african farming may june 2013

May/June 2013

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

ServingAGRICULTURE

for

3333YEARS

Gobal demand for palm oil

has doubled since 2000.

TractorsTractor power for fruit and wine growers

PoultryPreservation of egg shell quality

IrrigationIrrigation byrotary precipitation

www.africanfarming.net

AF May June 2013 Cover_Cover.qxd 20/05/2013 12:16

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S01 AF MayJune 2013 Start_Layout 1 20/05/2013 12:48

Managing Editor: Zsa Tebbit

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

Publisher: Nick Fordham

Advertising Sales Director: Pallavi Pandey

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

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

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

Nigeria Bola Olowo (234) 8034349299 [email protected]

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

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

CONTENTS

African Farming - May/June 2013 3

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

Poultry 12Preservation of eggshell quality pre and post lay.The role of water in the life of a chicken.

Poultry Processing 18Assessment of biological nitrogen removal in poultry processing.

Silk Moth Farming 20A flutter of hope, in the form of silk moth farming, offers a new and creative means of incomegeneration as well as the possibility of providing a sustainabale and nutritious source of protein.

Livestock 22A new project will help livestock and irrigated agriculture farmers to improve their livelihoodsthrough value chain improvement.

Palm Oil 24The Heraklese palm oil venture in Cameroon must address the many doubts and worries aboutsuch enterprises that abound.

Biocontrol 26Tackling killer aflatoxins in African food crops.

Grain Storage 28Researchers at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre have introduced animproved metal silo that will help local farmers preserve grain from season to season.

Tractors 32Strong international demand is helping to expand wine and fruit production in some Africancountries, creating a growth market for tractors suitable for vineyard and orchard work.

Irrigation 38Irrigation by rotary precipitation

The MF 7600 tractor in operation inZambia.

Aflasafe - an innovative biocontrol solution - rekindlesfarmers' hopes in Nigeria.

Many management factors combine to ensureconservation of eggshell quality.

May/June 2013

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

ServingAGRICULTURE

for

3333YEARS

Gobal demand for palm oil

has doubled since 2000.

TractorsTractor power for fruit and wine growers

PoultryPreservation of egg shell quality

IrrigationIrrigation byrotary precipitation


Serving the world of business



African Farming - May/June 20134

EVENTS

May22-23 Sustainable Forest Management in Central Africa YAOUNDE

www.cifor.org

24-26 17th FOODAGRO 2013 DAR ES SALAAMwww.expogr.com/tanzania/foodexpo

29-30 AVI Africa JOHANNESBURG www.sapoultry.co.za

June5-7 IFTEX 2013 NAIROBI

www.hppexhibitions.com

6-8 AGRENA 2013 CAIRO www.agrena.net

30-2 July Africa's Big Seven 2013 JOHANNESBURGwww.exhibitionsafrica.com

July11-13 Agrikexpo 2013 LAGOS

www.agrikexpo.com

21-26 19th IFMA Congress WARSAW www.ifmaonline.org

24-26 2nd Brazil in Eastern Africa Expo 2013 NAIROBI www.brazileastafricaexpo.com

August15-17 African Farmers' Workshop and Expo JOHANNESBURG

www.africanfarmers.co.za

26-29 14th Association of Institutions for Tropical PRETORIA Veterinary Medicine Conferencewww.aitvm.org

September14-15 Naivasha Horticultural Fair 2013 NAIVASHA

www.hortinews.co.ke

23-26 SAHARA- 30th Intl Exhibition for Agriculture and CAIRO Food for Africa and the Middle East www.saharaexpo.com

23-28 16th ISTRC ABEOKUTA www.iita.org

Farming CalendarTHE 2ND BRAZIL in EasternAfrica Expo 2013 will takeplace July 24th to 26th inNairobi, Kenya. With a theme,Bridging the Missing Link, theExpo seeks to bridge the gapbetween Brazil and Africa bycreating strong business links,which would avail Brazilianproducts and services in the Eastern Africa Market. The Expo 2013 has three main segments: ● Trade Exhibition:

A multi-sector exhibition showcasing different Brazilianproducts from sectors such as agricultural equipment, autoparts, textiles, cosmetics, food and beverages among others.The Trade Exhibition is a three day event from 24th to 26thJuly 2013.

● Conference: This will be focusing primarily on three sectors: Agribusiness,housing and finance. Brazilian experiences and successes in agribusiness andvalue chains will be demonstrated. On finance, how Brazilfinanced its development and housing sector will bemanifested. The conference will be held on the 25th and 26thJuly 2013 at the same Venue.

● Cultural Programme: This programme will seek to bridge the cultural strengths andsimilarities between the two continents. There will be somesports events, together with other cultural presentations suchas music and cinema.

Being the second of its kind, the Expo 2013 will provide aplatform to understand the business environment, culture,technology and innovations from Brazil and Eastern Africa. Assuch, it is meant to establish rewarding and new businessrelationships between Brazil and Eastern Africa. It is an opportunity to meet new suppliers, check new productsand explore potential partnerships and joint ventures. The Expowill give an insight into the Brazilian experience that can beadapted in Eastern Africa with regard to sustainableagriculture, food security, housing and other developmentchallenges.

2nd Brazil in East Africa Expo

BUYERS FROM AS far as Russia,the Middle East, Europe and theUSA were in attendance at thefifth edition of the recently heldHortiFlora Expo Ethiopia.

According to the event'sorganisers, HPP Exhibitions and theEthiopian Horticulture ProducerExporters Association, the showconcluded with "satisfactory resultsfor most exhibitors".

More than 100 companiesexhibited at the trade fair, whichtook place in March 2013 at AddisAbaba's Millennium Hall, whilemore than 1,200 visitors walked theaisles during the three-day event.

The majority of visitors at thisyear's edition of the show, which

was opened by the Ethiopianminister of trade, were directlyrelated to the floriculture industry.The organisers, however, noted agrowing number of visitors linkedto the vegetable and fruit industrythis year.

Dutch firm DLV Plant organiseddaily seminars at the event, while ahost of in-show competitions werevied for by exhibitors andcontributors at the trade show.

Among the platinum winners atthe event were De RuiterInnovations from Holland, whowere awarded the top prize for'Best Stand Design', while platinumin the 'Best Breeder QualityCompetition' was shared between

France's Meilland International andinternational company RedElegance. The prize for platinum in

the 'Best Grower QualityCompetition' went to Langano LilyFlowers from Ethiopia.

Ethiopian horticultural show enjoyed successful 2013 edition

Harvesting flowers in a greenhouse at the ET HighlandFlora flower farm, outside Addis Ababa.



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NEWS

THE MINISTRY OF Agriculture through its implementing partners, AfricaRice Center (Africa Rice) and The Central Agriculture Research Institute,CARI has identified the Foya Region in Lofa County and the Bong MinesRegion in Bong County as locations for two of the several ricedevelopment hubs expected to be built in Liberia over the next few years.At a meeting for the selection of the Rice Development Hubs held atCARI's main office in Suakoko, Bong County, stakeholders includingofficials from the Ministry of Agriculture, CARI, Africa Rice, CRS, BRAC,as well as other local NGOs and farmers selected both Lofa and Bongcounties for the production of Upland and Lowland Rice respectively.The head of Africa Rice, Dr. Inoussa Akintayo took over a hundredpeople who attended the meeting on several hours of sightseeing,showcasing several varieties of rice including the most popular lowland(NERICA-L19), Suakoko 8 and upland (NERICA 14) varieties that arebeing produced at CARI station and will be distributed to farmers andNGO for certified seed production.Africa Rice is the implementing partner for the Ministry that is expectedto lead the campaign to establish and boost the rice sectordevelopment in Liberia. Rice is Liberia’s staple food. There arebasically two systems of rice cultivation that are carried out in Liberia;upland rice and lowland or swamp rice. The former dominates withabout 63 per cent of households fully relied on upland rice techniques,17 per cent swampland, and 21 per cent a mixture of both.The current activities of Africa Rice include: enhancing food securityin vulnerable communities of Liberia, in the face of a global pricecrisis. This would be supported by the following specific objectives to:make seeds and good agricultural and post-harvest practicesavailable to farmers to increase rice production, improve rice qualityand reduce imports; develop a critical mass of trained scientists,extension workers and community seed producers; and establish apolicy framework for the development of rice seed systems that assureseed security in Liberia.

THE SOUTHERN AFRICA Trade Hub has awarded a grant ofUS$100,000 to Central African Seed Services (CASS) to purchaseequipment for a first-of-its-kind groundnut processing facility in Lusaka.The investment is expected to facilitate more than US$6mn of trade.

According to the Hub, the cleaning, sorting and gradingequipment purchased by the grant will enable Jungle Beat, CASS'slong-time Zambian partner, to export surplus Zambian groundnuts toSouth Africa for the first time, spurring significant growth inproduction. From Zambia the nuts are expected to find their way toEuropean markets in a variety of peanut-based products.

It is reported that currently there is no company operating inZambia with the requisite equipment, making it all but impossible forthe country's groundnuts to access the more lucrative markets inSouth Africa and beyond.

CASS Managing Director Gordon Guthrie said peanut production inSouth Africa has significantly declined in the last ten years: from 140,000to 65,000 tons per annum. Demand, on the other hand, has shownsteady growth, requiring South Africa to rely on regional tradingpartners to meet the annual shortfall. In Zambia, he said, ideal climateconditions create the opportunity to increase both yield and productionarea considerably.

Peter Nieuwoudt, Director at Jungle Beat, put total current Zambianproduction of groundnuts at 160,000 tons annually.

He said Zambia could be a major regional groundnut producer andmore than double current production.With the processing plant, Zambiais also expected to export and consequently pay better prices to farmers.Wallace Mawire

AT ITS MOST recent meeting, the International Advisory Board for theIPM Essen Fair has stipulated the framework for the next edition of theworld's premier fair. Over 1,500 exhibitors will once more be expectedat the leading marketplace of the green sector at Messe Essen January28 - 31, 2014. IPM Essen will be even more international: For the first time, the successfulhorticultural forum will be dedicated to countries from all over the worldunder the new name of the "International Horticultural Forum". Turkeywill make a start in 2014. In lectures, experts will report on marketopportunities and the economic situation. Moreover, the members of the Advisory Board have agreed to continuethe well-visited supporting programme of IPM Essen in an unamendedform. In 2014 too, the trade visitors will be able to look forward tohighlights such as the demonstrations of stars on the floristry scene in theFDF Creative Centre, the Innovation Showcase with innovative breeds andcompetitions such as the Colour Your Life Award or the IPM Fair Cup. 57,743 trade visitors from 103 countries came to the last IPM ESssen in2013. There was greatest interest from the Asian continent; visitorstravelled from 33 countries in the region (in 2012: 24). Visitors andexhibitors stated that they were very satisfied with the course of the tradefair; in each case, 92 per cent announced that they would be involved inthe next IPM Essen as well. In order to inform exhibitors and interested trade visitors throughout theworld about the next IPM ESSEN, the fair team will once again berepresented at a large number of events at home and abroad. In additionto the subsidiary events of IPM in China, Russia and Dubai, the team willalso be present at fairs from Italy via Kenya, Colombia and theNetherlands to Spain and Turkey.

Rice development hub identified in Liberia

International Advisory Board for IPM Essen 2014 Zambia to acquire groundnut processing facility




NEWS

7

THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT will set up aveterinary laboratory in the Nyagatare district,Eastern Province, as part of its plan to prevent theoutbreak of cattle diseases that pose a threat tothe country’s livestock sector

According to the Rwandan government, theaim of the new laboratory is to prevent andcontrol cattle disease outbreaks in the countryby providing sustainable services to farmers.

In the past the Rwandan government hashad to overcome limited vigilance and capacityto identify, monitor and prevent the outbreak ofcattle diseases. The province was recentlystruck by foot and mouth disease forcing the

government to put up animal quarantine in thearea as it is highly contagious.

