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Showing posts from September, 2023

Girls in farming: Can we make it and feed ourselves?

For the past few years. I have been involved in farming activities mainly for home consumption and once in a while trade. From the onset, I must state here that farming is a very lucrative business but has challenges. However, if one has to eat, they must at least learn to produce one. This is the financial independence that we all need. It comes in different forms. Others like to buy, and others like to produce and sell, but whatever the case, both must benefit mutually, though the producer must get more in order to produce more. I have had difficulties producing more in the recent past due to unstable market prices. For instance, in 2019, I produced 120 by 50kgs of maize and at the time, the price for our staple food had really dropped to undesirable prices for a peasant or small scale farmer like me and others in these villages. The, then prices of maize, made most of us peasant/small scale farmers decide to reduce our focus on maize production as decided that now it was time

FISP to phase out gradually as Govt introduces agriculture loans

Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo Phiri has clarified that the Government will phase out the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) gradually as it plans to introduce agriculture loans. Mr Phiri said the Government is looking at introducing agriculture loans which will run concurrently with FISP. He said this when he gave a ministerial statement in parliament on the Government’s position on the future of FISP. “We have a programme where we give out free seed and fertilizer and we are saying this programme will go side by side with the agriculture loans. And between the two the one which is more preferred is the loan but this does not mean we are stopping FISP,” said Mr Phiri. Mr Phiri also said that farmers who will not be included on FISP should consider getting the agriculture loans. He challenged the MPs to disseminate correct information in their constituencies on the two Government programmes which are aimed at supporting the farmers. Mr Phiri added that farmers who

POTATO FAQ - How many bags of seed/Ha

  So every time I get a call about seed potato inquiry and I share my price; K600 and K800 we’re good until we get to the part where we multiply by the number of bags. So guys, seed rate is 40,000 seeds/Ha. You get around 350 - 450 seeds/25kg bag. So you’ll need around 115 bags (25kg) of seed potato/Ha. The reactions are hilarious. Some people think I don’t know what I’m talking about, others challenge me and others….I let them be. My primary business is production so I focus most of my energy on that. Anyways friends, potato is not maize. Potato is a high value crop. Cost of production is high. Seed accounts for around half the total cost of production. But if you manage it well, the money comes back and a good amount of it. Which bring me to the next point. If you plant your crop with D Compound; you will not get the yield. If you have water for forcing, you will not get your yield. If you don’t use the correct fertilizer rate, you will not get your yield. If you spread you

Rising Prevalence and Technological Innovations Shaping the Future of Aortic Aneurysm Repair Industry

The aortic aneurysm repair market is experiencing huge growth due to the increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, the rapid adoption of inactive lifestyles, and poor dietary habits. Furthermore, the increase in the demand for innovative treatment methods and devices, as well as people becoming more aware of aortic, and its treatment options is anticipated to drive the market growth. As per the latest report published by Allied Market Research, the global aortic aneurysm repair market is projected to exhibit a notable CAGR during the forecast period. The increase in the prevalence of the geriatric population is driving market growth The increasing age of the population and the rise in risk factors such as hypertension and high cholesterol have resulted in a surge in the demand for aortic aneurysm repair devices and have contributed to the growth of the market. Furthermore, the development of medical technology and advanced treatment methods have improved the contro