Zambia Agribusiness Society

1. Birth Defects Chicks have birth defects just like humans and some chicks are hatched with defects. They may have a crooked leg or a crossed beak or be very small or weak or have something wrong internally. The hatcheries try to remove these chicks when they hatch but not all birth defects are visible and some are missed in the sorting process. This is one reason why there are normally 2 extra chicks in a box. If you have one or two chicks that die in the first day or two or are just not right, do not worry too much about it. If the number is high there may be a hatchery problem and you should report to the agent and the supplier and get a vet to diagnose but a few deaths is not an issue. 2. Ascites or Waterbelly This problem usually appears around 4 - 5 weeks of age particularly in broilers. It’s very common in July and August. The chicken may start gasping for air and the skin turns blue and it dies with a lot of water in the abdomen. The cause of this is poor brooding. Not...

Digital financial services have the potential to promote women’s economic empowerment in agriculture and food systems. To better understand the outcomes of women’s increased access to digital finance, the lending policies, practices and regulations that are necessary to extend digital finance to women, and the enabling environment necessary for women’s increased economic empowerment, the  Feed the Future Advancing Women’s Empowerment Program  conducted a desk review and a series of consultations with donors, implementers and digital financial service providers. The analysis explored three questions: What digital financial tools and services have been or could be used in agriculture and food systems contexts to economically empower women, especially in beyond-production activities? What are the limiting and enabling factors for women’s access to and use of digital financial tools and services? Where present during data collection, what are ...

Over the past few years, hard seltzer, also known as seltzer water or sparkling water, has gained a significant popularity around the world as a refreshing and healthy alternative to soda. It has become a staple beverage choice among younger consumer base for after-work relaxation, special celebrations, and hot summer days. The innovative packaging and low price tag, especially when compared to traditional mixed beverages, are satisfying the millennial’s need with a more convenient and versatile drinking experience. Hard seltzer is basically an alcoholic, carbonated, and fruit flavoured water.  Its pH value is 3 - 4, which means it is slightly acidic. It contains distilled alcohol such as rum and vodka with a hint of natural flavours such as mango, black cherry, etc. It is manufactured by chemically infusing water with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. Unlike tonic water or soda, hard seltzer contains zero sugar, which makes it a healthier alternative. Health Benefits: ...

In the last few years, the adoption of advanced technologies and digitization has increased speedily in various sectors. The Healthcare sector is one of the major industries which have rapidly embraced emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and others. Current Market Scenario: The medical industry is fast-moving with the latest technological advancements to serve the community in a better way. The demand for remote monitoring services, increased investment from commercial and government organizations for mHealth and telehealth startups, rise in prevalence of chronic disease, and growing advancements in the healthcare sector are major driving factors for the growth of the global digital health market. In addition, the rise in the adoption of digital health devices and technologies and the growing demand for wearable devices assist the market growth. According to Allied Market Research, the global digital health market is anticipated to grow at a significant CA...

In the recent few years, the foodservice industry has made various technological advancements in order to expand the business worldwide. Cloud kitchen, also known as virtual kitchen or ghost kitchen, is one of the major technological advancements that has emerged to fulfil the growing demand of consumers for convenient food products across the regions.  Unlike traditional brick & mortar establishments, cloud kitchen does not require a dining area, a host stand, a bar, a waiting area, and restrooms for employees and patrons.  It is only divided into two categories i.e. kitchen type and delivery type. It provides food enterprises with the tools and resources that are require to prepare menu meals for delivery and takeaway with minimal overheads. The main difference is that in a cloud kitchen, a restaurant’s focus is on delivery rather than dine-in. Fortunately, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the demand for cloud kitchens to a huge extent. The popu...

As the saying goes, a well brooded chick is a well raised chick. Many challenges await the new chicks. Most can be prevented by good management and careful observation. Here are 15 stress factors you should watch out for during brooding: Cold, overheating and taking too long during transportation of the chicks. Delay in getting chicks on feed and water. Chilling and overheating during early brooding stages. Unsanitary surroundings - such as previously used Chickens litter or presence of rodent droppings. Pilling of chicks. Cold or wet litter and floor. Placing more than one variety of chicks together. Starvation (due to improper distribution of heat, feed, and watering equipment, and litter eating). Improper lighting of the chicks’ barn (chicks will not eat or drink in darkness). Debeaking and declawing of chicks. Dehydration (due to abrupt change of watering equipment or improper use of medication). Crowding (too little floor space and not enough feeder and waterer space). Hand...

Digital transformation is taking place across the world in almost every field and the agriculture sector is no exception. Smart agriculture practices are making their way as farmers look for ways to optimize yield, utilize less resources, and improve profitability. In addition, environmental concerns are on the rise and they impact the agriculture sector considerably. So, the adoption of smart agriculture practices becomes essential. As climate change poses a huge risk for lives of people across the world, different measures need to be taken in terms of agriculture practices. Adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices is ongoing across the world as they help in surging agricultural yields sustainably, ensure food security, and build resilience against climate change. Governments of many countries have realized the need to adopt such practices and taking necessary steps toward it. They have been making long-term commitments for ensuring food security and helping people in raising t...