african farming may june 2012

May/June 2012

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

ServingAGRICULTURE

for

3232YEARS

John Deere’s 7R series tractors offer an improvedpower steering system. See page 38.

Palm oilnutrientsA question of balance

PoultryGrappling with coccidiosis

Tractorprogress

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AF MayJune 2012 Cover_Cover.qxd 16/05/2012 12:30

Ceva Santé Animale S.A. - www.ceva.com - [email protected], av. de La Ballastière - 33500 Libourne - France - Phone: 00 33 (0) 5 57 55 40 40 - Fax: 00 33 (0) 5 57 55 42 37

EFFECTIVE PROTECTION AGAINST GUMBORO DISEASE

for field vaccination

S01 AF MayJune 2012 Start_Layout 1 16/05/2012 09:56

CONTENTS

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

Poultry 10Grappling with coccidiosis.Machine vision technology find defects in poultry processing.

Crops 16Seed potato ‘fast-track’.

Biotechnology 18Desert Edge is helping pastoralists develop environmentally sound and viable enterprises.

Cassava 20Replacing imported barley with locally grown cassava starch for beer brewing has created amarket in South Sudan.

Oil Palm 22Nutrients for oil palm: A question of balance.

Rice 26Africa shifts from backbreaking operations to almost labour-free threshing.

Irrigation 29African Farming looks at sprinkler irrigation systems.

Grain storage 34Fighting fungi in grain storage preserves cereal quality.

Tractors 38Some of the latest features and design developments from the leading tractor companies arealreadily available in Africa and others are on the way, bringing performance and efficiency.

Adequate nutrition is essential duringthe growth and development stages ofthe oil palm in order to reach its fullpotential.

Valtra’s experimental four-cylinder tractor is fuelled by a mixof biogas and diesel.

Chicken management and housing are critical incontrolling coccidiosis.

May/June 2012

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

ServingAGRICULTURE

for

3232YEARS

John Deere’s 7R series tractors offer an improvedpower steering system. See page 38

Palm oilnutrientsA question of balance

PoultryGrappling with coccidiosis

Tractorprogress

www.african

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www.africanfarming.net

Managing Editor: Zsa Tebbit

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African Farming - May/June 2012 3


EVENTS

May

19-22 SIPSA-Agrisme & SIPSA-Agrofood 2012 ALGIERSwww.expovet-dz.net

27-30 World Potato Congress EDINBURGHwww.wpc2012.net

June

28-30 AGRENA 2012 CAIROwww.agrena.net

July

11-13 East Africa Irrigation Technology Week NAIROBIirrigationweek.com

15-17 Africa's Big Seven 2012 JOHANNESBURG www.exhibitionsafrica.com

August

5-9 XXIV World Poultry Congress SALVADORwww.wpc2012.com

September

2-6 11th Intl Conference on Goats LAS PALMASwww.iga-goatworld.org

October

13-16 ADDIS AGROFOOD ADDIS ABABA www.addisagrofood.com

Farming CalendarTHE FIRST INTERNATIONAL flower trade expo, IFTEX, which was heldrecently in Nairobi at the Visa Oshwal Community Centre, turned intoa total success. Nobody knew what to expect, but from the moment thetrade show was opened by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. SallyKosgei, the fair filled itself with both national and international visitorsincluding international flower buyers from Russia, Japan, Holland,Dubai, Qatar, Canada, Bulgaria, Spain, Germany as well as buyersfrom many more other countries.A total of 140 companies exhibited in this first-time Kenyan flowertrade event, representing 17 countries including 67 growers fromKenya. On the part of the visitors a total of 2,374 received a three-dayentry badge at registration.The winner of the grower competition was Xpressions Flora (Omang)from Kenya, who received a Platinum Award for being elected “BestGrower” of the expo. Gold was there for Harvest Flowers, Silver forMagana Flowers and Bronze for Sian Agriflora.In the breeder competition it was Danziger from Israel who walkedaway with the Platinum Award for “Best Breeder” of the trade fair.NIRP East Africa Ltd received the Golden Award, Plantas Continentalfrom Spain Silver and Interplant from Holland was awarded withBronze.In one step Kenya has put itself in the top five of the most important cut-flower sourcing exhibitions of the world. Together with the 67exhibiting growers and 58 visiting growers from Kenya, who allexpressed an interest to exhibit next time, the number of expectedexhibiting Kenyan growers in 2013 will double and make it an evenmore valuable place to source fresh cut flowers.

Kenyan international flower expo a success

NEW HOLLANDHAS confirmed itscommitment to theenvironment with itssponsorship of theRio+20 Summit whichwill take placebetween 13-22 June2012 in Rio deJaneiro, Brazil. Thissummit will bringtogether the keystakeholders in aseries of high level events with the objective of securingrenewed political commitment for sustainable development,assessing the progress to date and the remaining gaps in theimplementation of the outcomes of the major summits onsustainable development, and addressing new and emergingchallenges. Organised jointly by the United NationsConvention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the UnitedNations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) and the Convention for Biodiversity (CBD), it willcelebrate the progress made since first Rio Summit held 20years ago in 1992.

New Holland is a title sponsor of the event, which is fullyaligned with the brand’s Clean Energy Leader strategy. NewHolland has been at the forefront of environmentallysustainable farming since 2006, with an unswervingcommitment to providing the world’s farmers andagribusinesses with the latest technology to reduce theenvironmental impact of farming whilst concurrently increasingthe productivity and sustainability of agriculture.

New Holland sponsors sustainable development

African Farming - May/June 20124


NEWS

US$183MN WILL BE invested to develop a rubber plantation and aprocessing plant through a partnership between the GaboneseGovernment and the multinational Singapore firm Olam.

The joint venture, in which the Gabonese government will hold a20 per cent interest, will fund the development of a 28,000-haplantation in the Bitam area (Woleu-Ntem province, northernGabon). Planting will start in 2013 and should be completed in2019 with the first harvest planned for 2020. The plantation isexpected to yield 62,000 tonnes of rubber per year.

In line with President Ali Bongo Ondimba's policy ofdiversification and industrialisation introduced in 2009, aprocessing plant with a capacity of 225 tonnes per day will also bebuilt. Processed natural rubber will be produced for export to meeta rising global demand in consumption of 3.5 per cent per year.

"One of the key thrusts of our long term strategy is to selectivelyinvest in upstream plantations in countries that enjoy a long-termsustainable competitive advantage in the production of agriculturalraw materials. We believe Gabon is one of the most competitivelocations for rubber plantations given the availability of land,suitable soil and agro-climatic conditions, superior yields and thelong-term support and fiscal incentives by the Gabonesegovernment for pioneering projects of this nature and scale", saidGeneral Director of Olam for Gabon, Gagan Gupta.

Gabon entered an era of change when President Ali BongoOndimba took office, thanks to his ambitious political reformsdesigned to diversify and industrialise the country’s economythrough a sustainable development strategy called "EmergingGabon".

This policy, centred on economic openness and reform anddesigned to create a more competitive business environment, hasalready started to bear fruit in Gabon, which has, since 2010,attracted more than four billion dollars of direct foreign investmentthrough contracts with American, Asian and European companies.

For Magloire Ngambia, Gabon's Minister in charge of promotinginvestment in the country, this new project is the perfect example ofthe type of partnership sought by the Gabonese government and isconsistent with the Emerging Gabon development strategy: "Thedevelopment of a 28,000-ha rubber plantation, in partnership withOlam, corresponds perfectly to our desire to diversify our economybased on real added value for Gabon. This added value is beingcreated by the construction of a processing plant, which

corresponds to our ambition to industrialise our economy, and alsoin terms of the socio-economic impact of this project. In the longterm, more than 6,000 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs will becreated, with Olam providing additional support in the form of atraining programme available to both the skilled and unskilledworkforce needed at the plantation and the plant. So this is animportant project for us, in line with our strategic plan to makeGabon an emerging country by 2025 and to develop the ruralareas of the country."

As part of the Emerging Gabon Strategic Plan, the Government'sgoal is to significantly increase agriculture's contribution to GDP(currently five per cent) and ensure that Gabon has food autonomyby developing modern agricultural, fishing and aquaculturepractices.

To this end, an agricultural programme centred on growth andfood security was launched by the Gabonese Government.

The main investment opportunities involve:● Biofuel production, following the adaption of one million

hectares of humid savannahs to develop this sector;● The yearly production of 2,500 tons of coffee and cocoa by

2012-2013;● The production of palm oil: the aim being to eventually produce

one million tonnes of palm oil and to position Gabon as one ofthe leading African exporters;

● The development of aquaculture and fisheries.

Singapore partnership to develop rubber production in Gabon

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Rubber plantations are a source of potential wealth.


S02 AF MayJune 2012 News_Layout 1 16/05/2012 10:04

NEWS

A STUDY CONDUCTED by the InternationalLivestock Research Centre (ILRI) in the Amhararegion of Ethiopia observes that there is a needto boost livestock breeding since there is ashortage of improved stock and artificialinsemination (AI) services.

The study, by Addisu Bitew and colleagues,was aimed at developing a systematicunderstanding of the links between marketopportunities and productivity increases inlivestock, with a focus on dairy production.

Funded by the OPEC Fund for InternationalDevelopment, the study showed that milkmarketing co-operatives were the dominantmilk buyers from producers at all milk

marketing quality levels. Milk marketing co-operatives have been

increasing in number, although there werelimitations in recruitment of members, and thecapacity to collect, process and market milk.

Veterinary and artificial insemination (AI)services were provided from district agriculturaldevelopment offices, except for some villagesthat had veterinary clinics and AI centres.

Stall feeding and feeding of concentratesfor crossbred dairy cattle was more prominentin high market quality sites compared tomedium and low market quality sites, whichindicated the level of feed intensification as themarket quality improved.

The contribution of grazing to total diet washigher for indigenous than crossbred cows.

The proportion of crossbred cows exceededthat of indigenous cows in high market qualitysites but the reverse applied in medium and lowmarket quality sites. Milk yield data indicate thatthere is room for increasing average productivityby improving management practices.

Beyond constraints in breeding, the studynoted that shortage and high cost of feed andwater, as well as the high cost of disease controland low milk prices were also major hurdles indeveloping the dairy sector in Ethiopia.

Mwangi Mumero

UK-BASED SUPPLIER New England Seafood, Zimbabwe's Lake HarvestAquaculture and Waitrose are collaborating on a project to improve tilapiafarming practices in Africa.The UK agency, the Department for International Development (DID) saysthe initiative is progressing well, according to Aquaculture Zimbabwe, anNGO supporting aquaculture activities in Zimbabwe.Partly funded by the DID's Food Retail Industry Challenge Fund (FRICH), theproject is designed to help tilapia farmers in Africa enter the global tilapiasupply chain and access higher value markets like the UK.According to Aquaculture Zimbabwe, the project - which is still in its earlystages - is a shining example of how FRICH funding is being used to bolsterthe food trade between Africa and Europe.Grants requested from FRICH must be between US$239,000 and$1,593mn, with applicants contributing a minimum of 50 per cent of thetotal project cost.Mark Thomas, FRICH Project Director says the main objective of FRICH isto improve market access for African food by working with food businessesto develop successful new approaches that can be scaled up.The funding offers opportunities for European food companies to test newbusiness models with a shared risk, while benefitting some of the poorestregions of Africa in a very real and tangible way.New England Seafood is working with Waitrose on a tilapia marketingcampaign. New England Seafood is also working with Lake HarvestAquaculture in Zimbabwe to improve environmental and fish welfarestandards, quality assurance, freezing and handling methods and logisticsamong tilapia producers in Africa so that they can access the UK market. Wallace Mawire

THE MOZAMBICAN GOVERNMENT and the AfricanDevelopment Bank (ADB) are working on the final details ofthe contract to fund the second phase of the rehabilitation ofthe Lower Limpopo irrigation scheme, in the southern provinceof Gaza.Budgeted at US$35mn, the project should take off early in 2013,and should cover an irrigated area of about 2,000 ha, on whichthe main crops to be grown will be rice and vegetables.According to a report in the Maputo daily “Noticias”, the secondphase of the rehabilitation is part of an overall package of$300mn of loans from the ADB to finance infrastructure such asrural roads and irrigation schemes over a three year period.Among other major projects in this package are repairs to theMassingir dam on the Elephants River, also in Gaza, and therehabilitation of the road from the northern port of Nacala to thecity of Cuamba, in Niassa province.Adriano Ubisse, the National Director of Investment and Co-operation in the Ministry of Planning and Development, said hebelieved that the ADB will disburse the money for the LowerLimpopo irrigation scheme by the end of this year.The first phase of the project was undertaken in 2005, andcovered an area of 4,000 ha. The second phase, in addition toadding a further 2,000 ha, will also make small repairs to defectsnoted in the previous work.The ADB, Ubisse said, is undertaking consultations in order todraw up a long term strategy seeking to provide greater supportto member countries.