The Ministry of Agriculture and AnimalHusbandry, however, recently removedthe quarantine.

Last year director of Veterinary Services atthe Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), Dr OttoMuhinda, revealed that from the 1,652 cattlethat were tested in Kigali, 167 animals werefound with the disease.

"These cattle had to be put down becausethis disease is very dangerous as it affectshuman beings especially when they drink freshuncooked milk from infected cows," he said.

Rwanda to invest in cattle disease prevention methods

AMATHEON AGRI HOLDING ofGermany is to invest about US50mn toirrigate over 10,000 hectares of land forfood production in Mumbwa, centralZambia. According to the firm’s chief executiveofficer Carl Bruhn, it will grow traditionalcrops such as soya, wheat, maize andbarley, while future operations mightinclude cattle and timber. In the long term, the company’s objective isthe vertical integration of arable land intoZambia’s value chain, thus contributing tothe country’s growing economy. ‘’We chose to invest in Zambia due to itsstrong agricultural potential, the growingpopulation as well as the robusteconomy and stable Government. Ourextensive research of the African marketsproved effective. Zambia is indeed avery welcoming investment destination,’’he elaborated. Mr. Bruhn was speaking when VicePresident Guy Scott and Labour ministerFackson Shamenda toured AmatheonAgri’s flagship 20,000 ha farm inMumbwa recently. Amatheon AgriZambia chief executive officer AndrewFleming was also at the event to givehighlights about the firm’s business andlong-term strategy in Zambia. Others who attended the function werelocal Member of Parliament Brian Chituwo,German Ambassador to Zambia BerndFinke, Senior Chief Shakumbila, ChiefKaindu, and delegations from the Ministryof Agriculture & Livestock, the power utilityfirm, ZESCO and Zambia NationalFarmers Union (ZNFU). Amatheon is the first German company toinvest in large-scale irrigated farming inZambia. The Big Concession hashistorically been planned as a large-scalefarming area, but in the past the lack ofelectricity and appropriate roads left theregion widely underdeveloped. With the imminent electricity connection tothe area and upgrade of roads by theGovernment, the firm is set to harvest itsfirst crops in April 2013. Based in Berlin with managementstructures in Germany, the UK, Zambiaand South Africa, Amatheon Agri HoldingNV is a European farming andagribusiness firm developing sustainableprojects, mainly in Africa. Through the development of new, large-scale irrigated agricultural operations, itseeks to create shareholder value,community improvement and increasedfood production.

German company invests inZambian agriculture


S02 AF MayJune 2013 News_Layout 1 20/05/2013 11:54


NEWS

FARMERS IN TANZANIA should shift fromplanting maize to growing cassava, since thelatter will soon overtake the former’s demandon the continent.

Scientists meeting there have pointed outthat cassava is on the verge of replacing maizeas the main staple for the nearly one billionresidents of the African continent and that the‘roots’ value is clocking to over two billion USdollars per year, it was observed.

“Cassava is currently the most drought-resistant crop which can also thrive in lownutrient soil and scientists have come up with newvarieties that are resilient to diseases,” explainedDr Nteranya Sangina, the Director General forthe International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

His organisation, the IITA, is hosting the12th International Plant Virus EpidemiologySymposium, which took place recently inArusha. The event has gathered scientists frommore than 40 countries worldwide.

With the threats of global warming and therelated climate change, the scientists attending

the symposium are of the view that maize,which has always been the main food crop forAfrica, is losing its hold as the continent’sstaple food, as it increasingly becomessusceptible to drought and diseases.

“In Nigeria, cassava has already taken overfrom maize. We make ‘ugali’ from cassava andextract ethanol from its roots and we are nowusing cassava to make bread which means thecrop is also replacing wheat,” said Dr Sangina.

During the meeting, participants took teawith bread made from cassava flour and manycould not distinguish the taste from that ofwheatflour bread and with over 170mnpeople eating bread daily, cassava is just onthe verge of becoming popular food in Africa.

Dr Elly Kafiriti from the Naliendele AgriculturalResearch Institute (NARI) said his Mtwara-basedSouthern Zone Research and DevelopmentCentre is currently working to develop disease-resistant cassava, as well as developing moreresilient crop variety to intercept the effects ofchanging climate and emerging diseases.

Morogoro is being described as having thehighest potential for cassava growing inTanzania and the Kitui area can do the samefor Kenya. Together, they can make EastAfrica self reliant on food and totally abolishthe importation of food during drought spells.

Running under the theme, Evolution,Ecology and Control of Plant Viruses, thesymposium is said to be also focusing onemergence, epidemiology and control ofnative and new virus diseases. “This is toreflect on the prevailing situation of virusdiseases in Africa and around the world thatare not only ravaging the crop production,but also affecting the international exchangeof germ plasm and commerce,” explained Dr Sangina.

The Arusha-held, five-day symposium alsoprovided a forum for exchange of latestknowledge and technologies to control virusdiseases and pave way for an African andglobal strategy to combat emerging and re-emerging plant virus diseases.

Cassava to replace maize farming in Africa


AMATHEON AGRI HOLDING of Germany is to invest aboutUS$50mn to irrigate over 10,000 ha of land for food productionin Mumbwa, central Zambia. According to the firm’s chiefexecutive officer Carl Bruhn, it will grow traditional crops such assoya, wheat, maize and barley, while future operations mightinclude cattle and timber. In the long term, the company’s objective is the vertical integration ofarable land into Zambia’s value chain, thus contributing to thecountry’s growing economy. ‘’We chose to invest in Zambia due toits strong agricultural potential, the growing population as well as therobust economy and stable Government. Our extensive research ofthe African markets proved effective. Zambia is indeed a verywelcoming investment destination,’’ he elaborated. Mr. Bruhn was

speaking when vice president Guy Scott and labour minister FacksonShamenda toured Amatheon Agri’s flagship 20,000 ha farm inMumbwa recently. Amatheon Agri Zambia chief executive officerAndrew Fleming was also at the event to give highlights about thefirm’s business and long-term strategy in Zambia. Amatheon is the first German company to invest in large-scale iorrigatedfarming in Zambia. The Big Concession has historically been planned asa large-scale farming area, but in the past the lack of electricity andappropriate roads left the region widely underdeveloped. With the imminent electricity connection to the area and upgradeof roads by the Government, the firm is set to harvest its first cropsin April 2013. Nawa Mutumweno

German company invests in Zambian agriculture



NEWS

9www.africanfarming.net

THE LORENTZ SOLAR powered pumpsystem has recently been employed byNoureddine Lahmidi, a farmer from thevillage of Oujda, Morocco to replace hisdiesel and subsidised butane poweredirrigation pumps.Lahmidi, who requires an irrigation system for asix hectare area of olive trees, made the decisionto change the pumps following a detailed usageand cost analysis, Lorentz said.According to the company, increasingenergy prices and supply problems meantthat Lahmidi required an alternative powersupply as the remote village in which he livesis not connected to the electrical grid anddiesel and butane prices are increasing dueto market prices and subsidy reductions.Fossil fuel deliveries are also subject to supplydifficulties resulting in an inability to watercrops. Combined with the issue of unreliableinternal combustion engines, the overalldifficulties in the farmer’s previous irrigationsystem resulted in an increase in the cost ofproduction and therefore a decrease incompetitiveness, Lorentz claimed.Although the Moroccan governmentprovides subsidies on both diesel and butanefor rural users, these subsidies are the subject

of reform as they have now reached a levelabove six per cent of GDP, meaning they willbe reduced significantly.The Lorentz system has been designed with two

pumps, one to draw water from deep below theground and pump it into a pool, while a secondpump is then used to pump water from the poolto the crops. The pumps are then connected tothe solar modules via a controller.According to the company, benefits of thesolar powered system include the fact that nofuel is required, removing the energy billsplus the time and cost of filling fuel tanks andhaving fuel deliveries. The sun is also a stableand reliable energy source, meaning noconcerns about fuel supply, transport issuesor increasing operating costs.These elements give the solution a goodreturn on investment and a best quality/priceratio in comparison to conventional pumpingsystems, especially in remote areas, LorentzZsaid.An analysis carried out by the companysuggested that, over a period of five years,diesel powered pumps would cost a total ofUS$25,973 and butane would costUS$14,414, while a solar energy sourcecomes at a cost of US$16,800. The solarpowered pumps will therefore significantlylower Lahmidi’s costs compared to theprevious diesel and butane powered pumps,Lorentz’s research showed.

THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT Bank, Sweden'sMinistry for International Development Co-operation and the US Agency for InternationalDevelopment have a new US$25mn fund to helpspark greater private investment in agricultureinfrastructure projects in sub-Saharan Africa.The Agriculture Fast Track fund is designed to helpmembers of the New Alliance for Food Securityand Nutrition with up to US$1.5mn per projectincluding design, feasibility studies, marketanalyses, financial modeling, site surveys, andbusiness plans. With such documentation centralto commercial lending, the fund expects betterproject preparation will boost private sector loansfor agriculture infrastructure by increasing qualityand bankability."The African economy is currently overlydependent on public investment for infrastructuredevelopment," said AfDB President DonaldKaberuka. "The Agriculture Fast Track is a criticaltool to better leverage donor funding to catalyseprivate sector investment in support of infrastructureconstruction and Africa’s long-term economicgrowth and food security."US President Barack Obama launched the NewAlliance for Food Security and Nutrition at lastyear’s G-8 summit to match market-orientedregulatory reforms in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire,Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzaniawith US$3.7bn in private sector agriculturalcommitments.

Since its founding, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shahsaid, "We’ve seen member countries make seriousreforms that have led to real progress. The launchof the Agriculture Fast Track allows African farmersto take advantage of these reforms through fast-tracked infrastructure projects that will better delivertheir products to markets."Managed by the African Development Bank, thefund is backed by US$15mn from USAID andUS$10mn from the Swedish government."By targeting the project preparation stage ofprojects, the Agriculture Fast Track will advanceinfrastructure projects when funding is most acutelyneeded to pivot from planning to construction,"said Swedish Minister for InternationalDevelopment Co-operation Gunilla Carlsson."This targeted approach allows us to catalysesignificantly more private sector investments andensure the highest standards in terms of social andenvironmental sustainability."USAID is boosting its collaboration with cropproductivity leader Syngenta International to helpbuild smallholder capacity in Africa, Asia and LatinAmerica in co-operation with other donors,scientists, and entrepreneurs.Building on its ten-year, US$500mn commitment toAfrica, Syngenta and USAID have a memorandumof understanding to work with New Alliancecountries to increase growers’ use of technologiesin crops such as potatoes and expand access tocrop insurance and seed treatment.

"Scaling the adoption of innovative technologieslike drought-tolerant seeds and crop insurancecan build the foundation for sustainable foodsecurity," Shah said. "By strengthening ourpartnership with Syngenta, we can reducehunger and undernutrition across three differentcontinents and help bring the end of extremepoverty within reach.”Syngenta CEO Mike Mack said thecollaboration with USAID "is part of our ambitionto enable a worldwide step-change in farmproductivity. Public private partnerships such asthis will be catalysts for transforming agriculture byimproving knowledge and technology in farmingespecially in developing markets."Analysing a broad spectrum of African industryfrom banking to agribusiness, UNDP is working tobring economic growth closer to low-incomecommunities by focusing on how businesses canbetter embrace them as consumers, entrepreneursand employees."Inclusive business represents a promisingapproach by bringing the benefits of economicgrowth directly to the poor by including them invalue chains,” said UNDP Deputy Director forAfrica Babacar Cissé. “We need youngentrepreneurs and innovators as drivers ofinclusive businesses. We need organisationswilling to take the roles of catalysts, supportersand funders of inclusive businesses.”Scott Stearns

Benefits of the solar powered system include the factthat no fuel is required and it offers a stable and reliableenergy source.

