African Farming September October 2013

September/October 2013

Europe m14.50 - Ghana C1.3 - Kenya KSH150 - Nigeria N200 - South Africa R18 - UK £9 - USA $15

ServingAGRICULTURE

for

3333YEARS

John Deere’s 5430i self-propelled sprayer.

MaizeControlling necrosis

IrrigationCentre pivot for efficiency

Crop sprayersSelf-propelled and trailed

www.africanfarming.net

AF SeptOct 2013 Cover_Cover.qxd 26/09/2013 11:47

S01 AF SepOct 2013 Start_Layout 1 25/09/2013 15:20

Managing Editor: Zsa Tebbit

Editorial and Design team: Bob Adams, Hiriyti Bairu, Lizzie Carroll, David Clancy, Andrew Croft,Prashanth AP, Ranganath GS, Kasturi Gupta, Rhonita Patnaik, Ian Roullier, Genaro Santos, Nicky Valsamakis, and Ben Watts

Publisher: Nick Fordham

Advertising Sales Director: Pallavi Pandey

Magazine Sales Manager: Richard RozelaarTel: +44 (0) 20 7834 7676, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7973 0076 email: [email protected]

Country Representative Telephone Fax EmailChina Ying Mathieson (86)10 8472 1899 (86) 10 8472 1900 [email protected]

India Tanmay Mishra (91) 80 65333361 (91) 80 40600791 [email protected]

Nigeria Bola Olowo (234) 8034349299 [email protected]

Russia Sergei Salov (7495) 540 7564 (7495) 540 7565 [email protected]

Singapore Tan Kay Hui (65) 9790 6090 (65) 6280 2823 [email protected]

South Africa Annabel Marx (27) 218519017 (27) 46 624 5931 [email protected]

Qatar Saida Daha (974) 5 745 780 [email protected]

UAE Camilla Capece (971) 4 4489260 (971) 4 4489261 [email protected]

USA Michael Tomashefsky (1) 203 226 2882 (1) 203 226 7447 [email protected]

Head Office: Middle East Regional Office:Alain Charles Publishing Ltd Alain Charles Middle East FZ-LLCUniversity House Office 215, Loft 2A11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place PO Box 502207London SW1W 0EX, United Kingdom Dubai Media City, UAETelephone: +44 (0) 20 7834 7676 Telephone: +971 4 448 9260 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7973 0076 Fax: +971 4 448 9261E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

Production: Nathanielle Kumar, Donatella Moranelli, Nick Salt and Sophia White E-mail: [email protected]

Subscriptions: [email protected]

Chairman: Derek Fordham

Printed by: The Manson Group, St Albans, UK

US Mailing Agent: African Farming & Food Processing USPS. No. 015-224 is published six times ayear for US$90 per year by Alain Charles Publishing Ltd, University House, 11-13 Lower GrosvenorPlace, London, SW1W 0EX, UK Periodicals Postage Paid at Rahway, NJ. Postmaster: send addresscorrections to: Alain Charles Publishing Ltd, c/o Mercury AirfreightInternational Ltd, 365 Blair Road, Avenel, NJ 07001.ISSN: 0266 8017

CONTENTS

African Farming - September/October 2013 3

ContentsNews and Events 4A topical digest of news, views and events including Farmers’ Calendar.

Analysis 12The World Bank wants to revolutionise African agricultrual production by modernising the rules of

property ownership to end land grabbing.

Poultry 14Feeding chickens for best health and performance.

Artificial insemination in chickens.

Livestock Breeding 20Use of sexed semen is among the newer technologies dairy farmers in Kenya are employing to

multiply their herds and increase milk production.

Integrated Pest Management 22IPM for resource-poor farmers in sub-Saharan Africa: Can it work?

Maize 24Controlling maize necrosis - a disease that has ravaged over 75,000 hectares in Kenya.

Mobile Communications 28The productivity of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa is crucial and the focus of a number of

global initiatives which are looking to the mobile phone as a solution.

Crop Sprayers 30Self-propelled crop sprayers are a popular choice for those needing maximum output to handle a big

work load. However, trailed sprayers offer a lower priced alternative.

Irrigation 34Helping small farms to irrigate efficiently with centre pivot irrigation.

Pumps 38Pumps and pumping in fertigation.

Maize has become one of Africa’sdominant food crops, so it is essentialto control maize necrosis.

Centre pivot irrigation is adapting to become more efficient.

Feeding chickens on an organic diet containing freshbamboo leaves results in them weighing up to 70 percent more.

September/October 2013

Europe m14.50 - Ghana C1.3 - Kenya KSH150 - Nigeria N200 - South Africa R18 - UK £9 - USA $15

ServingAGRICULTURE

for

3333YEARS

John Deer’s 5430i self-propelled sprayer.

MaizeControlling necrosis

IrrigationCentre pivot for efficiency

Crop sprayersself-propelled and trailed


Serving the world of business



African Farming - September/October 20134

EVENTS

October 2013

17-19 2nd Palm Oil Africa LIBREVILLE

www.cmtevents.com

21-25 The International Conference on Advancements ANTALYA

in Poultry in the Middle East and African States

www.pamcongress2013.org

21-25 3rd Africa Rice Congress 2013 YAOUNDE

www.africarice.org

24-28 FAGRO 2013 ACCRA

www.fagrogh.com

29-30 CropWorld Global 2013 AMSTERDAM

www.pamcongress2013.org

November 2013

4-8 ICTforag KIGALI

www.ict4ag.org

10-16 Agritechnica 2013 HANOVER

www.agritechnica.com

17-19 AgriBusiness Forum DAKAR

www.emrc.be

26-28 Food Processing & Packaging & Exposium 2013 NAIROBI

www.interpack.de

December 2013

3-5 West Africa Agro ACCRA

www.agrofood-westafrica.com

3-5 West Africa Food and Bev-Tech ACCRA


3-5 West Africa Food and Hospitality ACCRA


January 2014

28 - 30 International Poultry Expo ATLANTA

www.ipe13.org

Farming Calendar

THE CENTRE FOR Management Technology, with supportersOLAM and the Gabonese Ministry of Agriculture, will host the2nd Palm Oil Africa from 17-19 October 2013 in Libreville, a fastemerging key palm oil investment hub. It will unravel challengesas Gabon aspires to become the largest agriculture producer by2020.Africa is tipped to emerge as a global palm oil hub due to aninflux of investors seeking diverse participatory models in theAfrica palm oil chain. Gabon, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria are alltapping into new palm-driven opportunities. Will this lead toAfrica shifting from a net importer to an exporter? Held under the Patronage of His Excellency Ali Bongo Ondimba,President of Gabon, 2nd Palm Oil Africa will address thesustainability and viability of palm oil business models in theregion; and define evolving structures of the palm oil industry,foreign participation and the palm oil value chain from seeds tohigh-end products.

Africa ready to emerge as next palm oil hub?

STRONG AND DYNAMIC partnerships will be key to addressingthe challenges of poverty and food security in Africa; this is themessage that Dr Frank Rijsberman, CEO of the CGIARConsortium, delivered recently at the Africa Agriculture ScienceWeek (AASW) in Accra.

During a plenary keynote speech on the topic of 'The challengeof food security and the evolution of CGIAR', Dr Rijsbermanoutlined how partnerships are contributing to CGIAR's commitmentto clear development outcomes for which it will be heldaccountable. Dr Rijsberman highlighted the need for collaborationand co-ordination to ensure better alignment of research priorities,as well as to support uptake of new technologies. He alsohighlighted the reformed CGIAR, which supports 16 cross-cuttingresearch programmes which are collaborations of the CGIARConsortium's 15 research centres, along with hundreds of otherpartners, all focused on achieving a food-secure future.

Dr. Rijsberman said: "The CGIAR Consortium is developingclear and standardised indicators for all of its researchprogrammes, which will more clearly demonstrate the connectionbetween our research and development outcomes, as well as theSDGs. But this will only be possible through strong partnershipswith implementers as well as National Agriculture ResearchSystems (NARS), sub-regional organisations (SROs) and the Forumfor Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). In 2012, CGIARinvested 53 per cent of its funding in Africa, so we are clearlycommitted to supporting our African partners to reduce povertyand improve food security in sustainable ways.

Through our partnership with CAADP, and our MOU with theAUC, we are building stronger alliances with our African partners.This process is helping CGIAR research programmes to betteralign their research with the priorities of development partnersincluding CAADP National Investment Plans. By ensuring thealignment of priorities and taking a collaborative approach toachieving these, we will help meet the real needs of smallholderfarmers and their families, and the African people whose futuredepends on them. "

This same message was echoed the previous day by Dr JimmySmith, director general of the International Livestock ResearchInstitute (ILRI).

Africa Agriculture Science Week was hosted by the Forum forAgricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in collaboration with thegovernment of Ghana in July 2013 in Accra. Representatives fromeleven CGIAR Research Centers and six CGIAR ResearchProgrammes were in attendance.

Collaboration and co-operation critical toachieving home grown food security

CGIAR is committed to building strong and effective partnerships in Africa to propel thecontinent into a food secure future.



S02 AF SepOct 2013 News_Layout 1 25/09/2013 15:43


NEWS

AGRIKEXPO AND FOODBEXT West Africa wasrecently held at the Eko Conference Centre inLagos. The three-day event was organised by 151Products, a fast-emerging conferences and eventscompany in West Africa, in collaboration with theFederal Ministry of Agriculture & RuralDevelopment and the National Agency for Food& Drugs Administration & Control (NAFDAC),respectively. NAFDAC is the principal governmentregulator of food/beverage/drugs/chemicalimports/business in Nigeria and was on hand toissue temporary import waivers to exhibitors tofacilitate import of exhibit items in non-commercialquantities, strictly for the exhibition. It was a successful event for exhibitors and tradevisitors alike, going by post event feedbacksand testimonies. The event hosted more than 67exhibitors, as against 45 in the 2012 edition,which included various local and overseascompanies from Indonesia, Spain, France,Egypt, China and South Africa. In the 2014edition, the floor space will be increased by 60per cent due to signals of more participation bycompanies and requests for pavilion presenceby some diplomatic trade missions.It is a welcome development for agriculture andF&B business development in Nigeria sincecompanies have long yearned for such a B-2-Bplatform for trade showcase. Foreign companiescan now rest assured of a credible opportunity

to tap into the huge market of West Africa asthey promote products, sign on new distributors,locate trade and investments associates.(Hitherto there weren’t any specialised F&Bshows, in spite of the great opportunities.)All together, the 2013 event witnessed a marked

improvement over the 2012 edition. In the 2014edition, there will be more media with focus in theneighbouring countries of Benin Republic, Togo,Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sénégal and Cameroonfor an all-inclusive turn out of professional buyersand government decision makers. A total of 4,750 attendees broken into varioussegments (farmers/agro allied traders - 15 percent, F&B wholesale distributors - 16 per cent, F&Bimport merchants - 25 per cent, HORECA/retailchain executives - four per cent, and topgovernment officials - eight per cent, generalpublic - 32 per cent) from different parts of Nigeriaand West Africa (Benin Republic, Ghana, Togo,

Cameroon) visited. There were also some visitorsfrom further afield.There were more than 360 key governmentrepresentatives at various levels in attendance(federal/state ministries of agriculture/ruraldevelopment, export development councils,investment promotion boards, agriculturaldevelopment agencies, government parastatals).Testimonies and statistics from a commissionedsurvey of the 2013 edition showed that all theexhibitors recorded an impressive traffic of tradevisitors and enquiries, with more than 115 spotdeals. The average visitor record stood at between80 and 90 per stand, and this figure is projectedto rise by a 55 per cent margin in the 2014 edition.For many first timers, visitors and trade diplomats, itwas an eye opener as most expressed satisfactionat the level of professional ambience and visitorturnout. Already more than 50 per cent ofexhibitors in 2013 have confirmed interest to re-

Impressive traffic of trade visitors at AGRIKEXPO and FOODBEXT

THE ICCO’S LATEST International Workshop brought to Douala a groupof world experts to tackle the thorny issue of certification in the cocoasector. The International Workshop on Cocoa Certification, which tookplace at the end of June 2013, attracted more than 150 participants fromall over the African producing region and the world of cocoa. It wasorganised in conjunction with Cameroon’s ministry of commerce, theOffice National du Café et du Cacao (ONCC) and the United NationsForum on Sustainable Standards (UNFSS).The Workshop’s participants, who included farmers, governmentofficials, representatives of the cocoa and chocolate industries,certification bodies, civil society and international agencies, reviewedcocoa certification with the aim of making recommendations on the

best approach to achieve sustainability.At the end of four days of discussions, the workshop, which heard from 30speakers and panellists, adopted a list of recommendations including:enhancing transparency on the impact of certification on farmers’livelihoods, through collecting and disseminating information onsustainability standards; acknowledging the role of existing certificationschemes - alongside those in development - as potentially efficient toolsthrough which to support the development of a sustainable cocoaeconomy; and requesting UNFSS consultation for a better understandingof sustainability standards. The workshop also requested the ICCO tofacilitate a direct dialogue between governments representing cocoaproducing countries and the cocoa and chocolate companies on this issue.

ICCO workshop in Cameroon gathered worldwide experts to improve certification in the cocoa sector


UGANDAN OFFICIALS FROM theLivestock Ministry said ticks arebecoming drug-resistant,threatening thousands of cattlecountrywide. According to the 2009 livestockcensus, there are close to 12mncows across the country of whichless than one million produce milk.The census put goats at around8.4mn and pigs at 2.3mn. Some animals have died from tick-borne diseases countywide over

the past few years, according tosome farmers. The worst affectedcattle corridor districts includeKiruhura, Mbarara, Bushenyi,Ntungamo, Sembabule andMubende. A study conducted by the NationalDrug Authority (NDA) betweenJanuary and February 2013revealed that ticks across thecountry have become resistant toacaricides. The director for livestock, health

and entomology in the agricultureministry Dr Nicholas Kauta told thepress that the resistance of ticks todrugs mostly emanates fromimproper use of drugs by farmers. “We have many drugs for killingticks. It’s risky to use one chemicalfor more than three years withoutchanging to another because then,the ticks will become resistant tothat particular drug”, he said.

Moses Kalisa Seruwagi

Ticks threatening thousands of cattle in Uganda

Several mature male and nymphalRhipicephalus pulchellus zebra ticksfeeding on cow.


African Farming - September/October 2013 7

ECOBANK ZAMBIA HAS signed an MoU withtwo agricultural institutions for a tractor financeleasing scheme to enhance conservationfarming in the country. The agreement aims ataccelerating conservation farming technologyadoption. The Zambia National Farmers Union(ZNFU)’s Conservation Farming Unit (CFU)and Musika Development Initiatives Ltd enteredinto the agreement with the bank to providefinance.

Ecobank managing director JoloneOkorochichi, Musika managing directorReuben Banda and CFU chief financial officerDutch Gibson signed on behalf of theirrespective organisations in Lusaka recently.