Ethiopia dairy study

ADB to fund Phase 2 of Lower Limpopo irrigation Initiative to improve tilapia farming in Africa



A RESEARCH STUDY carried out in two semi-arid areas in Mozambiquehas found that watermelon is a good companion crop for intercroppingwith grain to mitigate the risk of total crop failure due to drought.

The findings, published in the academic journal “ExperimentalAgriculture”, show that although the yield of each crop does fall, the overallproductivity of the land increases by 13 per cent.

Researchers from Mozambique and Denmark, led by Paulino Munisseof the Agriculture Research Institute of Mozambique, point out thatintercropping is common practice in tropical developing countries, but statethat most research has gone into intercropping with legumes, due to theirability to fix nitrogen into the soil.

Intercropping has the advantage of increasing canopy coverage, whichreduces water loss and weeds. In addition, it provides a safety net in caseof complete crop failure due to pests or disease affecting the main harvest.

In this study, the researchers looked at two villages in Mabalane district,in the southern province of Gaza (namely Mathize and Yimba Yimue B).

The study found that intercropping maize and watermelon has importantimplications for food and income security, because the drought-tolerantwatermelon yields, even under extreme conditions where the cereal cropmight fail.

The study does not look at whether profit rates would rise due to theintercropping, but pointed out that, during the experiment, farmer incomewas “supported by a group of women traders who transported part of thewatermelons about 300 km to a better price market in Maputo”.

The research noted that although maize is not recommended for thespecific agro-ecological conditions of this area, the crop is highly valued bylocal communities and is still a dominant crop in the area.

Intercropping watermelon mitigates drought

NEWS

BAYER CROPSCIENCE’S INNOVATIVE LifeNet mosquito nets are nowavailable, as the company has received all necessary regulatoryapprovals for large scale production. As a first step, the delivery ofmillions of LifeNet mosquito nets is about to start, with registrationsalready received in Malawi, Namibia and Zambia with furtherregistrations pending. LifeNet represents a longer-lasting, user-friendlyalternative to currently available nets.Malaria, still one of the world’s deadliest diseases, has been eliminatedin some parts of the world. Yet in certain parts of sub-Saharan Africa,malaria infections have increased over the last three decades. Accordingto the WHO, populations living in this region have the highest risk ofacquiring malaria. Malaria significantly affects the quality of life ofcommunities and impacts local economies by reducing the income ofindividuals and families, thus slowing economic growth and threateningfood security and rural development in already deprived regions. "Our motivation was to set a new standard in bednet durability and tothereby increase the impact of malaria control programmes for thebenefit of those in need," said Dr. Gunnar Riemann, Head of BayerCropScience´s Environmental Science Division. "LifeNet is the world´sfirst long-lasting polypropylene net, with deltamethrin incorporated deepinto the fibre providing a unique combination of efficacy, strength andsoftness - a new tool in the fight against malaria," added Nadim Mohr,Commercial Operations Manager at Bayer Environmental Science andresponsible for Sub-Saharan Africa. "LifeNet is the first net which isrecognised by the World Health Organization to be effective even after30 washes - providing more, effective nights of protection."

Bayer CropScience supports battle against malaria


THE PACE OF reform and deregulation is picking up in Nigeria, according to areport to international investors by the Imara financial services group.The pan-African asset management and investment research company backs itsrange of African-focused equity funds with on-the-spot evaluations from seasonedanalysts.The latest report to Imara’s international clients contains good news on theregulatory front; specifically in the agri-sector.Jon Chew, manager of the Imara Nigeria Fund, said the new Nigeriangovernment and its economic advisers had been taken aback by recent petrolriots. “The response,” he added, “had been to speed up the pace of reform andderegulation. In agriculture, for example, which is 44 per cent of GDP, eachcrop’s value chain has now been analysed and proposals made.”Historically, Nigeria had a large global market share in crops like cocoa, coffee,cotton, ground nuts and palm oil.Chew noted: “If this share had been maintained, these crops would now be aUS$10bn industry – five per cent of GDP. These industries fell into ruin.”

Corruption set in and farmers had “given up”, but change is on the way.He explained: “The new economic team is now encouraging private markets onthe basis that if farmers get the correct price (and tariff protection in the earlydays) they will start to produce again.”The previous failure to encourage private enterprise had created numerousstructural problems. For instance, the local subsidiary of Unilever had notexpanded into a basic product line, like shampoo as Nigeria no longer had anylocal supplies of the basic raw material, palm oil.However, expansion of the brand’s range would become feasible once reformsensured reliable local supplies.Word on the ground is that large palm oil plantations are being planted byIndonesian entrepreneurs and preparations are being made to set up a newrubber plantation. Reforms would bestow significant benefits on the economy.Chew commented: “Amazingly, Nigeria spends $10bn on importing wheat,rice, sugar and fish – despite the fact that the last three can be produced locallyand that cassava is an acceptable local substitute for wheat.”

Pace of Nigerian reform picking up


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Across Africa, poultry farmers have to grapple with four main diseasesnamely New Castle, fowl typhoid, coccidiosis and Gumboro. MwangiMumero reports.

IN WEST AFRICA, 52 per cent of chicken mortality in Ghana and80 per cent in Nigeria is attributed to coccidiosis, according tofindings published in African Journal of Ethnobiology.

Globally, the disease leads to 51.38 per cent of overall chickendeaths.

In Kenya, the prevalence of coccidiosis is highest according to astudy conducted at the University of Nairobi which shows that itaccounts for over 35 per cent of all poultry diseases diagnosed.

For instance, Western Kenya - where chicken is considered a localdelicacy - prevalence of the disease is over 48 per cent.

“The disease is perhaps the most common in the countryaffecting broilers and even indigenous chickens. Rural farmers onlynotice the problem once their chickens start dropping dead after aspell of low production”, observed Dr. Maina Chege, a Nyeri basedveterinary officer.

Coccidiosis is a poultry disease caused by coccidia protozoa that ischaracterised by diarrhea, decreased feed consumption, roughfeathers, brownish to bloody mucus in faeces as well as reducedgrowth and egg production.

“Under poor poultry rearing systems, mortality can exceed 60 percent, a huge loss for farmers across the country. Signs of an outbreakinclude the birds becoming pale and, droopy and they tend to huddletogether as if they are cold. Also feed consumption drops dramatically.Farmers should take quick steps at this point to avert deaths”, notesDr. Chege.

Mostly indigenous chickensIn most African countries, 70 per cent of the poultry productionand 20 per cent of the animal protein intake come fromindigenous chickens.

For instance, in rural Kenya, every household has some chickens,providing vital protein through eggs and meat. Indigenous chickensalso provide a quick source of money in case of emergencies and theyhave to be sold fast in rural markets.

Chickens also provide guano - a form of farmyard manure neededin improving soil fertility and food production.

However, diseases such as coccidiosis can hamper progress inpoultry production from free range systems to more sophisticatedbattery cage systems.

“We have to spend some monthly income to buy coccidiostats tocontrol these problems and this has been an issue in my farm for awhile now. Chicken dropping marked with blood - a sign ofcoccidiosis - is quite common in the farm”, observes George Thumbi,

a smallholder poultry farmer in urban Kitengela Estate on the outskirtsof Nairobi.

Like other urban farmers, Thumbi raises between 50 and 100chickens - mainly indigenous or crosses - to supplement the familyprotein sources as well as earn some extra coins when eggs are soldto a local supermarket.

“The disease increases the overall cost of production in termsof the purchase of drugs and occasional loss of birds throughdeath”, he says.

Easy management is possibleExperts say that coccidiosis can easily be managed through hygieneand provision of prophylactic drugs in the form of coccidiostats.These are mixed in water or feed and taken regularly to control thedisease.

It is common to introduce the coccidiostats in certain feeds suchas starter and finisher feeds in broilers. Chick and duck mash alsohave coccidiostats.

But hygiene in the poultry units remains the key in stemming the tideof the disease. The protozoa are transmitted through ingestion ofcontaminated feed or water in the poultry houses.

“The protozoa causing the disease prefer wet places, andeliminating dampness in the poultry houses is vital to reduce cases ofthe disease. Wet litter harbours the coccidian for long periods and itis therefore necessary to turn litter and occasionally change itcompletely”, asserts Dr. Chege, the vet.

According to the vet, feeders and waterers should be placed wherethey will not be contaminated by faeces. They should also be in goodcondition to stop spillage. At the same time, a good flow of airthrough adequate ventilation helps to remove dampness andaccumulation of ammonia gas in the poultry house.

Overcrowding is another chief contributor to fast coccidiosis

Grappling with coccidiosisin poultry

POULTRY

Chicken management and housing are critical in controlling coccidiosis. Photo: Mwangi Mumero

Diseases such as coccidiosis can hamperprogress in poultry production from

free range systems to more sophisticatedbattery cage systems.


S03 AF MayJune 2012 Poultry_Layout 1 16/05/2012 10:15

transmission. Too many birds increase dampness, contaminatewaterers and feeders as they scramble for feeding space.

“Equally diseases are transmitted faster once the birds are in closeproximity, as contamination of feed is fast through infected faeces.Ammonia gas which accumulates in the poultry unit affects growth ofchicken and especially broilers”.

In Kenya, the majority of smallholder and large scale farmers usethe deep litter system to rear their poultry.

Proper litter maintentance essentialHowever, without proper maintenance of the litter, diseases - such ascoccidiosis - are quite prevalent in the wet litter.

“Litter has to be changed when introducing new flock immediatelyafter cleaning and disinfecting the floor. People entering the poultryunit must also dip their gumboots into an antiseptic to reduceintroduction of the coccidian into the poultry house”, warns Dr Chege.

During an outbreak, experts recommend the use of anti-coccidialdrugs, given according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Atthe same time, the use of vitamin-antibiotic formula in drinking watermedication is necessary to support the recovery process.

In Ghana, West African research has shown that neem extracts canbe used by rural farmers as an alternative to expensive cocciostats.

Over the years, the neem tree has been recognised to containchemicals used in curbing parasites, viruses, bacteria and fungi.

The research shows that aqueous extracts of Neem(Azadiracta indica) could be a possible first aid againstcoccidiosis in chickens in rural settings in developing countries,and suggests that application of simple aqueous extracts ofneem parts may act as a first aid. It concludes that the neem

bark seems the most potent anti-coccidia in chicken.The neem barks are oven dried-dried at 50°C and pulverised with

a hammer. The aqueous extracts are then prepared by placing aknown quantity in nine times its volume of drinking water overnight at25°C. Decanting is then done and is designated as 10 per centconcentration. It may later be diluted. h

POULTRY

Hygiene in the poultry units remains the key in stemming the tide of the disease.

Overcrowding is another chief contributor to fast coccidiosis transmission.

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Georgia Institute of Technology researchers believe they're on the edge of abreakthrough, but they don't want to count their chickens before they'reprocessed.

RE C E N T A D V A N C E M E N T S I Ncomputer-vision technologies nowmake it possible to collect a wealth ofinformation pertaining to process

performance in poultry processing plants.This type of data collection can providepoultry plants with information that enablespersonnel to better understand how productquality is varying and to implement controlmeasures to reduce process conditions thatmay be contributing to that variab ility. As aresult, productivity and profitability can besignificantly improved throughout the plant.

Study nearing completionIn a study nearing completion at Gold Kist’sCarrollton, GA, USA, poultry processingplant, Georgia Tech researchers and plantmanagement are discovering that kill lineproduct quality screening data can be avaluable tool in identifying trends that can beused to better control processing operations.

The Georgia Tech/Gold Kist partnershipbegan several years ago when Georgia Techresearchers sought a plant in which to test anon-line imaging system they had developed.Initially, a single imaging cell was installed onone of the plant’s two kill lines, primarily toscreen for systemically defective birds(septicemia/toxemia, unbled birds, andsevere overscalding). As the system began toprove its reliability, a second cell was placedon the other line, and new features wereadded that included the ability to track theoccurrence rates for broken wings andbruising. These new data sets soon proved tobe extremely valuable to plant management.

“The wealth of data produced by thesystem is valuable in its own right,” commentsJohn Stewart, Georgia Tech’s leadinvestigator on the project. “Alarms can be setto be triggered when defect rates exceed pre-set levels, quickly alerting managers toproblems on the line as they are occurring so

corrective actions can be taken as quickly aspossible to reduce re-work and downgrades.”

Post analysis of the data, he explains, alsoallows managers to compare theperformance of different processing shifts andgrowers. These comparisons can help identifymore subtle problems needing correction.

However, to be effective, more informationis needed relative to understanding therelationships between defect levels measuredby the inspection system and the factorscontributing to them. Ongoing study in thisarea is being conducted using funds fromGeorgia’s Traditional Industries Program forFood Processing in coordination with theFood Processing Advisory Council(FoodPAC).