Lorentz solar water irrigation system employed in Oujda, Morocco

Agriculture fast track fund for sub-Saharan Africa



NEWS

RESEARCHERS AT THE International Institute of Tropical Agriculture(IITA), Ibadan, have said that maize lines and hybrid developed inthe institution offer the hope of saving African farmers from thechallenges of drought.

According to IITA’sCommunications Officer,Godwin Atser, the maizelines were of extra-earlymaturing genotypesdeveloped and conservedat the institute’s gene bank.

He noted thatidentification of the maizelines had led to thepossibility of sustainabledevelopment of moreresilient varieties with dualcharacteristics of escapingand tolerating drought inthe near future.

He said the discovery ofthe maize parental lines wasalso seen as ‘good news’for farmers, especially indrought-prone areas of Africa, where maize remained a key staple.

An IITA scientist, Muhyideen Oyekunle, said 48 per cent of theearly maturing lines under study at IITA were drought tolerant withtolerance indices ranging from 0.17 (low) to 15.31 (high).

Oyekunle and other researchers found that under droughtconditions, hybrids performed better than open-pollinated varietiesand could provide safety nets for farmers during drought.

He also identified five diverse groups among the early maturingmaize inbred lines studiedand two inbreds as the bestin terms of combiningability for future hybridproduction.

Oyekunle explained thatgeneral considerations inbreeding for droughttolerance in maize includeinformation on geneticdiversity among tropicalmaize lines andpopulations, hybridperformance andinheritance of droughttolerance.

He said IITA and otherstakeholders had madeearly and extra-earlymaturing maize varieties

and hybrids available to farmers in West Africa. The varieties, he said, were being widely adopted to the extent

that maize cultivation was largely replacing sorghum and millet inthe savanna ecologies.


IITA maize holds solution to Africa’s drought


AFTER ITS FIRST detection in 2006, HighlyPathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza (HPAI)has spread rapidly in Egypt and becomeendemic in poultry populations in severalgovernorates. HPAI continued to causeconsiderable economic loss to poultryproducers and remains a public healthchallenge in the country.

Over 40mn birds had been culledduring the early periods of 2006-2007alone. At present, outbreaks continue tooccur in different production sectors and

along the poultry value chain including incommercial farms, household flocks andlive bird markets.

Sound animal health planning is ofparamount importance to enhance thenational disease control programme. This, inturn, requires generation of reliableepidemiological information and analysis.

In light of this current challenge, theEmergency Center for Transboundary AnimalDiseases (ECTAD) of the UN Food andAgriculture Organisation (FAO), in close

collaboration with its national counterparts,has organised a training course in appliedstatistics (biometrics) to strengthen thenational capacity in epidemiological dataanalysis and management. Veterinaryofficers from the national animal healthservices will be trained to enhance their skillsin epidemiological data collection, entry,coding, filtration, analysis, interpretation andpresentation of results as well as inexperimental designs in order to supportanimal health policy decision making.

Improving animal health planning to control avian influenza in Egypt

African Farming - May/June 2013 11www.africanfarming.net

NEWS

MYCOTOXINS STICK TO TOXFIN™

Kemin Industries South Africa (Pty.) [email protected]

TEL: 08610 KEMIN (0861053646)www.kemin.com

© Kemin Industries, Inc., and it group of companies 2013 All rights reserved ®™Trademark Registered by Kemin Industries, Inc. USA

tract, preventing mycotoxins from entering the blood stream of the animal, while leaving behind the beneficial nutrients.

TOXFIN offers the most complete protection for your animals, using super-efficient, innovative and carefully selected adsorbents. Stick to TOXFIN and get optimal health and performance of your animals.

Kemin’s TOXFIN is the duct tape of toxin binders: it sticks to even the trickiest of mycotoxins throughout the gastrointestinal

A COLLABORATIVE STUDY by theInternational Livestock ResearchInstitute (ILRI) and Terra Nuova ongrading of export quality Somalilivestock identifies improvednutrition and livestock breedingprogrammes as possibleinterventions.

Somalia is the largestexporter of live animals fromAfrica. However, lack of aformal system of gradinglivestock and livestock products

has affected its total value.Experts now say that a system toenforce quality control for thepurpose of stabilising andexpanding livestock trade isneeded.

The objectives of the study wasto identify the grading system inuse for the four types of exportquality Somali livestock - camels,cattle, goats and sheep - in selectedmarkets based on brokers’ andtraders’ local knowledge.

Another was to analyse anddocument the rationale behind theindentified grading system,evaluate the relationship betweenthe grading system and the priceand ascertain the validity of thegrading system in the real marketenvironment.

Researchers note thatincreasing the quality andavailability of animal feed duringthe long journey from the point ofinitial purchase to the point of

slaughter will lead to enhancedlivestock body condition. Bodycondition and conformation wereidentified as an important trait usedin grading livestock for export.Others were sex and age of theanimal. The findings of the study willbe a useful source of references forregulatory agencies and othersinvolved in formalising andpublicizing of Somalia’s gradingsystem for export quality livestock. Mwangi Mumero

Somali cattle grading


Biological contamination of egg contents by microbes is affected by thecapacity of the eggshell to prevent or inhibit entry, invasion andinfection, by bacteria, fungi and viruses.

THERE ARE MANY facets to eggquality governed by a range of factorsand which fall within best practicelayer management and egg

processing during and after collection. Qualityof egg contents (yolk and albumen), as thepart of the egg consumed, is clearly criticalbut so is eggshell quality. This determinesshell strength and integrity which in turnaffects the incidence of mechanical damageand entry of microbial pathogens which canput consumers’ health at risk and ruin thereputation of the producer.

Structure and compositionBefore any discussion on factors affectingeggshell quality it is important to understand

the structure and chemical composition of theegg shell. The egg shell surrounding andenclosing an egg is almost entirely calciumcarbonate (94 to 97 per cent). The remainingthree to six percent is made up of organicchemicals and egg shell pigment. Theeggshell is actually highly porous with a hen’segg containing up to 8,000 microscopicpores.

The eggshell is completely covered by acoating of mucous called the cuticle or bloomdeposited on the outer surface of the egg justbefore the point of lay. Cuticle which is proteinin nature helps protect the egg content fromingress of bacteria through the shell. Eggshellquality is governed and determined by a widerange of factors including the structure, colourand shape of the shell in its entirety. Hen’seggs come in a wide range of shell colours -white, tinted, speckled, uniformly-brown andeven some with a blue hue depending on the

breed.

Eggshell qualityMany factors affect the general functionalquality of the egg shell and most of these

will have been determined and set beforethe egg is laid. Eggshell thickness is

governed and eventually determined bythe length of time the egg spends in

the shell gland (uterus) and therate of calcium deposition duringeggshell formation.

Those eggs which remain inthe shell gland for a shortperiod of time will have a cor-respondingly thin shell. Inaddition the 24 hour day when

the egg is laid can have an effectof shell thickness. Generally

speaking, those eggs laid earlier inthe day and within the light portion of

the photoperiod will have thickershells. The magnitude and/rate of

calcium deposition can also affect theeggshell thickness with marked differencesbetween various breeds of laying hen becausesome breeds can deposit calcium at a fasterrate than others.

An additional key factor which affectseggshell thickness and therefore its functionalquality is relative age of the laying hen. With

increasing age of hens comes a generaldecline in eggshell thickness. Other factorssuch as the formation of abnormal ridges,calcium deposits or body checks (ridges) willbe important considerations in determiningthe overall quality of the eggshell.

The overall aesthetic quality of eggshelland egg is determined by a series of factorswhich the consumer can actually see andpass judgement on. These will include theoverall soundness of the shell and whethercracks and depression breaks are visible,cleanness of the shell and its shape andcolour. These in turn can be affected by thetreatment afforded to eggs during and aftercollection. For instance, temperature of thewater used in any egg washing procedure willaffect the incidence of 'thermal' cracks.Moisture condensation on the shell, thetemperature at which eggs are refrigeratedand the mechanical handling of the egg allhave an affect on the aesthetic quality of theeggshell and egg, either positively ornegatively.

Biological contamination Biological contamination of egg contents (yolkand albumen) by microbes is hugely affectedby the capacity of the eggshell to prevent orinhibit entry, invasion and infection, mainlyby bacteria but also fungi and viruses, via themany microscopic pores that perforate theeggshell. Provided the cuticle or bloomdeposited by the hen on the shell is sufficientin quality and coverage it will act as effectiveadditional barrier to ingression by microbes.

Egg washing makes eggs look nice andclean for the consumer but also removes mostif not all of the cuticle or bloom from thesurface of the eggshell. Egg washing clearlymakes for the easier entry of microbes bydestroying the integrity of the cuticle or bloombut the pair of inner shell membranes will playa significant role in preventing the entry ofbacteria into washed eggs.

Many management factors combine toensure conservation of eggshell quality.Providing the poultry farmer manages his/herflock in the correct and proper manner,through provision of the right nutrition andhouse conditions, then high egg shell qualityshould come automatically.

Preservation of eggshellquality pre and post lay


POULTRY

Quality of egg contents as the part of the eggconsumed, is clearly critical but so is eggshell quality.


S03 AF MayJune 2013 Poultry 01_Layout 1 20/05/2013 12:27

Management tips Useful tips to assure production of eggs havingconsistently good eggshell quality includehouse conditions free of stress and to strictlyavoid scaring laying birds. This will ensure thatthe egg spends the required amount of time inthe shell gland to provide adequate shellthickness, strength and integrity.

Research and experience shows adoptionand use of an 'ahemeral' lighting programme(cyclical with a period not equal to 24 hours) ishighly effective in making sure that hens retaintheir eggs for a longer time in the uterus toproduce the required shell thickness. Nutritionis another key factor with properly formulatedfeed rations with optimal amounts and concen-trations of calcium and phosphorous, generallyregarded as 3.50 to 3.75 per cent calcium and0.45 per cent phosphorus.

All other things being equal (e.g. correctphotoperiod and feed rations) young layer flockswill always produce eggs with thicker andstronger shells. This means farmers shouldexpect a higher incidence of thinner shells andcorrespondingly higher shell breakage witholder flocks and those laying eggs severalmonths after moulting.

Monitoring and managing flock health is alsoimportant in respect of eggshell quality becausediseases such as infectious bronchitis andNewcastle disease are responsible for eggshellabnormalities with respect to shape and texture.

Eggs having so called ‘body checks’ can be aparticularly significant factor in eggshell andegg quality. Such eggs will have been crackedand damaged in the uterus during early shellformation with further shell material subse-quently laid over the crack. Producers canminimise this problem of body checks by:• By ensuring that caged hens are not in over-

crowded conditions, because it is continualcontact of hens with each other and thesides of the cage which leads to a highincidence of the ‘body check’ damage.

• Avoid hanging onto flocks for too longbecause older birds produce a higherincidence of eggs with ‘body check’.

• Install and use a lighting programme that is

no longer than the longest natural light inopen houses. Management procedures that will ensure a

high overall aesthetic egg quality include:• Frequent egg collection which helps to

prevent the build-up and accumulation ofdirt soil and stains on the eggshell.

• Ensure temperature of the egg washingwater is 11°C (20°F) higher than thetemperature of egg contents, as this willassist in preventing thermal cracks. Inpoultry parlance these are often called 'blindchecks'.

Modern in-line commercial egg collection hasgone a long way to reduce the incidence ofchecked and cracked eggs, but producersshould still be aware that deficiencies in theiregg collection system can be responsible forhigh and costly levels of shell damage. Keeping eggs free from microbiologicalcontamination is perhaps the most criticallyimportant aspect of egg quality, and certainlyin relation to consumer health and protectionand the reputation of the egg producer. Bestpractice in egg washing and egg handling mustbe followed with use of an appropriate andproper sanitising agent to maintain highstandards of shell cleanness and eggs free frombacterial contamination. h

By Dr Terry Mabbett

POULTRY

Many management factors combine toensure conservation of eggshell quality.