The MoU was testimony of the bank’scommitment towards developing capacities ofemerging farmers to make them active players

in the country’s development, Okorochichi said.The bank’s environmental and social policysupports organisations with clear environmentconservation operations. The agreement willcreate employment opportunities and,ultimately, contribute to the food basket of thecountry.

‘’We acknowledge the initiatives employedby the CFU and Musika in supplementing thegovernment’s policy of supporting food securitythrough direct and indirect support to emergingfarmers while improving environmentalmanagement by incentivising farmers withagricultural inputs and training in conservationfarming,’’ she pointed out.

Earlier, Banda said the partnership has thepotential to develop entrepreneurship in therural areas, access mechanised services such as

tillage, input and output haulage, sprayservices and grain shelling.

The tractor finance initiative would seesmallholder farmers accessing credit to buytractors, associated implements from identifiedvendors to use at the farms and offermechanised services to the surrounding farmersin their respective areas.

‘’I appeal to all parties involved to put inmaximum effort to ensure that this programmesucceeds, and contributes to the growth of theagricultural sector in Zambia,’’ he said.

Increased productivity per unit area andhousehold income levels due to early landpreparation and other agronomic activities aresome of the benefits of the initiative.

Nawa Mutumweno

Ecobank, CFU and Musika seal finance deal


NEWS

--VARUN BEVERAGES, THE producers of Pepsi and other soft drinksin Zambia, plans to invest US$15mn in a dairy plant in Ndola onthe Zambian Copperbelt.The company’s chairman Ravi Jaipuria announced this recently onthe sidelines of the Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) inNdola.In addition, the firm will soon open another beverages plant there.

‘’All the milk that we will be processing will be sourced locally.There is no internal or external factor that will deter us fromprospering,’’ Jaipuria enthused.He paid tribute to the Zambian government and the local citizensfor providing an enabling environment for the company to operate.This year’s ZITF theme was ‘Value Addition through GlobalPartnerships’.

New dairy plant set for Ndola



NEWS

THE ENHANCED INTEGRATED Framework(EIF) Programme has launched the Trade andInvestment Project for EnhancedCompetitiveness of Zambia Apiculture Sector(TIPEC-ZAS) under the auspices of the Ministryof Commerce, Trade and Industry.

The project which will be implemented bySNV Zambia/Netherlands DevelopmentOrganisation, a non-profit, NGO, isexpected to disburse US$5,656,260.00over a three-year period. The funds will besourced from the EIF and the mainimplementing entity (SNV).

The overall objective of the project is toenhance sustainable entrepreneurship in theApiculture sector through increasedproduction and productivity, improved marketaccess and improved quality and standards.

Expected key results include: 5,000 smallproducers integrated in apiculture valuechain through commercial and inclusivebusiness arrangements; 5,000 smallproducers have access to training andextension services; 5,000 producers sellingdirectly to processors through commercialcontracts; a US$1.50 increase in income per

day per producer; an increase from 4,000 to7,000 metric tonnes in volume of beeproducts by year three of the project;institutionalised norms and standards for beeproducts; 500 technicians trained to provideextension services; and improved researchand development.

The project will adopt a market-basedvalue chain approach focusing onstrengthening the production capacities ofprimary producers and building commercialrelationships between upstream anddownstream supply chain actors.

THE AFRICA AGRICULTURE TechnologyFoundation (AATF) has announced it plans tointroduce cassava mechanisation and agro-processing to more than one million farmersin Nigeria.The scheme, which will aim to acceleratecassava harvesting and processing, is set tohelp more than 10mn people across thecontinent.Denis Kyetere, executive director of AATFsaid, “AATF works towards food security andpoverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa andits structure and operations draw upon thebest practices and resources of both the

public and private sectors. It also contributesto capacity building in Africa by engagingAfrican institutions in the execution of tasksthat contribute to the Foundation's mission.”Kyetere added that the foundation aims totackle areas such as the impact of climatechange on agriculture, pest management,soil management, nutrient enhancement infoods, improved breeding methods andmechanisation.In addition, the AATF assists Africa’ssmallholder farmers by confronting specificproblems threatening most food crops such asbananas, cowpea, peanuts, maize and rice.

Kyetere, who said the foundation hopes toreach out to 300 farmers in Nigeria this year,added, “We already have 100 ha ofcassava in Kwara State and we are going tocomplete the value chain from planting to theselling of the product. Our intervention iseasy and very attractive in the sense thatplanting of cassava that usually takes farmersfour hours or more will only take us 45minutes, with application of fertiliser at thesame time. This I hope will attract manypeople, especially youths, to embracefarming, which will in turn reduce thechallenge of unemployment in the sub-region.”

TIPEC-ZAS project to boost Zambia’s honey sector

THE SIXTH AFRICA AgricultureScience Week (AASW), wasofficially opened by His ExcellencyPaa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, vicepresident of the Republic of Ghana.

AASW, hosted by The Forum forAgricultural Research in Africa(FARA), in collaboration with thegovernment of Ghana, broughttogether more than 1,300 scientificresearchers, extensionists, farmers,policy makers, developmentpartners, civil society and NGOgroups from across the world todiscuss the theme “Africa FeedingAfrica through Agricultural Scienceand Innovation”.

Speaking at the Opening

Ceremony, H.E Paa Kwesi AmissahArthur said:

“The need for action onagricultural research is urgent.African governments must increasefunding for agricultural researchand extension; farmers’ innovationsmust find their way into the researchagenda to enable Africa achieve itsgoal of food sufficiency”.

The highlight of the ceremonywas the presentation of the AfricaAward for Excellence in FoodSecurity and Poverty Reduction toHE John Dramani Mahama and thePeople of the Republic of Ghana bythe chairman of FARA, DrTiemokoYo.

The award, which wasreceived on behalf of thepresident by the honorableminister of agriculture, HonClement Kofi Humado, is thehighest award by FARA to honorGhana for its significant progressin meeting the MDG 1 target ofhalving poverty and hungerahead of 2015.

According to Dr KanayoNwanze, President of theInternational Fund for AgriculturalDevelopment (IFAD) whodelivered the keynote address:

“Over the past three decades,agricultural productivity in Africahas been stagnant or in decline.

Funding to agriculture, universitiesand research centres has fallensteadily and steeply. To makematters worse, average globalspending on agricultural researchalso fell. We know what needs tobe done. And we know what canbe done.

The development of a ScienceAgenda for Agriculture in Africa,under the auspices of FARA, is animportant step on the road to astrong agricultural sector. It is allthe more important because it isAfrica-owned and Africa-led. Itholds the promise of Africanfarmers and citizens reaping thebenefits of African research.”

Ghana’s VP opened 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week

AATF targets Nigerian farmers for cassava mechanisation


AFRICA’S BIG SEVEN, the continent’s biggest food and beverageexpo, ended in triumph yet again this year with record numbers ofexhibitors and visitors arriving from Africa and all over the world.No less than 268 exhibitors set up shop at Gallagher ConventionCentre in Johannesburg at the beginning of July, a nine per centincrease on 2012, displaying thousands of food and beverageproducts in over 400 categories.

“Quite clearly a lot of people want to do business, and they areusing AB7 to do just that,” said John Thomson, managing director ofExhibition Management Services, organisers of AB7. “Many of ourexhibitors confirmed the calibre and qualification of visitors wasexcellent; they were able to meet the right kind of businesspeopleat the show. Most were eager to network, develop ideas, andexplore all manner of opportunities.”

Africa’s Big Seven – bigger and better every year


S03 AF SepOct 2013 News E F G_Layout 1 25/09/2013 16:01


FERTIKAL, ONE OF thebiggest manufacturersof organic fertilisers inEurope, focuses on theproduction of organic N-P-K fertilisers and offerssustainable solutionswith a wide range ofw e l l - c o m p r e s s e d ,homogeneous productswith an N-P-K-composition which fully meets the customer's needs.While the Benelux produces excessive amounts of manure,elsewhere in the world there is a strong need for nutrients in theagricultural industry. The necessity for global sustainable soilmanagement demands an approach based on organic fertilisers.They are very popular because they do not only provide N-P-K,but also humus to improve poor soils and as such restore itsbiodiversity significantly.Thanks to its modern production plant, Fertikal’s organic manuregranules meet all current fertilisation standards with respect tohomogeneity, spreading accuracy, performance, hygienisation andtraceability. And this traceability is guaranteed from source to end-user.Fertikal has invested in a quality system that guarantees stringentproduction control, which is equipped with an analysis protocol atbatch level. The production process and distribution of organicfertilisers meets the European standards with respect topasteurisation in Regulation (EC) 1069/2009.The fertilisers are made from natural vegetable-and/or animal-basedingredients, are free from chemical additives and pure in composition,and in conformity with the strict Belgian standards in this field.Organic fertilisers have a lot to offer.

The benefits of these organic fertilisers are:● no leaching, environmentally friendly● gradual release of nutrients, long-lasting effect● no scorching● balanced plant growth, without stress● organic particles are converted into humus and as such improve

and preserve the soil structure● stimulates soil life● no additives, no harmful effects on humans, animals or the

environment● easy-to-use● homogeneous and stable product

Organic fertilisers effect from their main nutritional constituents andinfluence a healthy crop growth:● nitrogen (N) = stimulates cell division (growth)● phosphorus (P2O5) = stimulates root formation● potassium (K2O) = improves firmness and the flowering and

fructification process● magnesium (Mg) = the main constituent for chlorophyll● trace elements Fe, B, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo = prevent deficiency diseases

The final product has gone through heat treatment (=hygienisation)for at least 60 minutes with a minimum temperature of 70°C. Thistreatment suppresses spore formations (clostridium perfringens), toxinformation (salmonella) and weed germination and as such results in afertiliser which is free from bacteria, germs and weed seeds.Fertikal wants to expand their customer base in Asia, Africa and therest of the world and are looking for new partners, agents anddistributors in diverse countries.

The product.

Organic fertilisers have a lot to offer



improve your yield and maximize the return on investment. Maschio Gaspardo is a specialist of

ground care.

www.maschionet.com

...gives you more!

please visit our channel:


The World Bank says Africa could revolutionise agricultural production bymodernising often-corrupt and complex rules of property ownership to endland grabbing.

WITH NEARLY 90 per cent ofrural lands undocumented,Africans are highly vulnerableto both outright land grabbing

and poorly-compensated expropriation."Improving land governance is vital for

achieving rapid economic growth andtranslating it into significantly less povertyand more opportunity for Africans,including women who make up 70 per centof Africa’s farmers yet are locked out ofland ownership due to customary laws,"said World Bank vice president for AfricaMakhtar Diop. "The status quo isunacceptable and must change so that allAfricans can benefit from their land.”

Building on what it calls encouragingevidence from pilot projects in Ghana,Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania andUganda, the Bank says Africans can betteruse an estimated 202mn hectares ofunused tracts to create jobs and boosteconomic growth.

The action plan calls for documenting allcommunal lands and prime lands that areindividually owned as well as regularisingthe tenure rights of squatters on public landin urban slums that are home to 60 per centof Africa's urban population.

The Bank says new satellite andinformation technologies can cut the cost ofsurveying and mapping - computerising landregistries to improve efficiency and reducecorruption with some 26 African countriesalready running at least one continuouslyoperating reference station (CORS).

When complete, a CORS network willprovide a uniform reference system acrossthe continent - part of what the Bank says isa needed investment of US$4.5bn over tenyears to scale up policy reforms toovercome "weak governance andcorruption endemic to the land governancesystem in many African countries."

Improving performance and productivity"Improving the performance andproductivity of Africa’s agricultural sector isvital for broad-based growth, more jobs,investment, and substantially less poverty,"said World Bank director for sustainabledevelopment in Africa Jamal Saghir. "Land

governance is a proven pathway toachieving transformational change andimpact that will help secure Africa’s futurefor the benefit of all its families."

Every six days, foreign investors buy upan area of land the size of London, says theaid group Oxfam, too often evicting poorfarmers to facilitate the growth of bio fuelsand other commercial crops.

The amount of land already sold offcould feed a billion people. And Oxfamsays the World Bank itself may be partly toblame as a tripling of Bank investments inagriculture over the last decade to nearlyUS$8bn has heightened risks.

"Investment should be good news fordeveloping countries – not lead to greaterpoverty, hunger and hardship,” said Oxfamchief executive Dame Barbara Stocking."We would argue, based on the evidence,that in too many cases, the application ofsafeguards for affected communities hasnot been sufficiently stringent."

Oxfam wants a moratorium on WorldBank Group investments in land-intensive,large-scale agricultural enterprises after 21formal complaints against WBGinvestments for alleged violation of landrights since 2008.

"As the world’s leading standard-setterand a big investor itself, the World Bankshould freeze its own land investments andreview its policy and practice to preventland-grabbing," Oxfam said. "In the pastthe Bank has chosen to freeze lending whenpoor standards have caused dispossessionand suffering. It needs to do so again, inorder to play a key role in stopping theglobal land rush."

While the World Bank says it sharesOxfam's concerns about land grabbing, amoratorium "targets precisely thosestakeholders doing the most to improvepractices - progressive governments,investors, and us," it said in a writtenstatement. "Taking such a step would donothing to help reduce the instances ofabusive practices and would likely deterresponsible investors willing to apply ourhigh standards."

The World Bank Group has voluntaryguidelines on land tenure as well as a Land

Governance Assessment Framework todetermine the status of property rights, withmore than half of those assessments in Africa.

The Bank says its International FinanceCorporation is working to promoteresponsible agricultural investments withregard to community tenure, informedconsent and fair compensation, includingnew requirements when land is transferredfrom governments to private investors.

"Securing access to land is critical formillions of poor people," said World BankGroup President Jim Yong Kim. "Modern,efficient, and transparent policies on landrights are vital to reducing poverty andpromoting growth, agricultureproduction, better nutrition, andsustainable development."

And it's not just the developing worldwhere land grabbing threatens ruralpopulations. The "international peasant'smovement" La Via Campesina says justthree per cent of landowners now controlhalf of all farmed land in Europe.

While much of that wealth is held byEuropean concerns, a European Co-ordination Via Campesina (ECVC) studysays there are also "new actors includingChinese companies and Middle Easternhedge funds tied into increasingly globalcommodity chains and all looking to profitfrom the increasingly speculativecommodity of land."

ECVC's Jeanne Verlinden said land mustagain be seen as a public good.

"We must reduce the commodification ofland and instead promote publicmanagement of this common resource onwhich we all depend," Verlinden said."Priority should be given to the use of landfor smallholder and peasant agriculture andfood production, rather than handing overland to those private property commercialinterests who seek land for speculation." h

Land governance to help secureAfrica’s future


ANALYSIS

"Investment should be goodnews for developing countries– not lead to greater poverty,

hunger and hardship."



