Zambia Agribusiness Society

Tumble mustard Weeds are defined as plants that interfere with human activities. Invaders are a type of weed species that has been brought to our country from another part of the world, and have begun to spread into our environment where they interfere with the ecosystem. These plants present a great threat. Impacts of Invasive Species Invasive species have many negative impacts on our livelihoods and our natural ecosystems. These include: Loss of Biodiversity – When invasive weeds enter an ecosystem they replace the indigenous plants that have historically grown there. This can lead to local extinctions of indigenous plant species. Many bird, insect, and other animal species will not be able to feed or live on invasive weeds, and will be forced to leave the area to find a better ecosystem to live in. Ecological Imbalance – When invasive weeds replace indigenous plants they cause an ecological imbalance by changing natural cycles. Many indigenous species, such as the Australian

Venturing into catfish farming is one of the most lucrative agricultural livestock businesses. A lot of catfish farmers are really making a lot of profits from their catfish farms. But one of the major challenge most catfish farmers are facing is disease control. In this article we are going to look at some of the major diseases that affect catfish production. Some of the Major Diseases of Catfish The following are some of the major catfish diseases that can affect catfish production: 1. Catfish crack head disease : Crack head disease is the most common catfish disease in ponds. The particular cause of this disease is not yet understood unlike earthen ponds and natural water bodies. But a lot of people have said that adverse water quality due to over feeding is the main cause and also unbalanced nutrients in the diet of the food of the catfish can also be the cause. The following are the symptoms of the disease on affected catfish: ·          Distended abdomen due to Septic

It is the hot season and Newcastle Disease (NCD) will be a farmer's nightmare especially if vaccinations were not done. NCD is a viral disease. There are mild forms and virulent forms of the disease. Meaning there are different strains of the virus that cause NCD. Many farmers have shared the vaccination schedule on this platform and hope you are adhering to it. The formula for calculating the volume of water to be used for the dosing has also been shared. Remember NCD will affect the respiratory, digestive and nervous system of the birds. These are the clinical signs: Respiratory System : Sneezing, gasping for air, coughing, nasal discharge. Digestive System : Greenish watery diarrhoea. Nervous System : Twisted head and neck, circling, complete stiffness, paralysis. Other Signs : Swelling around the eyes and neck, decreased activity, tremors, drooping of wings. If birds are not vaccinated, NCD can wipe out 100% of your flock. N