“Kill room operations are the one part ofthe process that can be dynamicallycontrolled to influence the defect levels beingobserved by the screening system. As thesesettings change, their impact on quality isimmediately seen by the screening system.Therefore, relationships between screeningsystem measurements and kill room settingsoffer a strong basis for automated supervisorycontrol,” says Stewart.

Studying those relationships, nonetheless,called for a more in-depth tracking system forkill line operations than currently exists. Thiswas achieved by instrumenting one line at theplant with additional sensors to monitorscalder temperatures, picking machinepositions and motor current, stunner settings,and environmental conditions. BOC-Thinkage, an industrial partner on the project,donated the necessary measurementinstrumentation.

As the study has progressed, the team hasbegun to observe that bird size plays animportant role in broken wing rates. Afterexperimenting with several size measurementoptions, including total projected area, breastwidth, and total length, researchers havefound that the strongest relationship existsbetween breast width and broken wings.Analysis of production data where the pickerswere set for optimum feather removal showsthat birds with wider breast widths had morethan twice the rate of broken wings comparedto smaller birds.

Further analysis ongoingWhile these findings are confirmingsuspicions that picker settings have thehighest potential impact on the rates, furtheranalysis is still ongoing. One of the mainchallenges to be faced is balancing the needfor effective feather removal with the need tominimise wing breakage. Thus far, the teamhas clearly shown that high breakage ratescan be decreased on a consistent basis byreducing the aggressiveness of the pickersettings. However, less aggressive pickersettings can result in poor feather removalefficiency. In addition, Stewart says, the teamis evaluating the impacts of stunner settingsand scalder temperatures on broken wingrates and discoloration.

Regardless of the outcome, the study isalready proving that the imaging cell canprovide feedback to operators who areadjusting the pickers, enabling them toimmediately understand the repercussions ofthose adjustments on wing breakage. This isan important step forward in striking a betterbalance between feather removal efficiencyand the rate of broken wings.

The team is also working with plantpersonnel in the hopes of devising controlschemes that might eventually allow kill roommachinery to be changed automatically tominimise the defect rate measured by thevision system.

Machine vision technology to find defects

POULTRY

Productivity and profitability can be significantlyimproved throughout the plant.

The wealth of data producedby the system is valuable in

its own right.



A valuable tool“The imaging system will be a valuabletool in the near future. It will enableproduction to track flock size, percent ofbruising, percent of wing damage, alongwith other quality issues. This will giveproduction time to react to the quality ofproduct being sent to second processing,”adds Thomas Bradford, unit manager 1stprocessing at Gold Kist-Carrollton.

The imaging system is the target ofongoing commercialization efforts thatinclude a partnership with Gainco, Inc.,which is currently marketing the designunder an exclusive manufacturing license.In addition, BOC-Thinkage holds a uselicense on the design and is currentlyoffering it as part of its in-plantoptimisation service.

Cone line bone detection systemFurther processed products are themainstay of the poultry industry, with thekey player usually being deboned breastfillets. However, missed bones,particularly the clavicle and fan, in thesefillets continue to be of concern toprocessors. Current screening techniquesfor finding missed bones are labour-intensive and expensive, not to mention,they are not as accurate as desired.

FPTD researchers have developed aprototype automatic screening system toidentify the presence of bone on the coneline providing an opportunity not only toassist in avoiding missed bones in productbut also providing real-time monitoring ofproduct yield.

Currently, one of two methods is usedto inspect the product for bones. Plantpersonnel manually screen the productthrough sight and feel, or the processingplant uses sophisticated x-ray systems toinspect the product. However, neithermethod fully addresses the missed bonechallenge, and missed bones still manageto end up in the final product.

“Because of this, deboned productcustomers are now placing additional

pressures on suppliers to further reducethe incidence of missed bones,”explains Wayne Daley, project director.In addition, he notes, current bonedetection methods are reactive asopposed to proactive, allowing littleopportunity for process control.Complicating the problem is the factthat some bone types are extremelydifficult to find at inspection stationsafter deboning.

“From a quality control perspective, theability to detect these bones early in theprocess could improve productionefficiencies by helping to reduce theamount of rework needed whileoptimising yield. We set out to develop anapproach that allows for detection ofmissed bones where the information canbe used to control the process becausethe problem is more tractable,” saysDaley.

The prototype system functions byscanning for missed bones on the deboneline immediately after the fillets have beenpulled from the cage or frame. Thisallows for a timely response to observe ifbone pieces are missing from the cageand check suspect fillets before they aremixed through general transfermechanisms.

The approach uses a speciallydesigned cone with internal illuminationthat has the effect of backlighting thecage (skeleton) so that it appears like anx-ray image. This image provides a clearview of the bone structure that makes upthe cage. The system then analyses theimage to determine if the fan bone orclavicle bone is present. If these bonesare absent, the potential exists for them tobe in the meat that was just removed fromthe cage. These suspect fillets can then beremoved for closer examination. Daleysays the approach reduces the screeningeffort and will work on both automatedand manual deboning lines.

In addition to missed bone, it wouldalso be possible to monitor the frame forexcess meat so that a measure of yieldcould be tracked and fed back into theprocess so as to maintain acceptablelevels of performance, adds Daley. Theteam plans to continue conducting moreextensive testing of this approach. h

Engineers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute havedeveloped a machine vision system that could open thedoor for automating many visual-inspection tasks in thepoultry processing industry.

From a quality controlperspective, the ability to

detect these bones early in the process could improve

production efficiencies



NEWS

OIL DRILLING COMPANY Chevron andnot-for-profit development organisationBRAC-Liberia have signed an agreement to

contribute US$375,000 to a poultryhatchery and feed mill project that, whendeveloped, will address the growing

demand for eggs on the Liberian marketby the public and create jobopportunities for poultry and livestockfarmers, according to reports.

BRAC-Liberia livestock manager, Dr.Mahmud Hossain, said that Liberia hasa lack of poultry feed and day-oldchicks in its industry, and thatdeveloping a hatchery and feed mill inthe country is essential. The project isbeneficial in terms of job creation andcapacity-building for Liberianemployees at the facility level, such ashatchery supervisor, farm supervisor andtechnicians, as well as opportunitiesoffered for BRAC-supported community

livestock and poultry promoters, who aremicro-entrepreneurs spreading livestockand poultry-related messages amongothers. Hossain said special awarenesswill be created and community residentswill be mobilised, informed on income-generating activities, as well as support forrearers through a supply of chicks, feed,medicine and vaccines.

After receiving training aboutcommercial poultry rearing, farmers will beable to rear commercial layer birds. The1,000 parent stock from the project areexpected to produce about 225,000hatchable eggs per year, with 50 per centto be commercial layer hens, according toBRAC-Liberia. The hatchery and feed millshould be fully self-sustaining in threeyears, according to plan estimates.

SOUTH AFRICA DOES not believe Brazil will go to theWorld Trade Organization over its decision to impose highertariffs on some poultry imports, and that there's "no bigcrisis" with Brazil on poultry, according to South Africa TradeMinister Rob Davies.

Brazil's poultry association has said that it would ask thegovernment to approach the World trade Organization aboutimport charges of six per cent to 63 per cent that South Africaimposed on Brazil's exports. Initial information showed thatBrazilian producers were dumping products in South Africaand neighboring countries, according to legal representationfor the South African Poultry Association.

INFECTIOUS BRONCHITIS IN poultry may becontrolled with a regimen that includes primingwith at least one live vaccine followed byboosting with an inactivated vaccine,according to Aris Malo, DVM, global technicaldirector for poultry at MSD Animal Healthduring a recent workshop in the UK.The infectious bronchitis virus is persistent anddisseminates quickly, making it a continuingmenace to the poultry industry, said Malo, andnew versions of it emerge often due to the factthat it is an RNA virus and subject to mutations

and recombination. According to other studies,layers not vaccinated against infectiousbronchitis had over a 70 per cent drop in eggproduction. In contrast, vaccination at threeand 16 weeks of age with an inactivated M41infectious bronchitis vaccine, and without a liveprimer, resulted in egg-production declines ofabout 30 per cent. A protocol employing a liveinfectious bronchitis Massachusetts-strainvaccine at three weeks of age, followed by adifferent live infectious bronchitisMassachusetts-strain vaccine at 16 weeks of

,age, resulted in a 10 per cent drop.No decline in egg production occurred in birdsvaccinated once with a live infectious bronchitisvaccine at three weeks of age followed by aninactivated vaccine at 15 weeks of age. “Thebest results were achieved when live primingwas followed by boosting with an inactivatedvaccine,” said Sjaak de Wit, of the AnimalHealth Service in The Netherlands. De Wit saidhe advocates testing to determine what strainsof the virus are circulating and to enable wisevaccine protocol choices.

Chevron partner in Libera for poultry hatchery/feed mill

AN OUTBREAK OF Newcastledisease (NCD) has hit Taunglocal municipality, killing morethan 180 chickens. According to Gareth Lloyd-Jones,MD of Ecowize - a leadinghygiene and sanitation companyservicing the food sector, theoutbreak is severe and urgentlyneeds to be addressed, as therisk of the disease spreading bymovement of infected poultry,

people and vehicles is extremelyhigh. Drastic measures, such asculling all infected birds, need tobe taken in order to curb thespread of this disease andsafeguard the poultry industry.Lloyd-Jones says it is crucial thatthey implement stringentsurveillance and monitoringmeasures to prevent this kind ofoutbreak becoming a nation-wide threat.

Facilities will create jobs, expand industry, build awareness.

Newcastle disease outbreak threatens Free State

Infectious bronchitis in poultry may be controlled with vaccine regimen

South Africa says 'no crisis' with Brazil on poultry

MUVEK DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS has organised a two dayevent to launch Research Into Use (RIU) Programme inknowledge outputs in Dar es Salaam to be opened by the PrimeMinister, Mr Mizengo Pinda.The knowledge outputs are lessons and recommendations fromimplementing the RIU Programme in Tanzania between June2008 and June 2011. The programme worked to develop theindigenous chicken industry towards increased productivity andcompetitiveness.The launch event will highlight policy and practical lessons which

have the potential to socially and economically transform theindustry as well as promote rural innovation, entrepreneurshipand consequently improve rural incomes and wealthydistribution. RIU will briefly present its work in Tanzania includingthe analysis of the indigenous poultry industry, lessons andchallenges.Key policy and practice recommendations from the knowledgeoutputs will be presented as specific issues that need to beaddressed to successfully commercialise the indigenous poultryindustry that is inclusive of rural producers.

Tanzania’s efforts to boost poultry industry underway



NEWS

THE SUDAN POULTRY Expo is a major specialised event dedicated tothe development of poultry, livestock and agricultural production inSudan, with animal numbers exceeding 180mn cattle - the largest inAfrica and Middle East. SPE 7th Session will witness a dramatic change in exhibitors and visitorsdue to constant development of the event and the rapid developmentand leapfrog growth of the poultry industry in Sudan, leading todoubling the stands sold at SPE for this session .With its spacious halls and spectacular gardens, KIFG avail toorganisers, exhibitors and visitors a wide range of services and it isconsidered as one of the leading venues in Africa and Middle East.SPE has been widely promoted at international events like VIV Asia inBangkok, Agrena in Egypt, Space in France, Vetrana in Jordan andthe Khartoum International Fair.

The 7th session of SPE will include the following sectors:● Sudan Dairy Cattle Show● Milk Technology Show● Refrigeration Exhibition● Poultry, Meat and Milk FestivalSudan recognised the potential of the poultry industry early in the1950s and now it is booming. Sudan has the potential to be amajor exporter of poultry products, as a large number of localand international investors are starting new poultry business inSudan.Major companies from Europe, including Big Dutchman, Tecno,FACCO, Specht, C-Lines, Bovan, Hyline, Intervet, Petersime, MyneFood Processing Technology, Systemate, Celtic, CID-LINES, VDLand PasReform are amongst the highly valued exhibitors.

GHANA HAS NO immediate plans toban poultry imports into the country, inspite of farmers' concerns that thedomestic market is being hampered byforeign business, according to reports.While a ban isn't being ruled out, theremust first be a boost in local production,said Deputy Agriculture Minister Dr.Sugri Tia. Tariffs are another option notcompletely ruled out, but not being putinto effect at the moment. “Consumptionof poultry has been very low andpeople’s purchasing power has not beenthe best: We are trying to push localproduction while encouraging people toconsume more," said Tia. "So we want tokeep their appetite for chicken there.”Cost is also a consideration — reducingimports would mean a price increase thatthe government says it doesn't want toimpose on consumers. “At the same timewe don’t want our farmers to be out ofproduction, so we are trying to findinnovative ways of helping them producelocally while we watch what is going on,"said Tia.

Domestic production must increase to meet demand.Poultry farms like this one in in Kumasi, Ghana, producean abundant supply of fresh protein to families in thisAfrican city.