THE MINISTRY OF Agriculture and Livestock is implementing theSmallholder Productivity Promotion Programme (S3P) aimed atsustainably improving income levels, food and nutrition security for pooragricultural households in Luapula and Northern provinces with a viewto expand to one or two other provinces at a later date.The programme is being supported by the International Fund forAgricultural Development (IFAD). IFAD has provided US$24.8mn toaccelerate growth in smallholder agriculture and reduce rural povertyin Zambia. The project is co-financed by the government of Finlandthrough a US$7mn grant.According to information obtained from the ministry, the goal of S3P is toensure that ‘income levels, food and nutrition security are sustainably improvedfor poor agricultural households in the programme areas’. The ProgrammeDevelopment Objective (PDO) is that ‘the production, productivity and salesby smallholder farmers in target areas are sustainably increased’.A phased approach will be adopted in the programme implementation,starting in eight districts in two provinces (Luapiula and Northern),expanding to 16 districts within these regions in Programme Year Two (PY2)and further expanding to a third province and a total of 24 districts in PY3.S3P complements the Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme(SAPP), which is also IFAD supported, and the one programme is,therefore, expected to strengthen the other’s effectiveness, and vice versa,thereby enhancing the ability of both to achieve their overall objectives.The Programme is focusing on cassava-based farming systems andthe associated commodities of cassava, beans, groundnuts and rice,which (with the exception of groundnuts) are included in the list ofcommodities SAPP works with. Nawa Mutumweno

Zambia launches S3P programme for smallholders

African Farming - September/October 2013 13www.africanfarming.net


This article, from the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT),looks at the different methods available for poultry farmers to feed theiranimals for the best health and performance.

AN IMPORTANT PART of raising chickens is feeding -feeding makes up the major cost of production and goodnutrition is reflected in the bird's performance and itsproducts.

Feeding optionsThe most convenient way of feeding chickens is with a balancedpelleted ration, whether the birds are confined indoors or allowedto range outdoors. Most diets contain corn for energy, soybeanmeal for protein, and vitamin and mineral supplements.Commercial rations often contain antibiotics and arsenicals to

promote health and improve growth, coccidiostats for combatingcoccidiosis, and sometimes mould inhibitors. However, it is possibleto obtain unmedicated feed-check feed labels to see if they containfeed additives.

In the industry, the feed is pelleted so the bird can eat more atone time. Chickens are nibblers and make frequent trips to the feedtrough for small meals, which requires energy. Pelleting reduces theamount of energy required for a bird to feed. However, manyproducers of pasture-based, "natural" poultry believe that the meatis better when the bird receives more exercise.

If the bird is eating a fibrous diet, grit is supplied to aid in

Feeding chickens for the best results

POULTRY

African Farming - September/October 201314 www.africanfarming.net

S04 AF SepOct 2013 Poultry_Layout 1 26/09/2013 11:25

grinding up coarse feed in the gizzard.Industry birds usually don't use gritbecause the diet is low in fibre. Outdoorbirds also pick up small stones.

Different rations are often used,depending on the production stage of thebird. Starter rations are high in protein - anexpensive feed ingredient. However,grower and finisher rations can be lower inprotein since older birds require less.Special diets are available for broilers,pullets, layers, and breeders. Whole grainscan also be provided as scratch grains.

Access to clean water is important.

Home-mixed rationsSome producers decide to mix their own rations in order to be assured that only"natural" ingredients are used.

Poultry feed ingredients include energy concentrates such as corn, oats, wheat,barley, sorghum, and milling by-products. Protein concentrates include soybean mealand other oilseed meals (peanut, sesame, safflower, sunflower, etc), cottonseed meal,animal protein sources (meat and bone meal, dried whey, fish meal, etc), grainlegumes such as dry beans and field peas, and alfalfa. Grains are usually ground toimprove digestibility. Soybeans need to be heated - usually by extruding or roasting -before feeding in order to deactivate a protein inhibitor. Soybeans are usually fed in theform of soybean meal, not in "full-fat" form, because the valuable oil is extracted first.Whole, roasted soybeans are high in fat which provides energy to the birds.

Chicken feed usually contains soybean meal which is a by-product of the oilseedindustry. However, chickens can also be fed unextracted (full-fat) soybeans. Anadvantage of feeding unextracted soybeans is that they still contain the oil whichprovides high energy fat to the bird.

Since protein is generally one of the most expensive feed ingredients, the industryuses targeted rations and reduces the amount of protein in the diet as the birds grow(chickens require less and less protein as they age); however, it may not be cost-effective for small-scale producers to have different diets for starters, growers, andfinishers.

Vitamin pre-mix is usually added but may be reduced by using vitamin-rich plantsources such as alfalfa. Other plants also provide vitamins in their leaves, hulls, andbrans. Fish oil can provide vitamins A and D. Yeast provides some of the B vitamins.Sunlight is a good source of vitamin D for ranging chickens (converting a precursor tovitamin D). Poultry in cattle pastures may obtain vitamin B12 when picking throughdung pats for insect larva.

Sprouting grains, although a labour-intensive process, is used by some producers forvitamins when access to range is not possible. Sprouting can increase the amounts ofcarotene (vitamin A precursor) in the grain and as a source of year-round forage, couldbe an advantage for certified organic poultry production to reduce the amount ofsynthetic vitamins required in the diet. Eating plants may provide a yellow colour to theskin of slaughtered chickens and a deeper yellow colour to egg yolks.

Trace mineralised salt is usually added to poultry diets, but other sources can provideminerals. Minerals, although not present in high levels in plants, are provided in fishmeal and kelp (seaweed). Meat and bone meal is an excellent source of minerals,particularly calcium and phosphorus, as well as being a good protein source. However,if a producer does not want to use meat and bone meal, then dicalcium phosphate canbe substituted.

Access to pasture can reduce the vitamins and minerals needed in the diet since thebirds get vitamins from plants and both vitamins and minerals from insects.

However, preparing a balanced diet can be a complex, possibly costly process,especially for producers with little background in nutrition. Specialised knowledge isrequired about the nutrient requirements of chickens and the nutrients contained infeedstuffs. Feed ingredients need to be sourced, milled, mixed together according to aformulation, and the mix is usually pelleted.

Ration-balancing of home-made diets is important, especially on a commercialscale, to achieve the right amounts of nutrients. If diets are not properly balanced, thenbirds will suffer from nutritional diseases. The National Research Council's Nutrient


Chickens will eat almost anything.


Requirements for Poultry specifies the amounts of protein, energy(carbohydrates and fats), minerals, and vitamins. The quality of theprotein is important since it is made up of individual amino acids,some amino acids being essential to bird health.

The proper amount of these nutrients needed in diets dependson breed, age, and type of production. In preparing your own diet,formulation is important. Some diets do not include meat and bonemeal.

If you are mixing a large volume, you may be able to get a localfeedmill to mill, mix, and possibly pellet (requires differentmachinery) for you. Feedmills also have access to feed ingredientsand staff with nutritional expertise who can formulate diets.

Some producers feed whole grains. An "old-fashioned" way offeeding chickens is the "mash and grain" method which is a two-feed system of providing whole grains along with a high-proteinration in order to reduce costs. The whole grains cost less than thehigh-protein ration and can even be grown on-farm.

Certified organic dietsHome-mixed diets are particularly useful to certified organic poultryproducers. Although pre-mixed organic poultry rations areavailable for purchase, they can be expensive and may need to beshipped from long distances.

Many producers look for local sources of organic feedingredients.

When raising birds in a pasture-based model, it is important tokeep in mind that the digestive system of the chicken is gearedtowards the digestion of insects, seeds and grain rather than thedigestion of forage, and they will still need concentrate feedrations to produce well. However, chickens can make some useof high-quality forages, particularly legumes.

Joel Salatin, in Virginia, USA, developed the popular "pasturedpoultry" model in which broilers are pastured in floorless penswhich are moved daily to fresh pasture. Feed concentrate isprovided in the pen, along with water. In this system, allowing thebirds to forage on plants, seeds, insects, and worms reducesconcentrate feed costs by 30 per cent. Salatin does not believethat forage species is important for poultry range. He believesthat a diverse, perennial mix of forages is key to providingnutrients. He says the forage height is important and keeps hispasture sward at about five centimetres.

If the grass is tall, chickens in the confined field pens ("pasturedpoultry") tend to mat the grass down and it becomes unsanitary.Fresh, vegetative pasture provides more nutrients to poultry thanfibrous, stemmy pasture, and a good sod pasture preventsmuddy, unsanitary conditions. Some producers use mangles, kaleand even tree forage, such as mulberry or persimmon, as poultryfeed.

Salatin also developed a free-range model called the"eggmobile." This is a portable layer house which is moved everyfew days to a new pasture location. Birds range freely during theday. If chickens (particularly the more aggressive layer breeds) areraised in a "free-range" model such as the eggmobile, it may bepossible to feed whole grains cafeteria-style instead of milled,mixed rations. Salatin feeds whole grains to his layers in the"eggmobile". Corn, wheat, oystershell, and meat scraps are fedcafeteria-style, so the birds can choose what they need.

Although feed requirements can be reduced by allowingaccess to range and the accompanying insects, benefits ofranging poultry may lie more in marketing and animal welfarerather than in the feeding.

SummaryChicken nutrition and feeding is an important part of production.If you are going to mix your own diet, great effort may berequired to produce well-balanced diets, especially certifiedorganic diets. Chickens are able to obtain some of their nutrientsfrom insects, worms, and plants when on pasture, thus reducingcosts. h

POULTRY

When raising birds in a pasture-based model, itis important to keep in mind that the digestive

system of the chicken is geared towards thedigestion of insects, seeds and grain.


Feeding chickens on an organic diet containing fresh bamboo leaves results in themweighing up to 70 per cent more - this is particularly true in Ethiopia.


WHILE THIS TECHNIQUE iswidely used in the world bypoultry breeders, it has nottaken root in Kenya and so

researchers are looking for ways topersuade farmers to use it.

Natural mating in poultry has been thetraditional breeding method among breedersin Kenya due to its low cost and ease.

However, AI becomes useful in certaincircumstances.

At the same time, birds may not matebecause of shyness, physical limitations,and lack of interest or social incompatibility.

Unsatisfactory nutrition, age of breeders,management conditions, egg collectionand holding practices, and incubationprocedures can also influence production.

Scientists at the Department of Animal Science at Kenya’s Egerton Universityare currently working on a project that will see the introduction of artificialinsemination (AI) in chickens. Mwangi Mumero reports.

Artificial inseminationin chickens

POULTRY

A high quality cock can produce large amounts of semen,which can be used to upgrade chickens over a widegeographical area without the need to transport the cock.


[email protected]


If birds do not reproduce when otherconditions are adequate, artificialinsemination is preferred. Ornamental birdsare usually bred through this method.

“A high quality cock can produce large

amounts of semen and can be used toupgrade chicken over a widegeographical area without the need totransport the cock. It is also easy to movesemen from another country and use it forupgrading local breeds cheaply”,observed Churchill Arogo, an animalscience assistant from the Department ofAnimal Science during the recently heldNakuru Agricultural Society of Kenya(ASK) Show.

The process of obtaining semen from acock is simple and farmers only requireone week undergoing training, accordingto Joseph Gachoki, another assistant withthe department.

“The cock is held upright tightly by thelegs and then stroked at the back byusing one’s hands - from front to theback. This stroking can be repeated fortwo weeks for the cock to be wellacquitted with the process and producesemen”, said Gachoki.

On ejaculation, the semen is collected ina clean test tube and then diluted toincrease the volume.

The volume of semen discharged variesfrom bird to bird. Most males producebetween 0.1 - 0.44 cubic centimetersduring each successful collection.

Individual males vary considerably in thetime needed to replenish their semensupply. Normally, however, you can collectsemen every two to four days withoutharming the birds.

The semen should be used as soon aspossible. It can be held for one or two hourswithout great loss in fertilising capacity, orlonger under controlled conditions.

Hygiene has to be maintained to reducethe introduction of infectious bacterial andother pathogens that might damage thesperms or fertilised egg.

The hens are then inseminated using aspecial pipette and a technique that farmersneed to learn.

Experts say that it may be best toinseminate more often at the onset ofproduction, but once some eggs have beenfertilised, once-a-week insemination isenough to maintain a satisfactory level.

Fertile eggs can normally be obtained 48to 96 hours after insemination and up tothree weeks thereafter. h

POULTRY

Churchill Arogo demonstrates how a cock is massaged toproduce semen for use in artificial insemination. Pic: Mwangi Mumero.

Normally you can collect semenevery two to four days without

harming the birds.




NEWS

19

LEADING DUTCH HATCHERY technologycompany Pas Reform continues its internationalexpansion, with news of a series of newcontracts in Algeria.

Typically a relatively fragmented market, withmany small producers and hatcheries, thetendency here has, said Pas Reform’s localrepresentative Bob de Rycke, been toconsolidate, while at the same time developingGP hatcheries to fuel growth. Notably, he said,Arbor Acres’ commitment to this dynamic andemerging region signaled an increase in thedevelopment of GP facilities, when theypartnered with Groupe Kerbouche two yearsago, to develop a state-of-the-art Smartinstallation for the production of femaleparent stock.

Pas Reform’s new contracts include:Lounigrain Import-Export: Khaled Lounis,CEO, was instrumental in placing the firstSmartSetPro setters and SmartHatchProhatchers, to evaluate the machines in terms ofchick quality, hatchability and ease ofoperation. Eurl El Rabie Engraissement deVolailles: headed by Saleh Rabie, who haschosen Pas Reform technologies for their newbroiler project, because he recognises theneed for greater day old chick uniformity tomaintain a market-leading position. Smartsingle stage technologies will expand currentweekly production capacity from 88,000day old female pullets per week, to a weeklycapacity of around 130,000.

Eurl Ouarou Avicol: Youcef Ouarou isreplacing existing machines and expandingthe capacity of his broiler chick hatchery, withSmartSetPro setters and SmartHatchProhatchers. The new installation will provide acapacity of seven million hatching eggs peryear.

Sarl Nutrimag, a growing youngcompany, situated in the West of Algeria,close to Oran, specialises in animal feed andnow plans to further expand operations withthe development of a new broiler hatchery.The Nutrimag installation is for a completeincubation system, including SmartSetProsetters and SmarthatchPro hatchers, acomplete HVAC system and hatcheryautomation, to ultimately produce andprocess 200,000 day old chicks perweek/10mn per year.

Sarl Cherrati Engrais de Volailles willinvest in the further expansion of its broilerhatchery with six new SmartSetPro two settersand two SmartHatchPro hatchers, for aweekly production capacity of 65,000 dayold chicks per week.

Ouchelouz Sarl: Situated in Timgad,Batna, in the east of the country, TarekOuchen is investing in a new Smart singlestage hatchery, with an initial capacity of

100,000 day old chicks per week. Ouchenrecently met with Pas Reform at the SIPSAexhibition in Algiers, to discuss the final stages ofthe installation process, and make plans forfamiliarising hatchery personnel with the newincubation systems through a programme oftraining with Pas Reform’s incubation specialistsand technical training programmes.

“Pas Reform has seriously invested in this newmarket, to make a strong and enduringcommitment to the future of the hatchery sectorhere,” said Bob de Rycke, responsible formarket development in Belgium, France andfrancophone Africa.

