All About Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Crop Production: July 2015

Tuesday, 14 July 2015

IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES

Irrigation Technologies.

Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the land or soil.

It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and re-vegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall.

Irrigation can also be used in protecting plants against frost, suppressing weed growth in grain fields and preventing soil consolidation, dust suppression, disposal of sewage, and in mining.

Drainage

Irrigation is concomitant with Drainage, which is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from a given area.

Types of irrigation.

Various types of irrigation techniques differ in how the water obtained from the source is distributed within the field. In general, the goal is to supply the entire field uniformly with water, so that each plant has the amount of water it needs that is neither too much nor too little. The type of irrigation used can be inspired by many factors.

Drip/Localized irrigation

Water is distributed under low pressure through a piped network, in a pre-determined pattern, and applied as a small discharge to each plant or adjacent to it. This method can be the most water-efficient method of irrigation, if managed properly, since evaporation and runoff are minimized. The field water efficiency of drip irrigation is 80 to 90 percent.

You can combine drip irrigation with mulch, further reducing evaporation, and is also the means of delivery of fertilizer through a method known as fertigation.

Deep percolation, where water moves below the root zone, can occur if a drip system is operated for too long or if the delivery rate is too high. Our professional guidance will guide you against this. Drip irrigation methods range from very high-tech and computerized to low-tech and labor-intensive. Drip irrigation, spray or micro-sprinkler irrigation and bubbler irrigation belong to this category of irrigation methods.

Surface Irrigation

In surface (furrow, flood, or level basin) irrigation systems, water moves across the surface of agricultural lands, in order to wet it and infiltrate into the soil. Surface irrigation can be subdivided into furrow, borderstrip or basin irrigation. It is often called flood irrigation when the irrigation results in flooding or near flooding of the cultivated land. This is commonly used in rice farming.

Fixed Sprinkler (Solid-Set) Irrigation

In sprinkler or overhead irrigation, water is piped to one or more central locations within the field and distributed by overhead high-pressure sprinklers or guns. A system utilizing sprinklers, sprays, or guns mounted overhead on permanently installed risers is often referred to as a solid-set irrigation system. Sprinklers may run on pumps fulltime to provide for pressure required.

Movable Sprinkler Irrigation

This operates like the fixed sprinkler system, only that it can be moved from point to point called stations, enabling a system to irrigate a big expanse of area with les equipment. This however required more labour and time to cover an equivalent area.

Linear Move

Like Center pivots, they are a form of sprinkler irrigation consisting of several segments of pipe (usually galvanized steel or aluminum) joined together and supported by trusses, mounted on wheeled towers with sprinklers positioned along its length. The system moves in a parallel pattern and is fed with water from the water source through a drag hose. These systems are found and used in all parts of the world and allow irrigation of almost all types of terrain.

Center pivot

Like linear move, have drop sprinklers hanging from a u-shaped pipe attached at the top of the pipe with sprinkler head that are positioned a few feet (at most) above the crop, thus limiting evaporative losses. Drops can also be used with drag hoses or bubblers that deposit the water directly on the ground between crops. Crops are often planted in a circle to conform to the center pivot wetted area.

SOURCES OF IRRIGATION WATER

Ground water; Sources of irrigation water can be groundwater extracted from springs through boreholes or wells.

Surfacewater; withdrawn from rivers, lakes or reservoirs/dams or non-conventional sources like treated wastewater, desalinated water or drainage water.

Rainwater harvesting; for this particular site, it is the collection of runoff water from roofs to the storage facilities; normally for small-scale irrigation needs. I this case oval underground water tanks are applied.

Runoff farming; thiswater harvesting technique, is the diversion of rainwater (runoff) from an unused land to the concentration area then to the cropping area through irrigation, thereby increasing the quantity of water available for crop growth. This technique, applicable in various types, is regarded as necessary to secure and increase food production in semi-arid regions or areas with scarce water options. Simultaneously it minimizes water erosion risk where it is applied.

