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: ·       ...

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...

Livestock farming is an investment which most of us venture in because we have seen and heard how successful other farmers are doing. I have seen and heard of many prospective farmers who have obtained loans to start livestock enterprises but have ended up defaulting on loan payments because it turned out not to be what they expected. All businesses look excellent on paper, and numbers are very attractive for people to invest. However, this does not mean that things are all rosy in livestock farming business. Like any business, livestock farming has risks, which must be considered when conducting an investment appraisal of respective livestock enterprises. Testimonies from livestock farmers, especially on social media platforms, mostly show the good side of livestock farming and rarely mention the risks, challenges or difficulties involved. Livestock farming is a business, and it must be treated likewise with proper planning, cash flow projections, risk assessment and mitigation. Bus...

Basic knowledge about compost making It is very important for you to know how to make your very own compost . Understanding basics about composting will help you so much. Read on and know more! One thing you should know is that any crop needs nutrients to grow, even trees. And compost manure can be used for any crop. The word fertilizer means food for a crop. It’s not only limited to chemical fertilizer like D compound and Urea. To know how to make your own compost in organic farming is mandatory because it will cut the cost of buying fertilizers even organic, and improve and build your soil for life. One thing you should know is that there are so many ways of making compost, ranging from heap compost , trench compost , pile compost , open air compost . There are also different durations for each compost to be ready. The duration for the compost to be ready is determined by Carbon and Nitrogen ratios. You may be wondering the benefits of compost. I will list a few: Com...

In order to be a successful goat farmer, there are basics you must consider or know before you start a goat farm. These include but not limited to the following: 1. Location : The most important consideration you must first make is location. Common goats generally survive in warm areas that are well drained. Apart from temperature, space is necessary. Goats live in groups, so individual pens are not effective. A large field is needed if you want your animals to roam freely. Freely roaming goats usually have better resistance to sickness and infection. The best locations for a goat farm are those that are far from towns because urban pollution is dangerous to animal health. Goats are known to eat a lot of grass on a daily basis. So make sure their food source is highly accessible and not too far from the rearing area. 2. Land Requirement : Goats can be reared intensively on small acreage by using supplemental feed. If using an extensive system, 2 to 10 goats per acre is a rough guide de...

1. Land Preparation Site Selection : Choose a place that has fertile soil. Loam soil is the most favourable. Your field should be able to receive full sunlight (do not plant under a shade); okra doesn't tolerate too much water, therefore avoid waterlogged places. Prepare your soil by ploughing and harrowing. Ensure you clear the boundaries of your field to avoid weeds from growing into the cleared field. Depending on the season you can plant your seed on ridges or basins. Ridges: This is most favourable during rainy season to avoid excessive moisture from the ground. Too much water is a breeding ground for most of the fungal infections that affect the plants. Too much water will wash away nutrients in your soil hence starve the plant causing it to underperform. Basins: (20cm deep x 30cm wide) This is most favourable during dry/hot season. The basin can be filled with decomposed manure (2 - 3kg) and watered regularly to mix with the soil before planting. The basi...