African Farming - May/June 201314 www.africanfarming.net

Many factors affect the generalfunctional quality of the egg shell.

Frequent egg collection will preventstains on eggshell.



NEWS

15

POULTRY FED WITH maize that had been treatedwith aflasafe experienced reduced mortality inaddition to other benefits, according to a new studyby scientists from IITA and the University of Ibadan,Nigeria.To unravel the benefits of aflasafe in the poultryindustry, researchers set up a feeding experimentinvolving 1,020 broilers that used the following feedformulations: aflasafe maize without binders, hostfarm’s feed with binders, contaminated feed withbinders, and contaminated feed without binders.The broilers were fed for eight weeks.Results showed that the use of maize from aflasafe-treated feeds reduced mortality rate by 43.9 percent, feed intake dropped by 10.4 per cent, andthere was an increase of 3.3 per cent in feedconversion ratio.Unveiling details of the results to stakeholders at aconference in Lagos, Dr Ranajit Bandyopadhyay,IITA Pathologist, said the results demonstrated theimpact of aflasafe—a biological control productdeveloped by IITA for controlling aflatoxins.Produced by toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus,aflatoxins have become a menace in developingcountries, contaminating about 25 per cent ofgrains produced in the region. The aftermath effectsof consuming aflatoxin-contaminated grains includestunting in children, liver cancer, and even death.

After more than a decade, scientists at IITA havedeveloped a biological control product namedaflasafe that is controlling grain contamination inAfrica.The impact of aflasafe on the poultry industry—oneof the major consumers of maize—has been hailedby stakeholders. “We are excited with these resultsbecause the use of aflasafe is a cheaper and safersolution for the poultry sector,” says Dr EmmanuelEwuola of the Department of Animal Science,University of Ibadan, who supervised the animalfeeding experiment. He added that with aflasafegrain poultry farmers would not need aflatoxinbinders in feeds.Dr Ayoola Odutan, Managing Director of Amofarms, who is also the Chairman of the PoultryAssociation of Nigeria, in his presentation, citedIITA for the work, stressing that the future is brightfor the poultry industry because science-led outputssuch as the discovery of aflasafe that improves thequality of maize have come to the rescue of theindustry.The Managing Director of Doreo Partners, Mr KolaMasha, in his presentation, cited the economic gainsof using aflasafe. He said that the result of thefeeding trial translates into an estimated increase inprofitability of about US$3,200 (over 500,000naira) for every 10,000 birds.

E-CAT AS A major supplier ofhatchery automation worldwideis marketing innovative productsdesigned to totally review workprinciples in a hatchery today.

"Our solid background ofmany years of know-how in thehatchery automation industryenables us to provide ourcustomers with a full range ofturnkey automated systems foreggs, chicks, trays and wastehandling, as well as highlyspecialised In Ovo Injection, eggvaccination and egg candlingsystems," said a companyrelease. "Our equipment rangecan cope with different capacitiesof hatcheries ranging from10,000 to 120,000 chicks/hour.The conception within ourcompany is to make available theadvanced technologies but withthe spares and after sales servicebeing of paramount importance."

Biocontrol product reduces mortality in poultry by 43.9 per cent Supplier ofautomated hatcheryequipment



Biological contamination of egg contents by microbes is affected by thecapaciy of the eggshell to prevent or inhibit entry, invasion and infection, bybacteria, fungi and viruses.

IT IS ALMOST impossible tooveremphasise the importance of waterto poultry flocks. A chicken is 70 per centwater; a loss of only 10 per cent of that

water will result in the bird’s death. And, asingle day without water will cause a layer tostop laying.

Water is a major component of blood andplays a major role in transporting to the cellsand carrying waste away. It fills almost allspace in the cells and between them. Itlubricates the joints. Water also is a primaryelement in two of the most importantprocesses that occur in chickens — digestionand respiration, which is key tothermoregulation.

DigestionDigestion begins as soon as a bird picks up abit of feed. Saliva, which is largely water,lubricates the food, helping it pass down theoesophagus into the crop.

Chickens need sufficient water when theyeat to soften the food in the crop. Dry feedcan form clumps in the crop, which can presson the bird’s carotid artery, causing bloodflow to the brain to lessen. This can causeparalysis and possible death.

Susan Watkins, an extension poultryspecialist for the Center of Excellence forPoultry Science at the University of Arkansas,said it is equally important to remember thatnature designed chickens and turkeys toswallow whole seeds and bugs. Water isneeded to soften the feed so that digestion inthe stomach is more effective.

Enzymes and acids begin to break downthe food as it moves into the proventriculus,the first part of a chicken’s stomach. As itbreaks down, it then moves into the musculargizzard (or ventriculus), which some havelikened to chicken teeth. Here peristalticaction combined with grit in the gizzardgrinds the food even more, turning it into aliquid emulsion.

Most of the absorption of nutrients occursas this emulsion moves through the smallintestine. The small intestine is lined with villi,projections that increase the amount of areaavailable for absorption of nutrients into theblood. Undigested food then moves into thelarge intestine. The large intestine is muchshorter than the small intestine and its primaryfunction is to absorb the remaining water. Thisis important in helping birds maintain theirbody water balance. When chickens acquirean organic or inorganic substance thatcauses them to have diarrhoea, the food andwater speed through the large intestine toofast for the water resorption to occur. This cancause the birds to dehydrate.

RespirationRespiration in birds is more than justbreathing. It also involves delivering oxygento cells to allow the chemical breakdown ofnutrients that produce energy. A result of thatreaction is carbon dioxide, which is carried bythe blood stream to the lungs where it isexpired as waste when the chicken exhales.

The chicken respiratory system is veryimportant in thermoregulation. Birds have nosweat glands and must rely on other means oflosing heat as the temperature rises. At29.5°C, birds will begin to pant. This has acooling effect because panting increases therate of evaporation. This will also cause thebird to be thirstier and increase its waterintake on hot days.

Birds also attempt to increaseevaporation by spreading their wings,allowing more air to penetrate theinsulating feathers and reach the skin. Atthis point it is imperative the flock haveunlimited access to fresh water. Withoutsufficient water, birds will begin to exhibitsigns of heat stress. Among those signs arethe comb and wattles which becomeshrunken and bluish; the tendons on theback of the legs stand out prominently; andthe bird droppings are off colour. Heatstress can be life threatening.

Water qualityWater molecules consist of two atoms ofhydrogen and one of oxygen. But, water isa mixture of a variety of substancesdissolved or suspended in it. And, thoseadded materials can drastically affect flockperformance.

“Unfortunately, as the modern broilerbecomes more and more efficient in itsgrowth and feed conversion, it will becomeless and less tolerant of stressors with asignificant stressor being poor water quality.What might have had no impact on birds15 years ago, could be devastating for thebird of today,” said Watkins.

Ideally, water should be clear, odourlessand tasteless for the poultry flock. It shouldhave no bacteria in it. Certain levels ofminerals and chemicals appear to havelittle or no effect on poultry flocks. But,

The role of water in the life of a chicken


POULTRY

Drinking from poultry nipples on the BriteTap Chicken Waterer.

Chickens need sufficientwater when they eat to

soften the food in the crop.



when those levels exceed the norms, birds either sicken or stopdrinking, or both. Additionally, bacteria in the water can have aserious impact on a flock. If the particular flock is a breeder/parentstock operation, the disease can be passed on to the eggs,resulting in diseased chicks.

Generally, it has been assumed that potable water is of sufficientquality for poultry. However, The Poultry Industry Council ofCanada suggests that may not be the case. It pointed out in itsFactsheet #111 2000, “Water Quality for Poultry”: “Water qualityis determined by a number of criteria; however, it is difficult todefine what constitutes good quality drinking water for poultry sincemany of the standards have been derived from those developed forother livestock or humans. In addition, many guidelines have beenbased on the effects on mortality rather than on performance.Interactions that occur between minerals, as well as the actualquantity of water consumed, also make it difficult to establish anexact toxic level for any one element.”

It is critical that producers have their water tested so they knowwhat their flocks are consuming. Additionally, the testing should notbe a one-time event but should be done regularly. Water qualitycan change over time.

“Qualities to look for include turbidity, taste, odour and colour.Turbidity results from materials in suspension, for example, silt, clay,algae or organic matter. Turbid waters are unpalatable and theyclog the delivery system. Water should not taste bitter, sweet, saltyor sour, since such impressions are usually the effect of salts.

Bitter tasting water may be contaminated by iron and

manganese sulfates. Iron gives the water a reddish or brownishcolour; copper tends to turn the water bluish. On the otherhand, the water may be clear without being safe. The presenceof total dissolved solids is not visible in ‘clear’ water,” accordingto the Poultry Water Quality Consortium in its “Poultry WaterQuality Handbook.”

Water is a basic element of life. Producers who want to optimise theirflock performance would be well advised to spend time evaluating theamounts and quality of water provided to their birds. h

POULTRY

Chickens need sufficient water when they eat to soften the food in the crop.


POULTRY NIPPLES ARE used extensively in the watering systems usedby commercial poultry operations. However, these commercialwatering systems were designed for owners with thousands, or tensof thousands of chickens. Commercial systems incorporate waterpressure regulators, high pressure flushing valves, electrical anti-roosting devices and other components that are suitable for largescale poultry keeping, but too complicated, too expensive, and toolarge for backyard poultry keepers.The BriteTap™ poultry nipple chicken waterer is designed for small-scale chicken keepers, but incorporates many of the benefits of large-scale commercial poultry watering systems. However, the BriteTapwaterer does so at a fraction of the cost. The BriteTap watererfeatures the following:A closed-system design that includes poultry nipples. This designshields the chicken's water from dirt and droppings so it stays sanitaryand owners don't need to clean the waterer on a daily basis.Clean-Out plugs on the ends of the waterer allow owners to clean the

interior with a bottle brush. These clean out plugs are an inexpensivereplacement for the high pressure flushing mechanisms used bycommercial poultry watering equipment. Benefits include:• Clear plastic construction so owners can see the interior of the

waterer when cleaning it rather than relying on high-pressureflushing equipment required in large-scale systems.

• Anti-roosting is achieved by designing the BriteTap waterer so thattit sits very close to the wall of the water supply tank. Chickens don'thave space to roost on the BriteTap waterer so they can't soil it withtheir droppings. The design eliminates the need for mechanical orelectrical anti-roosting devices.

• Easy set up and maintenance - The BriteTap can be mounted to anyfood-grade plastic container or to a standard water cooler. Set uptakes just a few minutes and does not require special tools orrigging as is the case with commercial poultry watering systems.

For more information about the BriteTap waterer, visitwww.ChickenWaterer.com

Poultry nipples for smallholders


New research at the Georgia Institute of Technology has added tounderstanding of biological nitrogen removal (BNR) in poultry processingfacilities, particularly for system optimisation for resilience and efficiency.

SUFFICIENT WASTE WATER(pre)treatment capacity is needed atpoultry processing facilities tocontrol effluent quality, eg,

biochemical oxygen demand, suspendedsolids, ammonia and phosphorus,according to Dr Spyros G. Pavlostathis andMalek G. Hajaya of the School of Civil andEnvironmental Engineering at the GeorgiaInstitute of Technology in Atlanta in a reportof their latest study sponsored by the USPoultry & Egg Association.

Although the combination ofnitrification and denitrification leads toefficient nitrogen removal, poorlyunderstood factors periodically lead tosystem upsets and incomplete nitrogenremoval, they explain.

Ammonia is a poultry processingwastewater component that requires a highdegree of removal before the final disposalof the treated wastewater. As dischargeeffluent limits are being established for totalnitrogen, not just ammonia, nitrogenremoval will become an even morepressing issue for poultry processingfacilities, especially those with direct effluentdischarge. The overall objective of thisresearch project was to systematicallyassess the effect of conditions/parametersthat can affect the efficiency of biologicalnitrogen removal (BNR) in poultryprocessing facilities by conducting targetedsampling in such facilities as well as long-term bench-scale testing.

