Zambia Agribusiness Society

Soya beans is currently one of the most grown crop in Zambia. This is attributable to the high market prices of the crop over the years. Recently, these prices have dropped, however farmers have continued to grow soya beans due to its likelihood to yield a good return as compared to maize. Soya beans is an immaculate source of protein with uses ranging from feed formulation for livestock to human consumption. The variety of products is mind blowing. We have soya chunks, oil, soy milk and soy meal to mention a few. Disease and Insect Control in Soya Beans Soya bean diseases are not easily identifiable especially for first time farmers. It is therefore imperative to undertake at least one preventive spray within 45 to 50 days of planting. Prevention is better than cure, right? Some common diseases include Frogeye leaf spot, Bacterial blight, Brown stem rot, Downy mildew, Soybean rust and Septorial brown spot. Control can be done by spraying Maxgarde, a fungicide from Agricrop Ser

If you are planning to grow tomatoes on a commercial scale (i.e. 20,000 plants per hectare), here are some tips to consider: 1. Conduct market research: Before starting a commercial tomato production operation, research the local market to identify potential customers, suppliers, and competitors. Consider factors such as demand, pricing, distribution channels, and regulations. 2. Develop a business plan: Create a business plan that outlines your production goals, budget, marketing strategy, and risk management plan. Include details such as crop selection, land use, labour requirements, equipment needs, and financial projections. 3. Choose a suitable site: Select a site that meets the requirements for tomato production, such as soil type, climate, water availability, and access to transportation and markets. Consider factors such as land cost, zoning, and environmental regulations. 3. Plan your crop rotation: Tomatoes are susceptible to soil-borne diseases, so it is ess

Are you interested in starting an animal farming business? Do you want to know the best livestock farming business ideas and opportunities for 2023? Then read on because this article is for you. Livestock farming or animal husbandry is simply the process of breeding animals for consumption purposes. But in this article, we will be looking at the profit or business side of livestock farming. It is a known fact that as long as humans exist, there will always be need for food and the two major sources of food for mankind are crops and animals. Now livestock farming is one of the most profitable businesses in the agriculture or agro-allied industry. But most people shy away from this business because it is capital and labour intensive. However, if you are interested in rearing animals for profits, then below are some livestock you can breed and make money from their sales. 1. Cattle farming Cattle farming is a business that appeals to people who the needed vacant land and resources

General Production Requirements ·          Sweet potato is very sensitive to frost and cold. It requires hot days and warm nights for optimum growth, with mean monthly temperatures of 21°C to 29°C. ·          Popular varieties are Lukulu, Mulungushi, Kalungwishi, Lwangwa, Lunga, Kafue and Chingovwa. ·          Sweet potato requires 4 to 6 months to produce economic yields. ·          A well-managed sweet potato crop should yield 5 to 7.5 tons per Lima (20 to 39 tons/ha). Land Preparation/Soil Type ·          Deep, loose well drained loamy soils (does poorly on clay soils) with a pH range from 5.5 to 6.5 are ideal for sweet potato. ·          Effective rooting depth is 60cm. Deep plough field and harrow to a 60cm fine tilth seedbed. ·          Sweet potato is relatively tolerant to drought but cannot withstand waterlogging; therefore vines must be planted on 30 to 50cm ridges to avoid waterlogging. Preferred soil moisture is 60 to 75% of maximum water holding capacity.