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Enhancing food security in Kenya through a business-to-business approach:seed potato ‘fast-track'

IN KENYA POTATO is the mostimportant food crop after maize. Ithas a high potential to contributepositively to food security, provided

that good quality seed potatoes becomeavailable to boost yields and increase theoverall availability of potatoes to a widerange of consumers. Potato fits well in thestrategy of the Ministry of Foreign affairsand the Dutch Ministry of EconomicAffairs, Agriculture and Innovation todevelop ‘fast track initiatives’ aimed athaving a rapid impact on food securitywith private sector involvement.

With this background, the NetherlandsEmbassy in Nairobi selected the fast trackseed potato initiative as one of their

priority projects. The Wageningen URCentre for Development Innovation wasinvited to formulate the seed potatoproject and co-ordinate itsimplementation in close collaborationand engagement with private sectorpartners in Kenya and the Netherlands.The project builds on the considerableexperience of the Dutch seed potatosector to supply high quality seedpotatoes to many tropical countrieswhere potato is an important food cropand where good quality seed is scarce.

The approach taken in the project is todevelop a suitable protocol with theKenyan authorities for the annual importof a limited quantity of high quality Dutch

seed potatoes in accordance withinternational trade agreements. Theimported seed potato is then multiplied inKenya for two generations by qualifiedseed potato growers. They produce, storeand market seed potatoes that arecertified by the Kenyan seed certification

Seed potato ‘fast-track’

CROPS

The project builds on theconsiderable experience of the

Dutch seed potato sector tosupply high quality seed

potatoes to many tropical countries.


S04 AF MayJune 2012 Biocontrol_Layout 1 16/05/2012 10:25

THE ‘WEALTH CREATION Through Potatoes Project’ in Ethiopia,Kenya, and Uganda has been described as a model project by anFAO monitoring and evaluation consultant, noting that several of itsachievements have surpassed their targets. The project had a SteeringCommittee meeting in Addis Ababa last year with participants fromEthiopia, Kenya, and Uganda at which project progress wasreviewed. With one more year to go, the project had alreadyexceeded targets for training, the amount of quality seed producedand distributed, and construction and use of diffused light stores.

The purpose of this project is to reduce poverty among targetsmallholder potato farmers in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. Itincludes parallel interventions in seed potato production andmarketing, along with the implementation of improvements in warepotato production and marketing chains.

agency Kephis. The multiplication of importedseed potatoes is needed to: ● rapidly increase the small quantity of

imported seed; and

● to reduce the cost price to make goodquality seed affordable to a wide range oflocal growers, most of them small scalefamers. These farmers plant the locally-

certified seed potatoes to produce(informal) seed or ware potatoes for bothfresh and processing markets.

Business-to-businessIn the project a business-to-businessapproach is taken, where Kenyan businesspartners import and multiply seed potatoesof suitable varieties from the Netherlandsthat are well adapted to Kenyan conditions.The project also has a strong public–privatepartnership dimension. The public sector inKenya provides the framework andregulations to control the quality of locallymultiplied seed while the actual seedmultiplication and marketing is done by theprivate sector. The project facilitates match-making between business partners, supportslocal seed multiplication and marketing, aswell as collaboration between the Kenyanand Dutch seed certification agencies toensure optimal quality of locally multipliedseed.

To conclude, this fast track initiative onseed potatoes shows that through acommercial trade and business approachthe local supply of high quality seed potatoescan be significantly improved within a fewyears. This in turn can triple current potatoyield levels, thus enhancing food security. h

In parts of southern and eastern Africa, where maize currently dominates crop production, less reliable rainfall ismaking some farmers plant potato instead.

CROPS

The Wealth Creation Through Potatoes Project in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda hasbeen described as a model project bythe FAO.

Exceeding expectations in Eastern Africa



Desert Edge is helping pastoralists develop environmentally sound and viableenterprises.

IN KENYA, THE arid and semi aridregions of Laikipia and Samburu arerich in biodiversity, but the erosion oftraditional management systems has

resulted in widespread unsustainable useof natural resources. To benefit fromincreasing demand from national andinternational markets for honey, beeswaxand beauty products from indigenousnatural ingredients, the not-for-profitcompany, Desert Edge, is helpingpastoralists to develop environmentallysound and viable enterprises. As a resultcommunity members have tangibleopportunities to diversify and supplementtheir livestock-based incomes from theirown natural resources.

To build and strengthenorganisational structures and valuechains, the project has providedextension support and training (inbusiness and finance management, beekeeping technologies, and organicfarming) to more than 831 producers,organised into 34 groups. By providingthese services, Desert Edge aims toassist producers in the region to operatemore efficiently and achieve higherquality products, while maintaining theirnatural resource base. "Developingethical businesses in this remote andunderdeveloped region requiresorganised groups, experience intechnical aspects of production,exposure to fair markets, existence oftraceability and an understanding offinancial management," explains SusieWren from Desert Edge.

"Desert Edge upholds ethical andsustainable trade in bio-products that isbased on sound management, and strongvalue chains that operate through

transparency and traceability systems,"Wren adds. To achieve this, the companyprovides technical training and extensionsupport, development of internal controlsystems, used for the development ofstrong supply chains and for organiccertification compliance, and on-goingmonitoring. "The aim is to providetangible incentives to producers tosustainably manage natural resources."Desert Edge has also established alaboratory to chemically analyse plantcompounds, and field trials to developviable enterprises from the domesticationof certain indigenous plant species, suchas hypericum, plectranthus, ocimum andhypoxis species.

Desert Edge enables women to play astronger role in harvesting, processingand packaging by providing skills andguidance through on-going technical andbusiness training and mentoring. Womenhave also been helped to open bankaccounts in order to receive payment fromDesert Edge for their products. The

training sessions have also been designedto be practical, and are held incommunity areas, to allow women toparticipate more easily.

Adding valueRaw and semi-processed bio-productsthat have met quality control standardsare purchased at a nationally competitiveprice from the producers at seven depotsconstructed and equipped by DesertEdge. With the use of a central processingfacility and two honey refineries, the semi-processed products are then processed,packed and branded before beingdispatched to retail or export markets. Anadditional ten per cent of the profit fromthe processed products is then given tothe producers. "Desert Edge is usingethical trade to achieve positive socialand environmental change, and assistingvulnerable communities to develop moreresilience to climate change," Wren adds.

Honey, herbal teas, healthcareproducts and body and face care

Sustainable development ofbio-products

BIOTECHNOLOGY

Harvesting African honey.

The aim is to provide tangibleincentives to producers to

sustainably manage natural resources.



products are currently sold to nationalretail outlets and hotel chains. DesertEdge has also developed links with ethicalbuyers of organic and natural productselsewhere in Africa and internationally. InMarch 2011, full organic status wasgained for honey, wax and cape chestnutseed sold for bodycare oil.

Positive policiesTo harness extension opportunities and toseek advice and support in relation tocreating an enabling legal and policyenvironment for plant-based enterprisedevelopment, Desert Edge establishedstrong links with the Ministry of LivestockDevelopment and the Ministry ofAgriculture. "This pioneering andinnovative approach has attracted stronginterest from the Kenyan government andthe development sector," Wren says."Desert Edge is working in conjunctionwith a government consortium to ensurethat the process informs national policyand meets international sustainable wildharvesting regulations."

"From the training and extension input,the groups have grown in size, supply hasincreased and both women and men areconfident to adapt and diversify theirlivelihoods to include bio-enterpriseactivities," explains Maxwell Lumbasi,product and business developmentmanager for Desert Edge. "Through theincome raised from the sale of honey andaloe to Desert Edge I am now able tosend my second child to school," addsNgina Muthoka.

Ensuring sustainabilityTo ensure lasting impact, Desert Edge isaiming to reach the point where profitsgained through the ethical trade of bio-products will finance the service provision.And by continuing to build producers'capacity to improve production andprocessing techniques, Desert Edge hopes

to increase supply and trade, whileprotecting the natural resource base. Inaddition to selling honey and waxproducts, the company also hopes toexpand its collection, processing andmarketing to include apitherapy products,phyto-medicines and supplements.

"Sustainable development of theseenterprises provides valuableopportunities for communities to diversifyinto sound, viable and climaticallyresilient enterprises, at the same time astaking an active role in the long termconservation of the environment," Wrenconcludes. h

BIOTECHNOLOGY

Aloe leaves harvesting.



Replacing imported barley with locally-grown cassava starch for beerbrewing has created a market in South Sudan

TWO HOURS DRIVE from South Sudan's main city ofJuba, the Jujumbo Farmer Field School might seem anunlikely partner for one of Africa's leading brewingcompanies. But this well-organised group of 20

smallholders is among 2,000 South Sudanese farmers whofrom July 2012 will be selling their cassava crop to SouthernSudan Beverages Ltd (SSBL), part of the South Africa-basedSABMiller (an African-originated, global, fast moving consumergoods company).

In so doing, and if all goes well, they will be providing avaluable illustration of how the private sector can become a keyplayer in boosting small-farmer productivity.

Replacing imported barley with locally-grown cassava starchfor its beer brewing has created a market in South Sudan for acrop that in the past has been widely regarded as a poor man'sfood and an insurance against drought. But the reward of ahigher price depends on growing a high quality crop that canmeet the brewer's standards. Achieving greater yields is alsoimportant, in order to maintain adequate supply, with thecompany keen to significantly expand its current capacity.

Fortunately for these farmers, SABMiller has been ready toinvest to get the quality of produce it needs, supplying improvedplanting material, tools, fertilisers and pesticides, as well as anassured market for the crop to 14 farmer groups. Tools arecommunally owned, and can be borrowed by group members.Each group also has a 'seed for seed' agreement, by which theysupply planting material equal to that received, to be shared withanother group.

Cassava championsIntroducing new farming techniques has proved challenging,with many group members cautious about abandoning theirtraditional methods. Cassava plants take a relatively long time toproduce a crop, so growers must be prepared to wait for up toa year to realise results. Language barriers and low literacylevels have increased the challenge, and government agricultureofficers have only offered limited support to the project.

Support from Farm-AfricaSupport has come, however, from a UK-based NGO, Farm-Africa, which initially facilitated the farmer-brewer partnership.The partnership underpins Farm-Africa's cassava growingproject, which is supported by funding from the Africa EnterpriseChallenge Fund. The NGO has trained a team of 15 championfarmers in best practices for cassava production, including useof disease-resistant varieties, crop rotation, intercropping andsoil fertility management. The champion farmers are nowtraining the 14 farmer groups which have been established andwhich are already functional. With guidance from thechampions, group members have also been able to investigatethe new techniques through demonstration plots. Approximately500 farmers have now received cassava cuttings.

The plots, which are around 70m by 60m, have beenestablished in each sub-county throughout the project area.Each plot is divided in two, with one area cultivated traditionallyand the other planted with the new varieties according to therecommended techniques. Correct spacing and regular weedingare emphasised, and the farmers are encouraged to try newplanting methods, including horizontal planting of stems forrapid germination and deeper vertical planting to protect thecassava tubers from predation by wild animals.

By working directly on new methods with the groups, carrying

Cassava - big businessin South Sudan

CASSAVA

SABMiller (whose motto is "Making a Difference Through Beer") has seized on theabundance of cassava to create a market for small farmers.

The reward of a higher price depends ongrowing a high quality crop that can meet

the brewer's standards.

Healthy cassava plant in the South Sudan cassava project.


S05 AF MayJune 2012 Cassava & Oil Palm_Layout 1 16/05/2012 12:12

out regular monitoring of their fields and making comparisonsbetween traditional and new methods, widespread adoption ofbetter farming practices among group members has beenachieved. "Improved methods of cultivation allow us to use lessplanting material," says Emmanuel Kenyi, a lead farmer in theMirikiyo farmer group.

Collective marketingIn addition to these steps to increase cassava production, Farm-Africa's project co-ordinators have also trained the farmer groupsin business, finance and collective marketing skills. This will providethem with the support needed to access the assured marketprovided by SAB Miller and other markets outside SAB Miller’ssupply chain in order to get the best price for their crop. All 14farmer groups that are working with the project now meet regularly,and have organised activities to build skills such as book-keepingand recording of sales. The groups are also serving as a usefulforum for sharing information on potential threats to the cassavacrop, such as water-logging and termite attack.

Adding value to the cropAdding value to the crop is another way in which these formersubsistence farmers are hoping to develop a more businesslikeapproach. Currently SSBL is planning to buy fresh cassava tubersfrom the groups, but is also interested to give them access toprocessing equipment, so that the raw crop can be dried andturned into chips or flour. Any surplus not bought by the brewerycan then be sold in this processed, higher value form to localfood industries and livestock feed enterprises.