Nitrification and denitrification testsconducted with mixed liquor samplescollected at a poultry processingwastewater treatment plant during warm(autumn) and cold (winter) seasonsconfirmed reports that low temperatureconditions are more detrimental tonitrification than to denitrification.

A laboratory-scale, multi-stage BNRsystem maintained at room temperature(22-24°C) was continuously fed with poultryprocessing wastewater amended with amixture of three benzalkonium chlorides(BAC), a class of quaternary ammoniumcompounds (QACs). The nitrogen removalefficiency initially deteriorated at a BACfeed concentration of 5mg per litre due to

severe inhibition of nitrification in theunacclimated system. However, the systemrecovered after 27 days of operation,achieving high nitrogen removal efficiency,even after the feed BAC concentration wasstepwise increased up to 120mg per litre.The same high nitrogen removal efficiencywas retained when the system was operatedat 10°C with BAC-amended poultryprocessing wastewater.

Microbial acclimation to anddegradation of BAC was responsible for thesuccessful operation of the BNR system withthe BAC-amended poultry processingwastewater. Batch assays performed before,during, and post BAC exposure showed that

the development of BAC biotransformationcapacity and the acquisition of resistance toBAC, especially by the nitrifiers, contributedto the recovery of nitrification and led to ahigh nitrogen removal efficiency.

Simulations using a comprehensivemathematical BNR model developed forthis research accurately described the fateand effect of BAC in the BNR system whenthe interactions between adsorption,inhibition, and resistance/biotransformationwere considered within the conditionsprevailing in each reactor of the BNRsystem. Adsorption determines the level ofthe inhibitory effect of BAC, while BACbiotransformation and resistance determine

Assessment of biological nitrogenremoval in poultry processing


POULTRY PROCESSING

Nitrogen removal will become a more pressing issue forpoultry processing facilities.



the extent of exposure of the microbialcommunities to BAC. Finally, the inhibitoryeffect of BAC is reduced, if not completelyremoved, by the development of BACresistance and biotransformation capacity.

The Georgia researchers concluded thatthe results of their study will enable therational design and operation of BNRsystems for the efficient treatment of QAC-bearing wastewater. The outcome of thisresearch provides information presentlylacking, supporting the continuous use ofQACs as antimicrobial agents in poultryprocessing facilities, when and whereneeded, while avoiding any negativeimpacts on biological treatment systemsand the environment.

Pavlostathis and Hajaya added that,given the benefits of using QACs aseffective sanitation chemicals in poultryprocessing facilities, the effectiveness ofbiological processes for the degradationof QACs in order to avoid processupsets, especially for the nitrificationstep, should be further evaluated usingalternative process configurations (e.g.sequential batch reactors, fixed-filmreactors) in order to capture processvariability across the entire poultryprocessing industry. h

IN ORDER TO increase capacity at its plantsin South Africa, Country Bird has secured aUS$25mn loan from the InternationalFinance Corporation (IFC), a member of theWorld Bank GroupThe IFC, which funds private-sector venturesin developing countries, has granted thepoultry and stock feed company a five-yearloan.

A spokesperson from Country Bird said,“The proposed transaction will result in along-term strategic relationship with the IFC.”

Under its expansion programme, CountryBird claimed that day-old chick productionwill increase from 12.8mn to 14.6mn peryear at its Ramaphatle breeder farm inBotswana, and from 12.4mn to 26.8mn at its

Chainda farm in Zambia.The company added that it will also

increase its feed mill capacity from 60,000tons to 108,000 tons per annum in Zambia.

The chicken processing capacity at itsMafikeng plant will meanwhile increase to41.4mn a year from 28.8mn, while soyadeactivation plants will also be installed at twoof its feed mills in South Africa, the companysaid.

Country Bird’s share price recently rose by2.18 per cent to US$0.40, bringing its growthover the past six months to 15.4 per cent.

The company’s share price also rosesharply last month following South Africa’splan to impose anti-dumping duties onimported Brazilian chicken.


Country Bird secures US$25mn World Bank loan


Madagascar’s political, economic, environmental and social path has beenrocky and convoluted for several decades. Its forests have been decimated, bothin terms of flora and fauna, and its rural communities and farmers face anuncertain future, but there is a flutter of hope in the form of silk moth farming.

AFLUTTER OF hope, in the form of silk moth farming, offers a new and creative means of income generation through textile production, but one that brings with it the added possibility of providing a sustainable and nutritious source of

protein from moth pupae. And by encouraging local communities tofarm silk moths to produce unique and marketable high-quality textile,the protein by-product may also help them move away from thepractice of bush meat hunting, thereby conserving their uniqueenvironment in the process.

Change in Madagascar has, for decades, been of a destructivekind with the decimation of animal populations through bush meattrading and local consumption, destruction of habitat throughdeforestation by both industrial logging and through mainly endemicslash-and-burn agriculture practices called ‘tavy’. Although millions ofdollars in conservation aid reaches the country each year, it seems thatthe Malagasy people are aware positive change is needed.

Thankfully, a focussed band of NGOs are making it their businessto make a difference. African Farming decided to take a look at thework of one such NGO, CPALI, whose out-of-the-box creative thinkingis introducing silk-moth farming as a means of income generationthrough silk textile production. It is also exploring the viability andpopularity of ‘pupae-as-protein’, to replace the need for bushmeathunting and deliver a much-needed source of nutrients and protein toa seriously malnourished population.

CPALI and SEPALIMCPALI, headed by Dr Catherine Craig, is a small Harvard-University-based US NGO funded by private donors and grants. CPALI hasfounded SEPALIM, the Malagasy NGO on the ground andimplementing the silk-moth programme. SEPALIM is headed byPresident and CEO, Mamy Ratsimbazafy, responsible for all on-the-ground operations conducted by a small but dedicated team of seven,conducting such activities as: women’s programmes, farmerrecruitment, textile and field training.

The textile project began in 2009 as wild silk production, to helpfarmers displaced from the Makira Protected Area, or MPA in the NEof the country. The pupae-for-protein project has emerged from this

and is currently being researched, including the sampling of leaves ofthe Talandoa host plant, aimed at understanding how the plant growsin different types of soils, and how pupae feeding on the leaves indifferent growing environments differ for nutritional content.

Wild silk moth pupae and caterpillars have been a traditional foodin Madagascar for centuries - 60 per cent of Saturniidae caterpillar drymass is protein, with the remainder high in fat and mineral content -so, the project is not introducing something unfamiliar, it’s simplytaking a scientific understanding to the communities who, armed withfresh knowledge, can conduct a viable agri-business model deliveringregular and sustainable working income and generating food in theprocess – and aiding conservation, too.

Farmers are currently raising the endemic Saturniidae species,Antherina suraka, and ensuring the caterpillar stage has its native foodplant, Polycias bakeriana (Araliaceae), in sufficient quantity to sustainit. Unlike most projects that gather caterpillars and pupae, the moths’host plants are also being farmed and farmers intercrop host trees onexisting farms and recover degraded sites. SEPALIM breeders producechrysalides from which adults emerge and the females are then put onthe host trees to lay their eggs. Pupae and cocoons are harvested twicea year. The team trains these rural communities, including members offarmers’ families, to make the cocoons into a unique, non-spun textile,which can increase a single-family income by US$90-200, which issignificant, considering annual incomes average US$70/yr. The non-spun, patent-pending, silk textile is currently marketed in Australia,Europe and the US (visit: www.source4style.com; www.habutextil.com).Only a percentage of pupae are required to maintain the silkproducing element of the project, with a large number of pupae beinga by-product offering a protein alternative to lemurs and other speciestargeted by bush meat hunters.

From the horse’s ‘moth’African Farming spoke with Harvard University-based CPALI President,Catherine Craig PhD, to tell us more.AF: How is the project addressing the needs of farmers in and aroundthe MPA and other regions, and how many types of pupae/moth arebeing farmed?


SILK MOTH FARMING

A very healthy Saturniidae silk moth larva caterpillar enjoying a leaf of itstalandoha host food plant.


Madagascar’s metamorphosis

S05 AF MayJune 2013 Pupae_Layout 1 20/05/2013 12:14

CC: Currently only our target silk producer, Antherina suraka – but inthe future we hope to add at least three species. We are initiatingresearch on the protein content of those in the coming two years,depending on funding, and hope to extend the project to othercommunities. Our aim is to create jobs where there are none, and tointroduce new means of sustainable protein production that is accessibleto even the poorest farmers.AF: Where does a farmer begin the process, and how difficult is it toundertake? CC: The project is simple and inexpensive to implement. Farmers needto plant the host plants for two years before they can raise a full crop oflarvae. We start them off with seedlings. The only expensive part ismaintaining a staff and the costs involved in training farmers and textileproducers, which requires a great deal of dedication, because thesefarmers have not raised larvae previously, nor have they had mucheducation. Hence, they need to learn ‘how to learn’. AF: How much can farmers earn from silk production and what interestis there?CC: US$30 can be earned producing 4,000 cocoons, which weighabout one kilo; textile producers earn about US$18 for the productionof a 1m x 1m piece of textile. As for food by-product, we don’t havedata yet, but we know that about 25 per cent of farmers in thecommunity are interested in silk production. But by adding pupae, weare increasing the value of silk production to the farmer who can eithereat the pupae or sell them, once 250 have been set aside for the nextyear’s ‘seed’ crop. We plan to introduce consumption of pupae after thecocoon has been produced, so we have two products from a singleagricultural product and two markets: local market – food, andinternational market - textile. AF: How does the nutritional analysis and silk differ between species? CC: We suspect that nutritional content will vary depending on the hostplant. Different species of caterpillars feed on different host plants, sothat will likely influence species differences. Different silk producers alsospin different colours of silk with different molecular, structural andmorphological qualities that give them different uses.AF: What are the main challenges to overcome?CC: The main challenges are unusual weather conditions with longerthan usual rainy seasons, or a rainy season that starts late, and very hottemperatures. The insects must be reared on shaded trees, but when the

trees are young they do not produce enough foliage. The temperatureaffects when the adult emerges from the chrysalis and, hence, theinitiation of rearing season. Currently we have two major rearingseasons in our area with our target species. The new species we areworking on and hope to introduce have one lifecycle per year, but theyproduce a much larger cocoon. The goal is to have a mix of silkproducers that feed on host plants representing a forest succession:open field, secondary forest, and primary forest, with the farmers inter-cropping host plants on existing farms.AF: How many communities are involved and how easy is it to conductyour operations?CC: The latest data show there are 271 farmers and 51 SEPALIMembers involved – you have to plant 250 trees to be a member. Thereare 54 trained breeders and 27 current, practicing breeders, as well as16 producers – these are famers who have deposited cocoons into thecocoon bank. There are 11 farmer groups across 13 communities, andsix women’s groups making textile. Only women are involved in textileproduction and only those who produce cocoons can make textile, dueto its high value.

Communication and contact are very tough, with personnel,equipment, cocoons and pupae transported by boat on the river. Weuse cell phones and written messages sent by canoe up river, andsometimes via radio broadcasts, but there is no cell coverage in thevillages. The team communicates to the wider world via internet fromMaroantsetra. AF: In relation to other forms of income generation, how viable is pupaefarming?CC: For subsistence farmers, few opportunities to earn money exist andthat is why the CPALI programme was conceived. The beauty of ourproject is that it creates many different types of jobs for different skill sets:arborists, cocoon producers, cocoon processors, textile producers andproduct producers. Farmers can deposit cocoons into our cocoon bankand build up cash returns, for withdrawal at any time. If farmers producetwo kilos (8,000), the target number, they double their income. 8,000cocoons can be made into about 5 sq m of textile, making aboutUS$70. We don’t yet know what the selling price per pound of pupaewill be but in the capital, Antananarivo, the cost of Borocera pupae isUS$2-4 (4,000-8,000Ariary) per kg. The cost of zebu or beef is US$4-5. 4,000 cocoons is 4-8 kg of protein, so profits double if pupae aresold. AF: What is the potential long-term Impact of the project in Makira,Madagascar and Africa as a whole, and what outside support doesCEPALI need? CC: Silkworms are found all over the world and could be developed asa ‘conservation industry’ generating two different income streams – foodand cash. Our goal is to build up a valuable barrier forest around theMPA and give people the means to be able to respect the protectedarea. We also want to focus on Malagasy flora and fauna andemphasise the development of endemic species of silk producers overnon-native species.