“These new contracts and installationsrepresent a very exciting time for us – a trueaccomplishment, and we very much lookforward to extending the same, continuing highlevels of service and support for our customers inNorth Africa in the future.”

94 years of experience in the manufacture of cleaning & hygiene chemicals.

An uncomplicated, easy to use range of multi purpose products for the food processing industry.

Products with the highest performance levels on all contact surfaces & soiling.

Effective in closed plant & open plant applications.

All disinfectants exceed the European Biocide Standards.

Highly cost effective in use.

Evans Vanodine can supply a wide range of dosing units to cover a variety of applications.

International plcBrierley Road, Walton Summit, PrestonPR5 8AH EnglandTelephone: +44(0)1772 322200Fax: +44(0)1772 626000Web: www.evansvanodine.co.uk

(pty) Ltd50 Monte Carlo Crescent,Kyalami Business Park, MidrandSouth Africaemail: [email protected]: +27 11 466 1751

Pas Reform expands in Algeria


Algerian hatchery sector welcomes Pas Reformhatchery technologies.


Use of sexed semen is among the newer technologies dairy farmers in Kenyaare employing to multiply their herds and increase milk production in a sectorthat has shown tremendous growth in the last decade. Mwangi Mumero reports.

“WITH SEXED SEMEN, farmers can increase thechances of their cows giving birth to heifersnecessary for herd expansion, milk productionand profits,” observed Rebekah Mast, the

genetic director at World Wide Sires Limited during a recentlivestock fair in Nairobi.

According to Mast, an American, the process of sexing semen isa tedious six-to-eight hour process.

“Normal semen is coloured with a special dye. It is then passedthrough a laser beam which separates the sperms having the X andY chromosomes. It is a wasteful process with a huge loss in semen.At the same time, it is a costly process –consequently making thesemen expensive to farmers”, said Ms Mast as she explained theprocess to attentive farmers and journalists attending the three-dayBrookside Dairies Livestock Fair.

Sexed semen currently retails between Ksh4,500 (US$53) andKsh8,000 (US$94) which is expensive compared to non-sexed semen.

Depending on the source - whether local or imported - non-sexedsemen costs between Ksh800 (US$9) and Ksh3,000 (US$35).

“One advantage though is that it has a 90-95 per cent successrate in getting the preferred choice of calf and farmers are notdisappointed”, asserted Ms Mast, who is also a farmer in theUnited States.

While the use of sexed semen in the country is just catching on,embryo transfer is also on the roll as more farmers seek to improvethe quality of their herds.

“A cow - preferably a heifer - is injected with hormones sothat it can produce more eggs, a process known as super-ovulation. A good harvest would be between three and 20 eggsper animal during seven days”, observed Dr David Nyaga, aveterinarian and the product development manager with

Medilink, a Kenyan firm, during fair.The ova (eggs) are then fertilised either inside the body through

artificial insemination (AI) or outside the body in a test tube underlaboratory conditions.

“The fertilised ovum - now known as embryo - may then befrozen and stored or can be immediately implanted into a recipientcow within seven days. The recipient may require hormonaltreatment before the embryo is implanted to increase chances ofsuccess,” said Dr Nyaga, adding that thorough examination of theembryos is done before implantation.

However, Dr Nyaga noted that the success of embryo transfer inKenya has hovered around 50 per cent as it is determined by amyriad of factors that include the animal’s state of health, feeding,skills of the inseminator, timing and age of the recipient animal.

Interest high but cost exorbitantWhile interest in this technology is high among youthful, educatedand upcoming dairy farmers, the cost has remained exorbitant dueto the lack of frozen embryos in the country.

“Embryo transfer is still in the infancy stage here. We prefer itwhere farmers come together - mainly through dairy co-operativesor large scale farmers. This reduces the cost considerably forinseminating one animal”.

It costs Ksh250,000 (US$2,940) per package - meaningavailability of three donor animals and at least five recipients.

“We have to produce embryos and implant them within sevendays. It is an expensive process that requires farmers to cometogether and pool resources to benefit from this technology. Thehigher the number of recipient animals, the lower the cost toindividual farmers”, added Dr Nyaga.

In Kenya, semen is produced by the Kenya Animal GeneticsResource Centre (KAGRC) at Kabete, just outside Nairobi.

But farmers seeking higher diversity and genetic potential havecast their nets wide importing genetic materials from Europe, theUSA and South Africa.

Increasing the chances of breeding heifers


LIVESTOCK BREEDING

Fertilisation being done in test tubes.

A good harvest would be between three and 20 eggs per animal during seven days


Implantation of the embryo into the recipient animals.

S05 AF SepOct 2013 Livestock Breeding - Angola_Layout 1 25/09/2013 16:29

Donor-funded livestock projects have also been promoting theuse of sexed semen across the East African region.

“We are working with dairy farmers across Kenya in promotingincreased milk production. Technologies such as sexed semen andembryo transfer improve herd productivity and increase profits forregional farmers”, said Dr Charity Nguyo, a Kenyan veterinarianworking with a World Bank funded Eastern Africa AgriculturalProductivity Project (EAAPP) during the fair.

The project incorporates research organisations such as the theKenya Agricultural Research Organisation (KARI), Ministry ofAgriculture extension service division, large scale farmers, KAGRC,Kenya Livestock Breeders Association as well as smallholder dairyfarmers in self-help groups.

The project is currently being undertaken in Kenya beforedissemination to other eastern Africa countries such as Uganda,Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Kenya was identified as the appropriate host for the DairyCentre of Excellence due to its relative advantage in the dairyindustry in the region in terms of superior genetics, feedingtechnologies, animal health technologies and organisation offarmer producer units along the lines of the successful co-operativemovements.

Accordingly, the country is in a better position to assist othercountries in the region in the development of a robust dairy sectorbased on the smallholder model.

The project has so far distributed 18 artificial insemination (AI)kits and 5,500 semen doses. This has resulted in 529 in-calf cowsand 167 calves born - 98 female with the rest males.

Among the dairy goats, 488 have been inseminated with 221kids being born, according to the organisation’s latest report.

“We have identified large scale farmers for germplasmmultiplication which involves breeding of animals using the latesttechnologies. The aim is to increase the number of heifers that canbe distributed to as many farmers as possible”, asserted Dr JosephNjuguna, a county veterinary officer in charge of Uasin GishuCounty in Kenya’s Rift Valley region, where the bulk of milk in thecountry comes from. Nearly 800,000 Kenyan smallholderhouseholds depend on dairy farming for their livelihoods, and thedairy sector provides employment to over 350,000 people in milkcollection, transportation, processing and sales.

Dairy industry plays an important roleThe dairy industry plays an important role in meeting the livelihoodneeds of poor rural-based household as well as contributing toKenya’s economic development. h

Implantation of the embryo into the recipient animals.

The aim is to increase the number of heifers that can be distributed to as

many farmer as possible.



A Virginia Tech research programme has confirmed the presence of aninvasive insect in Senegal - tuta absoluta - a dangerous pest in tomato crops.

MOST FARMERS IN sub-SaharanAfrica are resource-poor in termsof access to natural resources,credit, information and external

inputs. In traditional cropping systems, cropprotection is based on a combination oftechniques to constrain pest development.

Resource-poor farmers are experimentersand inventors, who learn and generate theirown technology. Their agricultural practicesare often very well adapted to the agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions,and farming systems are flexible andresponsive to all kinds of risks, including thoseof pests. These low-external input systems oftenoperate near the optimum, but generally donot produce high yields. To increase yieldsand reduce crop losses, agriculturaldevelopment programmes have beenlaunched. Subsidised pesticides were madeeasily available and have been a majorfactor in disrupting traditional pestmanagement practices. The technologytransfer model has been used, based onresults of formal research which did nottake very much into consideration thetypical agro-ecological, human health,environmental and social aspects of lowexternal input systems.

A more integrated, site-specificapproach to development is necessary tosolve the many problems related tosustainability in agriculture. The originalconcept of IPM emerged in response to thenegative consequences of chemical pestmanagement in high external-inputagriculture. However, for resource-poorfarmers, IPM should be considered amethodology for arriving at appropriatepest management systems usingparticipatory methods in problem definitionand technology development. The informalresearch and development capacity inAfrica should be the basis for a resource-poor farmer Green Revolution 'from within'.This approach of stimulating the farmer tobecome an experimenter and a generatorof technology goes against most of thecurrent thinking on agricultural policy,research and extension, but it could achievethe full potential of IPM in Africa.

IPM research programme in SenegalA Virginia Tech-managed researchprogramme, the Integrated Pest ManagementCollaborative Research Support Program,has confirmed the presence of Tuta absolutain Senegal, the first confirmation of theinsect’s presence in that country.

Tuta absoluta is an invasive tomatoleafminer native to South America. “Theinsect affects the ability of thousands, andpossibly millions, of small farmers to growhealthy tomato crops,” said RangaswamyMuniappan, the programme’s director. Tutacauses damage primarily to tomatoes butcould also affect other crops, making it arisk to food security and agriculturalproduction in countries where it is found.

The confirmation was made possible

through efforts of scientists at Virginia Tech,Senegal’s Direction de la Protection desVégétaux (Crop Protection Agency), theInstitut Sénégalais de Recherche Agricole(Senegalese Institute for AgriculturalResearch), and the US Department ofAgriculture’s Animal and Plant HealthInspection Service.

No natural barriers to its spreadThe insect was first identified outside ofSouth America in Spain in 2006 and hasspread to other Mediterranean andEuropean countries, North Africa, and theMiddle East. Now that it has reached sub-Saharan Africa, there are no naturalbarriers to its spread across the continent.

The Tuta larvae primarily cause damageto leaves of tomato plants, although theysometimes burrow into the fruit. The pest’sfeeding results in decreased production,decreased fruit quality, and sometimes 100per cent damage to the plant.

Where the pest has been detected,associated costs with insecticide-based


INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

Tomato damaged by Tuta absoluta in Senegal.

Resource-poor farmers areexperimenters and inventors,who learn and generate their

own technology.


IPM for resource-poor farmers insub-Saharan Africa: can it work?


management have substantially increased.Further, reports have shown that the pest hasdeveloped resistance to certain insecticides.

According to Douglas G. Pfeiffer,professor of entomology in the College ofAgriculture and Life Sciences and principalinvestigator for the programme’s project inWest Africa, “We now must address how todeal with this pest in our region in anappropriate way. We’ll start with monitoringand educational efforts aimed both atfarmers and plant protection specialists.”

The programme is working to developsuitable tactics to control the pest and willeventually incorporate the recommendationsinto its tomato package in Senegal.“Packages” refer to a suite of holistic tacticsthat may be used to control an insect pestand plant diseases for a specific crop. Thepackages use integrated pest management,an approach that reduces pest damagewithout harming the environment. Further, byhelping Senegalese tomato growers controlthe pest, the programme helps slow the pest’sspread into additional African countries.

“Invasive pests have the potential todisrupt successful integrated pestmanagement programmes the world over,and Tuta is no exception,” said Pfeiffer.

The programme, funded by the US

Agency for International Development andmanaged by the Office of InternationalResearch and International Development atVirginia Tech, operates in 17 countries in sixdifferent tropical regions of the world,encompassing about one-third of theworld’s population. It has developedseveral economical, ecologically friendly,and effective alternate technologies thatreduce the use of pesticides and combatfood insecurity in the developing world.

The Office of International Research,Education, and Development is part ofOutreach and International Affairs at VirginiaTech, which links the university to the privatesector, government agencies, non-governmentorganisations, individuals, and communities inVirginia, the nation, and the world. h

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

On hatching the caterpillars normally attack the leavesand stems.


Tuta absoluta TUTA ABSOLUTA IS a devastating pest oftomatoes. Originating in South America,recently Tuta absoluta has beenconsidered to be a serious threat totomato production in Mediterraneanregion, and has now reached sub-Saharan Africa. This pest can breedbetween 10-12 generations a year. Eachfemale can lay 250-300 eggs in her lifetime. This pest is crossing boarders anddevastating tomato production in bothprotected and open fields. The length ofthe life cycle depends on temperatureand is quoted typically as between 29and 38 days.On hatching the caterpillars normallyattack the leaves and stems, biting a holeand adopting a mining habit inside theplant tissue. Although the maturing fruit isnot the favoured site for feeding, in heavyinfestations both green and red fruit canbe attacked. On larger fruit the entrancehole is very easy to see as it quicklybecomes necrotic resulting in a distinctpale cream or yellow mark. Holes in thefruit are more likely to allow invasion byfungal pathogens


Scientists in Kenya have developed three maize hybrids that have shownmuch resistance to the recently emerged maize necrotic disease that hasravaged more than 75,000ha in the country. Mwangi Mumero reports.

FIRST OBSERVED IN the Longisadivision of Bomet County in theSouthern Rift Valley in September2011, the viral disease, known a

maize lethal necrosis or MLN, has spread toneighbouring Trans Nzoia, Narok andNakuru counties –causing massive losses tomaize farmers in these regions.

“Use of hybrid varieties which show somelevel of resistance to the virus is the mostsuccessful way of managing the disease.Farmers are also being encouraged to growalternative crops in order to break the virustransmission cycle”, observed Dr AnneWangui, a virologist with the KenyaAgricultural Research Institute (KARI) duringa recent media briefing in Nairobi.

Among the most suitable alternativecrops, according to Dr Wangui, arepotatoes, cassava, cabbage, carrots andsweet potatoes.

Already KARI scientists have found outthat the maize necrosis disease is caused bya combination of two diseases.

“The Sugarcane Mosaic Virus and theMaize Chloratic Virus have been identifiedthrough molecular techniques with the latteraccounting for more than 60 per cent ofyield loss”, asserted Dr Wangui. The twodiseases are transmitted by aphids andthrips respectively.

Symptoms of the diseaseSymptoms of the disease include mild tosevere mottling on the leaves, usuallystarting from the base of young leaves inthe whorl and extending upwards towardthe leaf tips; stunting and premature ageingof the plants; dying (known as “necrosis”) ofthe leaf margins that progresses to the md-rib and eventually the entire leaf. And finallynecrosis of young leaves in the whorl beforeexpansion, leading to a symptom known as“dead heart” and eventually plant death.Plants frequently die before tasseling,according to an initial disease reportproduced by KARI.

Infection rates can be very highInfection rates and damage can be veryhigh, seriously affecting yields andsometimes causing complete loss of the

crop. Infected plants are frequently barren;ears formed may be small or deformed andset little or no seed.

Field observations indicate a 30-100per cent loss of the crop depending on thestage of the maize when first affected.

Farmers planting maize after neighbouringfarms have experienced heavy losses sufferbadly as the young seedlings have lessresistance and wind-blown insect vectors cantransmit the disease from the infected field tothe new crop.

