Zambia Agribusiness Society

  Debeaking is a precision operation in which part of the upper and lower mandible (beak) is removed with an electrically controlled cauterizing blade having high temperature. A chicken’s beak is constantly growing, much like our own hair and fingernails. Pullet management should be designed with the goal of meeting the recommended body weight and uniformity as per the breed standards. If these goals are met the pullet will be more likely to express its genetic potential. A key factor influencing the capability of the birds to meet this goal is the quality of debeaking and age at debeaking. Cannibalism is prevalent among the chickens of all ages and debeaking is the only way to prevent it. The pecking mortality may go up to 25 to 30% in the flock. It is a great financial loss to the farmers. Debeaking must be considered as precision operation and experience is a great asset in doing it properly. Too often debeaking is done carelessly, or by not removing enough- which allows the be

Smallholder fish pond farmers in Luwingu, Northern Province, Zambia Zambia has big potential for fish farming with 37% of its surface area suitable for artisanal and 43% suitable for commercial fish production. Aquaculture is the rearing of  aquatic organisms  in an  enclosed water body  under  controlled conditions . Aquatic organisms may be plant life such as phytoplankton, lilies, and other forms of algae or animal life such as fish, crocodiles , oysters etc. Controlled conditions include physio-chemical water parameters (dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, phosphorous, etc.), water level, as well as feed. The basic idea here is to imitate what is prevailing in the natural waters so as to achieve optimum yields. Aquaculture is in its infant stage of development compared to agriculture. Fish farming in Zambia dates back to the 1950s when the first attempts were made to raise indigenous species of the cichlidae family, mainly tilapias, in dams and earthen fish ponds. A number of do

Cropping System : A cropping system mainly refers to the way a crop is grown, arrangement in the field and frequency of production. Different cropping systems and practices are used in the production of crops depending on location, preference, skill and financial capacity. Agroforestry:   Agroforestry is the intentional mixing of trees and shrubs into crop and animal production systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits.   The foundation of agroforestry is putting trees to work in conservation and production systems for farms, forests, ranches, and communities. Agroforestry begins with placing the right plant, in the right place, for the right purpose. Agroforestry is a unique land management approach that provides opportunities to integrate productivity and profitability with environmental stewardship, resulting in healthy and sustainable agricultural systems that can be passed on to future generations. Agroforestry technologies, when used appropriately

Most times, farmers or intending farmers think about land, capital, breeds, disease control, vaccination, farm structures and other requirements that they look at as more important than others. However, to the contrary, research and experience show that the most valuable and important resource of all, the Human resource is given little attention. As farms grow in stock and other operations, the owners can no longer rely on family members as source of unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled labour. Before one knows it, they need to employ and manage 10 employees and the years go by, the number keeps on increasing. Employing the right people on the farm is one thing and effectively managing them is the other. The key skills and tips to manage these employees make a difference between a failed farm and a successful farm. The following are the skills, expertise and strategies to effectively manage employees on your farm: 1. Good communication mechanism. Established to communicate with

Getting and keeping good workers is a challenge every farm owner or manager has to deal with on a day to day basis. Good workers are hard to find, so when you get one, you have to do everything possible to retain them. Below are some tips on how to retain good workers on your farm. 1. Comfortable accommodation Some farm owners provide better accommodation for their livestock than for the workers who look after them. I have seen this in parts of Mukono, Mbarara, Hoima and the central, true it is the livestock generating the money, but without the workers to look after them properly, their productivity will soon drop. So why dose a goat or cow even a pig sleep comfortably than the care taker. Buy them good mattresses, blankets and make them eat their money well (farm workers). 2. Good food You would expect farm workers to have the best meals, since food is produced cheaply on the farm; however this is not always the case. Unless they steal some it is common for a worker on

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a hardy crop that can survive low winter temperatures. While temperature and day length influence bulb formation, this is to a lesser extent than demonstrated by onions. Most conditions suitable for onion production also apply to garlic cultivation, with the ideal growth temperatures between 13°C and 24°C. Planting Space the divided cloves 8cm to 15cm apart in rows 30cm to 40cm apart. Plant the cloves approximately 50mm deep on raised beds or on level ground, by hand or mechanically. While the ideal planting date varies from one area to another, the general recommendation in South Africa is from February to May. Fertilisation Before planting, work compost into the soil to improve its fertility and structure. At planting, broadcast about 125g/m², 3:2:3 granular fertiliser. During the growing period, which lasts about six to eight weeks after planting, apply 40g/m² of 3:2:3 as a light side-dressing. Irrigation Garlic is successful under furrow,

Proper air flow is very vital for optimal performance of our birds but many farmers often see it as something to neglect! Some problems we have on our farms could be traced to ventilation and they often arise when not looked into from the onset (brooding). Air is needed for the breakdown of ingested feed, elimination of ammonia gas and carbon monoxide from the brooder, cool the body of the birds, remove dampness, helps in proper litter management and also reduces the risk of quick spread of diseases. When a brooder house is poorly ventilated (fully sealed brooder house with tarplis or polyethene papers, it gives room for little or no air to come in. oxygen is needed for food metabolism and when absent, food metabolism is slowed which can result to stunted growth. The already exhaled air is still reused by the birds which is detrimental to them. The moisture from the droppings and evaporation from waterers are also trapped thereby making the litter wet and the environment humid. Wet lit