grain will not become infested during storage.

Protectants, such as K-Obiol, are mostly used when a fumigant cannot be used. Fumigants require sealed storage to retain the fumigant in contact with the grain over a minimum period for effectiveness. When the storage is not sealed, a protectant is the only option.

Practice “Good Practices” Several steps should be taken to ensure that your grain can be sold in the best possible condition. Grain silos, headers, augers, and all grain handling equipment should be cleaned out so that there are no pockets of grain where insects can be harboured.

There may be some insect species that can develop resistance to K-Obiol, and so the recommendation for the best results is that it should be used with an organophosphate mixing partner.

Finally, it is a good idea to rotate grain

Make sure there are no surprises when you inspect your maize.

ProAgri Zambia 76

protectants so that products with different modes of action are used in successive years.

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K-Obiol mainly targets large grain borer and weevils in harvested maize.

The active ingredient in K-Obiol is 2% deltamethrin which targets pests through contact and stomach action.

The application rate is 50 g/100 kg of maize grain. Post-harvest treatment is applied to control large grain borer maize weevils and maize grain moths.

The treatment of K-Obiol lasts up to 6 to 12 months.

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Disease management is critical to prevent seeds pathogens transmission and protect crop establishment The sanitary condition is extremely important for crop establishment, considering that the seeds are vehicles of phytopathogenic agents, which can lodge them and be carried to the field, causing a reduction in germination and vigor, originating primary outbreaks of diseases. Most diseases of economic importance that occur in soybeans are caused by pathogens that are transmitted by seeds.

availability and adequate temperatures. When these conditions are not met, seeds are stored in the soil waiting for favorable conditions. During this time, the germination and emergence of soybeans occur slowly, providing soil fungi and the seed itself greater opportunity for attack, which may cause its deterioration in that environment or the seedling death.

Soybean starts its germination process and later emerges quickly when sown in soil with good water

In the opposite situation, rains at the beginning of the cycle can favor the seedling root rot and damping off.

APRON® Plus Beans is a combination of two products, two active ingredients with excellent spectrum of control for the main seed and soil borne pathogens for soybean.

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Rhizoctonia spp Fusarium spp - Discolor group (F. graminearum)

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Peronospora spp

Pythium spp Phythophtora ssp

Aspergillus spp, Phomopsis spp

Strong composition for reduction of the main soybean seed borne pathogens (%) Fungi incidency in soybean seeds 30 Phomopsis sojae

25

Fusarium graminearum Cercospora kikuchii

20

Aspergilus flavus

15 10 5 0

Untreated

Untreated

Fludioxonil

Fludioxonil

Embrapa Brazil, 2007. Blotter test - letters identify the pathogens presence

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ProAgri Zambia 76

Optimal emergence with robust stand APRON® Plus Beans promotes great initial establishment of the crop with an ideal population of plants in very diverse soil moisture conditions, protecting the seeds from the main soil pathoghens.

Plus OptimalUntreated emergence with robust stand Beans

Healthier root system

APRON® Plus Beans promotes great initial establishment of the crop with an ideal population of plants in very diverse soil moisture conditions, protecting the seeds from the main soil pathoghens.

Plus

Untreated

Healthier root system

Beans

Plus Beans

Plus Beans

Untreated Untreated Source: Seedcare field trials, South Africa

Plus

Untreated

Source: Seedcare field trials, South Africa

Beans

APRON® Plus Beans protects soybean crop APRON® Plus Beans establishment protects soybean cropfrom the main seed and soil establishment from the mainpathogens seed and soil

Plus

Untreated

Beans

pathogens ® From sowing to harvest: APRON Plus Beens secures the best ® From sowing to harvest: APRON Plus yield performance versus untreatedBeens seedssecures the best

yield performance versus untreated seeds Yield difference (t/ha) Yield difference (t/ha) APRON® Plus Beans Data summary - 2012-2017 different localities.

APRON® Plus Beans Data summary - 2012-2017 different localities.

1.6

1.6

1.4

1.4

For more information about Apron Plus Beans, contact Felix Tembo, Seedcare Syngenta Key Account Manager for Southern Africa, by sending an e-mail to felix. tembo-1@syngenta. com, or call +260967-382-102.

1.2 1.2 11 0.8 0.8

Average yield gain Average yield gain 0.302 t/ha 0.302 t/ha

0.6

0.6

0.4

0.4

0.2

0.2 0

0 1

-0.2

2

1

3

2

4

3

5

4

6

5

7

8

9

6

7

8

10

9

11

10

12

11

13

14

12

15

13

16

14

17

18

15

16

19

17

20

18

21

22

19

23

20

24

21

25

22

23

24

25

-0.2

Plus Beans

ProAgri Zambia 76

Plus Beans

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ProAgri Zambia 76

Rabbit farming Part 4:

Feeding and watering the rabbits T

here is no such thing as a one-sizefits-all approach to rabbit nutrition.

In order to keep the rabbits healthy and prevent them from gaining too much weight, they must be fed the right quantity of food.

To feed rabbits, you need to remember that a rabbit has only one stomach, which makes them monogastric (non-ruminants). To develop properly, rabbits require specific nutrient ratios of proteins, energy, minerals, vitamins, and fats.

Each stage of a rabbit's life has different nutritional requirements. The most concentrated and nutrient-dense foods are required during the lactation period of the doe. The doe produces milk that is three times as rich as cow's milk, but they have few reserves compared to the demand placed on them.

Raising rabbits can be classified into the following production groups: • Pregnant does • Non-lactating does • Lactating doe and peri-weaning kits • Young rabbits (4 to 12 weeks) • Bucks As young rabbits grow older, their diet may become less enriched than those of pregnant or lactating does. Bucks don't require a lot of food for maintenance.

Concentrate feed should be fed to

the rabbits twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, for a total of 120 to 170 grammes of feed. The best time to feed rabbits greens is in the evening when they are most active.

Adult rabbits can be fed up to 130 grammes of pellets each day in addition to their regular diet.

Production costs can be cut by reducing the quantity of pellets in a feed mix.

Rabbits will eat almost anything that grows on the earth.

A farmer can grow his own greens for their rabbits and give them those instead of store-bought.

From the time rabbits are weaned, feed them at least a handful of hay every day. Allowing greens to wilt before giving it to them is the best way to get the most nutrition out of it.

(Image by food-pyramid.org)

ProAgri Zambia 76

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Components of feed, assumed to contain 89 percent dry matter

Young rabbit (4 to 12 weeks)

Lactating doe

Peri-weaning

Mixed (maternity + fattening)

Crude proteins (%)

16

18

15

17

13,3

10,8

12,4

Digestible proteins (%) 11,5 Amino acids Methionine + cystine (%)

0,60

0,60

0,55

0,60

Lysine (%)

0,70

0,90

0,65

0,70

Arginine (%)

0,90

0,80

0,80

0,90

Threonine (%)

0,55

0,70

0,55

0,60

Tryptophane (%)

0,13

0,20

0,12

0,13

Histidine (5)

0,35

0,43

0,35

0,40

Isoleucine (%)

0,60

0,70

0,67

0,65

Phenylaline + tyrosine (%)

1,20

1,40

1,10

1,25

Valine (%)

0,70

0,85

0,68

0,80

Leucine %

1,05

1,25

1,00

1,20

Energy and bulk Table 1. Specified feed chemical compositions for rabbits of various categories that are raised intensively. (Table source: Lebas et al, 1997) Pellets are typically made from alfalfa and have been treated with a mineral mixture, vitamins, and salt, as well as green fodder or hay. You can feed a small rabbit population in your garden with kitchen and vegetable waste, grass, tree leaves, and root crops.

