Zambia Agribusiness Society

Copper is a heavy metal element which has very important functions in the cow’s body. These include building immunity, growth and reproduction. Copper gets into the body mainly through the food the animals eat and the water they drink. Feeds from some areas have low copper content. Their intake results in what is called primary or absolute copper deficiency. In some cases certain elements in the feed, if present in high concentrations, may interfere with availability of copper to the body. The elements may form fairly stable complexes with copper and prevent usage of the mineral by the body. This is termed as secondary copper deficiency because the levels of copper in the blood may be normal but the mineral itself available for use by the body is below average. Some of the elements that reduce copper availability to the body are Iron, Zinc, Molybdenum and Sulphates. The treatment I prescribed for Greg’s cattle is called symptomatic because I based the diagnosis on the ...

Although some people find it very easy to have healthy and fresh tomatoes in their garden, not all of us have the right information or talent to do so. In this article we’ll look at some of the mistakes to avoid while planting tomatoes, to increase their size, flavour, and overall plant output. 1. Forgetting to Harden Seedlings Failing to harden your seedlings is one of the common mistakes many people make. In fact, it is one of the most important things to ensure their survival. The “hardening process” enables seedlings to adapt to the changes in temperature or exposure to weather such as wind and rain. Here are some of the ways to help you in hardening the tomato seedlings. Gradually increase the seedling’s exposure to the natural environments about a month after germination. During the first days of exposure, keep plants out of direct sunlight and do not take them out in the cold. Expose them for a few hours and then take them back to their seedbed. For the best results,...

 Meticulous planning is needed when one embarks on setting up a piggery project. Proper planning is essential in order to avoid making costly mistakes. The following factors should be carefully considered when starting a piggery project. 1. Capital It is difficult to be precise on the amount of capital required. The amount required depends on the intended scale of production. Capital is required for developmental purposes, i.e. building sites and purchasing breeding stock. Working capital is required for feed, drugs, labour and other running costs. It is important to remember that cash inflows will start eleven months after the start of the project in most cases. Peak capital requirements are between the tenth and eleventh month. It is therefore critical to have enough capital for the first year of operation. Sources of Capital It is advisable for an aspiring pig producer to use own resources or cheap funds for developmental purposes. Loans that carry high interests are not...

The best dairy goat breeds are those dairy breeds which produce a good amount of milk during their lactating season. There are numerous milk producing goats available around the world. Goat milk is very healthy and nutritious. So nowadays most of the people prefer to have one or a few milker goats for their daily family consumption. Best Dairy Goats There are many commercial dairy goat farms available in almost all parts of the globe. Commercial farm producers raise world famous and best dairy goat breeds to have maximum milk production. Usually milk producing goats are of large or standard size. Nigerian dwarf goats are miniature, but good milkers. However, here I will be describing some of the best dairy goats. 1. Saanen Goats Among the dairy goat breeds, Saanens are world famous for their high milk production. They originated from Switzerland. According to the ‘ American Dairy Goat Association – ADGA ,’ on average a Saanen goat can produce about 2, 000 pounds of milk in a ye...

Soybeans is one of the most important crops grown in Zambia with a huge demand both locally and internationally. The crop is grown by both small-scale and commercial farmers. Agro-ecological zone II is the main producing area of the crop. The crop has several uses including making of cooking oil, to making of stock feeds. 1. Adaptability: Soybeans is well adapted to a wide range of soil types though deep, well drained soils are ideal. Heavy clays, compacted soils and waterlogged areas must always be avoided as the crop will perform poorly in such soils. Soil pH range of 5.5 - 7 is ideal for good crop performance, but in instances of low pH (acidic soils like most parts of high rainfall areas of Zambia) application of lime is recommended. A soil test is necessary to determine the correct amounts of lime to apply. Majority parts of Zambia are good for soybean production though region II (Lusaka, Eastern, Central, Copperbelt, North Western provinces) is the most ideal. 2. Var...

Many watermelon growers plant as soon as possible in the season so they can market the crop early, when prices are high. The problem, however, is that watermelons, particularly seedless varieties, require a warm temperature (25°C to 35°C) to germinate. The good news is that you can give the seed a helping hand by pre-germinating it early in the season when the weather is cooler. Whether you intend planting the seed directly into the soil or into seed trays, pre-germination is worth the effort as it gives you a quick, uniform start. This does not apply to hybrid and seedless watermelons, however; these usually go into seed trays in a warm environment. An effective way to pre-germinate seed is to use an electric blanket: Place a sheet of plastic, followed by a few sheets of newspaper, on one half of the blanket; Wet the newspaper and sprinkle the seed onto the moist paper; Cover with a few more sheets of newspaper, and moisten; Place another sheet of plastic on top, and fold the ...

Young people are now venturing into farming thanks to technology. Photo: Africa Feeds Media Africa is a net importer of food with current figures at 30 billion Euros per annum and the figure could triple by 2025 if drastic measures are not taken according to a report by CTA & Dalberg Advisors. Despite overwhelming evidence showing that Africa’s prosperity and economic growth lies in agriculture, most governments are struggling to honour their Malabo Declaration commitment of allocating at least 10% of their total budgets to the sector. But the situation could change with the introduction and upscaling of data and digital technologies in the agrifood value chains. The evolution of Agricultural Internet of Things (AIoT), block chain technology, machine learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), use of drones among others could transform the sector by increasing productivity and creating jobs. According to UN data, 65% of African population is comprised of the youth, yet the average ag...