CPALI needs continued outside financial support to enable SEPALIMproject expansion to new areas and to make use of new species of silkproducers. In particular, we need to grow the SEPALIM staff so that wecan implement the programme throughout the Makira Area. Our long-term goal is to establish a farm school in our new demonstration sitewhere we can train lead farmers from other sites bordering parks andprotected areas on how to raise silkworms for food and silk production.We also hope that the CPALI/SEPALIM programme will be introducedinto mainland Africa. We are particularly interested in adapting it toborder forests that surround those forests serving as important, primatesanctuaries, where local communities need new sources of protein toreplace bush meat, as well as jobs. To get involved please contact:[email protected], or [email protected]: Thank you. h

SILK MOTH FARMING


Several silk moth farmers and the women’s groupleader whose lives have changed as a result ofthe silk moth programme.

S05 AF MayJune 2013 Pupae_Layout 1 20/05/2013 12:14

A new project will help livestock and irrigatedagriculture farmers to improve their livelihoodsthrough value chain improvement.

ANEW PROJECT whichwill directly support theGovernment ofEthiopia’s effort to

transform smallholderagriculture to be more market-oriented was launched on 22January by the InternationalLivestock Research Institute (ILRI)and the International WaterManagement Institute (IWMI),both members of the CGIARConsortium (the ConsultativeGroup on InternationalAgricultural Research). Theresearch project is entitled“Livestock and Irrigation Valuechains for EthiopianSmallholders – LIVES”. TheLIVES project is supported by theCanadian InternationalDevelopment Agency (CIDA),and will be jointly implementedby ILRI, IWMI, the EthiopianInstitute of Agricultural research(EIAR), the Ethiopian Ministry ofAgriculture and regionalBureaus of Agriculture, LivestockDevelopment Agencies,Agricultural Research Institutesand other development projects.

LIVES project manager, AzageTegegne stated that this is “an

excellent opportunity for CGIARcentres to work hand in handwith Ethiopian research anddevelopment institutions”.Furthermore he emphasised thatthis project is unique in the way itintegrates livestock with irrigationagriculture development. Theproject is designed to supportthe commercialisation ofsmallholder agriculture, throughthe delivery of testing and scalinglessons to other parts ofEthiopia.

The Ethiopian Minister ofAgriculture Wondirad Mandefro,welcomed the project, sayingthat it would contribute to boththe Growth Transformation Plan(GTP) and the AgriculturalGrowth Program (AGP) of theEthiopian Government.

Amy Baker, the Canadianhead of aid, said she expects thisinvestment to generatetechnologies, practices andresults that can be implementedon larger scales and ultimatelybenefit millions of Ethiopiansmallholder producers as well asthe consumers of their products.The Canadian Ambassador toEthiopia, David Usher, noted

Market boost forEthiopian farmers

LIVES hopes to improve the income of small-scale farmers through value chaindevelopment in livestock.


S06 AF MayJune 2013 Ethiopia_Layout 1 20/05/2013 12:13

that the project is likely to contribute to Ethiopia’s agriculturaltransformation, improving nutritional status and unlockingsustainable economic growth.

LIVES activities will take place over six years in 31 Ethiopiandistricts in the regions of Amhara, Oromia, Tigray and the SouthernNations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region. LIVES hopes to improvethe income of small-scale farmers through value chain developmentin livestock (dairy, beef, sheep, goats, poultry and beekeeping) andirrigation agriculture (fruits, vegetables and fodder). The projectaims to invest over US$18.86mn (CAD 19.26mn) which will directlyand indirectly benefit more than 200,000 households engaged inlivestock and irrigation agriculture. The project will also improve theskills of over 5,000 public service staff, and work with over 2,100value chain input and service suppliers at district, zone and federallevels.

Long-term beneficial impact"Projects that support local farmers can help a community in so manyways; not only by providing food and the most appropriate crops, butalso by teaching long term skills that can have an impact for years tocome," said the Canadian Minister of International Co-operation,Julian Fantino. "The LIVES project teaches smallholder farmers newagricultural techniques and provides technical assistance, training,and mentoring to government specialists. They in turn will provideproduction and marketing assistance to local farmers. This is aproject that helps all areas of farming and agriculture development."

The project will focus on clusters of districts, developing andimproving livestock production systems and technologies in animalbreeding, feed resources, animal nutrition and management,sustainable forage seed systems, sanitation and animal health, and

higher market competitiveness. Potential irrigation agricultureinterventions include provision of new genetic materials anddevelopment of private seedling nurseries, as well as work on seedsystems, irrigation management, water use efficiency, watermanagement options, crop cycle management, and pump repairand maintenance.

The main components of the project are capacity development,knowledge management, promotion, commodity value chaindevelopment, and documentation of tested and successfulinterventions. Gender and the environment will be integrated andmainstreamed in all components of the project. h

ETHIOPIA

The project is designed to support the commercialisation of smallholder agriculture.


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The Heraklese palm oil venture in Cameroon must address the many doubtsand worries about such enterprises that abound.

CAMEROON’S LOCATION IN theheart of the Central Africantropics makes it ideal for palm oilcultivation. Not surprisingly, the

new rush by foreign investors for Africanagricultural land has not left fertile, lushCameroon unaffected.

A recent Reuters report highlighted some,but far from all, of the reasons the new waveof foreign investments in African farm land isso controversial.

Global demand for palm oil has doubledsince 2000 and farming it in the traditionalAsian growing countries (Indonesia,Malaysia, etc) has increased challenges andcosts. Investors are therefore increasinglylooking to Central Africa.

Herakles Farms, owned by New Yorkventure-finance firm Herakles Capital, is oneof many investors with plans for huge palmoil holdings in Cameroon. As with all suchinvestments, they promise Cameroonians‘steady work, roads and health care’.

But not everyone is jumping up with joy atthe Herakles investment.

Air of suspicionThe concerns expressed are now familiar toanyone who has kept up with the landinvestment rush in recent years. There areallegations of government leaders doingshady deals behind the backs of the peoplethey lead, fears of displacement and loss oflivelihood; and there is also scepticism aboutthe various benefits promised.

Will the jobs and other social benefitspromised be equal to or exceed theresource-mining and will there bepermanent changes to society? Withoutdetails (and monitoring) of the promised“steady work, roads and healthcare”, it isimpossible to say.

Herakles is also accused of being under-handed in various ways in how it solicitedlocal community input about its investmentplans.

The Reuters article showed that despiteyears of heated debate about the pros andcons of these large-scale farminginvestments, very few of the main reasons forconflict have been dealt with by governmentsor investors.

For the investors, doing business withstrong-arm governments that have littleregard for the opinions of their people buysthem a sort of stability in often socio-politically volatile investing environments.Yet the times have changed to a moreopen, informed era in which it is no longerquite as easy as before to repress peoplewith complete impunity. Even wheregovernment guns can keep a sullen,unhappy population under control,investors now face considerable risks totheir reputation and finances if they areallied with governments which neitherrespect nor represent their people well.

Concerns over livelihoodsOne fear expressed by some of the locals isthat the proposed new Herakles palm oilplantation, which, according to thecompany, will cover more than “60,000hectares of land – 10 times the size ofManhattan”, will remove one of the fewremaining areas suitable for communityfood cropping. Will 20, 30 or 40 years ofmostly low-wage ‘steady work’ compensatefor this kind of loss?

Regarding the low-paid jobs that will beon offer, it is a toss-up whether such jobswill mean an overall improvement in thelivelihoods of the workers concerned, andof the communities.

The lack of cash economies in remote,poorly-developed rural areas often wins inthe argument over whether to welcomeinvestments such as that proposed byHerakles. The attitude is that steadyincome is better than subsistence farming.But if an extended family is giving up theirancestral land (their source of foodsecurity, cultural grounding, ‘belonging’,

Palm oil plantation in Cameroon: progress or disaster?


PALM OIL

Gobal demand for palm oil has doubled since 2000.

One fear expressed by someof the locals is that theproposed new Herakles palm oil plantation will

remove one of the few remaining areas.


S07 AF MayJune 2013 Oil Palm_Layout 1 20/05/2013 12:11

independence, etc.) for one or a handfulof its members to have wages, the netgain is highly debatable.

Long-term investmentA huge investment such as that proposed byHerakles, however, will surely act as ananchor for other kinds of investment in thearea, increasing job opportunities andgeneral economic prospects? Notnecessarily, and certainly not automatically.

In the absence of a dedicated plan tolure accompanying services to the area,those ‘new opportunities’ that will spring upon their own are likely to be brothels, barsand so forth. Single large agricultural ormining investors that come to dominate anarea have initiated this trend all over Africa,and many places elsewhere.

When the large extractive investor pullsout for whatever reason, even after adecade-long presence, there is often nolong-term ‘development’ left behind.When there has not been a long-termplan between the area-dominant investorand the government, not only does the‘steady work’ evaporate, so do the meansto keep the local services running. Inaddition, the environmental mess and the

social and cultural dislocation are oftensuch that the community can no longersimply resort to their previous subsistenceagricultural existence.

This is the reality of many similarinvestments all over Africa. One wouldhave hoped that all these previousexperiences would inform the discussionbetween Herakles and the Camerooniangovernment, but there is little indication thatthis is the case.

The main investment driver’s statedmotivations are fascinating to hear. BruceWrobel, chief executive of Herakles Farms,is not the stereotypical culturally deaf and

blind foreign investor who cares aboutnothing else as long as he has the ministeror president’s signature.

According to Reuters, “Since a 1999 visitto West Africa during the civil wars of SierraLeone and Liberia, Wrobel’s aim has beento mix business with philanthropy in order toassist the continent.”

Wrobel’s credentials are further bolsteredby how he reportedly helped cut telephonecosts for millions of East Africans via a jointventure with Seacom to install fibre-opticcables across the region. A hydro-plant runby Wrobel’s Sithe Global Power company inUganda has also helped reduce powerblackouts in the country.

Part of the history of the foreignexploitation of Africa over the last 100years, however, is that very often theexploiters have claimed to be motivated bypity for Africans. It is tired, it is old, and it isincreasingly met with suspicion.

If Wrobel really wants to show a newmodel of ethical farming investment at atime of growing scepticism, the best way hecan do so is by practically showing that hisCameroonian palm oil venture isaddressing the many doubts and worriesabout such enterprises. h

PALM OIL

Aerial view of the the Herakles palm oil plantation.


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Food quality and safety issues resulting from aflatoxin contamination havepresented a serious obstacle to programmes designed to improve nutritionand agricultural production. This article looks at an innovative biocontrolsolution.

BETWEEN 2004 AND 2006, nearly 200 Kenyans diedafter consuming maize contaminated with high levels ofaflatoxins and in 2010 over two million bags of maizein the Eastern and Central provinces were found to be

highly contaminated and were not tradeable. Women, childrenand the poor are the most vulnerable to prolonged exposure.Research conducted by Leeds University and the InternationalInstitute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) found that 99 per cent ofchildren at weaning age in Benin and Togo are exposed tohealth risks linked to aflatoxin.