A rabbit's diet can include lucerne, grass, green maize leaves, carrots, turnips, cabbage (limited amount), and lettuce (not Iceberg lettuce). A lactating doe should not be fed cabbage, as it can reduce her milk supply, so it is best to avoid it altogether. They can also eat things like maize meal, porridge, bread, samp, weeds, and fruit tree leaves, as well as other grains and starchy foods. Soya bean and peanut meals, as well as grains like maize, wheat, and barley, are good sources of protein.

Commercial salt cakes or salt mixed into the feed can both be used to supplement the rabbit's diet. Vitamin A can be found in root crops and hay, whereas vitamin B can be found in greens and roughage. The leaves of potatoes, tomatoes, and rhubarb are toxic to rabbits and should not be fed to them.

Nutritional standards fall into four categories. First, protein standards

and composition (distribution of amino acids). Protein is required to build or rebuild rabbit bodies. The proportion of indigestible fibre provides the mild congestion required for efficient digestive function. The quantity of acid detergent fibre (ADF) or indigestible ADF can also be estimated.

Energy is secondly required to control body temperature and for general bodily functions.

Minerals and vitamins are the final two building blocks for the animal's skeleton and enzymes that use energy to con-

struct and rebuild bodily proteins.

Water should be given ad libitum and be readily available at all times, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The availability of clean, safe drinking water should never be a problem. Leaving rabbits without water is never acceptable.

If the farmer prefers, he can buy commercial pelleted feed for his rabbits from a variety of vendors. Commercial pellets should be used with care to avoid aflatoxin contamination.

In commercial rabbit feed, the nutritional value often varies in the way

(Photo by vets4pets.com)

ProAgri Zambia 76

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ProAgri Zambia 76

The information provided in this article is credited to: A Complete Handbook on Backyard and Commercial Rabbit Production. (2014). Available at: https:// pclive.peacecorps.gov/pclive/index. php/pclive-resources/resourcelibrary/1281-r0041-complete-handbook-backyard-rabbit-production/file The National Department of Agriculture in South Africa in cooperation with JA Erasmus at the Glen Agricultural Development Institute. For more information visit www.daff. gov.za or send an e-mail to DPP@ nda.agric.za.

Nurturing the roots of change in rural Kenya in cooperation with Bonnie Ami Holt at the Mitahato Education and Development Fund.

For more information visit www. mitahatoedf.com/ or contact them on +254-728-082887.

Dutta, P., Singh, R.K., Dhali, A. & Rajkhowa, C. (2009). BACKYARD RABBIT FARMING. ISBN 10.13140/ RG.2.1.1742.5440/1. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273886912

(Image by reddoorshelter.org) that follows: 13 to 18 percent of the diet is protein, while 8 to 13 percent is digestible energy and 8 to 18 percent is fibre. When using them, make sure to only use brand-new, contaminantfree pellets. Do not feed your rabbit any hay or pellets that have been exposed to mould.

A breeding doe's diet should contain a higher proportion of protein, around 18 percent. The doe's feed should be cut in half the day before kindling (giving birth), and then increased from the third day to the seventh day in a gradual but steady manner. Always make sure that the doe and her kits are fed. Introduce wilted greens gradually during weaning in order to avoid diarrhoea in the kits. If you want to keep your rabbits happy and healthy, you must feed them a mixture of dry matter (forage) and concentrated feeds (if possible).

Faeces excreted by rabbits can be both soft and hard. Additionally, rabbits eat their own faeces in order to obtain their vitamins, which are abundant in the soft droppings. Rabbits are

known as "coprophages" because they eat their own faeces. A novice rabbit farmer may be frightened to learn this because their wire-bottomed hutch arrangement will allow rabbit droppings to fall through the wire. In this case, rabbits will eat the caecotropes as these droppings exit the anus, so it's not an issue.

As a final piece of advice, if you're going to make changes to a rabbit's diet, go slow. It is not recommended to make any major changes to a rabbit's diet at any point. The introduction of a new type of feed should be spread out over a few days when a change is needed. Providing rabbits with food that has been overheated or pesticidetreated is a bad idea. Large amounts of lush greens can be lethal to animals accustomed to concentrated feed.

Even minor, but potentially significant, alterations to a grain-based diet may cause digestive upsets in some rabbits.

In order to avoid an abrupt change in diet, it is suggested that a combination of greens and commercial foods be provided.

ProAgri Zambia 76

Lebas, F., Coudert, P., de Rochambeau, H. & Thébault, R. (1997). The rabbit - Husbandry, health, and production. ISBN 92-5-103441-9.

Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/38977233_ The_Rabbit_Husbandry_Health_ and_Production

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Tiger Animal Feeds: Enriching Zambian farmers with training

by Given Hamanungu, Tiger Feeds Technical Advisor

I

n developing countries such as Zambia, poverty levels are increasing, especially among rural households, the majority of whom rely on agriculture as their main source of livelihood. One of the main contributing factors is climate change which has brought unpredictable weather patterns making farming planning very difficult. Therefore, there is need to find the best way of tackling this challenging global economic threat.

Tiger Animal Feeds, the leading feed manufacturer for all livestock species, is directly affected by climate change that has led farmers to scale down livestock farming activities due to increased cost. This is why Tiger Animal Feeds embarked on training farmers through seminars to improve their knowledge on how to cope with these changes.

Knowledge is a foundation for the competence and successful performance of a person. In the farming industry it consists of facts, concepts, as well as the understanding and application of information to farming businesses. There is no other route to successful farming than acquiring the correct knowledge which translates into farming skills.

“The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.” - Frank Herbert.

Tiger Animal Feeds’ main value is to make sure a farmer’s knowledge is increased. It is acquired through education, training, and experience. By acquiring knowledge, a farmer’s ability to understand various concepts of farming improves.

On-site technical assistance.

Knowledge of the facts and concepts form the foundation for the ability to apply the skills to perform a specific task. Essentially, a person should gain the basic knowledge of how to do something before attempting the task.

Farmers listen attentively at a training session in Mwanachingwala chiefdom in Mazabuka.

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We believe in equal growth opportunities for Tiger Animal Feeds and the farmer for continued business.

Together we develop the Zambian economy.

Group discussions during training in Chipata; the best method of interaction.

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“The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.” - Herbert Spencer Tiger Animal Feeds values technical services to farmers as the best way of contributing to the growth of farmers to achieve success. Our ranges of feeds are of the highest quality to meet the farmers’ needs in achieving optimum production.

Remember, skill is a person’s ability to perform an activity or task.

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Poultry farming Part 4.3:

Raising chicks in a brooder Construction of the chicken guard In part one of Chapter 4 we discussed the types of chickens suitable for Southern African circumstances. We also learned how to take care of day-old chicks in a heated brooder from the day they arrive until they are four weeks old and ready to be moved to a henhouse.