“We are advising farmers in oneregion to plant maize concurrently sothat by the time the virus becomes active,the crop has developed and becomemore resistant to the disease - escapingintense damage,” said Joshua Oluyali, aMinistry of Agriculture extension officerin Uasin Gishu, the main maizeproducing region in the country.

Agricultural experts have also warnedthat mixing several varieties of maize onone farm and failure to practiseintercropping and crop rotation may beexacerbating the problem.

For instance, experts note thatintercropping sweet pepper or onion withmaize, kale or beans reduces the impact ofthe maize virus.

Having a closed season when no crop isgrown also eliminated the disease throughbreaking the viral cycle.

“In most of the maize growing areas,planting is a continuous process. This issustaining the disease and the vector cycle.By the time farmers realise the presence ofthe disease, the damage is already done,”said Fred Kanampiu, crop systemsagronomist with the Maize and WheatImprovement Centre (CIMMYT).

In its latest food security report, theMinistry of Agriculture has projected thatKenya will harvest about four million bagsof maize by September - a long shot withthe outbreak of the maize disease whichhas affected parts of the Rift Valley that formthe breadbasket in the country.

Farmers are equally worried about theirdiminishing fortunes as the year progresses.

Controlling maizenecrosis


MAIZE

Members of the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease scouting teaminspecting a maize field in Lugale for signs of infection.

Already KARI scientists havefound out that the maize

necrosis disease is caused bya combination of two

diseases.


S06 AF SepOct 2013 Maize_Layout 1 26/09/2013 11:52

“A huge section of my farm is affectedand we anticipated over 40 per cent loss inyields this year. I am thinking of moving toother crops such as wheat or even todairying as viable alternatives”, observedLispar Chemboi, a farmer in Longisa inBomet County.

Such a move by Chemboi of reducingacreage under maize is bad news to thegovernment which relies on the crop tocushion against food insecurity. Already,Kenya has doubled its maize imports fromUganda and Tanzania and expects to importmore than 54,000 tonnes by September to fillthe deficit.

The cabinet secretary in charge of

agriculture Felix Koskei recently noted thattackling the maize disease was critical inensuring food security in the country.

“While Kari has developed the resistancevarieties, the Kenya Seed Company hasbeen advised to dress all seeds withnecessary chemicals to decrease attack bythe virus. The agricultural ministry has alsoidentified a chemical to be applied to theaffected farms to reduce the spread,”observed Koskei.

The way forward?In the short-term, farmers are advised to:● Uproot and remove affected plants● Avoid growing maize in consecutive

seasons, opting for crop rotation or growalternative crops

● Be aware of specific season and plantingtime to avoid spreading of the disease

● Apply good agronomic practices● Chemical spraying of vector under

specific circumstances

In the long-term both technical andprogrammatic interventions are required formore sustainable solutions.

● Technical interventions:● Investment in promotion of good

agricultural practices● Breeding of resistant or tolerant seeds

● Programmatic interventions:● Regional dialogue for coherent

responses and regulations with a role for private sector stakeholders

● Expansion of markets for alternative crops and diversification of food habits

● Effective and efficient surveillance systems need to be set up. h

MAIZE

A farmer gathers arid corn crops on his farm in Kwale, Kenya .


Intercropping can reduce the impact of themaize virus and produce a healthy crop.


CROPS

THE NAIROBI-BASED International LivestockResearch Institute (ILRI) together with regionalpartners have initiated a research project inTanzania that will explore how small scalefarmers can better integrate production ofroot and tuber crops, such as cassava andsweet potatoes, with rearing dairy goats toimprove the food and nutritional security oftheir households.

Across the nation, cassava and sweetpotato provide human food in periods ofhunger, provide feed for ruminant animals -leaf meal from cassava and vines from thesweet potato plant - and can be grown insemi-arid areas.

Working closely with Sokoine University ofAgriculture, the study will be conducted in theMvomero and Kongwa districts of Morogoroand Dodoma regions. Project staff distributedToggenburg and Norwegian improvedbreeds of dairy goats to 107 farmers inFebruary 2012.

Together with farmers, the scientists aresetting up community-managed breedingprogrammes for dairy goats and introducingimproved varieties of cassava and sweet potato.

Drought-tolerant varieties of cassava andsweet potato have never before been farmed

on a large scale in the region and dairy goatkeeping has previously been restricted to thewetter areas of the districts.

“This is changing because, with the use ofthese crops, we can now introduce dairygoats in dry agro-pastoral areas”, observedFaustin Lekule, a professor with SokoineUniversity of Agriculture.

The ILRI is serving as a knowledge-supportpartner for the project and is providingexpertise on goat production, genderintegration, monitoring and evaluation, andassessing food and nutritional security.

“We’re combining project- and community-based indicators to ensure that farmerdecisions guide the project’s implementation,”said Pamela Pali, a scientist at ILRI who isleading the monitoring and evaluationcomponent of the project.

Both Sokoine University of Agriculture andthe agricultural research institute in Kibaha aretraining farmers on how to raise dairy goats.

“I received a goat in February this year.As a result of the training, I now understandhow to feed the animal, construct a bettergoat house and identify signs of diseases formy goat. This project has improved myfarming skills,” said Subeida Zaidi, a woman

farmer in Mvomero District.The researchers are using the information

generated to put checks against interventionsthat are likely to impact men and women,especially those that will narrow the gender,nutrition, income and asset gaps between them.

This project, entitled ‘Integrating DairyGoats and Root Crops Production forIncreasing Food, Nutrition and IncomeSecurity of Smallholder Farmers in Tanzania’,is funded by Canada’s InternationalDevelopment Research Centre, and CanadianInternational Development Agency (CIDA).

Other participants in the project include theUniversity of Alberta in Canada and a non-governmental organisation, the Foundationfor Sustainable Rural Development.

Mwangi Mumero

Cassava-goat research project


S07 AF SepOct 2013 IPM_Layout 1 25/09/2013 16:42

The dependence on smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa is huge,and their output accounts for 80 per cent of all the food produced herefor local/regional consumption. Improving the productivity of these allimportant smallholder farmers is crucial, and is, thankfully, the focus ofa number of global initiatives, which are looking to the mobile phoneas a potential ‘saviour of mankind’, as Tim Guest reports.

FROM SMALLHOLDER FARMERS,to every link in the agri-supplychain, mobile telecommunicationscan help growers, buyers,

distributors and exporters to trade witheach other more efficiently than everbefore, and it’s a technology set to have aprofound impact on women in developingcountries where, in some regions, theyaccount for as much as 70 per cent of thetotal agri-workforce and are, effectively,responsible for producing almost half theworld’s food. It’s no wonder, then, thatacross Africa, many regional mobilephone operators as well as organisationslike USAID, Nokia, Vodafone, the Bill &Mellinda Gates Foundation, the GSMAssociation and others, are forging aheadwith research and projects, whichrecognise the importance to future foodsecurity of putting mobiles into the handsof African farmers.

Connecting the unconnectedOver the next five years, the mobilecommunications sector is expecting globalmobile subscriber growth to be driven bydemand from among an estimated 1.8bnunconnected people in developingcountries. It will come as no surprise to thereaders of African Farming that a hugemajority of these people are to be found inremote, rural locations where they dependon agriculture for their livelihoods. To themobile industry this is a significantuntapped market; for the rural farmer, agathering revolution.

Projections galoreBy 2020 the world’s population is expectedto grow by 750mn, and the impact of suchthings as climate change and water scarcitywill be acutely felt. With this fast-approaching, potentially bleak future,action needs to be taken now to improvethe efficiency of food production and itsdistribution - a 70 per cent increase in that

production is projected as what is neededby 2050, when the Earth’s population willhave hit 9.2bn. If we don’t reach thattarget… who knows.

Among the organisations activelypursuing mobile agriculture is mobilecomms group, Vodafone, whichcommissioned management consultancy,Accenture, to conduct a study in 2011 onthe viability and potential of mobilecommunications in agriculture. With itsvast mobile footprint across much ofAfrica, and its communications servicesalready provided to a wide range of majoragricultural businesses, it made sense forVodafone to understand the potential formobile technology to improve agriculturalefficiency and productivity.

The research looked at how, by givingfarmers access to basic mobile financialservices and agri information services, aswell as providing new agriculturaltechniques and market information, thiscould lead to farmers securing improvedprices for crops and higher returns on theirinvestments. With an ever-improving,harvest-by-harvest income the study saidthese farmers would be able to invest inbetter seeds, fertiliser, pesticides and agro-chemicals, and even have more time togenerate income from elsewhere.

The report also said that mobilefinancial payment services, together withaccess to mobile agricultural informationservices, would account for ‘75 per cent ofthe total increase in agricultural income’

for these farmers. Indeed, additionalincremental income for farmers ofUS$52bn by 2020 was also projectedalong with water savings amounting tosome six per cent in many regions,through the use of mobile agricultureservices. As for the mobile operatorsthemselves? They can expect revenuesfrom over 174mn fee-paying connectionsto mobile services per annum.

The Democratic Republic of Congo,Egypt, Lesotho and Mozambique werecited in relation to weather-relatedinformation services delivered to farmersover mobile phones, which the report saidcould potentially help achieve a 10 percent, or more, savings in total freshwaterusage, and contribute to additionalagricultural income of US$34bn acrossthose countries in 2020. Such weatherforewarning will help farmers plan theirplanting, irrigation and harvestingschedules, to avoid using water when it’sabout to rain, or quickly harvesting cropsif damaging storms are predicted. Justlooking at the sky for clues is a thing ofthe past!

An NGO viewWhile the Accenture report was largelywelcomed by NGOs such as Oxfam, whichhas its own efforts in places like Tanazaniawhere it has been piloting mobilecommunication services to share marketinformation and weather forecasts with

Mobile communications - a revolution for rural farmers


MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS

Cell phones empower women farmers.

Many mobile phone operatorsrecognise the importance to

future food security of puttingmobiles into the hands of

African farmers.



smallholder farmers, Oxfam itself statedthat the report only went part of the way inits analysis. The NGO wanted to seefuture mobile research emphasis placedon government safety net systems, genderequality and new inclusive agriculturalpractices, to see how mobile technologycould support the poorest and most foodinsecure small farmers, as well asencouraging mobile operators, likeVodafone, to fully address barriers to theuse of mobile technology affectingwomen. They also want mobile technologyto address agricultural adaptations toclimate change.

Mobile initiatives Agricultural development is one of thelargest initiatives of the Bill & MelindaGates Foundation, which has so fardedicated over US$2bn to such efforts,with sub-Saharan Africa one of the regionsof chief focus. The Foundation’s approachis to listen to farmers in order to addressspecific needs about the crops they want togrow, eat and sell, and understandchallenges that may be specific toindividuals or individual communities.

In its research to identify solutions thatfarmers will use, the Foundation seesmobile and emerging digital technologiesas crucial in empowering smallholderfarmers with the latest information to helpthem make informed decisions about theiragricultural practices.

And with the support of the Gates’Foundation and USAID, the GSMAssociation’s (GSMA) mAgri programme isprobably one of the most importantinitiatives currently active.

Fiona Smith, mAgri Director at theGSMA, speaking in Q1 2013 at theMobile World Congress, told an audienceof mobile industry professionals that ‘if theviability of a farmer’s business can beimproved through mobile services thenfarmers can, in turn, spend more on gettingadditional mobile services that will addfurther to their improving situation’. A win-win, which is why the GSMA is working tocreate commercially viable mobileagricultural services together with USAIDand the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundationon its ‘mFarmer’ initiative. The GSMA hasbeen involved in mAgriculture for morethan three years and is now gaining insightinto how farmers use their phones andwhat kind of information they want to helpthem in their farming practices. Smith saidthat last year 70 per cent of farmers indeveloping regions had wantedinformation about pest and diseasecontrol; as if in response to such demandfor information via mobile, she said that bythe start of this year more than 100 mAgriservices had become available and werenow in use in those regions.

One of these is the Kilimo service inTanzania, run by regional operator, Tigo.It’s a helpline to deliver weather, agronomyand market price information services tofarmers across the country and accordingto the GSMA’s Business DevelopmentManager for its mAgri Programme, NataliePshenichinaya, speaking at the same

congress earlier this year, ‘Kilimo is aservice that provides both male and femalefarmers with accessibility to these serviceswith the aim of reaching half a millionfarmers by early 2014’.

Kilimo (which means agriculture inSwahili) started out by offering informationon five basic crops but currently enablesfarmers to find weather information,market price and agronomy tips, which canbenefit them by providing: information ona wide range of crops; current weatherforecasts, which may impact when toharvest a crop; market prices, which may

help them make a decision about whether‘today is the right day’ for making a longjourney to market, or not.

The only stipulations Tigo make are thatanyone wanting to access and sign up tothe Kilimo service ‘must have a sufficientbalance on the main account’, and if that’sin place then it will cost a user 100Tsh peritem of content (approx six US cents) toaccess information on the service.

One important factor that has beenhighlighted by both Tigo’s Kilimo serviceand other such services around the world isthe importance of education as a factor notonly in determining what information todisseminate but also in what format.Indeed, even the basic use of standardmobile handsets has needed to be part ofa general education programme in manyregions. It seems, however, that oncefarmers have been shown how to use ahandset they are comfortable doing soearly on. Tigo actually trains its distributorsto train the end user, which Pshenichinayasaid had worked very well. Tigo Tanzania isexpected to be the first to tie in location-based services to its Kilimo service, usingcell ID to provide subscribing farmers withvery localised details.

A mobile future for Africa’s farmers There are now far too many mobileagriculture initiatives and projectsunderway across Africa than can bementioned in detail in this short article, butbefore closing mention should be given tothe Nokia Life service, which alreadydelivers education, health, and agricultureservices to 90 million users in China, India,Indonesia and Nigeria and is expected toexpand into other countries during 2013.Africa’s smallholder farmers are set tobenefit greatly from the attentions of theworld’s mobile communications sector – asis that sector from the needs of Africa’sfarming community. h

MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS

A Maasai pastoralist checks his mobile phone insouthern Kenya.

If the viability of a farmer’sbusiness can be improved

through mobile services then farmers can, in turn,

spend more on gettingadditional mobile services

that will add further to their improving situation.


In January this year, Nigeria’s BusinessDay newspaper reported that thegovernment was to give around 10million phones to the country’s farmersin what it said was a ‘bid to boostagricultural production in the country’.The information was said to haveoriginated from the federalgovernment’s office of the permanentsecretary in the federal ministry ofagriculture and rural development,Ibukun Odusote. The report said thosereceiving the handsets would haveaccess to information on delivery dates,farming seasons, fertiliser, productprices, and scarcity periods.


Self-propelled crop sprayers are a popular choice for those needingmaximum output to handle a big work load, but the capital cost is high andtrailed sprayers offer a lower priced alternative. Mike Williams reports

SALES OF TRAILED sprayers areincreasing in many countriesbecause they can match the outputof big self-propelled sprayers at a

lower initial cost. Most of the pricedifference is because the trailed models arepowered by a tractor which can beavailable for other work during the year,while self-propelled sprayers include thecost of their own transmission, engine andcab which is used only for spraying. Someof the operating expense of the tractor mustbe added to the trailed sprayer cost tomake the financial comparison fair, but theextra versatility of having a separate tractorcan be an important advantage.