It is hoped that actual sales of tubers to the brewery will beginin the second half of 2012. At the time of writing, a final pricehad not been agreed, but initial estimates are that the annualincome of participating farmers could rise from US$300 toUS$500 per one acre plot of cassava, thanks to the increase inquality and quantity of the crop, plus the higher price earned.Project coordinator for FARM-Africa, Stephanie Wachira,acknowledges the difficulty of introducing commercial standardsof production among subsistence farmers in Africa's newestcountry. Despite this, however, she remains hopeful: "The longwar period has made farmers hesitant to invest in agriculture,"she says, "but as they begin to see the benefits, both in terms ofincome and food security this will change." h

“Improved methods of cultivation allow us touse less planting material.”

A woman chops up cassava stems for her colleagues to plant.



Adequate nutrition is essential during the growth and development stages ofthe oil palm since nutrient uptake establishes the plant’s production potential.

EVERY CROP HAS essential nutrient requirements for propergrowth and development, and oil palm, in spite of its toughand robust appearance, is no exception. An insufficientamount of a specific nutrient will arrest growth, reduce yield

and in acute circumstances cause deficiency symptoms. Plant nutritionis all about balance. A specific nutrient has to be supplied at aparticular level, not only in its own right but also in relation to othernutrients. For instance, soils with an excess of iron may limit theavailability of sulphur. Oil palm clearly requires more nitrogen thanaluminium but if the aluminium becomes available in just moderateamounts, it will lead to phytotoxicity and crop damage.

The other aspect of balance relates to replenishment of nutrientslost from the soil by runoff and leaching, but also through biomassremoval during agronomic practices like leaf pruning and particularlyharvesting of the fruit bunches. This avenue of nutrient loss can bekept to a minimum by recycling as much of the oil palm debris andtissue as possible. For instance, if shed male flowers and pruned oldleaves are left on top of the soil they are quickly broken down and thenutrients within re-cycled.

Similarly, bunch stalks should be left behind at harvest, but removalof the fruits for processing eliminates a huge store of nutrients. All that islost must be re-introduced into the oil palm ecosystem by measuredfertiliser application based on requirements as determined by soil testingand foliar analysis.

Oil palm, along with all other green plants, has nutrientrequirements as follows:● Macronutrients – nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K).

These three, which are generally required in the greatest amounts,are applied as ‘single source’ fertilisers (e.g. urea and calciumphosphate) or as NPK composites, the exact ratio of N, P and Kdepending on crop requirement as related to the stage of growthand development.

● Mesonutrients – sulphur (S), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg). Thesehave been traditionally categorised as macronutrients. They arerequired in substantial amounts but nowhere near as large as N, Pand K and therefore warrant a separate category.

● Micronutrients – iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese(Mn), Aluminium (Al), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), chlorine (Cl).Alternatively called trace elements because they are only requiredin the tiniest quantities.

Other soil-sourced elements which are not essential but may bebeneficial are sodium (Na), silcon (Si) and cobalt (Co). Carbon andoxygen are derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide and hydrogendirectly from the water molecule.

MacronutrientsNitrogen: Nitrogen, which mostly enters the plant as the soluble nitrateion (NO3-) is a building block for tissue growth. Nitrogen is anintegral part of every amino acid, and therefore plant proteins, and acore component of key molecules including chlorophyll and nucleicacids. Without nitrogen, there is no growth and no yield. Deficiency in

nitrogen first shows as a discolouration of young oil palm fronds,which lose their healthy dark green colour and turn yellow (chlorosis).As the deficiency takes hold, older leaves turn yellow as well andreduced growth and production become apparent. Deficiency innitrogen is caused by a number of factors, which include: ● poor drainage and waterlogged soil, ● inherently infertile soils exhausted by previous agricultural activity, ● failure to properly establish leguminous cover crops (e.g Pueraria

phaseoloides and Centrosema pubescens) which boost suppliesthrough nitrogen fixation as well as preventing soil erosion and

● excessive competition from aggressive weeds like the grassImperata cylindricaIf correction or alleviation of the above constraints has no

effect, application of nitrogen fertiliser as urea or ammoniumsulphate is required.

Potassium: Oil palm carries large quantities of potassiumparticularly in the stalks, fibres and shells and therefore correspondinglylarge amounts are removed at harvest. Potassium plays a crucial rolein oil palm metabolism with a direct effect on the functioning of thechlorophyll molecule in photosynthesis. In addition, potassium ionscontrol stomatal opening and therefore the controlled entry of carbondioxide for photosynthesis and the controlled loss of water. For thisreason, the potassium ion is commonly called the ‘gatekeeper’ andplays a key role in tolerance to drought and the effects of wilt diseasecaused by fungal pathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum var elaeidis.

Potassium deficits show up quickly as loss of yield but severeshortfalls also cause deficiency in the leaves. These show first as aslight but perceptible loss of green leaf colour turning pale yellow withtime or the development of orange coloured spots, which graduallycoalesce. Symptoms appear on the lower and intermediate leaves and

Nutrients for oil palm:A question of balance

OIL PALM

Efficient fertiliser application and nutrient uptake requires good weed control



indicate a potassium content which has dipped below the critical levelof 0.6 per cent. Cause of potassium deficiency is inadequate soilpotassium concentration, a perpetual problem in tropical soilsexhausted by continual cropping and leached by heavy rainfall.Supplementation with potassium fertiliser is the answer, but some soilsare vulnerable to compaction at quite shallow depths from theaddition of potassium as a single high dose.

Phosphorus: Phosphorus is a key component in many ofbiochemicals involved in respiration and nutrition (e.g. ATP –Adenosine triphosphate) and deficiencies, and therefore have a quickand fundamental effect on growth and yield. Phosphorus specificallypromotes root development and is closely involved in the wholereproductive process including fertilisation, seed set and fruitdevelopment. Low soil availability is usually the cause of phosphorusdeficiency, which can be corrected by applying a quick-acting fast-release fertiliser like triple super-phosphate, or one with a slow-releaseprofile depending on the structure and demands of different soils.

MesonutrientsMagnesium: Magnesium forms the framework of the chlorophyllmolecule and any deficiency is seen long before yield begins to suffer.The yellowing of the leaf is most acute and obvious at the margins ofthe plot where leaves are exposed to most sunshine. In addition todeficiencies caused by primary lack of magnesium in the soil,secondary deficiencies occur after excessive applications ofpotassium, which affects the availability of magnesium to oil palm.

Chlorine: In most crops chlorine is one of the least importantnutrients, but in oil palm it has a particularly important role in propermaturation of the palm fruits. Deficiencies reduce production by

affecting the weight and numbers of fruit available for harvest as wellas the weight of the kernel. Chlorine deficiency only becomes a realproblem for land away from sea salt (sodium chloride) which is carriedin the air. Often there is enough chlorine in potassium fertiliser(potassium chloride) to prevent problems occurring.

Sulphur and calcium: Sulphur is an important component ofseveral essential amino acids (methionine and cysteine) but is rarelydeficient except for young plants in exhausted ferrallite soils withhigh iron contents. Calcium is important for root development andmeristem (the growing point) activity but deficiencies have neverbeen documented.

MicronutrientsAluminium, copper and boron: Aluminium is required in traceamounts but can become a problem in acid soils. The low pHincreases solubility causing aluminium ions to build up in the rootswith phytotoxic and growth arresting results. Alleviate the problem byliming the soil (adding calcium carbonate) to raise the pH.

OIL PALM

Good nutrition is essential for oil palm atall stages of growth and development



Copper is essential for the proper working of enzymes involved inphotosynthesis. Though only needed in small amounts, deficienciesrapidly show up as reduced growth and chlorosis of the middle partof the crown. Correct the problem with sprays of blue copper sulphateat the appropriate concentration because copper sulphate is toxic tomany plants above a certain level.

Although boron is the least well understood of trace elements, adeficiency will have marked effects including deformed young leavescommonly called ‘fishbone’ leaf or ‘little’ leaf. They becomeelongated, shaped like bayonets or corrugated, with the petiole,rachis and leaflets grossly shortened. Untreated deficiency willprogress into bud rot and tree mortality. Correct with Borax at a doseof 30 g around the base of each young tree.

Iron, zinc and manganese: Iron has a vital role in respiration as acofactor for enzymes in the Krebs cycle but deficiencies are rarely aproblem even though typical tropical soils are not over-endowed withiron. Similarly, manganese is a co-factor for enzymes that drivephotosynthesis but field problems have yet to be recorded. Zinc has itsrole in auxin (a plant hormone) metabolism and if deficiency occurs,it can be corrected with applications of zinc sulphate, which is rapidlyabsorbed and utilised by young oil palm.

Foliar analysisDeficiency symptoms are only an indication of nutrient shortfall. Soiltesting will tell you the concentration of nutrient in the soil but much ofthis may not be available to the plant. The only way to determinewhether your oil palms have the correct levels of nutrients is to carryout foliar (leaf) analysis.

Foliar analysis is not usually employed until the trees are three years

old. Samples should be taken at the beginning of the dry season orduring periods of low rainfall, and not for 48 hours after rainfall.Reliable results require a sampling size of up to four trees per 100,depending on age, and uniformity of the area with regard to soil typeand fertility and the varieties of palm that have been planted.

In order to make meaningful comparisons throughout the life of thetrees, leaf samples should always be taken from the same trees. Treesof the same variety and age should be selected, and leaves from thesame position on each should be taken. Generally speaking, thesample should comprise at least 100 leaflets – four from each of 25trees, with the same number leaf sampled on all 25 trees.

The exact position of the leaf to be sampled will depend on ageof tree with leaf 9, and leaf 17 for, respectively, trees at 2-3 yearsand 3 years and older. Leaflets are selected from a position onethird back from the tip of the frond (leaf). Four leaflets per leaf/treeare picked by taking two lower tier (ranked) leaflets and two uppertier leaflets. The two-tier ranking of leaflets on the palm leaf, inwhich adjacent leaflets are attached at slightly different levels onthe rachis gives the oil palm frond its ragged appearance which isnot seen in other palms like coconut. h

Dr Terry Mabbett

References: Jacquemard, J.C. (1998). Oil Palm. The Tropical Agriculturalist. Macmillan.

Hartley, C.W.S. (1988). The Oil Palm. Tropical Agriculture Series. Longman

OIL PALM



S06 AF MayJune 2012 Irrigation_Layout 1 16/05/2012 12:14

Africa shifts from backbreaking operations to almost labour-free threshing.

THE EXCITEMENT OF rice farmers in Saint-Louis, Senegal,upon seeing an appropriate engine-driven small-scalethresher from Asia in the mid-1990s could not have beenfar different from that of the first American president,

George Washington, in 1796, when he was expecting the firsthorse-powered threshing machine to arrive from London. Hedescribed the new machine as one of “the most valuableinstitutions in this country; for nothing is more wanting and to bewished for on our farms.”

The Asian rice thresher, which the Senegalese rice farmersappreciated, was sent by the International Rice Research Institute(IRRI) upon request by the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice). It wasexpected that this thresher could be locally manufactured andmounted to serve as an alternative to manual threshing.

The making of ASIThanks to an innovative partnership forged between nationaland international research and extension organisations, localartisans, farmers’ organisations, and the private sector, animproved rice thresher for the Senegal River Valley (the principalzone for irrigated rice in the country) was soon developed. Basedon the IRRI prototype, it can reduce the drudgery associated withhand threshing and improve yield and marketability of rice.

Substantial modifications were made tothe original thresher, including doublingits capacity, making it more robust byusing sturdier material, increasing itsprocessing power, and adding two wheelsto make it a four-wheel version.

Named “ASI” after the three mainpartners—AfricaRice, the Senegal RiverValley National Development Agency(SAED), and the Senegalese Institute ofAgricultural Research (ISRA)—the thresherwent through several adaptations toensure that it met the requirements ofproducers and women rice farmersengaged in threshing activities.

ASI was commercially released inSenegal in 1997. Since then, ASI hasbecome the most widely adopted thresherin Senegal, with major impact on the riceproduction chain.

A study showed that, with six workers,

ASI yields six tons of paddy per day vis-à-vis one ton by manualthreshing and four tons by Votex, the alternative small-scalethresher that was available in the Senegal River Valley.Moreover, with a grain-straw separation rate of 99 per cent, noadditional labour is required for sifting and winnowingcompared to Votex, which could not properly separate grainsfrom straw after threshing.

In other words, it reduces labour requirements, freeing upfamily members, particularly women, for other useful tasks;speeds up the postharvest process; allows production of ahigher quality product with lower risk of damage; and increasesthe marketability of local rice in the face of imports.

Recognising its immense value for thecountry as a technical solution that isacceptable to everyone in the rice-growing community, including women,the Grand Prix du Président de laRépublique du Sénégal pour les Sciences(Special Prize of the President of Senegalfor Scientific Research) was conferred in2003 on the ASI thresher team. The teamincluded AfricaRice Deputy DirectorGeneral Marco Wopereis, who hadserved as an agronomist in the Saint-Louis Station of AfricaRice in the ’90s andwas closely involved in all the stages ofASI’s development.