In part 2 we discussed the specific requirements for raising healthy chickens in a brooder.

We also learned how to construct a hay box brooder from simple, readily available materials.

In part 3 we discuss the construction of a small round hut brooder with natural materials, and an easy to construct hessian-covered brooder. We shall also discuss good management of these brooders.

The small round hut brooder

This brooder is suitable for fifty day-old chicks. The size is important to keep the chicks warm and snug with their own body heat and without the use of any equipment, such as infrared lights.

This round brooder of 1 000 mm (one metre) in diameter, is suitable for fifty chicks from day-old to four weeks of age. It must be constructed inside a poultry house, and to keep the chickens safe, a chick guard must be put up around it.

Construction of the round hut brooder

Draw a circle of one metre in diameter on the ground. Roll out 13 mm wire mesh following the circle, leaving an opening of 230 mm wide at the front.

Cut twenty stakes (poles) of 300 mm each and tie the stakes to the mesh 150 mm apart.

Wrap thin, supple tree branches around the top and bottom of the mesh and stakes.

Cover the wire mesh all round with bundles of tall grass, using thin branches to keep the grass in place.

Make a thatched roof that fits on top of the grass walls. The roof must not be attached to the sides of the hut so that it can be removed.

Make sure there are no gaps where the wind can get in and cause a draft.

Draw a circle of two to two-and-a-half metre (2,0 – 2,5 m) in diameter around the brooder. Roll wire mesh of 600 mm high out along the circle. Cover the wire mesh with grass. This space inside the chicken guard is called the run.

Management of the round hut brooder

During the first week the feeders and drinkers must be placed inside the hut.

Make sure the drinkers are cleaned and filled with fresh water twice a day and make sure the feeders are filled with suitable feed. The chickens can be allowed to move freely in and out of the hut during the day, but they must sleep inside at night.

The drinkers and feeders can be moved to the run in the second week.

Place 100 mm of litter, consisting of chopped hay, on the floor of the hut.

The litter must be replaced as often as necessary to prevent it from becoming damp and smelly.

When it is warm during the day, the roof can be removed for ventilation and to let sunlight in. After the chickens have been moved to the henhouse, the hut must be disinfected and remain empty for between seven and fourteen days before new day-old chicks are put in it.

ventilation. The cardboard must be removed during the day but replaced during cold nights.

Management • •

•

Adjustable hessian cold brooder

A hessian cold brooder consists of a frame of 100 mm high, 750 mm long, and 600 mm wide.

The bottom of the frame is covered with wire mesh. The bottom of the brooder must be 80 mm above the litter. It can be fitted with adjustable legs so that the bottom can be raised as the chickens grow bigger. Strips of hessian or plastic of 50 mm wide and 80 mm long can be hung from the bottom edge of the frame to act as curtains.

These curtains will help to keep the heat inside, while allowing the chickens to move into the run.

Cover the top of the mesh with hessian and a 100 mm layer of wood shavings or straw as insulation. Cover the wood shavings with another layer of hessian to keep it in place.

This insulating layer retains heat inside, while allowing fresh air to move through the brooder. It is preferable to introduce the chicks to the brooder on the first evening. Close the curtains and place strips of cardboard over the curtains on three sides of the brooder for extra insulation. The third side can be covered with wire mesh to allow

ProAgri Zambia 76

•

• •

•

Be quiet and careful around the chicks, as noise and sudden movements can stress them out.

Visit the brooder often during the day to make sure the drinkers are clean and filled with water, and that the feeders are filled with food.

Remove wet or hard-baked litter and replace it with fresh litter.

The used litter can be added to a compost pile, which can be used to enrich the soil of your garden.

Remove weak chickens from the brooder and treat them separately.

If they don’t recover, cull them, and burn the remains.

It is important to keep the brooder and the run clean to prevent diseases.

If rodents, such as rats, can still get inside despite your precautions, cover the brooder with 13 mm mesh during the night.

Keep a record of the chicks and the quantity of feed they eat.

Weigh them every week in groups of five to ten in a bucket attached to a scale. Divide the weight by the number of chicks to determine average weight. Write down the numbers to see whether they are growing at an even rate and how fast they are growing.

Equipment needed Feeders

Shallow feeders, such as egg trays or even sheets of cardboard, must be provided for day-old chicks.

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Wire mesh chick guard

Figure 3: A small round hut made with stakes, chicken wire, and grass.

When the chicks are one week old, they can start using feeders or troughs such as the homemade ones in Figure 1. The side of the feeder must be 75 mm high, and it must be easy to clean it properly.

Drinkers Figure 1: Homemade feeders using materials that are readily available.

Day old chicks need shallow drinkers.

When they are one week old, they can start using water fountains or troughs, which can be home-made, as shown in Figure 2.

For a water fountain, use a tin can and a saucer. Make a small cut in the edge of the tin where the water level will be. Fill the tin with water, place a saucer on top of it and turn it upside down so the water fills the saucer as fast as the chickens drink it.

A bottle can also be used to feed water to a trough. The trough must be filled with clean, small stones during the first week so the chickens cannot fall into the water and drown.

Figure 2: Homemade drinkers made with a tin and saucer, or a bottle and tray.

References Cilliers, P.F. (July 2000) Smallscale poultry housing in South Africa. ARC-Institute for Agricultural Engineering

Figure 4: A hessian brooder consisting of a wooden frame, chicken wire, and sheets of hessian or plastic.

ProAgri Zambia 76

Hay-box brooder: a milestone to increase rural households’ poultry production, Ethiopia. (n.d.) Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations https://www.fao.org/3/CA3079EN/ ca3079en.pdf

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Processing of condiments Part 17: S

Sauerkraut

auerkraut is made from shredded cabbage leaves preserved through an acidifying fermentation process.

Sauerkraut is produced from both hard white or red cabbage varieties.

Process description

Harvesting of cabbage

Cabbage is harvested by cutting the heads from the stems with sharp knives or blades. This is usually done by hand, but mechanical harvesters can also be used.

Different styles of sauerkraut.

(Image Source: iherb.com)

Cabbages must be cooled as soon as possible after harvesting to ensure Cooling of harvested cabbage that the best quality is maintained.

Cooling involves extracting heat from Most harvested products will keep for the product to decrease its temperaa few hours at moderate temperatures, ture using an appropriate device such but if they are transported over long as a heat exchanger and medium, for distances, the products must be kept example water, air, or refrigerant. at low temperatures. Hydro-cooling is Water losses (wilting) occur as a reused where the product can be sprayed sult of transpiration (moisture evapoor dunked in refrigerated potable water rates from the surface cells), respiration (16 to 20 °C). Dunking the product in and surface damage, which exposes the potable water at this stage also gets product to air and further losses. rid of some of the residual dirt, dry leaves, and other debris.

Process description The product must be transported and handled carefully to ensure minimal Harvesting damage. Bruises may result in soft spots, off-flavour development and Cooling sites for insect infestation or enzymatic reactions. Products can be transported vertically or horizontally through meInspection & sorting chanical methods, for example a simple moving conveyor or baskets in which Washing the cabbages can be loaded. Visual inspection can be performed while the Sorting & trimming product is conveyed. Roller conveyors rotate the product to ensure visibility De-coring & shredding on all sides and are used especially for the inspection of products.