Interest in trailed sprayers for largeracreages has also been encouraged byimprovements in design and performance.One of the developments has been addinga suspension system to give a smootherride, a feature that was already includedon self-propelled sprayers. The suspensionis usually mounted on the sprayer’s axle toreduce shock loads when travelling overrough ground, and both air and hydraulicsystems are widely used. Another option isto add a suspension system to thesprayer’s drawbar, helping to absorbshock loads from the tractor, and on sometrailed sprayers both types of suspensionare used. A smooth ride for the sprayer isimportant, improving boom stability tomaintain accurate application, and insome cases it can help to increase outputby allowing a faster forward speed or awider boom to be used.

Another important development ontrailed sprayers is adding a steering controlsystem. A problem with the early trailedsprayers was the fact that the sprayer wheelsdid not follow the same track as the tractorwheels when turning at a sharp angle, andthis could damage plants when sprayingrow crops. Providing either an axle basedsteering system or using a special drawbarsteering control can ensure that the tractorand sprayer wheels follow the same track tominimise crop damage, and an addedadvantage of the axle based systems is thatthey can be used to improve accuracy bypreventing sideways drift or ‘crabbing’

when working on a steep side slope. Also helping to reduce crop damage

while spraying is a generous amount ofunderside clearance to avoid contactingplants that are sprayed at a later growthstage. This is a feature of the recentlyimproved Leader 3 model from TeamSprayers, which features a new suspendedaxle allowing 1.0m of ground clearance.The Leader 3 is available with up to 4,000litres of tank capacity and a 30m maximumboom width.

Factors influencing the work rates forcrop sprayers include the size of the tank,which affects the frequency of refill stops,with bigger tanks available on some of thelatest trailed, self-propelled and tractor-mounted sprayers. The popular tank size fortrailed sprayers is from 3000 to 5000 litres,but many of the leading manufacturers offer

extra capacity for bigger work loads.Oceanis models in Kuhn Farm Machinery’sextensive trailed sprayer range have tankcapacities in five sizes from 4,500 to 7,700litres, and the top model in the Amazone UXseries can be supplied with up to 11,200litres capacity and to cope with the weightthe standard specification includes a hydro-pneumatic suspension system with anti-rollcontrol. The biggest trailed model in theDammann range has 14,700 litrescapacity, probably the world’s biggestsprayer tank.

Increasing the boom widthIncreasing the boom width can also help toincrease output, but stability becomes anincreasingly important factor with widerbooms and an efficient suspension isneeded to maintain the correct workingheight. The Tenor trailed sprayer range fromBerthoud includes booms up to 42m wide,and the larger models are equipped withthe recently introduced Ektar B2 boomwhich features a pendulum based axialsuspension system with an in-cab controlenabling the operator to make adjustmentsto suit the working conditions.

Crop sprayerprogress


SPRAYERS

A specially adapted version of the Micron Varidomeshielded application system for herbicides beingtested for weed control in sugar cane.

Factors influencing the workrates for crop sprayers include

the size of the tank, which affectsthe frequency of refill stops.


S08 AF SepOct 2013 Crop Spraying_Layout 1 26/09/2013 10:44


Bowl CuttersUsed Rex 200 litre all stainless steel Bowl CutterUsed Laska 200 litre Bowl Cutter with black bowlUsed Meisner 120 litre all stainless steel Bowl CutterUsed Alpina 80 litre Bowl Cutter with black bowlUsed K & G 65 litre Bowl Cutter with black bowlNew Fatosa 35 litre all stainless steel Bowl CutterMincer and Mixer GrindersUsed Biro 56 Flat pan mincerUsed Kilia 130 self feed mincer with agitatorUsed Cato 160 cross feed mincer, as newUsed Hobart 4346 Mixer GrinderUsed Wolfking 140 Mixer GrinderVacuum Packers & Shrink Tunnels

Used Webomatic small rise and fall DiptankUsed Webomatic automatic rise and fall diptankUsed Cryovac CJ 51, hot air shrink tunnelMixers and TumblersUsed Vakona 220 litre vacuum mix tumblerUsed Dorit Vacuum Tumbler 1,000 litresUsed Laska 800 litre Twin Z arm MixerUsed IFM 1,000 litre Twin ribbon MixerUsed Tecmaq 250 litre single paddle MixerDicers and FlakersUsed Urschel RAA Dicer was used on cheeseUsed Urschel RAA Twin dicer set up fast productionUsed Treif Felix Dicer set up with wire frame for cheeseUsed Holac meat Dicer chamber 84 mm x 84 mmUsed Butcher Boy meat Flaker with loaderUsed Dunhelm two stage cheese cutterMiscellaneousUsed Burger Machines, sausage makers.Used Frying lines, batter and breading machines Used bag Makers, Twin linear weighersUsed trolley loaded ham cookers

New & Used Food Machines All With Warranty

www.machines4food.co.ukEmail: [email protected] 40, Second Avenue, Westfield Industrial Estate, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, BA3 4BH, EnglandTel: 44 (0)1761 410345 Fax: 44 (0)1761 410332

Bowl CuttersUsed Meisner 120 litre Bowl Cutter s/s bowlUsed Rex 200 litre Bowl Cutter s/s bowlNew Fatosa 35 litre Bowl cutter s/s bowlMincers and Mixer GrindersUsed Butcher Boy 56 Mincer

Used Wolfking 140 Mixer GrinderNew fatosa 160 Mincer cross feedUsed Weiler whole meat block MincerVacuum Packers and Shrink TunnelsNew ATM Single chamber vacuum packerNew ATM double chamber vacuum packerNew ATM Table top vacuum PackerNew single chamber vacuum packerNew double chamber vacuum packerUsed Cryovac CJ 51 Heat shrink tunnelLarge hot water dip tanks arrivingMultivac manual water dip tank Mixers and Tumblers

New fatosa 80 litre paddle MixerUsed IFM 1,000 litre twin ribbon Mixer

Dicers, Flaker, graterNew Fatosa frozen meat block GuillotineUsed Butcher Boy FlakerUsed Urschel Twin RA A Dicer shredderUsed Urschel CC GraterUsed Mainca manual grater / slicerUsed Urschel ML Dicer strip cutterUsed Treif Dicer 84 x 84 chamberUsed bandsaws various sizesMiscellaneous

Used Talsa 120 litre electric cooker tankUsed Bratt pans 80 to 180 litresUsed Kronen Salad Spinner

Used Vertical bag clipperUsed Handtmann Filler with double clipper Used Ranger Apollo cooked sausage peelerUsed Metal detectors

Used Butcher Boy auto 52 MincerUsed Biro 52 Mixer Grinder

Used Baader 601 meat Separator

Used Lutetia 400 Kg vacuum Tumbler

Used top label applicator

Used Risco sausage Filler Linker with hoist

Used Hobart H600 Mixer Bakery type

3547 - PBSI Sep13 Edn.indd 53 11/09/2013 14:59

LINDSAY CORP, MAKER ofZimmatic irrigation systems, hasannounced the addition of soilmoisture monitoring and aweather station to its Growsmartby Lindsay product line.These plug-and-play add-ons use awireless connection to reportrelevant weather and soil waterdata from the field to a securecustomer account on the Web.FieldNET by Lindsay software andsupporting mobile apps, providethe graphical user interface,convenience and reporting growersneed to make more informed irrigation decisions, according to DirkLenie, Vice President of Global Marketing at Lindsay.According to Lenie, the Growsmart sensors are designed toprovide growers information that enhances irrigation managementusing FieldNET’s management tools, which allow growers toremotely monitor and control their entire irrigation system.“Integrating soil moisture and the weather station with FieldNETallows growers one easy-to-use platform that controls pumps andpivots, records water and energy usage, tracks soil moisturelevels and trends, and logs local weather station information.Growers are automatically notified about conditions that requireaction,” he said.quick access to field feedback that can result inbetter overall irrigation management and improved crop yieldand quality,” Lenie says.

New Growsmart by Lindsay Sensors


This year’s new addition to the JohnDeere sprayer range is the R952i trailedsprayer with up to 40m boom width andwith an options list that can include theBoomTrac advanced electronic system tocontrol the boom. BoomTrac takes 50height measurements per second andsignals a correction if an adjustment isneeded to the height setting or to theboom angle.

Automatic height and tilt adjustmentalso feature on booms up to 40m wide onthe latest Trailblazer trailed sprayer fromKnight Farm Machinery. The Trailblazerspecification also includes an airoperated shut-off control for the nozzles,a feature that is increasingly popular onboth trailed and self-propelled sprayers.An advantage claimed for the air system isthat it operates instantly with a totallypositive opening and closing action alongthe full width of the boom. Air operatednozzle closing also features on the new

iXtrack C Pro trailed sprayers from Vicon,which can be equipped with up to 45mboom width and are available with eitheraxle or drawbar suspension – and in somecases with both.

A special feature on some Lemkensprayers including their EuroTrain trailedmodels is the design of the boom which ismade from an aluminium tube. Usingaluminium helps reduce the weight of theboom and the tubular shape providesextra strength and rigidity while alsoenclosing the spray lines and the nozzlesto provide damage protection. EuroTrainmodels have boom widths up to 30m andtank capacities from 2,800 to 6,350 litresand the equipment list can includeautomatic boom height control and adrawbar steering control that can operateautomatically.

Some of the recent arrivals in thetrailed sprayer market are new modelswith a smaller tank capacity, a more basicspecification and a lower price. They havebeen developed as entry level machinesproviding a cost-effective alternative tobuying a used sprayer or to attractcustomers wanting to replace an existingmounted sprayer to achieve more output.The trailed Eco-Star model fromHouseham Sprayers is an example,offering 2000 and 3000 litre tank choicesand 20 or 24m boom widths, and withsimplified controls for easy operation.

Tecnoma’s new GT2500 sprayer is alsoin the entry level category with a 2500

litre tank, up to 24m maximum boomwidth and the axle is manually adjusted toprovide track widths from 1.6 to 2.2m.The lowest priced trailed sprayers fromFarmGEM are in the Quartz series wherethe boom width choice is from 18 to 24mwith hydraulically operated lifting andfolding. A self-levelling boom suspensionis standard and the tank capacities are2,000 or 3,000 litres.

One of the standard features includedon many self-propelled sprayers is ahydrostatic transmission providinginfinitely variable speed adjustment. Thedrive system is based on an engine drivenpump that delivers a flow of oil to thewheel motors, and the result is precisecontrol of the travel speed withoutadjusting the engine speed combine withease of operation and has a reputationfor long term reliability.

Hydrostatic drive systems for sprayers areusually equipped with two or more speedranges covering slow and faster workingspeeds plus a faster range for road travel,and with self-propelled sprayers oftentravelling between different farms and tooutlying fields, increased travel speeds areavailable from many of the leadingmanufacturers. A 40kph travel speed iswidely available on many of the big capacitysprayers and some, including the AgrifacCondor and the Rogator 600B models fromChallenger, have a 50kph top speed.

Demand for more outputThe popular size for self-propelled sprayertanks is generally between about 3,000 and5,000 litres, but the demand for increasedoutput has encouraged some manufacturersto offer 8,000 litres or more. The emphasison performance has also brought morepowerful engines into the sprayer market,

SPRAYERS

John Deere's 5430i self-propelled sprayer has a 230hpengine, a hydrostatic transmission and a 4000 litre tank.

Entry level machines provide acost-effective alternative to

buying a used sprayer.


A lightweight tubular boom onLemken Eurotrain sprayers protectsthe spraylines and nozzles.


and examples include a 200hp engine forthe Amazone Pantera self-propelled sprayerwith a 4,000 litre tank, FarmGEM offers a200hp engine option for the Sapphire IIsprayer with up to 4,000 litres capacity andup to 242hp is available for the recentlyintroduced AGCO Challenger 600B seriesRogator sprayers with tanks up to 6000 litresavailable.

A new feature available in both theBerthoud and Tecnoma self-propelledsprayer ranges is a front-mounted cab that

can be lowered to ground level to allow aneasy exit or entry for the driver, and is thenraised hydraulically to the normal workingheight. The moving cab avoids the need touse steps when entering or leaving the caband this, the makers say, reduces the risk ofa fall and is also more convenient for someolder drivers.

A development from Micron Sprayers isthe Varidome system which is used to sprayherbicide for controlling weeds close tosensitive crop plants. The spray droplets are

released under a protective shield thatkeeps the chemical away from the cropwhile concentrating the herbicide on weedsgrowing between the rows. The Varidomesystem is available with up to 9.0m workingwidth, and the design includes easyadjustment to suit different row spacing.The system is already used commercially fora wide range of row crops including maize,vegetables, ornamentals and some rootcrops, and it is currently being evaluated inAfrica for weed control in sugar cane. h


SPRAYERS


Sub-Saharan Africa has huge agricultural potential but unreliable rainfall,resulting in drought and climate change. Irrigation can eliminate theseproblems. Valmont Industries looks at how to make it affordable forsmallholder farmers.

IN JUNE 1976, Scientific American magazine called centrepivot irrigation systems “perhaps the most significantmechanical innovation in agriculture since the replacement ofdraft animals by the tractor.”1

The centre pivot concept is simple. A long pipeline, attached toa central point, travels over a field in a circle. As it passes overcrops, sprinklers spaced along the pipeline emit water, nourishingthe crop below. Although the centre pivot construction is simple, itseffects have been revolutionary.

Nowhere in the world is that more visible than in the United Stateswhere widespread conversion to centre pivot irrigation has indeedtransformed irrigated agriculture. By using mechanised irrigationequipment that is more durable and efficient, US growers increasedtheir revenue and their crop yields. Farmers grow more food withless water while being released from the drudgery of conventionalirrigation methods and putting their labor to better use.

Founded by Robert Daugherty in 1946, Valmont Industries hassold more than 250,000 of its Valley brand of centre pivotmachines worldwide, and those machines irrigate more than12.5mn ha around the globe. Daugherty’s vision has changed thelook of the world, which can easily be seen from the sky. Cropcircles created by center pivot irrigation can be seen all around theworld – even in the desert.

Aggressive investments in irrigation, hybrid seeds, and fertiliserduring the past 50 years have brought famine and poverty undercontrol in Latin America, China, and South Asia while most of sub-Saharan Africa has made little progress during this same time period.Economists and social scientists cite many reasons for this failureranging from the tribal nature of society to the lack of institutionalsupport and poor governance. Limited investment in technology andinfrastructure resulted in limited commercial farming in the region.

An exception in sub-Saharan Africa is South Africa whereValmont introduced centre pivots in the 1970s and built its firstmanufacturing facility in 1986, producing more than 20,000 Valleycentre pivots. This technology has moved beyond South Africa intoZambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, and Kenya. Currently,more than 90 per cent of Valmont’s business in Africa has beenwith medium and large commercial farmers who have experiencedtremendous success. The same drivers of this success can serve asa model for small growers.