Aflatoxins are highly toxic chemical poisons produced mainlyby the fungus Aspergillus flavus in maize, groundnuts and yamchips; they also affect other high value crops such as oilseedsand edible nuts. The cancer-causing fungal chemicals impedegrowth and development, cause liver disease and also act asan immune-suppressant so that affected individuals becomesusceptible to a wide range of diseases. Livestock are also atrisk and poultry are particularly susceptible.

Cattle are not so susceptible but, if they are fed oncontaminated feed, the toxin ‘Aflatoxin M’ passes into the milk.

Aflatoxins also impact international trade. Globally, aboutUS$1.2bn in commerce is lost annually due to aflatoxincontamination, with African economies losing US$450mn eachyear due to lost trade. Aflatoxins are also non-tariff barriers tointernational trade since agricultural products that have morethan the permissible levels of contamination (four parts perbillion in the EU) are banned. Exported goods have to complywith the food safety and quality requirements of importingcountries, and quality plays an important role in increasingtrade volumes and assuring the competitiveness of African foodproducts. With agricultural development a global priority, localprocurement and robust market access efforts are being scaledup in sub-Saharan Africa.

However, food quality and safety issues resulting fromaflatoxin contamination have presented a significant obstacleto programmes designed to improve nutrition and agriculturalproduction while linking small farmers to markets.

Infection by aflatoxin-producing fungi can occur at anystage, from pre-harvest to storage and detection methodscommonly used in developed countries are too expensive,complex and time-consuming for most African farmers toimplement. The use of aflatoxin-tolerant cultivars, managementof insect pests and use of moisture-and-insect-proof storagecan help to control aflatoxins, but biocontrol has proved to bea practical and effective method of reducing aflatoxins in thefield.

The United States Department of Agriculture - AgriculturalResearch Service (USDA-ARS) developed an innovativebiocontrol solution that reduced aflatoxins during cropdevelopment and postharvest storage. IITA, in partnership withUSDA-ARS and the African Agriculture Technology Foundation(AATF), successfully adapted this technology for use in Nigeria

and elsewhere in Africa. The natural, non-toxic, biocontrolproduct - aflasafe - uses indigenous strains of A. flavus that donot produce aflatoxins (called atoxigenic strains). These areapplied to ‘push out’ their toxic cousins from the field in aprocess called ‘competitive exclusion’. When appropriatelyapplied prior to plant flowering, these native atoxigenic strainscompletely exclude aflatoxin producers.

IITA suggest sprinkling aflasafe in a field by hand two tothree weeks before the flowering stage of maize to preventaflatoxin contamination while the crop remains in the field, andsubsequently in storage. Even if the grains are not storedproperly, or get wet during or after harvest, the productcontinues to prevent aflatoxin contamination.

On-station trials of aflasafe in Zaria, Ikenne, Mokwa andIbadan showed a drop in aflatoxin contamination in maize by50-99 per cent. In 2009, Nigeria’s National Agency for Foodand Drug Administration and Control accorded provisionalregistration status to aflasafe and permitted treatment offarmers’ fields to generate product efficacy data for obtainingfull registration. Field testing of aflasafe between 2009 and2012 has produced extremely positive results: aflatoxincontamination of maize and groundnut was consistentlyreduced by 80-90 per cent, in some cases even as high as 99per cent. In 2011, IITA deployed about 14 tonnes of aflasafe inmore than 450 maize and groundnut farms.

Tackling killer aflatoxins inAfrican food crops


BIOCONTROL

Aflasafe rekindles farmers' hopes in Nigeria.

Aflatoxins are highly toxic chemical poisons produced mainly by the fungus

Aspergillus flavus in maize, groundnuts and yam chips.


S08 AF MayJune 2013 Biocontrol_Layout 1 20/05/2013 12:09

Projects in Kenya, Nigeria and ZambiaIn 2011, IITA launched two projects that cover Nigeria, Kenyaand Zambia to provide farmers with a natural, safe and cost-effective solution to aflatoxin contamination in maize andgroundnut. In Kenya, IITA identified four competitive atoxigenicstrains isolated from locally-grown maize to constitute abiocontrol product called aflasafe-KE01. IITA researchers arecurrently gathering efficacy data in areas where the technologywill be deployed in the country. In Zambia, the project will alsodevelop a country-specific biocontrol product, in addition tomapping the incidence of aflatoxin in maize.

In Nigeria, where the biocontrol technology is mostadvanced, extension agencies have adopted the technology.IITA is currently constructing a low-cost manufacturing facility inits Ibadan campus to optimise and adapt the manufacturingprocess to a developing country context, as well as develop andtest viable commercialisation models of aflasafe. Themanufacturing plant will have a capacity to produce five tonnesof aflasafe per hour. Market linkages between aflasafe-users,poultry producers and quality-conscious food processors arealso being created to promote aflasafe adoption, incollaboration with the private sector.

The success of the project has led to expansion of biocontrolresearch in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal,Tanzania and Zambia. IITA is optimistic that Kenya and Senegalwill have their own fully registered version of aflasafe within twoyears, Burkina Faso in three and Zambia in four. In 2012, at theG20 meeting in Mexico, G20 leaders announced an initiativedesigned to enhance global food security and improve thelivelihoods of farmers in developing countries through prizes

and market-based incentives. The ‘AgResults’ initiative includedaflasafe as one of the first three pilot projects for incentivisingadoption of agricultural technologies by the poor.

IITA’s experience in Nigeria has shown that the cost ofbiocontrol (US$1.5 per kg, with a recommended usage of10kg/ha) is affordable for most farmers in the country. TheInstitute has also calculated that adoption of this biocontroltechnology with other management practices will reduceaflatoxin contamination by more than 70 per cent in maize andgroundnut, increase crop value by at least 25 per cent andimprove the health of children and women.

Reducing aflatoxin contamination should also improveagricultural trade. In Senegal and the Gambia, for example,aflasafe-SN01 could reinstate groundnut exports to the EU, lostdue to aflatoxin ontamination. The World Bank has estimatedthat in Senegal, added capital investment cost of US$4.1mnand 15 per cent recurring cost would attract a 30 per cent priceincrease for groundnut oil cake. Exports would increase from25,000 tonnes to 210,000 tonnes. The increased exportvolume and price would annually add US$281mn to groundnutexports. For confectionery groundnut, adherence to goodmanagement practices would increase export value byUS$45mn annually. h

BIOCONTROL

The success of the project has led toexpansion of biocontrol research in Burkina

Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia.


S08 AF MayJune 2013 Biocontrol_Layout 1 20/05/2013 12:09

Researchers at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre(CIMMYT) have introduced an improved metal silo that will help local farmerspreserve grain from season to season. Mwangi Mumero reports.

GRAIN STORAGE IS a seriousproblem for maize farmers inEastern Africa especially duringtimes of good harvests.

During the 1997/98 El nino rains, farmersin Ukambani and Mbeere region in Kenya’sEastern Province encountered huge grainharvests-unprecedented for over twogenerations. Many farmers were caughtunawares - with a huge harvest but no storagefacilities. Another area where a similarproblem was experienced was Homa Bay, inNyanza region.

“We literally had to sell part of our produceat a throwaway price to middlemen. Othergrain harvests decomposed in the village asour small silos were full beyond capacity”, saidEsther Nduku, a smallholder farmer fromMbeere South County.

Ironically, this is the region that has toperpetually rely on food donations fromgovernment and aid organisations due toincessant drought cycles that affect the area.

The CIMMYT metal silo is an airtightcylindrical metal structure constructed bytrained local tinsmith for grain storage. Metalsilos are of various capacities ranging from twoto 20 bags. They are made of galvanisedmetal to reduce rusting.

Maize is core to food security, ruraldevelopment and poverty reduction in easternand southern Africa.

“Lack of appropriate grain storagetechnologies results in significant losses due topost-harvest pests - the larger grain borer andthe maize weevil - undermines food security,forces farmers to sell maize when prices arelow, and blocks value addition and creditopportunities to poor households,” observedTadele Tefera, Project leader with CIMMYT.

In many rural households, losses of 10-20per cent of grain is reported in the first three

months after storage, and this goes up to morethan 50 per cent after six months.

A Kenyan agricultural think tank, EgertonUniversity-based Tegemeo Institute, estimatesthat post harvest losses in Kenya is around 30per cent of all stored produce. However, with

GRAIN STORAGE

Lack of appropriate grainstorage technologies results in

significant losses due to post-harvest pests.

For inquiries, Please contact us on Tel: +2711 762 5341 E-mail: [email protected]

We specialise in:Silo’s, Bucket elevators, Aera�on, un-loading machinery, Bunkers, Mobile Augers, Mobile Conveyors and Grain Vac’s.

LEADERS IN STEEL CONSTRUCTION


Workshop on making metal silos for grain storage, Kenya.

Improved metal silo

S09 AF MayJune 2013 Grain Storage_Layout 1 20/05/2013 12:08

the advent of Larger Grain Borer and Aflatoxin,the loss can be over 100 per cent dependingon the severity of the outbreak.

As recently as October/November 2009,the harvesting period in Eastern, Central andCoast regions experienced wet weather. Thisresulted in widespread outbreak of Aflatoxincontamination in these regions making grainsunsuitable for human consumption and hencenot marketable.

With support from the Swiss Agency forDevelopment and Co-operation (SDC), theEffective Grain Storage Project seeks ideas onthe highly successful experiences in Centraland South America and the Caribbean. Thesilos are relatively cheap - a three-bag silocosts about US$74 (Ksh6,000) and a 20-bag

silo US$350 (Ksh 30,000) - and with aneffective lifetime of more than a decade, thesilos more than pay for themselves, in terms offood security and surplus grain savings.

But for the grain storage to be effective, thefarmers are required to ensure that the grainsare properly dried.

“A handful of grains are mixed with ahandful of salt in a dry bottle or glass. Themixture is then shaken. If the salt sticks on thewall of the bottle, then the grains are notproperly dried”, said Esther Nduku, a residentof Mutobare location in Mbeere South as shedemonstrated the moisture content checkingtechnique.

Nduku has a range of metal silos in herhousehold in which she stores her grainharvested on the family farm.

“After loading the grain through the upperlid, a burning candle is inserted to exhaust oruse up the oxygen within it. The lid is then tiedwith a tight rubber to keep out air”, sheexplains.

Offloading is periodically done from thelower outlet and the rubber band replacedonce the process is complete.

To ensure that the silos are available in theregion where farmers need them, CIMMYT hasbeen training local artisans to make themlocally.

“The focus of the project is to ensure thatfarmers use only well-fabricated, high-qualitymetal silos. We are training artisans who willmake and sell these silos," said FredKanampiu, CIMMYT agronomist and formerproject head.

Training of local artisans has taken placein Embu and Homabay over the last threeyears.

Among the benefits expected from thisproject is a decreased maize storage lossleading to food security in vulnerable regions.

“Metal silos bring food security to thepoor,” said Tefera, the project co-ordinator.“Not only what farmers harvest, but moreimportantly, what they store over seasons,could make a difference in their livelihoods.”

Farmers can also use the stored grain ascollateral increasing their credit ratings.“There is also greater stability of maize pricesand more reliable grain supply. Employmentand business opportunities for manufacturers,traders and processors will also boost localeconomies”, observed Tafera.

The project has identified World VisionInternational in Malawi and the CatholicDioceses of Embu and Homa Bay in Kenya asin-country lead organisations for theexperimental implementation of use metalsilos in four target areas. h

GRAIN STORAGE


Sealing metal silos used for maize storage.

S09 AF MayJune 2013 Grain Storage_Layout 1 20/05/2013 12:08

IFDC’s 2SCALE project is assisting small-scale potato farmers to double theiryields. Agribusiness clusters increase yields and profits; the 2SCALE projectaims to keep potato farmers smiling all the way to the bank.