Some products are transported in Salting potable water, where potable water acts as a cushion against any possible Fermentation mechanical damage. The water can be recirculated after filtration and treatFilling ment. A flume is the simplest, where a trough (V-shaped) is filled with running potable water.

Cold fill Hot fill Pump systems can also be used where products are Exhausting Heating transported in a closed pipe to where it will be used and Sealing Sealing the product and potable water is then separated.

(Heat processing) (Heat processing) (Refrigerated Potable water is defined storage) as water free from sus(Cooling) (Cooling) pended matter and from (Optional process substances that could be or ingredient) Labelling Labelling deleterious to the product ProAgri Zambia 76

or harmful to health. In addition, the water must be treated by flocculation, filtration, chlorination or other acceptable processes, to ensure compliance with the following microbiological requirements: • Total bacterial count shall not exceed 100 per ml, • Coliform organisms shall not exceed five organisms per 100 ml, and • Faecal coliform bacterial shall not be detectable in 100 ml of the water.

Inspection and sorting of cabbage

Inspection is done on arrival of the cabbage at the processing plant to select the best suitable raw materials for manufacturing the value-added end product. The outer leaves are removed manually while all infected,

Inspection of cabbage. (Image Source: haith.co.uk) injured and over mature heads are also removed. The product must adhere to the minimum quality requirements to ensure optimum quality and processing efficiency. Sorting and inspection are very labour intensive practices.

Washing of cabbage

The product is washed in water baths (large containers filled with potable water which must be regularly changed to minimise the chance of any contamination spreading). High-pressure water sprays may also be used to ensure that all surfaces are cleaned. Salt may be added to the water to remove insects and their larvae.

Sorting and trimming of cabbage

This is done to select the best suitable raw materials for manufacturing the value-added end product.

Trimming is the deliberate removal of unwanted or unfit fractions of a food product.

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The product is trimmed and the fibrous stalks removed. Any damaged or immature parts must also be removed. The quality of the product and adherence to pre-set quality standard (colour, shape, and size) must be controlled carefully. Only heads with minor defects can be trimmed.

Shredding cabbage for sauerkraut

The washed cabbage is shredded by chopping it into 3 to 5 mm fine strips after the core has been removed from the head.

The surfaces must be cleanly cut across the cells, or else a limp, discoloured product will result with further processing. Only stainless steel knives, hand driven cutting devices or automatic cutters made from stainless steel should be used.

Care must be taken to ensure that these pieces of equipment are regularly cleaned and disinfected to minimise the possible spreading of contamination. The cutting edges must be sharpened at regular intervals. Blunt cutting edges will damage the product, exposing a lot of cells to air and also tearing the product resulting in a poor, unappealing appearance of the final product. Work surfaces must also be cleaned regularly and disinfected to prevent cross contamination and possible build-up of micro-organisms.

The cored cabbage is cut into shreds by thin curved knives attached to a revolving metal disk.

Salting of cabbage for sauerkraut

About 1 to 6% (usually 2,5%) salt by weight is added and mixed well with the shredded cabbage. The salt concentration reduces the growth of spoilage organisms and promotes the growth of lactic acid bacteria. The conversion of cabbage to sauerkraut occurs through a lactic acid fermentation process.

Fermentation of cabbage for sauerkraut

The salted cabbage is put into a closed container with a weighted cover.

(Image Source: haith.co.uk)

Sufficient pickle (brine) is formed through the release of water from the cabbage tissues in which the salt is dissolved. This brine completely covers the cabbage. The brine also contains dissolved sugars, nitrogenous substances, minerals, vitamins, and other compounds, which act as growth medium for the bacteria and yeast naturally present on the cabbage.

Bacteria and yeast develop rapidly and a lot of gas (carbon dioxide) is produced during the initial stages of fermentation that ensures removal of oxygen present. Yeast may produce a small amount of alcohol during the initial stages of fermentation.

The initial fermentation period of 3 to 6 weeks is lactic acid fermentation until a final pH of 3,5 to 3,7 is obtained.

The organisms naturally present on the cabbage are responsible for the fermentation. (Sometimes starter cultures need to be added.)

The predominant organisms are the lactic acid producers (Leuconostoc group) which are also responsible for the gas formation, acetic acid, alcohol, and mannitol production during the first 2 to 3 days of fermentation.

The acid produced during fermentation (1 to 1,3%) suppresses the growth of putrefactive (spoilage) bacteria.

After 2 to 3 days the Leuconostoc group of bacteria is superseded by another type of lactic acid producing bacteria, which produce large quantities of lactic acid. The development of yeast, Aerobacter and butyric organisms must be kept to a minimum to ensure a good quality product. Optimum processing temperature is between 19 and 21 °C. The acidity rapidly increases during fermentation and is ± 1,8% (lactic acid) at the final pH of 3,5 to 3,7.

Fermentation can take place in trays, tanks or other containers that have temperature and humidity control. The material used in the construction of the fermenters should be acid resistant and impermeable to any flavours and odours.

Filling of sauerkraut

The fully fermented sauerkraut may be kept tightly covered under refrigerated conditions for several months, or it may be canned. During the canning process, two alternatives are available, namely the hot fill and cold fill process.

If the hot fill is used, the sauerkraut is heated to boiling point, filled into suitable containers and sealed. For the cold fill, the containers are filled, exhausted, and then sealed prior to further processing.

Exhausting and sealing of sauerkraut

Close-up of fermented cabbage.

(Image Source: seriouseats.com)

Exhausting involves the partial or complete removal of the remaining air or oxygen in the headspace of a can to prevent corrosion of the tinplate and spoilage of the product.

Prior to sealing, the cold filled containers are passed through steam

ProAgri Zambia 76

before sealing to displace the air in the headspace at the top of the container and thus reduce the oxygen content that may cause undesirable changes in the product such as discolouration.

Upon cooling, the steam forms a partial vacuum in the headspace.

Heat processing of sauerkraut (optional)

Sauerkraut may be given a heat treatment in the final retail containers to extend the shelf life and eliminate the need for refrigerated storage. The processor has two options with regard to the type and severity of the heat treatment, namely a pasteurisation or sterilisation (retort) process.

Pasteurised products are products that are heat treated in the container to a minimum internal temperature of 66 °C for a specified time. The time of exposure needed to destroy spoilage organisms and pathogens depends on the acidity of the product, container size and type of packaging material.

Sauerkraut should have a pH below 3,7.

This necessitates a heat treatment of 30 minutes at 66 °C. As the temperature increases, the required processing time is reduced, within the limits set by the packaging container.

Pasteurisation can be performed in open or closed cookers. High-temperature short-time treatment is generally used to sterilise the product and this is usually performed in retorts. Still retorts (batch retorts) may be vertical or horizontal. Horizontal retorts are easier to load and unload. The retort is closed and steam is pumped into the closed vessel. The time/temperature combinations depend on the heat and pressure resistance of the container. A heat treatment of 12 minutes is required at 100 °C while only 3 seconds is necessary at 121 °C for commercial sterility.

Inefficient heating results in premature spoilage of the product.