CAUTION: There can be significant health hazards related to using water loaded with pathogens in this way, especially if people eat raw vegetables that have been irrigated with the polluted water. Thus prior cleaning to the right standards is necessary.

LUCRATIVE GRASSCUTTER FARMING

LUCRATIVE GRASSCUTTER FARMING.

When you think about becoming wealthy, you probably think of a high-paying job, a high yielding investment portfolio or a partnership to launch a new product or services that will roll in millions. But what assurance do you have on getting adequate funds and market for these services or products?

Have you ever wondered why the government and the private sector are placing more emphasis on small business opportunities and financing in the country today? Have you ever come across a grasscutter farm? Can you imagine the financial gains accruing to those men and women who deal in grasscutter business at one stage or the other?

What about the nutrition benefits the people who patronize pepper soup joints, beer parlors, fast food and eateries are deriving from such timeout? A visit to a grasscutter farm where many cages and hutches are devoted for rearing grasscutter in captivity should serve you a good menu of the profitability of the grasscutter business in the country today.

The grasscutter belongs to the mammalian order and the family of Rodentia and tyronomyidae respectively and is genetically more closely related to the porcupine than the rat.

In Africa, grassscutter have very wide ranges but are absent or rare over much of South-West Africa, from the Sahara and from the arid Horn of Africa. They are distributed widely throughout Africa’s semi-humid regions and are found in many forests and savannas.

Grasscutters occur in grassland or in wooden savanna throughout the humid and sub humid areas of Africa south of the Sahara. They do not inhabit rainforest, dry scrub, or desert, but colonize the road borders in forest regions.

They are robust animals measuring up to 60 cm (head and body), weighing 4-10kg, heavily built, with short stocky legs, a short rat-like tail, clothed with coarse, briskly and even spiny hairs, which look like short soft quills.

General coat coloration is speckled brown or buffy above, paler on flanks and greyish or whitish below. They also may have yellow-brown bodies with whitish bellies.

Friday, 10 July 2015

Free-range (open pasture) snail farming.

The important issue in raising snails for food is how they are produced and the social responsibility to consumers.

Free-range snail farming is where snails roam freely and forage for food in open pastures of living food crops, rather than being densely confined in small enclosures and fed only compound foods.

There is a recommended limit to the number of snails to each square metre of ground space. Some snail producers use the term ‘free-range’ as a marketing tool, rather than as a reflection of the conditions in which snails are kept.

The freedom to roam in large areas allows the snails to avoid each other’s slime trails. Over-slimed ground and excess faeces can modify snail behaviour by putting out chemical signals like pheromones — detrimental to reproduction and growth rates in terrestrial snails.

Allowing snails to breed at their own pace and encouraging the natural biological cycle in an ecological farming system, results in better breeding performance, faster rate of growth, higher reproduction yields and it meets the highest standards of quality and sustainable accountability.

Growing snails in open pastures (or free-range) is sustainable. It’s possible to set goals, apply management strategies, measure progress and produce snails perpetually.

Implementing a breeding program ensures the right genetic base for size and colour. Trials conducted over many years have demonstrated that the colour of the flesh of the snail and the flavour of its meat is not influenced by the food it ingests.

Commercial farming of snails in organic, open pastures of living food produces large numbers of high-quality snails and combines tradition, innovation and science. The free-range system is easily managed and is a cost effective method of breeding and growing snails that are healthy for consumers and, it respects the physiological needs of the snails and the environment in which they grow.

Snail farming in Nigeria. Call Olubunmi Adeniyi 2348065220074

Free-range snail farming is sustainable
— it has the capacity to last over time.

Free-range (or open pasture) snail farming is the only accepted method of sustainable snail production where high quality, edible snails can be produced continually.

This system is humane, economically viable and environmentally sound.

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5. Providing Avenue for Industrial Training on Snail Farming technology in Nigeria to Students/Graduates from Various Higher Institutions in Nigeria.