“We are now looking at how this tool can work for small farmerstoo,” said Rich Berkland, Vice President of International Sales atValmont Irrigation. “Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, well over 90per cent of the farmers are subsistence while the population spendsover one half their annual incomes on food costs. This leaves verylittle left over for education, health, and housing needs.”

In contrast, only six per cent of US household income is spent on food.2

Great agricultural potentialYet there is great agricultural potential in sub-Saharan Africa. It hasvast areas with good soil, plentiful water, and a climate that cansupport double or triple cropping. But many African smallholder

farmers remain poor because they depend on unreliable rainfall,making them vulnerable to drought and climate change. Thesedisadvantages could be completely eliminated by irrigation, whichroughly doubles the output of agricultural land production.

Only four per cent of farmland in Africa is irrigated, and certainlythese growers could benefit from the practice. But moderntechnologies, such as centre pivots, are often cited as “tooexpensive” for Africa’s farmers. Indeed, the cost per hectare is toohigh for a 1-10 hectare pivot.

“So why not have multiple small farmers under one centrepivot?” Berkland said. “If those same growers pool their resourcesthey can greatly increase their effectiveness. Valmont is workingwith NGOs and with governments trying to develop a model ofshared pivots for small growers.”

If small farmers can be organised to share that centre pivot, thecost drops dramatically. A low cost per hectare is achieved by usinga simple geometric equation in the farmers’ favour. Figures 1 and2 demonstrate the dramatic reduction in cost of a centre pivot oncethe radius of the field exceeds 300 metres.

Helping small farmsirrigate efficiently


IRRIGATION

Pivot irrigation in the United States grain belt.


Figure 1

S09 AF SepOct 2013 Centre Pivot Irrigation_Layout 1 26/09/2013 11:22


ww

w.in

fow

ork

s.b

iz


Figure 2 is based on the typical cost for water supply, which maynot be applicable to all conditions.

This is the same exponential economic advantage that large-scale farmers around the world enjoy with centre pivot irrigation.An association of smallholder farmers, or a large commercialproducer serving as an irrigation and crop marketing provider, canown and operate the center pivot in cooperation with thesmallholder farmers. Figure 3 illustrates how a 60 hectare pivot candivide land into two hectare parcels for small holders.

This approach puts precise, efficient irrigation technology into thehands of small farmers, and the impact on farm production is dramatic

because water is available where and when the crop requires it. Widespread use of this model could turn subsistence farmers into

profitable commercial farmers by increasing yield and empoweringfarm workers to increase their incomes by using less labor for irrigation.

The choice of centre pivot irrigation has the potential to jump-start the development of modern agriculture in Africa. Centre pivotswill be a visible reminder that, once the infrastructure is built, oncethe inputs are available and once the farmers are organised, therewill be water for a full crop all year round. Without irrigation, Africawill remain in a state of poverty no matter how much money isspent on infrastructure and training. With efficient irrigation, Africacan feed itself and the world. h

1. Splinter, William E. 1976. “Center-Pivot Irrigation,” ScientificAmerican, Volume 234, p.90.2. World Bank 2009, U.S. Department of Agriculture 2009,Euromonitor International

Figure 3: Field divisons.


Figure 2


CENTRE PIVOT IRRIGATION is themost cost effective method ofirrigating large areas.

Which crops are most suitable for centrepivot irrigation? Who should consider usingthis type of irrigation?

Practically all crops are suitable giventhat the plant is not too high to beaccommodated under the centre pivot.There are, however, centre pivot systemsavailable for taller crops such as sugarcane and citrus.

Although centre pivot irrigation is best forirrigating larger areas, there are quite a lotof smaller systems in operation, coveringareas of as little as three hectares, veryoften towable units. Given the preciseapplication of water, low maintenance andlabour costs, centre pivot irrigation can befinancially viable even on such small areas.

Because centre pivot irrigation does notrequire any additional labour to operateand can easily be automated, it is well suitedfor small and large scale irrigation projects.

The advantages of centre pivot irrigationCentre pivot irrigation offers accurate waterdistribution at low pressure. It is also thecheapest way of irrigating on a large scale.The cost of each centre pivot tower is thesame (only differing with the difference in

pipe diameter) whether you have a small ora large system. With each additional toweryou add, the radius of the circle is extendedand the area under irrigation increasesexponentially to the outside making itcheaper per hectare as it becomes larger.

Maintenance for a centre pivotirrigation system Maintenance on Senter 360’s system is verylow and basically just requires routinechecks such as making sure there aren’t anyleaking oil seals on the drive units, that thepressure of the wheels is correct, air ventson the gearboxes are open and that towerdrain valves are kept clean. The centre pivot

gear box oil has to be drained andreplaced preferably once a year. The rest ofthe system is electrical with very lowmaintenance. Senter 360 offers anexcellent after sales service in the unlikelyevent of anything going wrong.

Senter 360 is a competitively pricedSouth African designed and developedcentre pivot of international standard.

One of the main factors that sets thecompany apart from the competition is thatit uses pipe trussing, which makes thestructure much stronger and lighter. Anotheradvantage would be its I-Wob sprinklersthat have a perfectly engineered dropletsize resulting in more water in the soil.

In addition, Senter 360 has introduced anumber of small features that make a majordifference. For example, it has a patentedtechnology to keep the last sprinklerconstantly clean, thus maintaining the fullirrigation application on the outer hectaresof the centre pivot, normally prone tounder-irrigation.

Senter 360’s systems are currentlybeing used across the African continent. Arecent achievement has been theallocation of an international tender forthe supply of more than 55 centre pivotsto the South African government for theTaung irrigation scheme.h

As Africa’s agriculture sector grows, more and more farmers and projectmanagers are using irrigation to improve their yields. Senter 360’s TheunsDreyer talks about the advantages of centre pivot irrigation.

Why centre pivot irrigation is bestfor large areas


IRRIGATION

37

Senter 360 is to install 55 pivots for the Taung irrigationscheme in the North West province.

Centre pivot irrigation is thecheapest way of irrigating on

a large scale.


Centre pivot irrigation offers accurate water distributionat low pressure.

Centre pivot irrigation is the cheapestway of irrigating on a large scale.


"Fertigation" is the combined application of water and nutrients to a crop – amix of fertiliser and irrigation. It can be adapted to all types of crops, but ismost common in cash-crop segments, rather than broad-acre or arable crops.Dr Terry Mabbett looks at the different types of pumps used for this.

FERTIGATION IS EXACTLY what itsays – the application and provisionof fertiliser (nutrients) to crop plantsvia an irrigation system. Fertigation

offers a considerable number of realadvantages including:● Significant economies in outlay associ-

ated with both labour and the energythat is otherwise expended duringstandard fertiliser application, whetherusing fertiliser spreaders, power sprayersor granule applicators.

● The nutrients applied via fertigation areimmediately and readily available for rootuptake and utilisation by the crop plant,because they are already in an aqueoussolution - dissolved in the irrigation water.

● Fertigation offers the farmer andgreenhouse grower much more flexibilityin nutrient application by making thecrop fertilisation programme that mucheasier to schedule.

● Minimal soil compaction as a collat-eral benefit from eliminating the needfor heavy fertiliser applicationequipment including tractor-mountedfertiliser spreaders and tractor-drawnpower sprayers.

● Farmers and growers are given consid-erably more control over the applicationprocess both in its timing and theamounts of nutrients supplied to plants.Micronutrients can be applied in theirrequired small amounts while farmersand growers can ensure their cropsreceive required specific nutrients inexact appropriate amounts when theyspecifically need them. For example fruitformation in tomatoes, capsicum pepperand aubergines and tuber initiation inpotatoes and other root crops.

The basic core components of anyfertigation system are the storage and supplytanks of irrigation water, mixing tanks wherethe product formulation of water solublenutrients is dissolved in water at theappropriate concentration and of course theinjector unit; the network of pipes fordistribution and supply of the nutrientsolution and the emmitters which actuallyapply the nutrients, now dissolved in the

irrigation water, to the actual plant foliageand/or to the soil around it depending onthe irrigation system used. Be that as it may,the pump and pumping operation requiredto inject the nutrient mixture into theirrigation system and convey the nowappropriately diluted solution into the fieldor the greenhouse is without doubt the mostpivotal part of the system.

Pumps for fertigationFertigation injection devices can beoperated on a piston flow system thatutilises and harnesses the power of positivedisplacement pumps, or on a system ofvacuum generation using suction ornegative pressure venturi-type principles.

The range of positive displacementpumps which are used may includeproportional injectors, rotary pumps, andperistaltic pumps. Electric, gasoline, orhydraulic powered motors are typically usedto power positive displacement pumps.

The key and major advantages ofharnessing the power of positivedisplacement pump systems are anunquestioned accuracy in nutrient provisionand easy user-friendly adaptation into anautomated application system andfertilisation programme. Both rotary andperistaltic pumps are able to move plantnutrients from the supply tank and into theirrigation system. Rotary pumps achieve thistransfer of solution by using a system ofrotating gears, while peristaltic pumps use apartial vacuum to effect transfer of thenutrient solution.

Irrespective of the pumping system used,the net required result is the generation ofa consistent flow of nutrients, without therate of nutrient injection being at allaffected compromised by any changes inthe rate of irrigation.

Peristaltic pumps are typically used toinject nutrients into microsprinkler irrigationsystems, the required rate and amount ofchemical injection being achieved by thesqueezing action of the rotating rollers on aflexible tube. Metal and other corrosionprone materials used in the manufacture ofperistaltic pumps are protected against anycorrosive effect caused by nutrient chemicalsbecause they [the chemicals] flow through a

Pumps and pumping in fertigation


PUMPS

The 'pump house' showing the fertiliser injectormounted on the wall and the nutrient mixing tank.

Fertigation offers the farmerand greenhouse grower much

more flexibility in nutrientapplication.


S10 AF SepOct 2013 Pumps_Layout 1 26/09/2013 11:53

tube, and therefore do not come into contactwith any inner components of the pump.

Chemical (nutrient) injectors operatingon the venturi principle utilise differentialpressures generated across these devices.This effectively means the rate of chemicalinjection will vary with the differentialpressure that is generated. The rate ofchemical injection is governed by the dropin pressure, the bigger the pressure dropthen the higher the injection rate.

Correct and proper operation of suchdevices requires a pressure drop across theventuri and the requirement for at leastsome minimal pressure to secure even alow rate of chemical. This constraint canresult in the low efficiency of chemicalinjection and accompanying problems inthe accurate quantification of fertigation.

The majority of centrifugal pumps workon the principles of vacuum-generation andwill offer the user a range of advantageswhich includes:● Simple and easy operation with no

moving parts to worry about● Very easy to set up and maintain the

installation● Considerably superior control over

chemical injection rates ● An ideal system for nutrients marketed in

a dry (crystal or powder) formulation

Use of this method of chemical injectionrequires that the pressure produced by thecentrifugal pump is higher than the pressurein the irrigation main line on which the flowrate of chemical from the pump will depend– the higher the pressure in the irrigationmain line then the smaller the flow rate fromthe injection pump. Centrifugal pumpsneed regular calibration to ensure preciserates of chemical injection.

Backflow prevention for fertigation security Required safety levels during the fertigationoperation demand the correct and secureconnection of all components in the system.These will include the supply tank, injectiondevices, and the irrigation system itself. Thesupply tank is connected to the irrigationsystem via a supply pipeline with a pair ofsmall open-ended tubes located in thesupply pipeline, deployed so that the end ofone tube faces upstream while the end ofthe other tube faces downstream.

Water flowing through the supply tankdisplaces the chemical stored in the tankwhich is consequently forced into theirrigation supply line. The pressure thuscreated causes water to flow into the

upstream tube and the chemical to flow outof the downstream tube, this being due tothe differential pressure created betweenthe up-and-down stream ends. Waterpressure may be controlled by installing apressure-reducing valve between the inletand outlet ports in the supply pipeline.

However, failure to install and operate aproperly functioning backflow preventionsystem will mean the ever present danger ofcontamination. A common cause ofcontamination is cessation of water supplywhile the chemical injection unit isoperating. This situation is aggravated andworsened if the irrigation water flows backthrough the injection unit into the chemicalstorage tank thus causing the tank tooverflow. Check valves situated in theirrigation main line and also in the injectionline, vacuum relief valves, low-pressuredrains, and interlocking circuits areexamples of the many safety devices whichare deployed in fertigation systems andinstalled to prevent and avoid backflow andthe risk of contamination. h

References:Boman, B., S. Shukla, and D. Haman. 2004.Chemigation equipment and techniques forcitrus. University of Florida, IFAS Circular1403. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/CH184Calder, T. 2001. Selection of fertigationequipment. Agriculture Western Australia.Farmnote 35/2001http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/hort/eng/f03501.pdfFares, A., and F. Abbas. 2009. Irrigationsystems and nutrient sources for irrigation.University of Hawai‘i at M noa, College ofTropical Agriculture and Human Resources,publication SCM-25.http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/SCM-25.pdf.Fares, A., and F. Abbas. 2009. Injection Ratesand Components of a Fertigation System.University of Hawai‘i at M noa, College ofTropical Agriculture and Human Resources.Engineers Notebook. EN-4 2009.

PUMPS

A large and reliable supply of water needs to be stored.

Required safety levels duringthe fertigation operation

demand the correct and secureconnection of all components

in the system


The Fertigation Direct95 is a top quality meteringpump and a complete, ready to install fertiliserinjector package.


DEUTZ-FAHRLUBRICANTS

deutz-fahr.comDEUTZ-FAHR is a brand of

The use of original lubricants and coolants is recommended.

The DEUTZ-FAHR Agrotrac range is designed and built to tackle a wide variety of farm work. Because they are so productive and versatile, Agrotrac tractors are perfectly at ease with demanding open fi eld work, even carrying implement combinations. They also excel in fast transport. A good power-to-weight ratio, correct weight distribution, and advanced technical specifi cations guarantee maximum effi ciency under all conditions, while intelligent ergonomics and an intuitive control layout make them easy to operate from the moment you climb aboard.

For more information please contact: [email protected]

AGROTRAC 150

THE PERFECT TRACTOR FOR TRANSPORT AND FIELD WORK.

S11 AF SepOct 2013 Equipment_Layout 1 26/09/2013 10:58

A new waste treatment technology for agribusiness in Africa.

IN MANY AFRICAN countries, it is notuncommon to see piles of coffee husksand pulp, cocoa pulp or chicken manurebeing dumped away on fields. It usually

takes several weeks to several months todecompose such wastes under naturalconditions. Not only that, but it takes a longtime and such a practice also takes up hugeland space and poses bio-security issues withdisease-causing pathogens. Landfill hasbecome increasingly challenging as we havewitnessed the environmental side effects of it.