Cooling of heat processed sauerkraut (optional) After heating, the product requires to be cooled to below 40 °C with cold water.

The first stage of cooling takes place in the retort (for sterilised products) and further cooling takes place once the containers have been removed. Cooling prevents over-heating that would result in loss of sensory quality.

Labelling of vegetable products

The product must be correctly labelled according to the requirements set out in the Labelling and Advertising Regulation R2034/1993.

Published with acknowledgement to the ARC Agricultural Engineering for the use of their manuals.

Visit www.arc.agric.za for more information.

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Beekeeping Part 3:

How to start beekeeping I

n the first three issues on beekeeping, we gave you some background on why you should keep bees, what role bees play in pollination, and what goes on inside the hive. In this issue, we look at what you need to set up a bee colony.

Here are some things to do to get started: • Inform yourself • Find the best spot on your land • Buy or make a hive • Get a protective outfit • Get the bees 1. Inform yourself It may seem difficult to start beekeeping. It is not that difficult, but it is best to be as well informed as you can be. The best would be to visit an established beekeeper to find out more about what it’s about, but you can find much information on the internet via your cell phone. Remember that African bees are not the same as European bees, so make sure you get information on local bees!

Be warned, beekeeping is hard work, and it will keep you very busy all year round, especially in warmer areas. By finding out as much as you can before you start, you will avoid common mistakes beginner beekeepers make – but that’s also okay, because you learn best by experience.

2. Find the best spot on your land There are several things to keep in mind when you decide where to put your group of hives, which is called an apiary.

Put it in a secluded spot where there is not too much movement. Constant activity will disturb the bees, and disturbed African bees can be very

aggressive. Keep the apairy away from an area or path where people, and especially children, frequently go.

If you have a deciduous tree — one that loses its leaves in winter — you can place the apiary underneath it to provide shade from the hot afternoon sun. Bees work only when it is warm enough, but if it is too hot, they also don’t leave the hive because they must fan the inside to cool it down.

Place the entrance to the hive away from the direction of the wind, as strong wind will affect their flight.

If possible, it is good to put your apiary in an area that will not be wide open to thieves, whether the two- or four-legged ones! By putting the hive on a stand, you can deter honey-loving badgers from getting to it.

It is also important to put the apiary in or near an area where there is enough forage for nectar and pollen, like flowering wild trees, shrubs or wildflowers, fruit and nut trees and vegetables, as well as oil-producing and grain fields.

If you don’t have suitable forage, you can get permission from a landowner who has suitable and sustainable forage on his farm. To have bees on his land will also benefit him because of the free pollination service your bees will provide to help him grow a bigger crop.

Most importantly, it is essential that the bees have access to water, as bees need fresh, clean water to survive. A strong colony will need at least one litre of water on a warm day.

It is your responsibility to provide water to them, and it is best to set up a drinking pond before the bees arrive.

If they must search for another water source, it may be difficult to redirect

ProAgri Zambia 76

The Langstroth hive is usually used in Africa. It can hold ten or eleven frames. (Source: Pixabay)

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A beekeeper removing and cleaning a super from the hive. (Source: Pixabay)

Beekeepers inspecting bee activity on a super just removed from the hive. (Source: Pixabay)

A beekeeper wearing a protective hat with a veil working with her bees. (Source: Pixabay)

Hives in a flowering field that provides sufficient forage for the bees. (Source: Pixabay)

them to the water you provide. Put something that floats on the pool of water so that they will be able to drink water without falling in and drowning.

3. Buy or build a hive You can either buy or make a hive. You should start with no more than three hives. Once you have gained experience, you can get more.

It is best not to buy used hives, as these may carry viruses or diseases from the previous colonies. It is also wise to replace frames and foundations every three to five years to get rid of everything that may have contaminated the hive over time.

Hives are commercially available, but it may be costly to buy more than one. So why not buy one and copy it to make your own? If you have basic woodworking skills and tools, it won’t be too difficult.

The Langstroth hive is usually used in Africa. It can hold ten, or when the frames are fitted closer together, eleven frames.

The hive consists of a roof, three or more honey super boxes, a slide-out tray, crown board, queen excluder, brood box, and an open mesh floor.

The best wood to use include pine and bluegum, as well as kiaat.

Besides the hive, you also need a hive tool, a bee brush, a queen marking cage and pen, a medium-sized smoker, feeders for sugar syrup and pollen when times are tough for the bees, and a one-way porter bee escape that fits into the crown board for clearing the supers of bees.

4. Protective clothing It is important to dress for success.

Protective white clothing that covers you from head to toe will protect you from painful stings.

The outfit consists of a cotton overall with long sleeves and pants, a hat with a veil that fastens to the top of the overall, thick gloves that fit tightly around the arm, and boots that fit tightly around the ankles. There must be no gap that allows a bee to crawl inside the suit.

Suits are commercially available and cost on average R1 600 (K1 900), when ordered from South Africa, but a ventilated suit that will be cooler to wear, costs at least double that amount.

5. Get the bees The best way to find your first swarm of bees is to get it from an established beekeeper, who will provide you with a swarm or even half a swarm of bees, including a queen. The bees will be in a container and the queen will come in a cage.

To release your swarm, you put the queen on top of the hive. Release the bees into the hive by shaking the container to empty the bees into it.

You should wear your protective clothing and mask, but usually the bees are so concerned with finding their new home that they shouldn’t take much notice of you. When done, release the queen from her cage in the fourth frame.

In the next issue, we shall provide more information on building a hive.

ProAgri Zambia 76

A beekeeper removes a swarm from a tree. (Source: Pixabay)

References Anderson, R.H., Buys, B., Johannsmeier, M.F. (2014) Byeboerdery in Suid-Afrika. Hersiene uitgawe. Departement van Landbou-tegniese dienste Bulletin no. 394, 1978.

Katy. (2019). How to set up a bee colony: Beekeeping 101. Beekeeping Basics. beekeepingbasic.com/ how-to-set-up-a-bee-colony-beekeeping-101/ Katy. (2019). Become a successful beekeeper by following these 10 tips. Beekeeping for beginners. beekeepingbasic.com/BECOME-ASUCCESSFUL-BEEKEEPER-BY-FOLLOWING-THESE-10-TIPS/ Katy. (2019). Here’s why you should start beekeeping. Beekeeping for Beginners. beekeepingbasic. com/heres-why-you-should-startbeekeeping/

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www.rotrixafrica.co.za ProAgri Zambia 76

Erosion control in Malawi Part 5: How to deal with flat, bare areas E

rosion is caused when a lot of water have set up a nursery where indigeruns over bare soil. Soil usually nous trees are grown in large numbers. becomes bare because of overgrazIn the previous two issues, we ing, which is caused when a farmer discussed how soil erosion on steep keeps more livestock than the land can slopes, which had caused head-cuts support. If the farmer has no other and gullies, was successfully treated land where the animals can graze, the by using available plant material such vegetation doesn’t get a chance to as branches, grass, and shrubs. This recover, even after it has rained. readily available material was used to During a drought the situation gets build branch breaks and grass fences worse. The bare soil is baked hard by that were used to slow down the water the hot sun and whatever plants reand prevent more damage. mained, also shrivel up and die.

