Zambia Agribusiness Society

Oligonucleotides (ONs) find a vast variety of applications in molecular biology and medicine. The word oligonucleotide is derived from the Greek word olígoi which means small, tiny, or few, and nucleotide which means the building blocks of nucleic acids. Oligonucleotides target errors in the genetic code - the root causes of diseases. The most common set of oligonucleotide therapeutics include small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) involved in RNA interference (RNAi), antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small activating RNAs (saRNAs), aptamers, and guide RNAs (gRNAs) present in CRISPR gene editing technology. Oligonucleotide synthesis provides rapid and inexpensive access to custom made oligonucleotides of the desired sequence, hence is widely used in current laboratory practice. The main success of ONs is due to its cutting-edge influence on the protein synthesis at a pre-translational level.   These molecules act in a peculiar way in the cellular process and regulate the gene express...

Carrots are among the oldest vegetables in the world, and they have a rich history of cultivation and variation. They originated from wild carrots that were usually purple with white inside, and they had a woody and bitter taste. They were first domesticated in Asia around 900 AD, where farmers bred different colours of carrots, such as yellow, red, white, and black. However, some sources claim that carrots were cultivated earlier in ancient Persia or Egypt. The orange carrot that we consume today was developed in the Netherlands in the 17 th century by crossing yellow and red carrots. It had a sweeter and juicier taste than the other varieties, and it became a symbol of the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange. The orange carrot was widely exported to other countries in Europe and beyond. Some of the earliest orange carrots were called Long Orange or Horn Carrots. Carrots are now grown all over the world, and they come in many different types and colours. Some of the most comm...

For the past few years. I have been involved in farming activities mainly for home consumption and once in a while trade. From the onset, I must state here that farming is a very lucrative business but has challenges. However, if one has to eat, they must at least learn to produce one. This is the financial independence that we all need. It comes in different forms. Others like to buy, and others like to produce and sell, but whatever the case, both must benefit mutually, though the producer must get more in order to produce more. I have had difficulties producing more in the recent past due to unstable market prices. For instance, in 2019, I produced 120 by 50kgs of maize and at the time, the price for our staple food had really dropped to undesirable prices for a peasant or small scale farmer like me and others in these villages. The, then prices of maize, made most of us peasant/small scale farmers decide to reduce our focus on maize production as decided that now it was time ...

Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo Phiri has clarified that the Government will phase out the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) gradually as it plans to introduce agriculture loans. Mr Phiri said the Government is looking at introducing agriculture loans which will run concurrently with FISP. He said this when he gave a ministerial statement in parliament on the Government’s position on the future of FISP. “We have a programme where we give out free seed and fertilizer and we are saying this programme will go side by side with the agriculture loans. And between the two the one which is more preferred is the loan but this does not mean we are stopping FISP,” said Mr Phiri. Mr Phiri also said that farmers who will not be included on FISP should consider getting the agriculture loans. He challenged the MPs to disseminate correct information in their constituencies on the two Government programmes which are aimed at supporting the farmers. Mr Phiri added that farmers who ...

  So every time I get a call about seed potato inquiry and I share my price; K600 and K800 we’re good until we get to the part where we multiply by the number of bags. So guys, seed rate is 40,000 seeds/Ha. You get around 350 - 450 seeds/25kg bag. So you’ll need around 115 bags (25kg) of seed potato/Ha. The reactions are hilarious. Some people think I don’t know what I’m talking about, others challenge me and others….I let them be. My primary business is production so I focus most of my energy on that. Anyways friends, potato is not maize. Potato is a high value crop. Cost of production is high. Seed accounts for around half the total cost of production. But if you manage it well, the money comes back and a good amount of it. Which bring me to the next point. If you plant your crop with D Compound; you will not get the yield. If you have water for forcing, you will not get your yield. If you don’t use the correct fertilizer rate, you will not get your yield. If you spread...

The aortic aneurysm repair market is experiencing huge growth due to the increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, the rapid adoption of inactive lifestyles, and poor dietary habits. Furthermore, the increase in the demand for innovative treatment methods and devices, as well as people becoming more aware of aortic, and its treatment options is anticipated to drive the market growth. As per the latest report published by Allied Market Research, the global aortic aneurysm repair market is projected to exhibit a notable CAGR during the forecast period. The increase in the prevalence of the geriatric population is driving market growth The increasing age of the population and the rise in risk factors such as hypertension and high cholesterol have resulted in a surge in the demand for aortic aneurysm repair devices and have contributed to the growth of the market. Furthermore, the development of medical technology and advanced treatment methods have improved the contro...

Introduction Dentures are detachable dental prosthetics used to repair lost teeth and their surrounding tissues. This technology has advanced significantly over the past decades, with the primary objective of enhancing durability, aesthetics, and comfort for people who need dentures due to tooth loss. As per the latest market study by Allied Market Research, the global dentures market i s projected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. Technological advancements have transformed the denture implantation process. Denture designers are utilizing techniques such as CAD (Computer-aided Design) and CAM (Computer-aided Manufacturing) for customized and precise denture designs. Hence, dentures industry is experiencing growth due to factors such as a surge in the prevalence of dental diseases and conditions such as cavities, periodontal disease, gum disease, cracked teeth, and dental pulp resulting in tooth loss, a surge in demand for partial or full dentures, and an...