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Snails are creeping wild African animals with well developed spiral shell cover. They are classified generally as terrestrial gastropod molasses and are popularly known as “Congo Meat” they are forest animals predominantly found in the low-land rain forest region of West Africa: High humidity and Shady canopy are required for the continued existence and biological activities of snails. Snails are found particularly plentiful in the rainy season among damp vegetation and hollows.

In Africa South of the Sahara, India, France and Britain snails “Congo Meat” have become very popular in both urban and rural areas. When the rains are heaviest and the annual floods are very high, snails climb the branches of trees and hide within holes in order to avoid the flooded marshes. In the dry season they also avoid the direct light and heat and creep under leaves or stay in dark and shady places for cover.

The benefits of snail farming are as follow:

As a delicacy, snail meat is popularly accepted all over Nigeria with no religious/tribal reject. Hence it finds a ready market all over the Nation and West African region.

The business of producing, processing, transporting, storing, financing and servicing snail products should give employment to many people.

Rearing of snail for local consumption will decrease importation of frozen fish, chicken and turkey into the country and producing snail for export will greatly enhance the economic potential.

It will firm up the Naira, improve the GDP, reduce both inflation and create more jobs for Nigerians. Over a million jobs can be created in snail industry alone.

Snail farming can be very profitable in Nigeria.

Reasons Why You Should Start A Business In Africa’s Agribusiness Industry… NOW!

When most people think of agriculture in Africa, images of poor and overworked farmers with crude tools on a rural farm readily come to mind. Many, especially young Africans, still think that agribusiness is a poor man’s occupation. Nowadays everybody wants a white-collar office job in the city.

Agribusiness is hardly on anyone’s mind.

Did you know that Africa sits on an agribusiness goldmine but most people just dont’t see it here are few exciting facts you need to know about agribusines in Africa…

1. Did you know that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, recently invested $1 billion in rice production? Every year, Africa spends billions of dollars on rice imports, and Dangote surely wants a juicy slice of the market.

2. Did you know that since 2009, investors in the USA, Europe, Middle East and Asia have been buying and leasing millions of hectares of African land for agricultural purposes? Many people may not know it but there’s a trend of serious land grabbing by foreign interests for African land.

3. Did you know that Foreign Direct Investment in African agribusiness was $10 billion in 2010 and is projected to reach $45 billion by 2020?

Agriculture is taking a huge leap in Africa and investors want a piece of the action too.

4. Did you know that Africa’s agribusiness industry will be worth $1 trillion by 2030! That’s huge! If this projection by the UN comes true, agribusiness will become the ‘new oil’ in Africa!

In the light of all these facts, how come the rich and wealthy folks are investing in Africa’s agribusiness industry while the majority of Africans are largely ignorant about the amazing potentials of agriculture on the continent

Thats why world’s top business people are investing in African agribusiness.

4th Reason you should invest In Africa’s Agribusiness Industry…

Agribusiness Is Very Scalable. You Can Start With What You Have.

Whether you own one plot of land or 10,000 hectares, agribusiness is one of few business opportunities that allow you to start on any scale, with whatever you have!

Entrepreneurs like South Africa’s Anna Phosa started her agribusiness in 2008 in her backyard with just four pigs. Today, she owns a 350-hectare pig farm and is a major supplier to Pick n’ Pay, the South Africa supermarket chain.

The opportunity to start small means that people with little capital can become part of Africa’s multi-billion dollar agribusiness industry. Because of the guaranteed demand for agricultural produce, that small vegetable or poultry farm in your backyard could just become a huge business tomorrow.

Every evidence shows that you don’t have to be a wealthy investor with millions of dollars in the bank or a highly-educated person in order to start a business in agriculture in Africa. You can start where you are and use what you have, and grow from there. You can start your agribusiness journey in your home backyard or do it on a part-time basis with your day job. It’s very flexible that way!