In this issue we look at the way When a heavy downpour of rain in which Conservation Management follows, there are no plants to protect the soil and to keep the running water from washing away the soil.

Water that flows unchecked over the soil causes soil erosion. Eventually most of the topsoil is washed away and the subsoil is all that is left, without any organic material or nutrients for plant growth.

Even if some water remains on top of the bare soil, little or no moisture penetrates the hard soil. Because there are no plants on top of the ground, there are also no roots underneath the ground that will hold the moisture, and muddy puddles soon evaporate leaving the land as dry as before the rain.

Flat land without any vegetation.

To prevent this from happening, Ken Coetzee and Wallie Stroebel of Conservation Management Services from George in the Western Cape were appointed by Wells for Zoe, an Irish charity organisation, to help restore some of the degraded land in Malawi.

Wells for Zoe is working on the Enyazini reforestation project near the town of Mzuzu in the northern part of Malawi. They provide wells and pumps for the community in this area, and they are busy with the reforestation of the mountain slopes that were stripped bare by the cutting down of trees for firewood and charcoal. For this purpose, they Example of flat, bare land with little vegetation.

ProAgri Zambia 76

Services helped to prevent the soil from drying out by making hollows, or ponds, to capture the run-off rainwater, silt, animal droppings and seeds.

Action

On bare areas capped with hard soil, hollows are created to allow water to infiltrate and rehydrate the parched soil. Hollows or ponds are constructed to catch the water before it runs off, thereby creating a place where run-off soil or silt is captured, as well as seeds and other organic material. When the seeds germinate, grass and other plants grow to provide ground cover for the bare soil.

This method consists of digging rows of hollows across flat bare areas where little or no plant cover exists. It is applied on flat or gently sloping ground, and each hollow incorporates an inflow and an earth berm opposite the inflow, creating a small dam which can hold roughly 45 to 55 litres of water.

Step by step action

On bare, flat areas of land where plant cover is absent, mark the outline of the hollows in alternating rows.

Avoid the destruction of existing plants, as they help to bind the soil.

Hollows should be about two metres apart in rows of one metre apart. The hollows should be cut in a horseshoe shape (see Figure 1). Arrange the rows of hollows so that water flowing past the hollows in one row will be trapped in the hollows of the next row, in other words, stagger the rows of hollows across the site to be treated.

The layout should be staggered (See the photo of the final result).

It is very important that the open side of the horseshoe faces in the direction that the water will be flowing from.

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ProAgri Zambia 76

This will ensure that the maximum quantity of water is captured and held.

Dig the bowl of the hollow by using a hoe or pick and shovel and place the excavated soil on the bottom side of the hollow to create a berm or little dam wall on the side to which the water will normally flow.

Make sure the berm is compacted throughout the process to ensure that it will form a strong retaining wall.

The hollows need to be no larger than 800 mm wide, 500 mm wide and 300 mm deep.

Place brush or mulch inside every hollow to create a favourable environment for seed germination and to protect the seedlings.

Sow a mixture of local grass seeds in every hollow to ensure that new plant cover will be established. The wind will also help to bring grass seeds into the hollows; in grassy areas seeding will not be necessary.

Contact details Ken Coetzee, Wallie Stroebel and Bruce Taplin 4 Chestnut Street, Heather Park, George, 6529, South Africa Cell Ken: +27 76-227-5056; Wallie +27 82-493-1441 Website: www.conservationmanagementservices.co.za

Figure 1: The construction and layout of hollows or ponding.

Illustrations provided by Conservation Management Services.

Digging the hollows by hand.

Compact a soil berm on the downslope side of the hollow to ensure that it will be strong enough to hold the run-off water.

Put leafy branches or brush inside the hollows to create a microclimate for plant germination and to protect new seedlings from grazing animals.

ProAgri Zambia 76

The final product with hollows staggered across the land.

41

Ancient African food Part 2:

by Tisha Steyn

The answer to Africa’s malnutrition and obesity?

I

n the previous issue, we looked at the state of food security in Africa and especially the lack of sufficient nutrients in modern food that is presently grown on the continent.

Africa has for a long time suffered from political turmoil, drought, and famine. Climate change badly affects Africa, as it causes weather patterns that are different from what we are used to.

These weather patterns influence food security, which is made worse by ongoing malnutrition, because food that is presently consumed does not contain enough nutritional value. It also causes obesity, which is often a sign of malnutrition as too much of the wrong kind of food is eaten.

According to Jurie van der Walt, who has been studying plants that were used by our ancestors, these ancient plants provide the solution to both malnutrition and obesity.

“There are numerous neglected and underutilised plant species (NUS) in Africa that are simply not enjoying enough attention despite their valuable nutritional value.”

Jurie believes if these plants are grown along with other vegetables in food gardens and on small-scale farms, they can add the necessary nutrients to the diet of people in Africa at an affordable price.

Neglected and underutilised species Species that have the potential for use, but which is not grown for whatever reason, are referred to as Neglected and Underutilised Species (NUS).

Today, we depend on only twelve plant crops and five animal species to provide 75%, or three-quarters, of the world’s food. Wheat, maize, and rice supply half the daily calories (energy) of all the people on earth. As the world’s population grows, it is important to start adding more foods to this menu for the sake of food security.

At the same time, it will add nutrition to foods that will help mothers bear healthy babies, growing children to develop strong bodies and healthy minds, and to fight obesity, which often leads to deadly diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases.

Orphan crops There are several reasons why these NUS plants are not being used and neglected as a source of food. According to Jurie, they are not well known, 42

there is little capacity to process and market them, and they do not get much attention from researchers.

They are probably not well known, because the knowledge used to be passed on from mother to daughter.

They are not very suitable for processing and marketing, because they don’t all look similar, as you will find in a monoculture crop where the plants are identical. In addition, they don’t have monetary value as a commercial crop, and agricultural companies that provide funding for research are not really interested.

Jurie points out that many of the species that are being ignored, have much nutritional, ecological and cultural value. That is because people not only regarded them as good food, but also as part of their food culture and rituals. He believes this link between the cultural values and plant resources is important to remind people of the value of their biological and cultural assets.

Some of the plants, that he calls ‘orphan crops’, include finger millet grain (A), amaranth (B), grass pea (C), water yam (D), African eggplant (E), and breadfruit (F). Although these plants originated elsewhere, they have become part of the African diet.

Lost crops of Africa According to the National Academy of Sciences in America, there are more than 2 000 native grains, roots, fruits,

Amaranth (marog) is one of the best-known and most widely used indigenous plants in Africa.

A woman harvests the leaves of an ironweed plant.

The fruit of the African eggplant is eaten boiled, steamed, pickled, or in stews with other vegetables or meat. and leafy food plants that people have eaten for thousands of years, but which are being neglected today. These plants are called the ‘lost crops of Africa’, and among them there are more than 100 native grasses whose seeds can be eaten.

The few plants that have been researched proved that these ancient plants have an important role to play in enhancing food and nutrition security. Researchers believe the plants can improve variety in diets that is necessary to provide the nutrients that are missing from modern crops. By placing these plants back on the menu of African families, malnutrition can be fought.

Early trade routes But why did people stop growing these plants? Early trade across the Indian Ocean between Asia and the East African coast started around 800 AD. This continued until about the mid-1500s and brought new plants, such as bananas, sugarcane, and rice to Africa.