An impact study conducted by AfricaRicein Senegal 12 years later in 2009 showedthat ASI continued to be one of the mostimportant improved post harvesttechnologies in the Senegal River Valley,helping irrigated rice farmers to cope with

The little machinethat could

RICE

An ASI thresher is being used at the Institut d’Economie Rurale (IER), Niono, Mali.Based on the IRRI prototype, it can reduce thedrudgery associated with hand threshing and

improve yield and marketability of rice.

With six workers, manual threshing yields only one ton perday, but, using an ASI thresher, it yields six tons per day.



labour scarcity. For farmers, the ASI thresher isa time- and labour-saving device with a highgrain recovery rate.

Spreading across the regionAs ASI’s popularity grew among the ricefarming community and its impact continuedto ripple outward and change the lives of ruralhouseholds, the experience in Senegal wassuccessfully extended to several West Africancountries (Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso,Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, etc.), where eachcountry further adapted the machine to suit itsown specific conditions and released it underdifferent brands.

ASI has recently spread to Central Africancountries Cameroon and Chad. Here, thelocal artisans, who were trained by AfricaRiceand partners, were inspired to develop a seriesof modified prototypes for various crops. In2011, the Chad government gave ASI highpraise at the country’s 50th anniversarycelebration, where local ASI models were publicly displayed.

Why ASI clickedLabour is a serious concern in sub-Saharan African agriculturesince many labour-intensive tasks in crop production are carriedout manually.

For example, rice threshing and cleaning are manually carriedout predominantly by women, who spend hours on these back-breaking operations. This not only affects their health but alsothe grain quality and profitability of rice.

Field surveys carried out in the ’90s in the Senegal River Valleyrevealed that the lack of improved practices and machineryresulted in postharvest rice crop losses of up to 35 per cent andpoor grain quality due to inefficient manual threshing.

The surveys also revealed other constraints, such as thefrequent shortage of labour during rice harvest and postharvest

periods and the unsuitability of existingsystems that were too costly, time-consuming,or labour-intensive during peak labourdemand. Consequently, paddy may sit in thefield for weeks or even months waiting to beharvested or threshed; quality thendeteriorates because of exposure to theelements and shattering.

Therefore, in response to the demand fromrice stakeholders, AfricaRice decided toadapt and introduce ASI in the region bycreating a coalition of partners.

The partnership model made the technologyrelevant. AfricaRice is now using this model toforge a new partnership and alliance to furtherdevelop rice harvest and postharvesttechnologies in sub-Saharan Africa.

Now, the Centre is introducing andadapting a small affordable combineharvester in the Senegal River Valley fortimely harvesting and threshing. The adaptedprototype combine harvester, which is under

tests, not only harvests small farm plots more quickly, but alsoprovides threshed and bagged grain of high quality, making itmore attractive to local traders. Given the examples of ASI andthe mini-combine harvester introduced by AfricaRice and itspartners, a number of rice stakeholders from sub-Saharan Africawho met in July 2011 to develop a road map for sustainablemechanisation of the rice sector emphasised the value ofsmallscale, locally adapted machinery specifically targetinglabour-intensive activities.

They also recommended that governments consult researchwhen importing machinery to ensure its efficacy and durabilityunder African farming conditions, and that capacity be built toprovide after-sales support for farm machinery. Thus, the ripplescreated by ASI continue to expand. ✆

* AfricaRice

RICE

Participants at a meeting on “Boosting agriculturalmechanisation in rice-based systems in sub-Saharan Africa”, under the Global Rice SciencePartnership (GRiSP), inspect a mini-combineprototype designed by a local manufacturer.

REGIONAL EXPERTS IN animal diseases haveended a five-day meeting in Accra with wide-ranging recommendations, including the call forthe setting up of an emergency fund at countrylevel for the management of health crises,including trans-boundary animal diseases, aspart of efforts to promote the production ofquality foods and exports in the ECOWASregion, according to the African PressOrganisation (APO).

At their April meeting, the experts alsocalled on Member States to improve funding toveterinary services by allocating nationalbudgets to Trans-boundary Diseases (TADs)and Zoonoses.

Furthermore, the ECOWAS Commission,Member States and civil society were alsourged to establish a network of West Africanveterinary laboratories, and a West Africanepidemiological surveillance network on asystem for collecting and disseminating data.

A consultative framework should also beinitiated involving regional training institutions

in veterinary medicine for a harmonisation ofcurricula and capacity building in educationaland research institutions.

The meeting recommended that funding beorganised for regional epidemiologicalsurveillance networks co-ordinated byECOWAS as well as capacity building fornational networks. The experts equallyrecommended that the Gambia, Liberia andSierra Leone should be urgently provided withveterinary doctors to reduce their deficits inpublic veterinary officers.

In addition, the meeting called for therecognition of two reference laboratoriesalready identified as part of the regionallaboratory network – the National Laboratoryfor Livestock Breeding and Research in Dakar,Senegal and the National Veterinary ResearchInstitute Laboratory in Vom, Nigeria – and alsoto strengthen their capacity by allocatingsufficient resources to them.

In a speech delivered on behalf of theECOWAS Commission, Dr. Vivian Iwar,

highlighted the importance of the meeting andcharged participants to review the study ontranshumance (seasonal movement oflivestock) with a view to validating it, and alsoto revisit ECOWAS’ texts on transhumance. Thisis with a view to charting a way forward ontranshumance in the ECOWAS region.

The participants included representatives ofthe Association for the Promotion of AnimalBreeding in the Sahel and Savannah (APESS)and the Confederation of African AnimalBreeders (CORET), with experts in animalhealth and disease surveillance serving asresource persons.

The meeting featured country presentationson animal health situation, health informationsystems, surveillance, prevention and control oftrans-boundary animal diseases,harmonization of laboratory procedures, andregional surveillance strategies for animaldiseases.

Wallace Mawire

Regional experts call for emergency fund to deal with animal diseases



There’s nothing unnatural about sprinkler irrigation: it is the method ofirrigation designed to simulate natural rainfall. Dr Terry Mabbett discusses thedifferent systems.

Sprinkler irrigationsystems

IRRIGATION

Valley® Irrigation leads the way in global irrigation technology. We have over 200,000 machines on the ground with manufacturing facilities across the globe. As the innovators of the world’s best-selling irrigation equipment, Valley engineers new solutions to help growers maximize

THE BIG DIFFERENCE between natural rainfall andsprinkler irrigation is the latter being farmer driven.Water is on tap for application at crucial times of thecrop cycle like plant establishment after transplanting

seedlings for crops like tobacco and the bulking up stage ofroot crops such as potato (Irish and sweet potato), when wateris clearly needed most.

Water for sprinkler irrigation is distributed through a system ofpipes usually by pumping. The water now under pressure isforced through the orifices of the sprinkler nozzles and into theair where it breaks up into small water drops that fall to theground under the influence of gravity. The pump supply system,sprinklers and operating conditions must be designed to delivera uniform application of water to the crop.

Crops, slopes and soilsNot all crops are suitable for use of sprinkler irrigation. The

system is suitable for the majority of row, field and tree crops withwater being sprayed over or under the crop canopy as requiredand desired. However, large sprinkler irrigation systems usingvery high volumes of water are not recommended for theirrigation of delicate crops such as lettuce because the large

Sprinklers provide efficient coverage for small to large areas and are suitable for use onnearly all types of soil.



water drops produced by the sprinklersmay damage the crop.

Sprinkler irrigation may be adapted toany farmable slope whether it is uniformor undulating in profile. However, thelateral pipes which supply water to thesprinklers should always be laid out andaligned along the land contour whereverpossible. Such a pattern of pipes willminimise pressure changes at thesprinklers and therefore help to provideuniform application of irrigation water.

Sprinkler irrigation systems are ideallysuited to sandy soils with correspondinglyhigh infiltration rates although they can besuccessfully used on most types of soil.Overall mean application rate emittingfrom the sprinklers (in mm/hour) shouldbe lower than the basic infiltration rate ofthe soil to avoid surface ponding andwater runoff.

Sprinklers are not suitable for use onsoils which readily form an impermeablepan or crust. If sprinkler irrigation is theonly method available in such soilsituations then a light spray of smalldroplets should always be used. Largersprinklers generating correspondinglylarger diameter water droplets should beavoided at all costs.

Water sources and sprinkler system designA good clean supply of water, free ofsuspended solid particles is a must toavoid problems caused by the blockageof sprinkler nozzles and spoiling the cropby coating it with sediment.

A typical sprinkler irrigation systemconsists of the following components: thepump unit; a mainline and sometimes

sub-mainlines; laterals and sprinklers. Thepump unit is most frequently a centrifugalpump that takes water from the sourceand generates sufficient pressure for itsdelivery into the pipe system.

The mainline and sub-mainlines areconduits (pipes) which deliver anddistribute water from the pump to thelaterals. In many situations they arepermanent and laid over the ground oralternatively buried below the surface ofthe soil. In other situations they are atemporary feature which can therefore bemoved from field to field. Materials usedto manufacture the main pipe are cement,plastic or aluminium alloy.

The laterals deliver and distribute waterfrom the mainline or sub-mainlines andinto the sprinklers. The laterals may bepermanent but more often are portableand typically manufactured from light-weight materials like aluminium or plasticto allow for relatively easy movement andtransport to new positions.

The most commonly-used type ofsprinkler layout consists of a system oflightweight aluminium or plastic pipesmoved by hand. The rotary sprinklers aretypically spaced 9-24 m apart along thelateral which itself is 5-12 cm in diameter,usually no bigger, to facilitate easytransport and left in situ until the irrigationprogramme is complete.

When complete, the pump is switchedoff and the lateral disconnected from themainline and moved to the next location.It is re-assembled and connected to themainline and the irrigation can beginagain. Laterals can be moved one to fourtimes a day and are systematically moved

around the field until the whole crop areahas been irrigated. This is a description ofthe simplest system available. Systems mayemploy more than one lateral to irrigatelarger areas.

One inherent drawback of sprinklerirrigation is the large [and costly] labourforce required to move the pipes andsprinklers to new positions around the field.Where labour is either not available and/ortoo costly mobile systems such as the hosereel rain-gun and the centre pivot have beendesigned and developed to overcome theseoperating constraints.

Another alternative system not requiring alarge labour force is the drag-hose sprinklersystem. Main and laterals take the form ofburied PVC pipes with one lateral coveringthree positions. Sprinklers on risers andcarried by skids are attached to the lateralsthrough hoses which are similar in designand function to garden sprinklers. As suchonly that skid with the sprinkler has to bemoved from one position to another which isa relatively easy and low labour intensitytask.

Operating the sprinkler irrigation systemsApplication of water as evenly as possible,to saturate the crop plants’ root zones withwater, is the key goal of a sprinkler irrigationsystem.

The wetting pattern provided by a singlerotary sprinkler is inherently uneven. As ageneral rule the wetted area assumes acircular shape with the most intense andheavy wetting closest to the sprinkler. Inorder to obtain the desired and requiredlevel of uniformity several sprinklers must beoperated close together to give overlappingwetting patterns. Ideal uniformity is obtainedwhen the wetting overlap comprises at least65% of the wetted diameter. This is thefactor which governs maximum spacingbetween each sprinkler.

Uniformity of sprinkler irrigationapplication is affected by bothenvironmental factors (wind) and operatingfactors (water pressure). The spray emittedfrom sprinklers will be blown off course evenby a gentle breeze and this can significantlyimpact on uniformity. This can be overcomeby reducing the distance between individualsprinklers.

IRRIGATION

Application of water as evenlyas possible, to saturate thecrop plants’ root zones with

water, is the key goal of asprinkler irrigation system.

Sprinkler irrigation system in a maize experimental plot.



Sprinklers will only function properly under the rightoperating pressure which is that stipulated by the manufacturer.Pressure rising above or falling below this level will negativelyaffect spray distribution. Insufficient pressure invariably causedby wear and tear on the pump and or pipework is the mostcommon problem. Increasing wear and tear increases thefriction on flowing water and therefore reduces pressure at thesprinkler. Net result is the water jet not breaking, with watertending to fall in one area towards the outside of the wettedcircle. Distribution of sprinkler irrigation also suffers if theoperating pressure is too high. Net result in this instance is atoo finer spray falling close to the sprinkler.

Application rate and drop sizeApplication rate is the amount of water sprayed onto the cropand is measured in mm/hour. Application rate will depend onsize of the sprinkler nozzles used, operating pressure and thedistances between sprinklers. When selecting a sprinkler systemit is important to ensure that the average application rate isless than the basic infiltration rate of the soil. This will ensurethat all the water applied to the crop area is readily absorbedby the soil and thus avoiding any runoff.

