Zambia Agribusiness Society

Planting dates ·          All year round in frost free areas or greenhouse. Days to Harvest ·          80 to 120 days depends on cultivar. Harvesting duration ·          60 Days Yield ·          20 000 - 60 000kg. Soil requirements ·          pH 5.0 to 5.5, ·          Sandy loam soils, ·          Soil testing is key. Seed ·          120 - 160g in a nursery seed bed of about 60m 2 . ·          7 - 10 days emergence. ·          Floating seed trays can also be used. ·          Ensure free drainage to avoid damping off. Trans...

Now, this is where the task begins. A chick surviving the chick phase partially signifies that the pullet and egg-laying stage will be an easy ride all things being equal. So, here is a guide that will enlighten you on how to care for your day-old chicks until they mature. For clarity, we have split this process into stages to help you know what to do at each given time. Days 1-2 Prevent the chicks from getting chilled by setting the pen temperature adequately. In other words, ensure they are warm enough. Ensure you check on the baby chicks several times in a day. At night, ensure all the chicks make it back under the brooder. Also, leave the lights on all night. This will provide illumination for the baby chicks to see to eat and drink. Keep your eye open for sick or dead birds. Ensure they are taken away from the environment to avoid scare and smell. However, keep in mind that high mortality of chicks occurs within the first 48 hours. But if the chicks make it out during this period,...

General Requirements ·          Onion requires cool conditions during vegetative growth and hot, dry conditions nearing maturity, in early summer. Optimum temperatures for growth are 12ºC to 24ºC, with minimum temperatures of 7ºC and maximum 29ºC. ·          Popular Onion varieties are Texas Grano, Red creole and Caledon Globe. ·          A well-managed Onion crop should yield 750 to 1000 x 10kg pockets/ Lima. Land Preparation/ Soil Type ·          Deep well-drained Sandy to loamy soils with a pH range from 5 to 6.5 is ideal for Onion. ·          Effective rooting depth is 20cm. ·          Plough and disc to 45 to 60cm depth of fine tilth seedbed. Planting and Transplanting ·          Sow direc...

‘Rainfast’ refers to the time it takes until a chemical cannot be washed off by environmental factors such as rains. Oftentimes farmers have challenges with chemical wash off due to failure to understand or apply the rainfast of crop protection products (herbicides, insecticides and fungicides). In many instances, farmers have applied these chemicals immediately prior to rainfall or whilst it showers. Thereafter, the failure of these chemicals to yield the expected results has been attributed to chemical suppliers and companies. In actual fact this chemical failure is due lack of adherence to rainfast time. What exactly is Rainfast Time? For herbicides or weed killers, generally, chemicals must be applied 3 to 6 hours prior to rains. However, reference must be made to the chemical labels for these times vary. For instance herbicides like Paraquat only need 30 minutes to be fully absorbed and any rains after this will not adversely affect the herbicide. Likewise, reference must...

The most grown watermelon type and highly Market demanded is the Zebra type with dark green stripes. ·          Oblong in shape ·          Average fruit weight 6 – 15kg ·          Deep red flesh, crispy & firm ·          Good shelf life for long distance transport ·          Yield potential of 18g 25 tons per acre Maturity it's takes 60 – 90 days to maturity depending on the area grown. 1. Climatic Requirements ·          Long, warm growing periods ·          -Bright, hot days (27 – 35ºC) ·          Warm nights (16 – 21ºC) ·          Cool Temp. & Excessive. Delay germination, Slows growth, and poor fruit setting, hallow fruit...

1. Patience: As a farmer you have to learn how to be patient because raising crops or life stock takes time. Plus, it might not always turn out the way you expect. Farming comes with lots of unexpected circumstances, like pest infestations and disease outbreaks, market glut. Slow or unexpected results shouldn't frustrate a farmer set on being successful. Instead, take it in stride and plan for how to get it right next time. 2. Develop a Student Mentality: Approach the industry with a student mentality. You have to be willing and able to adapt to new technology, environments, and methods. Curiosity comes hand in hand with a student mentality, and as a farmer you need lots of it to find success. 3. Knowledge and Skills: Knowledge and skills pair nicely together. In addition to learning new things, you need to be knowledgeable in every aspect of your farm. This includes close familiarity with every crop, finding out what works best for the farm, and how it operat...

It is time to plant again. This is not the time to say let me do one or two things then see if it will work. Throw away that kind of thinking Dear farmer. The word of God is marinated with his integrity and jealousy and if you use it correctly especially at these tough times (let us brace for more tough times), the Kingdom of Prosperity will know your address and poverty plus all her cousins will run away and lose your GPS compass for good! Just as the famine in the days of Joseph elevated him, help every farmer Lord who is facing downwards and doing calculations which may not be adding up....Farmers have planted fields for many years but there is nothing to show for it. Enlarge their territories this year Father. Let them see opportunities outside their troubled circumstances. Father Lord we are remembering your word in Matthew 6:33 which says, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you." We are before you and we are seeking your...