From the fifteenth century, European explorers and slave traders, and later also American explorers, sailed along the West African coast, bringing food crops such as common beans, pumpkins, peanuts (also called groundnuts), maize (called corn by the Americans), tomatoes, sweet and chili peppers, and sweet potatoes. African populations loved these new foods, which soon found a way into their gardens and onto their menus.

European settlers started arriving in the 19th century, and they too brought new products, such as coffee, cacao, and tea. For them, these crops were more valuable and profitable. There was a growing and ongoing demand for these products in Europe, and because the dry products are non-perishable, they are easy to export.

Ever since these foreigners started arriving in Africa, a little more than twenty ProAgri Zambia 76

food species have been grown, and not all of them were originally from Africa.

If indigenous plants can be grown on a large scale, and if their nutritional value can be documented and understood, they can play an important role in the food security of the nations on the continent. Some of these important native plants include cassava, amaranth, yam, and okra.

Cassava Cassava, a staple crop that is eaten almost daily in many African countries, formed part of the traditional African food basket.

Although cassava is said to contain a tiny quantity of cyanide in the leaves and tubers, which the plant uses to fight pests, it is completely safe for humans to eat.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is the main ingredient in a dish known as saka-saka, which consists of boiled cassava leaves, peanut butter, palm oil and smoked fish. In Malawi, a dish known as kondowde is made with ground cassava.

Amaranth Amaranth, (known in South Africa as marog) is a nutritious vegetable that grows wild during rainy seasons. In some countries it is regarded as a weed and pulled out. Labelling it as a weed, makes one think it is an undesirable plant.

Yam Yam and okra remain two of the most popular traditional food plants in Africa, but they also had to make way for cash crops like beans, maize, and coffee.

Yams are still being planted in Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, and the Ivory Coast. These West African countries produce about ninety percent of all yams worldwide, and it is second only to cassava in providing starch on the continent. Yam tubers can be stored for up to six months without refrigeration, which makes it a popular staple food.

The cassava seeds can be harvested for resowing.

Jute mallow grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions throughout the world.

The horned melon fruit's taste has been compared to a combination of cucumber and zucchini or a combination of banana, cucumber, and lemon.

Okra The pods, seeds and leaves of okra are high in protein, vitamin A and B6, folic acid, calcium, iron, and other minerals.

It is believed to have come from Ethiopia originally but was also cultivated in ancient Egypt by the 12th century.

Today, it is grown all over the world, where it is named ladies’ fingers or ochro, and bhindi in India. In some American states it is associated with gumbo.

The African horned melon or cucumber is a traditional food plant indigenous to Southern and Central Africa. especially in Southern Africa, and she believes they can be developed as cultivated crops. These plants include vegetable amaranths, (Amaranthus species), spider plant (Cleome gynandra), African vegetable nightshades (Solanum species), cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata), African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum), African kale (Brassica carinata) and jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius).

In the next issue of ProAgri, we shall tell you more about the use of these plants and how they can be brought back to form an important part of the African diet.

Africa’s superfoods If sub-Saharan Africa can develop and use these native plants well, it can help to eliminate hunger. There is an abundance of plants, including tubers, roots, leaves, stems, stalks, fruits, and others Contact details: that were consumed in ancestral times.

Jurie van der Walt at jurievdw@ There are plants suitable for every mweb.co.za. climate type in Southern Africa. However, not many of the plants are documented, as information was passed by word of mouth and not written down.

If these can be researched and documented, the “legend of African indigenous vegetables will contribute to and offer strateBaal & Veehanteringstoerusting gies for the African green revolution”, Jurie quotes Professor Abukutsa Mary MANUFACTURER OF: Oyiela Onyango of the Department of BALE LOADERS, WOOL PRESSES Horticulture, Jomo Kenyatta UniverAND GENERAL CONVEYORS sity of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya.

Professor Abukutsa says Africans traditionally made use of edible leaves of species growing wild as weeds in Africa. They planted these plants in their gardens as intercrops with staples, and some of them were sold at local WILLA NOLTE markets.

021 010 0707 086 443 2720 072 333 1051 Some of these willa@kannaindustries.co.za www.kannaindustries.co.za plants are still col1 Samuel Walterstreet, Worcester lected in the wild,

ProAgri Zambia 76

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ProAgri Zambia 76

B r e a k down the wall of silence

by Trevor Dickinson

C

ommunication is the key to success in maintaining a successful family agribusiness. Yet many families never get to first base in addressing in communication issues, even those who realise how important it is to the outcome of ensuring the sustainability of their businesses.

Why families don’t communicate Hidden agendas are a major obstacle to communication in families. In some cases, the father’s hidden agenda may be that he has no intention of ever letting go. But the son’s failure to confront his father on the succession issue may result from a hidden agenda, too. It may be that he really doesn’t care for the responsibilities of leadership, but he doesn’t have the courage to say so.

A second block to communication results from waiting too long to address the issues. With the passage of time, small silences can grow into a mountain of guilt and rationalisation.

On the one hand, the father may be thinking, “I should have dealt with this years ago, and I have let it go too long.

Now I am too embarrassed to deal with it.” On the other hand, the son may be thinking, due to no word to the contrary from Dad, his entitlement to the top job grows with every passing day.

During my recent visit to AgriTech Expo in Chisamba, Zambia, I met a son, already in his 30s, who had invested many years of his life in the hope of eventually running the family agribusiness. However, his father, already well into his seventies, had no intention of letting go. It would be advisable for the son to communicate his desires to follow in his father’s footsteps to take over the management of the business.

A third and critical block is the feeling that the issues are so highly emotional that they seem to preclude any rational discussion. When a son has invested 18 years of his life in the hope of eventually running a business, any talk of succession with his father is bound to be powerfully charged for both.

Real communication has an element of vulnerability to it. So, if the son

Breaking down the wall of silence – a few rules to help improve communication: 1. The sun should never set on an emotionally significant issue within the family that remains unresolved. Avoid letting issues fester until they get too hot to handle.

2. Find the right time and place to talk seriously. Avoid the interruptions at work.

3. Before opening your mouth, clarify in your mind what you want and what is fair to other family members. Be sure about the principles you want to adhere to.

4. Seek objective advice on your own possible hidden agendas and on the best way to frame the issues.

Once the issues are on the table, look for alternative win-win solutions that address both business and family needs and promise a way out of the dilemma.

5. Family members should agree on what will be expected of successors-to-be and on measures to determine whether those expectations are being met. Potential successors should be given frequent feedback.

6. Before assigning blame for something, ask yourself what you may have contributed to the problem.

Remember that only you have the power to change yourself.

7. Keep the discussions moving forward. Be willing to negotiate. Remember that other family members may not be ready to hear you. It may take years for them to unfreeze. Stick with it. Build goodwill through the process. goes to his dad and tells him about his concerns for the future, he may hear something he doesn’t want to hear. Yet it is far riskier to the relationship and to the son’s future to let issues fester.

Questions about the competence of children pose some of the greatest challenges to family communication.