Water passing through and emitted from a sprinkler nozzle isbroken up into small drops of between 0.5 and 4.0 mm indiameter. Smaller drops fall close to the sprinkler while largerdrops fall close to the edge of the wetted circle. Largediameter drops may damage delicate crops and soils and if indoubt farmers and growers should reduce nozzle size.

Drop size is also controlled by operating pressure. Lowoperating pressure leads to larger drops because water jetdoes not break up easily. Crop and soil damage can beavoided or at least reduced by using smaller diameter nozzlesoperating at or above the normal recommended operatingpressure. ✆

Sprinkler irrigation on a vineyard.



NEWS

OVER THE PAST 30 years,Symaga has continuouslyincorporated the most significanttechnological advances into itssolutions while, at the same time,maintaining its spirit of maximumquality and service. Today theyare the worldwide leaderproviding their costumers withthe best solutions. From Asiathrough Europe, Africa and theAmericas, the company is the firstqualified supplier for the wholeapplication that involves durableand trustful grain storagesolutions.

Symaga silos are integrating

the most innovativetechnologies to ease the taskseither of storing, sustaining andeven increasing a silo’s usefullife.

The Z450 galvanisationprocess gives Symaga silosmore robustness and aminimum of 35 years’ usefullife. The company’s flexibleproduction processes enablesthem to adapt the product tothe individual needs of eachclient. Symaga is able to supplyits products in the form ofcomponents or as completeequipment, including turnkeyinstallations; all this, with highquality materials and thecorresponding guarantee. Thecompany’s value added, such asEuropean engineering,calculation and flexibility, makesit much more competitive.

Symaga can supply smallcapacity silos – either Hopper orFlat bottom – or silos with biggercapacities depending on

requirements, from 5 cu m up to20,500 cu m. With a wide rangeof diameters, capacities anddesigns, silos can be suppliedeither for small farmingpurposes, for mills or for largestorage capacity stations.Fulfilling all needs andcomplying with the most exigentworld adopted specifications:ANSI-ASAE / DIN 1055 / as wellas ATEX compliant spares, etc,the company is proud to be thebiggest and reliable silomanufacturer.

Reliable silos for all purposes

RECEIVING THE AWARD thisyear is a real triumph for RussellIPM. It was only last year thatthe company was awarded itsfirst Queen’s Award in thecategory of International Trade.It is also something of abirthday present – as this yearthe company celebrates its 25thanniversary.

Although well-known in theprofessional pest controlmarket, Russell IPM is also oneof the leading manufacturers ofinsect pheromone-basedmonitoring and controlproducts in the agricultural andhorticultural markets.

The award was for theFerolite trap, designed anddeveloped by Russell IPM foruse by the horticultural industryfor the control of infestations ofthe devastating and destructivetomato pest, Tuta absoluta.

Russell IPM celebratesQueen’s award forinnovation



CAN YOU GIVE me a little bit of history regarding your company? The Escorts Group is among India's leadingengineering conglomerates operating in thehigh growth sectors of agri-machinery,construction and material handlingequipment, railway equipment and autocomponents. The Agri Machinery Group ofEscorts Ltd began manufacturing operationsin 1964 and now uses its experience andexpertise to power and propel change in farmmechanisation across the globe.

You pride yourself on “seed to seed” solutionsin farming... how do you enable this? Synonymous with reliability, the Farmtracrange of tractors are fuel efficient, have longserviceability and low maintenance costs.Keeping in tune with modern dayrequirements, the tractors are compatible witha number of implements such as rotavators,cultivators, balers and seed drills etc. Thetractors meet the emission norms of the USand European markets. Our range of tractorshave multi-tasking capabilities which makesour tractors the most versatile andcomprehensive product in their class.

We market our tractors under three major brands • Escorts (25 – 35 HP, Economy range) • Powertrac (34 – 55 HP, Value range) • Farmtrac (35 – 110 HP, Premium range)

How important is R&D in your company? R&D is one of the main pillars of our successto date. During the six decades of ourexistence we have always strived to be aheadof the pack on the technology front. We havemore than 450 engineers in our R&Ddepartment, who strive every day to make thelives of our farmers more rewarding andenriching through their constant innovations.

How much of your business is export, and where are your main markets? Today, the Escorts brand is present in over 52countries including 22 African countries.Escorts is also present with Farmtrac inEurope, Asia and South East Asia and theAmerica’s.

Can you tell us about recent successes in Africa? Escorts is proud to partner with SUMA JKT intheir project ‘Kilimo Kawanza’. Valued at

US$40mn, we have been chosen to supply1,430 units of its premium range of powerfulFarmtrac tractors to Tanzania which isimplementing a national, ’Food SufficiencyProgramme’ aimed at making it a foodsurplus country. We have more than 500customer testimonials from Tanzania, whichindicate improvement in the standard of livingand increased earnings by use of our tractors.We already have around 10,000 tractors inthe African continent. Our dominance in theAfrican market is because of the orders thatwe have received from Tanzania, Ghana,Benin, Madagascar and Burkina Faso. Ourproducts are designed, produced, tried andtested for African conditions. And theycontinue to nurture the progress of the Africanfarmer.

What are your thoughts on future market developments? Our tractor users are spread across allcontinents of the globe. With the growth intechnology it is imperative for an ambitiouscompany like Escorts to seek new challengesand ensure innovation that’s useful, reliableand trustworthy. h

Interview with Sachin Parab, Vice President International Business, Escorts Agri Machinery

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S07 AF MayJune 2012 Grain Storage_Layout 1 18/05/2012 10:44

The main objective of proper grain storage is to maintain the quality and characteristicsthat the grain possessed immediately after harvesting and drying. The quality of graincannot be improved during storage. Grain improperly harvested and dried will remainof low quality no matter how well it is stored. by Dick Ziggers

WHEN STORING GRAINS, themain enemies to conquer arefungi (moulds). Respirationmay, in certain cases,

contribute to a loss of dry matter duringgrain storage. However, the losses due torespiration are minor compared to thosecaused by living organisms. Losses causedby fungi in cereal grains are related to: ● A decrease in germination,● Discoloration of the seed,● Heating and mustiness,● Biochemical changes,● Possible production of toxins, and● Loss in dry matter.

All these changes may occur without themoulds becoming visible to the naked eye.

Storage moulds are prevalent in storagefacilities when the grain moisture contentis too low for field moulds (less than about20 per cent). The moisture andtemperature requirements of these mouldsdetermine the safe storage period. Bycontrolling moisture content andtemperature, mould growth is restrictedand grain can be dried without significantspoilage. Mechanical damage to grainand the amount of foreign material alsoaffects allowable storage time. Cleangrain and whole seeds are more resistantto mould.

For long-term storage, grain shouldbe dried as soon as possible after itcomes from the field. A delay in dryingdecreases the allowable storage time.However, the average moisture contentthroughout the grain bin does notdetermine how long cereal grains canbe stored. Spoilage may occur atisolated locations in the bin where grainmoisture is high.

Grain temperature, moisture migrationImproper control of the temperature insidethe bin causes moisture to move ormigrate from one part of the grain mass toanother, where the moisture canaccumulate and cause grain spoilageproblems.

Although moisture migration problemscan occur at any time, grain temperaturesvary considerably. The difference intemperature starts air moving down the binwall and toward the centre of the bin. Asthe air moves through the grain it becomeswarmer and begins to pick up moisturefrom the grain. When the warm moist airhits the cool upper surface of the grain,condensation occurs. In the spring theproblem is reversed. Warming action fromthe sun on the outside of the bin causesmoisture currents to move up and into thebin. Condensation then occurs on thebottom of the bin.

Heated air grain dryingWhenever aeration or natural air dryingfails to adequately condition grain forstorage, a heated air dryer may be

incorporated into the harvesting storagesystem. Compared to natural air drying,the heated air drying absorbs moremoisture from the grain thus drying thegrain faster. Over-drying of a cereal grainhowever, reduces the weight of grain thatwill be sold as less water is being sold.Also, it is more expensive in terms ofenergy costs. These costs must bebalanced against how long the wheat hasto be safely stored and under what storageconditions. Some factors should beconsidered for drying cereal grain: - Lowtemperatures should be used if the grain isto be stored for 6 months or more. - Thedamper the grain, the longer the dryingprocess. Low temperatures should beused. - Lower temperatures should beused in dryers which do not mix orcirculate the grain. Because excessive heatcan damage cereal grain and reduce theirability to germinate, maximum safe airtemperatures must not be exceeded.

Solar dryingSpreading out a thin layer of grain in thesun is a form of solar drying that has been

Fighting fungi in grain storagepreserves cereal quality

GRAIN STORAGE

For long-term storage, grainshould be dried as soon as

possible after it comes from the field.

The quality of grain cannot be improved during storage.



practised for many years all over the world and is still beingcarried out in many tropical countries. The main disadvantages ofthis system are that there is uncertainty of success due to variableweather and a non uniform grain quality. To circumvent theseproblems associated with traditional sun drying while still directlyusing the energy emitted by the sun, solar collectors have beenapplied in conjunction with a fan, a duct system and a bin inwhich grain is dried and stored

Aerate for temperature controlModern grain management uses aeration to control graintemperature and to reduce moisture variations. Aeration forcesair through the grain either continuously or intermittently.

Aeration is not a grain drying system and should not be used asone.

Grain drying or re-wetting is usually insignificant during grainaeration, because the cooling (or warming) front moves throughthe grain about 50 times faster than a drying or wetting front.

Grain can be tempered (cooled or warmed) by either negativeor positive aeration systems. With either system, a tempering zonemoves through the grain. The movement of the tempering zonecompletely through the grain is one cooling or warming cycle.Once a cycle had been started, operate the fan continuously untilthe zone moves completely through the grain. The time requiredto complete each cycle depends almost entirely on the aerationairflow rate. In a positive pressure system, the tempering zonestarts at the bottom of the bin and moves up.

Aeration air flow ratesAirflow rates for aeration are normally 1-2 litres of air per secondper cubic metre of grain.

The bin floor should be 15per cent perforated (minimum). Grainput into the bin should be within 1per cent of dry. Screen the grainto reduce foreign material and fines as they increase resistance toair flow and reduce total airflow. Level the top of the grain topromote uniform air flow through the grain mass. Operate the fanlong enough to complete a cycle (cooling or warming).

GRAIN STORAGE

Correctly drying, aerating and managing stored grain will minimise the risk of insect

infestation and damage.

Traditional grain storage stores in sub-Saharan Africa.



Fan operationAerating of the grain depends on the season and during whichperiod it should be stored.

Check the grain periodically and run the fan during cool, fairweather when the outside temperature is lower than the graintemperature. If there are any signs of heating or hot spots, nomatter what the season or the weather, run the fan continuouslyuntil no heating can be detected.

Consider installing temperature sensing units in large grainstorages. Temperature sensors accurately trace the progress ofaeration cooling or warming cycles. They help identify hot spotswithin the grain mass.

Managing fines in storageBroken grain and foreign material, or fines, can create twoproblems in stored grain, particularly when they accumulate inpockets. First, broken kernels are more susceptible to spoilagethan unbroken ones. Secondly, airflow from aeration fans tendsto go around pockets of fines so they cool more slowly. Thepockets often develop into hot spots that result in spoiled grain.

Serious efforts should be made to reduce the fines produced byharvesting, drying and handling, rather than trying to resolvestorage problems later. Three grain storage managementtechniques that reduce the problem from fines are as follows:● Use a grain spreader to minimise the concentration of

fines in storage.● Clean the grain before binning to improve storability.● Remove grain from the centre a few times during filling to

remove accumulated fines.

Insect controlInsect infestations in storage can come from grain residues incombines, handling equipment, and from old grain left instorage. Correctly drying, aerating and managing stored grainwill minimise the risk of insect infestation and damage. Insectactivity goes with moisture accumulation and grain heating.

Look for insect activity on every storage visit. If an insectproblem is noted, fumigate with a liquid, solid or gas grainfumigant in storage or as the grain is being turned. Fumigants aretoxic and must be applied with proper safety precautions andequipment. Each fumigation job is different; hire a professionalapplicator. h

GRAIN STORAGE

The fungus Aspergillus parasiticus can cause harmful aflatoxin in grain



S08 AF MayJune 2012 Tractors_Layout 1 16/05/2012 12:19

Some of the latest features and design developments from the leading tractorcompanies are already available in Africa and others are on the way,bringing performance and efficiency. Mike Williams reports.

MOST OF THE important developments in tractor designhave traditionally come from the big European andAmerican companies, and this is still happening inspite of the recent growth of tractor production in

China and India. One of the most popular developments is the useof constantly variable transmissions or CVTs, originally introducedby Fendt on their high horsepower tractors, but now available on atleast some models from most major manufacturers.