A 24 hour digestionThe Rapid Thermophilic DigestionTechnology developed by BiomaxTechnologies is a revolutionary approach totreating organic wastes. Based inSingapore, a country known for itsadvancements in biotechnological

research, Biomax had developed a mixtureof specially formulated enzymes that wouldbreak down organic wastes into organicfertiliser in just 24 hours - the fastesttechnology in the organic waste treatmentindustry. This technology has beenperfected by a team of Biomax scientistsafter five years of R&D efforts and financialresources.

This 24 hour treatment process is verysimple too. Wastes are loaded into adigester where they are mixed with thepowder-form enzymes at 80°C. This high

temperature kills off all the harmfulpathogens, insect eggs, weeds, seeds andlarvae during the 24 hour process. Moreover,this short processing time does notcompromise on the stability and quality ofthe end-product as the fertiliser is perfectlypasteurised and mature after 24 hours –ready to apply back into the farms directly.

A one–for–all solutionThis system is flexible enough to treat avariety of wastes such as livestock wastes(animal manure, beddings and straws,slaughtering and hatchery wastes), cropresidues and food wastes (municipal foodwaste and food processing waste). Thetechnology is also able to treat differentkinds of sludge such as biogas sludge,wastewater sludge and sewage sludge. Itcan be complemented with existing waste

New approach to treating organic wastes


WASTE TREATMENT

Fertilizer output from theBiomax digestor.

This system is flexible enoughto treat a variety of wastes,

such as livestock wastes, cropresidues and food wastes.



facilities to turn the low grade sludge intohigh quality output while at the same timecreating a close-loop waste stream.

The premium outputThe organic fertiliser produced fromBiomax’s system is in powder form,pathogen-free, odourless and rich innutrients. Since it is produced under acontrolled environment, the fertilisercontains more than 70 per cent organic

matter which is beneficial for improving soilfertility. Due to over-application of chemicalfertilisers, the soil quality usuallydeteriorates over a period of years. This iswhere organic fertiliser comes in torejuvenate poor and sandy soil. Farmerscan apply organic fertiliser as a supplementto their existing chemical fertiliser usage forthe first few harvests and gradually increasethe use for future harvests. This kind ofquality organic fertiliser has the potential to

become a valuable asset for the farmingcommunity in Africa which needs toimprove their soil quality and increase yield.

The economicsFinally, when farmers and industrial playersconsider adopting a technology, it all boilsdown to whether the method is cost-efficientand feasible. The Biomax system requires avery minimal floor space, for example, amachine that can handle up to 15 tons ofwaste input per day requires only 300 sq m forthe factory area. The Biomax digester is veryrobust and steady, thus the only maintenancethat needs to be done is cleaning andlubricating some moving parts. Besides, onlytwo to three people are required to operate a15-ton machine. Overall, through its qualityoutput, the system is considered an investmentwith attractive returns.

Within four years, Biomax Technologieshas set its footprint in more than 13countries across four continents. All thoseinstallations are up and running and treatwastes such as poultry waste, food waste,sludge and plantation waste. h

For more information on Biomax RapidThermophilic Digestion Technology, visitwww.biomaxtech.com

WASTE TREATMENT

The market potential for such technology is huge,considering the growing human population accompaniedby an increasing amount of organic wastes.

Complete Plants for Rice Processing

Machinery, plants, also on turnkey basis, for processing grain and pulses – sorghum, cooking plants for bulgur etc.

F. H. SCHULE Mühlenbau GmbH

Dieselstraße 5-9 · D - 21465 Reinbek / Hamburg

Phone: +49 (0)40 7 27 71 - 0 · Fax: +49 (0)40 7 27 71 - 710

[email protected]

www.schulefood.de




EQUIPMENT

NEW HOLLAND AGRICULTURE and itsdistributor in Uganda, Cooper MotorCorporation Ltd (CMC), have jointly donated aTT55 tractor to the ‘Kids of Africa’ nonprofitorganisation. CMC will also donate trainingand technical support. The tractor was handed over during aceremony attended by H.E. (Mrs.) Janet K.Museveni First lady and Minister for KaramojaAffairs, top Government officials, New HollandAgriculture Africa Business Manager, MrMarco Raimondo, the children of ‘Kids ofAfrica’, their caregivers and the organisation’sstaff, representatives of the local councils, aswell as the national broadcast and print media. This donation follows from the previous gift ofa 3030 NX tractor in August 2009, as part ofNew Holland’s and CMC’s Corporate Social

Responsibility programmes, which aim tosupport the country’s social and economicdevelopment. The 3030 NX tractor hasenabled ‘Kids of Africa’ to establish mixedfarming on its land, with intensive vegetableproduction. This has helped the children’svillage, home to 93 children and 50 membersof staff, to achieve a high degree of food selfsufficiency.Since 2009 Kids of Africa have cleared anddeveloped 10 acres within the village formorganic vegetable farming, relying on dripirrigation. They have also hired 15 acres from alocal church organisation, which have beendedicated to the production of beans, maizeand sunflowers. They have done such an excellent job with thetractor that they have been ploughing andharrowing land for a growing number ofneighbouring farmers, providing assistance to

the local community. The arrival of the new TT55 tractor will enable‘Kids of Africa’ to significantly step up theirfarming activities. These general-purposetractors are blessed with outstanding powerand fuel efficiency. They are designed to meetthe most varied needs, providing very easyaccess on and off the driving seat, and acomfortable workstation. Highly reliable, theyare quick and easy to service, with the one-piece rear hinged hood that gives excellentaccess to all components from the ground.The new TT55 tractor will enable ‘Kids ofAfrica’ to farm the additional two acres theyrecently purchased and expand the 15 acres ofland hired from the local church organisation,as more than 50 acres of unfarmed land areavailable to ‘Kids of Africa’. In addition, ‘Kids of Africa’ will be able to extendits support of local farmers, providing ploughingand land preparation work on a hire basis to thewider community around the village. This willmake a huge difference to local production, as,before the arrival of New Holland’s tractors,local farmers only had hand hoes to prepare thesoil and therefore tended to plant too little, toolate, which resulted in a poor harvest.The children of ‘Kids of Africa’ are growing upwith first-hand knowledge of sustainable,mechanised farming practices. They arelearning how they achieve good yields whilepreserving the quality of the soil by preparingthe land for planting with proper ploughing andharrowing followed with mixing into the soil ofbiological materials such as compost andmanure from the village’s animal production.Sound farming practices for a sustainablefuture of Uganda’s agriculture.

ANIMAL NUTRITION RESEARCH findingshave shown that not only the formula and theingredients contribute to the feeding success,but also the feed structure. Kahl crushing rollermills break the grain into smaller particles withan as low as possible fines content. Thus,granular crumbles with a low fines content areproduced instead of meal.The crushing rollers are provided with a “sharpto sharp“ corrugation and have differentspeeds so that a cutting effect is obtainedinstead of a crushing effect.The speed of the rollers and the grinding gapcan be changed during operation or quicklyand easily adapted for changing formulae.The Kahl crushing roller mill WSB is veryappropriate for economic grinding of differentproducts, particularly for grain and other feedcomponents.There are many nutritional advantagesparticularly for poultry feed, as poultry require

a coarse feed structure due to their muscularstomach. The crushing roler mill can produce auniform feed structure and feed losses due tothe meal content, which is not eaten, arereduced. Due to the coarser structure, theretention time in the stomach is longer and themanure is drier.The drier manure results in less replacement ofthe litter and a lower sick rate due to thickeningof the foot balls, particularly in turkey fattening,better housing climate and better meat quality.With cattle feed there is the lowest possiblestarch degradation in the rumen, since highstarch degradation can cause metabolicdisorder (ketosis) and thus reducedperformance of the animal.A coarse structure reduces the starchdegradation in the rumen thus preventing thiseffect. The grains must only behalved/quartered. Further crushing of the (oat)husks is not required. Cattle need a coarse,

fibrous structure for the ruminant activity. It isimportant to produce a good balance betweenfermentative (rumen) and enzymatic digestion(intestine).

Technical Advantages of the Crushing Roller Mill:Narrow particle size distribution, simple rollergap adjustment, about 50 per cent lowerpower consumption than hammer mills,reduced wear, smooth operation, simple rollerchange.

Examples of Products:Wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, lupins,maize, soybeans, rape and feed mixtures.

New Holland renews support of ‘Kids of Africa’ in Uganda

Hon Bright Rwamirama, State Ministerfor Agriculture, with the new tractor.

Economic crushing of feed mixtures, cereals, legumes and ilseeds


KAHL crushing roller mill.


MORE THAN SOLUTIONS IN GRAIN STORAGE, KEPLER WEBER OFFERS 87 YEARS OF EXPERTISE.

G R A I N S T O R A G ELeading Company in the Latin American Market, exporting since 1972. • Storage and handling

systems found in over 40 countries around the world. • Complete solutions for after harvesting,

with a full line of equipment: silos, conveyor, cleaning machines and grain dryers.

www.kepler.com.br

ANGOLA

(244) 222 372 029 /36www.sul-engenharia.com

EASTERN AFRICA

+ 254-020-2107247www.brazafric.com


Company ................................................................PageAGCO International GmbH ......................................9, 47Alvan Blanch Development Company Ltd. ..................26Bernt Lorentz GmbH & Co............................................39Charles Stewart Day Old Chicks ..................................16CNH International SA ..................................................48Compact Seeds and Clones SA ..................................25Evans Vanodine International plc..................................19Evonik Degussa GmbH ..................................................7Eye-Grain Aps ..............................................................23Fertikal nv ....................................................................21Goizper Sociedad Cooperativa ....................................33Guarany Indústria e Comércio Ltda. ............................31Jansen Poultry Equipment ............................................15Kemin Industries South Africa ......................................17Kepler Weber Grupo ....................................................45Kirloskar Brothers Ltd. ....................................................5KK Nutrition ..................................................................13Koudijs Animal Nutrition B.V. ........................................13Machines 4 Food Ltd. ..................................................31Mahindra & Mahindra Limited ........................................2MASCHIO GASPARDO S.p.A. ....................................11Pan Trade Services Ltd. Jacto ......................................27Poltek ............................................................................18Same Deutz-Fahr Italia S.P.A. ......................................41SCHULE Mühlenbau ....................................................43Senter 360 ....................................................................35Silos Córdoba S.L. ........................................................25Socorex Isba S.A. ........................................................23Technical Systems ........................................................14T-L Irrigation Co ............................................................36Valmont Irrigation ..........................................................35Vi-COR..........................................................................33Zagro Singapore Pte Ltd...............................................10

A D V E R T I S E R S I N D E XI wish to subscribe to

AFRICAN FARMING AND FOOD PROCESSINGfor 1 year (6 issues) starting with the next Issue.

Europe a 94.50, Kenya Ksh1500, Nigeria N2800,

South Africa R210, United Kingdom £57, USA $111

Enclosed is my cheque/draft.❑ Please send us the invoice ❑Please debit my: Amex ❑ Visa ❑ Mastercard ❑

Card number: ooooooooooooooooExpiry date: oo/oo Security Code: ooo(Please note that we will debit your account in sterling).

Name..............................................................................................Position..........................................................

Organisation ..........................................................................................................................................................

Telephone............................................................Fax............................................................................................

Address.....................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................................

Country.............................................................................Email............................................................................

Signed ...............................................................................Date............................................................................

Send this subscription form by airmail together with cheque payable to:Alain Charles Publishing Ltd, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place London, SW1W 0EX, UK

Subscription Form

YOUR BUSINESS Government/Public/Diplomatic Services

Education/Research Institutes

Commercial Services

Import/Export Agents, Distributors

Farms & Plantations

Food Processing

Aid Organisations

Agricultural Equipment & MaterialManufacturers

Others, Please specify ...............................

..................... ................................................

..................... ................................................

..................... ................................................

01

03

06

08

09

11

12

13

16

Subscription order can also be placed via the web: www.alaincharles.com or email at [email protected]

WITH POWER MANAGEMENT generatingup to 400hp, the new MF 8700 TractorSeries includes the most powerful tractorsfrom Massey Ferguson ever built. Set for launch at the Agritechnica Show inNovember, the new MF 8700 Series buildson the success of the award-winning MF8600 Series, which were the first everagricultural tractors to use Selective CatalyticReduction (SCR) technology. The five new models are powered by the latest,most advanced AGCO Power engines, whichcomply fully with the strictest Stage IV/Tier 4final emissions regulations and featurechanges to the transmission, cab and controlsto further boost performance, efficiency andease of use. All are now available with achoice of efficient or exclusive specifications.“Fuel economy, reliability and simplicity are themost important considerations for farmerslooking for a tractor in this power sector. Thenew MF 8700 Series delivers even betterperformance and economy than the wellproven, award-winning MF 8600 Series,” saidCampbell Scott, Brand Development Manager.“From the outset Massey Ferguson designedthese flagship tractors to be equipped withSCR technology. So the new componentsrequired to meet the stricter rules have always

been an integral part of the design. There areno huge filters or external appendages - thetechnology is all still contained neatly withinthe tractor’s original design,” he added.For Massey Ferguson the introduction of thenew AGCO Power engine for the MF 8700Series is the culmination of an enginetechnology journey, which started with theintroduction of SCR on the MF 8600 Seriesin 2009, the first ever to use SCR. From theoutset tractors have been designed tocomply ultimately with the strict StageIV/Tier 4 final emission regulations.This means there are no radical designchanges, which allows Massey Ferguson tostill fit the slim, sloping bonnet and retain theimpressive forward and side visibility. Thesystem also remains maintenance free.The new AGCO Power six cylinder, 8.4 litreengines now employ optimised high pressurecommon rail fuel injection, which limits theemissions of particulate matter (PM) andmeans there is no need to fit a DieselParticulate Filter (DPF). Also new is a doublestage turbocharger with electronic wastegatecontrol, between which is fitted an air/waterintercooler to further improve fuel economy. An element of External Exhaust GasRecirculation (EGR) is used to reduce the

temperature and cut AdBlue and fuelconsumption. Meanwhile the Diesel OxidationCatalyst (DOC) remains neatly tucked awayunder the slim, sloping bonnet. The dimensionsof the narrow, oval-shaped exhaust stack arealso unchanged. All Massey Ferguson hashad to do is increase the size of the catalysersinside to meet the tough final regulations.Engine power management (EPM) nowprovides a 30hp power boost for PTO workand transport (above 20km/hr). Massey Ferguson has introduced a new,higher capacity cooling package to furtherimprove performance while still fitting neatlyunder the same bonnet and retaining theindustry-leading forward visibility.Air is directed through a fuel cooler and thena Charge Air Cooler (CAC) where itincreases speed through the intercooler. Thepack also contains the water radiator, oilcooler and condenser. All new MF 8700 Series tractors are nowalso available in the Efficient specification.This provides the T-lever transmission controlon the right-hand console and offers theoption of specifying a new Datatronic 4terminal, AGCOMMAND telemetry andfactory ready for easy fitting of Auto-Guide3000, automatic steering.

Flagship MF 8700 tractor series hits 400 hp



African Farming September October 2013

Documents

Transcript of African Farming September October 2013