For a while, parents can rationalise away doubts about competence as “a maturity problem,” “an attitude problem” or “the influence of friends.” By the time children reach 30, however, parents should know whether their offspring have what it takes or not. If the parents don’t know, the children must be tested; they should be given more responsibility and the chance to fail.

Parents must stop rescuing children.

The children must be subject to serious evaluation by others – managers and

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personnel experts who can give them objective feedback. The next ten years are critical in a young adult’s life. Without good communication in the family, members of the next generation may hang on to illusions about their future in the business.

When crisis is imminent The father and son in my example have a lot of work to do. Ten years ago, Dad probably could have eased his son out of the business without causing an uproar in the family. That would have made it possible to prepare a professional manager to run the company when the father was ready to retire.

Now it is too late. The son has few career alternatives. Because Dad has not dealt with the issue for so long, he has lost a lot of his moral authority. He knows it and feels powerless.

The father must separate issues of authority on the business from the son’s need to save face. He must find a way of giving authority to those who are most able to provide competent leadership, while leaving his son with an adequate measure of self-esteem.

Perhaps the son could be put in charge of a smaller entity, such as one of the farming operations. Or he could have a seat on the board, while professional non-family managers run the family agribusiness.

Both father and son must look for win-win alternatives that can extricate them from the dilemma that has led to mutual avoidance of the issues.

The situation demands an enormous amount of communication, patient problem solving and compassion.

Sadly, such qualities are frequently beyond the emotional resources of some families. The leader then faces the awful choice of saving the business or the relationship.

Trevor Dickinson is the CEO of Family Legacies, a family business consulting company. For more information visit www.family-legacies.com

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What is new in agriculture?

FarmDroid is the latest in automated solutions Which vegetable farmer would not like a way to control weeds without using poisons? In comes the FarmDroid!

Two Danish farming brothers, Jens and Kristian Warning, have developed a robot to do the work. And that is not all — the robot also plants seeds and it runs on solar power! So, no fuel bill and no pesticide bill.

The FarmDroid uses ultra-accurate GPS to record exactly where it places each seed. Then on each subsequent weeding pass, it knows where the crop plants are and works around them. It uses hoes shares between each row and the blades slice off anything in the row between crop plants.

This approach means it does not need any high-definition cameras and complex computers to identify and target weeds, allowing it to start the weeding process even before crop emergence.

With in-row and inter-row action it does the complete job, working up to within 5 mm of each seedling between the rows and 20 mm in the row.

The whole machine weighs 800 kg Sugar beet farmers who tried out the first machine reported yield increases of 40 to 60% over tractor-hoed crops.

They believe that is due to the combination of precise seed placement and intra-row weed control making for uniform crop development.

Mounted on top of the machine’s steel frame are four solar panels that charge two lithium-ion batteries. On a full charge, it can operate continuously for 24 hours, stopping only when the batteries are flat, at which point it will apply the brakes and wait for the sun to rise.

It can handle around 6 ha per day The two Danish brothers built the first prototypes with the help of some robotics specialists in their farm workshop. Launched at Agritechnica 2019, the FarmDroid is now produced at a dedicated manufacturing complex and more than 250 machines are already out working across northern Europe.

FarmDroid will be distributed

by Opico “FarmDroid has come up with a unique solution that is suited to large and small-scale farming systems,” claims Opico Managing Director James Woolway. “Our distribution network, parts and technical teams are more than capable of backing up the tried and tested product, so it’s a great fit.”

South African farmers will have to come up with around R1,2 million to import a six-row version of one of these beauties with a few extra bucks for an RTK base station. The machine will be at the Opico stand at the LAMMA show. (Source: Farmers Weekly — UK)

New cutting system for Krone wagons Krone has developed a new cutting system for their forage wagons which will prevent uncut material from escaping. The SplitCut cutting system inside the latest ZX forage wagons is designed to prevent uncut material from flowing over the rotor ends into the wagon.

At the same time, the system offers greater precision, gentle crop handling and reduced input power.

With the SplitCut edge cut system, the outer rotor star is completely isolated from the loading space by side partitions. Thanks to this technology, it is ensured that no uncut forage gets into the hold, even at the outer edge of the rotor.

The harvested crop is divided at the first knife and conveyed forward again via the conveyor tines; two crop deflectors take care of the transfer to the centre of the rotor, where the forage is cut and transferred to the loading area.

The new cutting system benefits from beefier individual knife protection system components and the twice tempered blades are said to be more resilient to stress and strain.

Optimised rotor rpm, a new ZX option, allows the rotor speed to be reduced when operating the wagon behind less powerful (<184 kW) tractors or when harvesting thin swaths.

(Source: profi) MERGENTO VT 9220: Pöttinger launches a new belt-type rake Grassland specialist Pöttinger has added yet another new product to its extensive grassland range: The new MERGENTO VT 9220 belt-type rake (with working widths of up to 9,2 metres for a central swath and 8,7 metres for a side swath) is designed for alfalfa, clover, and a wide variety of crops

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from permanent grassland to straw.

MERGENTO collects the forage using the pick-up. Meanwhile, dirt and stones remain on the ground. Without further contact with the ground, cross conveyor belts transport the forage to the swath.

Especially with leafy, dry crops, the Pöttinger belt rake minimizes disintegration losses because the forage is not raked across the ground. The overall result is more energy, more crude protein, and less crude ash in the forage.

Optimum crop flow The heart of the MERGENTO is the conveyor unit. The perfectly coordinated system ensures a consistent flow of forage and perfectly formed swaths, even with short crop material. The conveyor unit consists of the pick-up, the crop press roller, and the crossconveyor belt.

The six-row controlled pick-up delivers maximum collection performance with minimum forage contamination.

The crop is gently collected from the ground by the successive pick-up tines and fed to the cross-conveyor belt. The cam track makes the tines retract just above the belt.

The transfer point is 120 mm higher than the cross-conveyor belt. This allows the forage to fall freely onto the conveyor belt. In addition, the flow of crop pushes the forage onto the belt.

The conveyor unit also operates reliably when driving downhill and with a short cut crop. The chassis rollers are positioned very close to the point where the tines contact the crop and ensure perfect ground tracking.

The complete freedom of movement provided by the centre pivot mounting of the belt units ensures constant weight alleviation over the entire working width. It is also the basis for 3D ground tracking. The ingenious design of the boom with three hydraulic cylinders reacts in a split second to any bumps in the ground.

In the centre-swath mode, the vertical freedom of movement is +475 mm to -195 mm, while lateral float is +30 degrees to -13 degrees. The inclination in the direction of travel can move from +11,5 to 0 degrees.

The MERGENTO switches the cross

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conveyor belts off automatically at the headland and start running automatically at the beginning of the next pass.

This system guarantees that each swath starts and finishes tidily. It also saves a lot of time because there is no need to empty the cross-conveyor belt at the end of the swath. The delay time for switching the conveyor belts on and off can be conveniently adjusted using the terminal in the tractor cab.

Convenient operation and maximum flexibility The direction of rotation and the position of the two cross conveyor belts can be adjusted from the comfort of the tractor cab. Depending on the shape of the field, the volume of forage and the follow-up harvesting machine, the new MERGENTO VT 9220 can place a centre swath, swaths to the left or right, two single swaths, convey from the inside out, and even load forage for a short period.

Source: Pöttinger

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