CVTs deliver engine power through a combination of gears anda hydrostatic drive to provide automatic gear and range changeswith stepless adjustment of the travel speed. This makes it easier forthe driver to achieve the optimum performance in the field and fortransport work, and there has been a big increase in the demand forCVT tractors and in the number of makes and models featuring it.

One of the newest arrivals in the CVT tractor market is the Axion900 series from Claas of Germany. The four models wereannounced at the end of last year, equipped with 8.7 litre, six-cylinder engines made by Fiat Powertrain Technologies andequipped with full electronic management. Power outputs are 320,350, 380 and 410hp and the CVT drive unit is made by ZF andhas four ranges with a 50kph top speed for the road.

A front suspension unit is available for the new Claas tractors,the rear linkage can lift 11 tonnes with up to 6.8 tonnes lift capacityon the front linkage. Servicing intervals are generous, with engineoil changes at 600-hour intervals and at 1200 hours for the oil inthe transmission, rear axle and hydraulic system.

Fendt was the first company to offer this type of transmissionwhen they introduced their Vario CVT, and they are also the firsttractor company to standardise on CVTs for all models. The newaddition to the Fendt range last year was the 700 Vario series withthree models producing 200 to 240hp from a 6.06 litre Deutzengine with electronic management. A special version of the VarioCVT developed for the new models produces its 50 kph top speedat a fuel saving 1700 rpm engine speed.

Another of last year’s CVT tractor launches came from Deutz-Fahr, part of the Italian based Same Deutz-Fahr tractor group. Thethree new additions were all in the Deutz Agrotron TTV range with114, 124 and 134hp four-cylinder engines driving ZFtransmissions with four speed ranges.

A special feature of the new Deutz-Fahr tractors is the improvedbraking system which includes Power Zero, allowing the driver toslow the tractor to a complete halt by using only the acceleratorpedal, even on a steep slope. The brakes also include new servoassistance to reduce the amount of pedal pressure needed whenusing the foot brake and a third contribution to stopping power is

a modification that produces more effective braking power whenusing the transmission to slow the tractor.

Fuel economy a major selling pointFuel economy has become a major selling point for tractors andleading manufacturers are all offering features that can help tosqueeze more work from each litre of diesel. The latest T6 seriesfrom New Holland is an example, with fuel savings making a majorcontribution to the claimed 10 per cent reduction in operating costscompared with the previous models.

One of the T6 fuel saving features is a reduction in theengine idling speed from 850 to 650 rpm at the zero throttlesetting, and the p-t-o speed options include a 1000 rpm Ecodrive setting which is produced at an 1893 rpm engine speed.The five new T6 tractors, announced at the end of last year,have four and six-cylinder engines with rated outputs from110 to 131hp, using engines equipped with SelectiveCatalytic Reduction (SCR) technology.

SCR uses a product called AdBlue consisting mainly of dilutedurea to remove nitrogen oxides and other environmentallydamaging combustion products from engine exhaust gases. This isessential in those countries which have strict regulations to reducethe pollution caused by the engine exhaust gases of new vehiclesincluding tractors.

Developing ‘clean’ enginesDeveloping the ‘clean’ engines equipped with SCR, electronicmanagement and other measures to reduce exhaust emissionsadds significantly to the cost of modern engines, and there is alsothe additional cost and the inconvenience of using the special SCRadditive, but as well as the environmental benefits the latest tractorengines are also much more fuel efficient than older power units toproduce more work from each tank full of fuel.

SCR is featured on the two newest models in the JCB Fastractractor range announced last year. The 8280 and 8310 models are

Tractorprogress

TRACTORS

Six-cylinder engines with SCR technology power the new MF 7600 series

Leading manufacturers are all offering features that can help to squeeze more

work from each litre of diesel.



at the top of the JCB range, powered by Sisu Diesel engines withoutputs of 279 and 306hp respectively. Using SCR technology issaid to allow fuel savings of up to 10 per cent, and there is also areduction in engine noise levels. All JCB Fastrac tractors areequipped with truck standards of front and rear wheel braking plusfront and rear axle suspension to qualify for the special ‘fast’ tractorcategory. This allows travel speeds up 80 kph for some models incountries where this is permitted by traffic regulations.

As well as New Holland and JCB, other tractor companies withat least some engines using SCR technology include Case IH,Fendt, Landini, Massey Ferguson and Valtra.

Landini is using SCR on the recently introduced 7 series tractorswhich have outputs ranging from 145 to more than 200hp. Theengines have six cylinders and are supplied by Fiat PowertrainTechnologies and the 7 series transmission is a powershift with fourranges giving 32 forward speeds plus 24 in reverse. Lift capacitieson the rear linkage are up to 10,000kg, depending on the model,and a front suspension is available.

The newest additions to Massey Ferguson’s tractor range withSCR are four MF 7600 models announced earlier this year. Theyhave six-cylinder Sisu Diesel engines in the 140 to 175hp rangeand transmission choices include a 16-speed Dyna-4 version plusa CVT for the most powerful models.

While most of the new and updated tractors arriving from theleading manufacturers are medium and high horsepower modelswith outputs of 120hp plus, Massey Ferguson is one of the fewcompanies recently announcing new models below 100hp.Announced at the end of last year, the three new MF 3600 modelshave maximum outputs of 84, 94 and 102hp from three-cylinderengines and are suitable for working in specialist fruit and vegetableproduction as well as livestock units. They feature an electronic push-button control that automatically selects a chosen speed - useful afterstopping to make a headland turn for example. Customers canchoose a 12x4 speed mechanical gearbox or a more advanced two-speed powershift with push-button gear shifting.

Recent developments in the John Deere tractor range includelast year’s launch of the 7R series with five new models offeringmaximum outputs from 230 to 310hp, now an increasinglyimportant power range on European farms. The engines, whichmeet the most stringent exhaust emission regulations without usingSCR, are 6.8 or 9.0 litre PowerTech units from John Deere, and thefour transmission choices include a CVT.

A special feature available on the 7R range is the award winningActiveCommand steering system developed by John Deere. Unlikeordinary power steering systems which rely entirely on hydraulicoperation as the driver turns the steering wheel, the new JohnDeere system uses a mixture of electronics and hydraulic operation,and the result is said to be a big reduction in manual effort requiredduring long periods of tractor driving.

Looking aheadMost of the tractor industry’s investment in research anddevelopment is designed to develop new models and technologythat can be marketed immediately, but there are also some projectsthat look further ahead. Developing new tractors with engines thatare powered by alternative fuels will be important for the future asthe remaining oil reserves are used and the cost of diesel andpetrol continues to rise.

One of the fuel alternatives that could be powering tractorswithin four or five years is biogas, which is basically methane gasproduced when organic matter such as livestock manure and plantmaterial is digested by micro-organisms in the absence of oxygen.One of the attractions of the process is that the material left behindafter the digestion process has almost the same fertiliser value asthe original organic matter. At least two companies have alreadydemonstrated experimental biogas powered tractors which arecurrently being tested on farms, a development that could have aspecial significance for African agriculture.

One reason why this development could become important inAfrica is that the digestion process works more efficiently and yieldsmore methane in countries with relatively high temperatures, andthis means that in countries with winter temperatures falling tofreezing point or below, some of the methane may be required toheat the digester. Another factor is that biogas production isalready established in some African countries making the digestiontechnology already familiar.

Valtra has built two tractors for its biogas project, the first wasannounced in 2010 and is based on the N111 model with a 4.4litre Sisu Power four-cylinder engine with about 110hp output, whilethe second was shown last year using a six-cylinder Sisu engine withSCR technology. Both are designed as dual-fuel engines, starting ondiesel and running on a mix of about 75 per cent methane and 25per cent diesel. This, the makers say, would give a 40 per centreduction in fuel costs compared with diesel only.

The Profi 4135 Natural Power tractor announced last year by theAustrian based Steyr company has a 3-litre Fiat PowertrainTechnologies engine. Power output is 135hp and because biogasproduces much cleaner exhaust emissions than diesel, the engine offersimportant environmental benefits, says Steyr. A production version ofthe Steyr gas-fuelled tractor could be available as early as 2015, thecompany has predicted, but there are a number of problems toovercome before methane fuelled tractors are widely used.

One of the difficulties is that fuel quality from digestion equipmentcurrently available for farm use is variable, and this could affect theengine’s performance. Another factor is that methane needs a largestorage volume, making it difficult to carry enough on the tractor fora full day’s work. The experimental six-cylinder Valtra carries 170litres of biogas at 200 bar pressure, enough for only 3 to 5 hourswork, although having a full diesel tank would enable the tractor tokeep working when the gas runs out. h

TRACTORS

Launched last year, 7R series tractors from John Deere offer an improved power steering system.

Valtra's experimental four-cylinder tractor is fuelled by a mix of biogas and diesel




S09 AF MayJune 2012 Equipment_Layout 1 16/05/2012 12:22

Company ..................................................................PageAdritec Group International (AGI) ....................................8AGCO Ltd. ....................................................................37Agropharm Ltd. ................................................................5Alvan Blanch Development Company Limited ..............19AWILA Anlagenbau GmbH ............................................35Big Dutchman International GmbH................................11Bühler GmbH ................................................................27Ceva Santé Animale ........................................................2Ceva Santé Animale ......................................................43CNH International SA ....................................................39Compact Seeds and Clones SA ....................................24County Tractor Spares Ltd. ..............................................9Evans Vanodine International plc ..................................17Goizper Sociedad Cooperativa ......................................23Industrias Machina Zaccaria SA....................................36International Tractors Limited ........................................41Jacto ..............................................................................32Kenchic Limited................................................................9Kepler Weber Industrial SA............................................25Kirloskar Brothers Ltd. ....................................................7Machines 4 Food Limited ..............................................33Nogueira ........................................................................41Poltek ............................................................................15Priya Chemicals ............................................................35Rubberex (M) Sdn. Bhd. ..................................................4Senter 360 ......................................................................9Symaga SA ......................................................................6Technical Systems ........................................................13T-L Irrigation Co. ............................................................31Toni Kolb ........................................................................33Valmont Irrigation ..........................................................29Valtra Africa....................................................................44VNU Exhibitions Europe b.v (VIV China 2012)..............16Zagro Singapore Pte Ltd. ..............................................21

A D V E R T I S E R S I N D E X

FOR THE 2012 tillage season, John Deere is offering three new2600 Series disks and one new vertical tillage tool designed toprovide everything from more muscle for penetrating, chopping andmixing soil and crop residue in a single pass to creating a uniformseedbed. The beefier new 2600 Series tillage lineup includes the2625 disk, 2623 disk, 2620 disk and 2623VT (vertical tillage).The tillage workhorse in the 2600 Series lineup is the 2625 disk.Designed to be a heavyweight primary tillage tool, the 2625 sizesand buries heavy corn and other crop residue, resulting in 30 percent or less residue cover on fields.The 2623 disk is engineered for its dual flexibility as either aprimary or secondary tillage tool. It features 24- and 26-inch diskblades set on 23-cm spacing, C-spring standards with weights perblade ranging from 91 to 110 kg, depending on the selected bladesize and width model. It provides a working tillage depth of up to15 cm, making it ideal for use in post-harvest residue chopping orpreparing spring seedbeds for planting.

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John Deere introduces 4new tillage solutions

DEG IS PROVIDING the Kenyan enterprise Kevian Kenya Ltd(Kevian) with a long-term loan of US$7.5mn for expansioninvestments. Kevian is a well-established manufacturer of fruit juice brandsnamely Pick’N’Peel, Afia, and Mt Kenya Water. Thanks to its strongmarket growth, high product quality and successful distributionstrategies, the company has enjoyed strong growth during the lastyears. "With our financing, we support a local company inbecoming an international player and moreover, we help numerousfarmers to earn a regular income by acting as suppliers," said BrunoWenn, Chairman of DEG's Management Board on the occasion ofthe signing ceremony in Thika; Kenya. Kevian plans to increase its production capacity of fruit juices and toimprove its packaging systems. DEG is the first internationaldevelopment finance institution to support Kevian by providing along-term loan. The total investment volume is US$5.4mn. As part ofthe expansion, Kevian will also enter into the production of fruit juiceconcentrates, which is needed for the production of juices and whichso far had to be imported for the most part. The company buys thenecessary fruits, mainly mango, tomato, carrot, pineapple andpassion fruit, from smallholders. This offers tens of thousands ofsmallholders the possibility to earn an income for themselves andtheir families. “Kevian is a showcase of successful Kenyan-German co-operationfor the benefit of companies in both countries and for improving thelivelihood of many Kenyians smallholders. And, it demonstrates therole private enterprise can play to foster sustainable, economicdevelopment, said Margit Hellwig-Bötte, the German Ambassadorto Kenya on the occasion of the signing ceremony. A substantial part of Kevian's fruit concentrate will be exported toGermany, to the German company Rudolf Wild GmbH.

DEG finances Kenyan fruit juice producer


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