FARMERS IN KENYA’S Meru County,located in the foothills of Mount Kenya,are establishing three clusters to growhigh-quality potatoes to sell to a

Nairobi-based processor. The clusters,comprised of more than 800 farmers in thecommunities of Kibirechia, Timau and Kisima,will receive technical backup and initialfunding from the project but are expected tobecome financially independent by December2013. A business support team contracted by2SCALE will work closely with the farmers,providing training and year-round monitoringof crop management, marketing andagribusiness management. Farmer training onfertiliser top-dressing and pesticide use wascompleted in December. Training onaccounting and financial management beganin January 2013, with weekly sessionscontinuing over a three- to four-month period.

2SCALE has brought together a range ofpartners to ensure that all requirements(market, seeds, fertiliser, extension, credit) arein place. The partners include: Equity Bank (alarge private sector bank that offersagriculture sector lending); the SyngentaFoundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA),which will provide crop insurance; trainingand extension experts; and seed, fertiliser andagrochemical suppliers.

Meru is one of Kenya’s largest potatoproduction areas, with a strong and growingmarket. But currently it is traders, rather thanfarmers, who benefit most. In Meru County, the2SCALE project is focusing on small-scalepotato growers, who typically grow potatoeswithout irrigation on 0.25-0.50-ha plots. Theproject will help the farmers double their yieldsthrough improved production methods, andincrease their incomes by one-third by linkingthem directly to an assured market.

Yields, currently around 12 mt/ha, could besubstantially increased with new varieties,fertiliser use and improved crop management.However, the potato farmers face a number ofchallenges. Their crops are vulnerable todiseases (particularly blight) and worms knownas nematodes. Farm-gate prices fluctuatewidely – farmers receive anywhere fromUS$17.9 - US$53.7 (KSh 1,500 to KSh4,500)per bag, depending on the season. Storagefacilities are limited, forcing farmers to sell

soon after the harvest when prices are lowest. Forming an ABC can overcome many of

these problems. A cluster can provide farmersa stable market and fairer prices.

A cluster also allows farmers to sharetransport, agro-input and other costs and moreeasily access credit and information. An ABCalso guarantees the buyer reliable, high-qualitysupplies year round.

Who buys, and how much?Driving the development of the Meru clusters isthe ‘business champion’ – Sparta Foods Ltd, aNairobi-based firm that processes and sellswhole, peeled and sliced potatoes to hotelsand restaurants. Sparta plans to triple itscapacity to 450 mt per month by 2014, and toprogressively contract with as many as 4,000to 5,000 farmers in the next five years. “Ourmain problem is supply,” explained AudreyNdubi, managing director of Sparta. “Wecurrently import potatoes from Tanzania whensupplies from Kenyan farmers are notadequate. These three clusters will help keepour processing plant running at full capacitythroughout the year.”

Building the clusterA 2SCALE-sponsored design anddevelopment workshop in November 2012brought the various cluster partners together.The meeting and subsequent discussionshelped participants identify the right partners,priorities for action in 2013, key constraintsand areas in which more research is needed

(for example, identifying HYVs adapted to localconditions). Sparta representatives explainedproduct standards (eg, grade, size, variety) thatmust be met, while farmers explained thechallenges they faced. For example, mostfarmers use less than one-third of therecommended fertiliser rates because of inputshortages and market uncertainties. Moretraining is needed on agronomy, harvestmethods (many farmers harvest their potatoestoo early) and safe use of CPPs. A key issue isthe best method to establish a rotation system,with a staggered planting cycle to ensure asteady supply of potatoes throughout the year.

The discussions highlighted several otherissues that will be resolved during the cominggrowing season – bank loans, payment andtonnage commitments and storage capacitieson-farm and at Sparta.

Trials were planted in a farmer’s field inNovember in the Kisima cluster to comparepotato varieties and various levels andcombinations of agro-inputs. The trials wereharvested in February 2013, providingaccurate data on yields and production costs.The information is being used to create atransparent pricing system attractive to farmersas well as buyers.

“It’s a huge market, because Kenyans eatmore potatoes than any other crop exceptmaize,” stated Edward Baars, regionalagribusiness co-ordinator of the 2SCALEproject in east and southern Africa. “Our job isto help small-scale farmers grow for thismarket in profitable and sustainable ways.” h

Potatoes for profitin Kenya


POTATOES

Kenyans eat more potatoes than any other crop except maize.


S10 AF MayJune 2013 Advertorial_Layout 1 20/05/2013 12:04

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S10 AF MayJune 2013 Advertorial_Layout 1 20/05/2013 12:04

Strong international demand is helping to expand wine and fruit productionin some African countries, creating a growth market for tractors suitable forvineyard and orchard work. Michael Williams reports.

THIS IS A sector of the tractor marketwhere high horsepower is rarely anadvantage and the importantpriorities are likely to be a small

turning circle, compact size including anarrow width for working in vineyards, plusa transmission that is easy to operate with agood choice of low to medium rangeworking speeds. Plenty of lift capacity on therear linkage is usually an advantage foroperating heavy equipment includingsprayers, and good fuel efficiency is alsoimportant although running costs aregenerally moderate as most orchard andvineyard tractors are less than 100hp.

Many of the leading manufacturers offerspecial narrow models for working invineyards, but ordinary general purposetractors in the appropriate size range areoften used by fruit and wine producers.Platform and full cab versions are usuallyavailable, but cabs have become increasinglypopular, particularly on tractors used for fruitand vineyard work which usually includeslarge amounts of spraying and the cabprotects the driver from spray drift.

Recent developments in this sector of themarket include improved versions of the RexF series tractors in the Landini range fromItaly. Two models are available, the 75Fwith a 68hp engine and the 85F producing81.5hp, both using four-cylinder Perkinsengines and equipped with a four-speedshuttle gearbox providing 12 speedsforwards and in reverse. Maximum liftcapacity on the rear linkage is 2600kg,four-wheel drive is standard and themaximum steering angle is 55 deg.

The list of design changes on the latestRex models includes more preciseadjustment of the rear linkage sensitivityand the p-t-o engagement has beenimproved. The cab interior is updated witha more user-friendly controls layout, a frontp-t-o and three-point hitch have beenadded to the options list and cab andplatform versions are available.

Argo, the company that builds Landinitractors, also makes the McCormick rangewhich features the latest C-L series offeringthree models powered by three and four-

cylinder Perkins engines producing 58, 68and 71hp. The shuttle transmission has fourgears and three ranges to provide 12 speedsforwards and in reverse, increasing to24F+24R with optional creeper gears. Twoand four-wheel drive versions are availablewith a 55 deg steering angle on the poweredfront axle, and all three models have 2.7tonnes lift capacity on the rear linkage.

New arrivals from MahindraThis year’s new arrivals in the Mahindrarange from India are two new models withthe mechanical gearbox replaced by ahydrostatic transmission that uses enginepower to pump oil around a circuit to drivethe wheels. Hydrostatic drive systems arepopular on combine harvesters and otherfarm equipment but unusual on tractorsbecause their power losses are slightlyhigher than for a gearbox. This is adisadvantage for jobs such as ploughingwhere efficient pulling power is the main

priority, but for vineyard and fruit growingand for other specialised production suchas vegetables and ornamentals, the benefitsof a hydrostatic drive can easily outweigh asmall reduction in pulling power.

Advantages of hydrostatic drive includestepless speed control without changing theengine speed or power output, which isideal for p-t-o powered equipment orworking with a loader. The ease ofoperation makes it suitable for drivers withlimited experience and hydrostatictransmissions have a good reputation forreliability. The new Mahindra tractors arethe 4010 with 38hp rated output and the50hp 5035 model. Both have four-wheeldrive as standard equipment and the liftcapacity on the rear linkage is 1200kg. TheMahindra range also includes 25 and 28hphydrostatic tractors as well as a range ofgearbox models.

One of the special features of the NewHolland T4000 series tractors with four-wheel drive is the SuperSteer option toallow a smaller turning circle where space isrestricted. This is achieved by combining thestandard turning action with a front axlethat swivels to the left or right, and this canachieve a 76 deg maximum steering anglecompared with 55 deg for a T4000 tractor

Tractor power for fruit and wine growers


The Massey Ferguson MF 3635V has an 80hp three-cylinder engine.

Cabs have become increasinglypopular, particularly on

tractors used for fruit andvineyard work.


TRACTORS

S11 FIXED AF MayJune 2013 Tractors_Layout 1 20/05/2013 11:07

with the standard four-wheel drive front axleor 65 deg for the two-wheel drive version.

T4000 tractors are available in threedifferent widths, with the V models having a1061mm minimum width for working invineyards and other narrow row spaces, theN model width is from 1229 and the Fversion is 1398mm minimum width fororchards and plantations. The V, N and Ftractors are all available in four models withengine outputs from 78 to 106hp and thereis also a 65hp V specification model, butSuperSteer is available only on F and Nmodels. The engines have four cylindersand are either 3200 or 4500cc, thetransmission options include 30 and 40kphversions and the lift capacity on the rearlinkage is 1835kg.

A series models from ValtraValtra, an AGCO group tractor rangebased in Finland, offers the A series modelsin the lower horsepower range with twomodels producing 88 and 101hp.Described as general purpose tractors, theyhave a heavy duty front axle suitable forloader work, and moving boxes of fruit orvegetables with a front loader is animportant job for many growers. Valtra Aseries tractors have three and four-cylinderengines, a 12x 2 transmission and the rearlift capacity is 3300kg.

The MF 3600 series from MasseyFerguson covers five power outputs from 69to 102hp and is available in A and Fversions. The A models are general purposetractors with a standard width while the Fversions are narrower for working betweenvines and other specialist croppingsituations including vegetables and fruit aswell as in the restricted space of buildingsand yards on livestock farms. Overall widthof the standard A tractors is between 1.70and 2.40m while the narrow versions are1.45 to 1.90m wide. Cab and platformversions are available with the choice oftwo or four-wheel drive.

Specifications for the MF 3600 tractorsinclude a 3.3 litre engine with threecylinders, the rear linkage has top linksensing and the standard version lifts

2500kg. The transmission has 12 speedsforwards and in reverse for two-wheel drivemodels with a wider choice available withfour-wheel drive. The p-t-o has a 540 rpmspeed setting on platform versions, but cabtractors have either an additional 540economy setting or a 540 and 1000 rpmdual speed p-t-o.

The Nexos series tractors from Claasinclude the VE vineyard models with aminimum overall width of only 1000mm forthe two-wheel drive version, increasing to1077mm with four-wheel drive. Three VEspecification models are available with four-cylinder engines developing 72, 78 and88hp and, like the rest of the Nexos range,they are offered in cab and platform versionswith transmission options starting with a12x12 gearbox with a 30kph top speed. Themaximum lifting capacity on the rear linkageis 2610kg for the VE models, increasing to3160kg for the other Nexos tractors.

Claas also offers VL and F versions of theNexos tractors with overall widths of1291mm for the VL models increasing to1482 with the F specification. There arefour VL and F models with outputs from 72to 101hp. The steering angle is between52° and 55° with up to 10° of castor angle,depending on the model, giving a turningradius ranging from 3.55 for the VEversions to 3.76m for the 101hp models.

For speciality crops such as fruit, vines andvegetables, John Deere offers the 5025series tractors in two models. The 5425Npowered by a 72hp PowerTech engine is anarrow tractor with 1825mm minimumoverall width, and the 5725HC is a highclearance tractor with an 84hp engine and2020mm overall width. Both models havefour cylinder engines, with a turbo on the5725HC version while the 5425N isnaturally aspirated. There is a choice of cabor platform versions for the HC model butthe N version is platform only. Lift capacity onthe rear linkage is 1530kg for both tractors.

Also on the list of John Deere specialitycrop tractors is the 83hp 5083EN model. It isclassed as a narrow tractor with highunderside clearance and with a standardspecification that includes a cab and four-wheel drive. The standard transmission is a12x12 gearbox, the dual speed p-t-o includesa 540rpm economy setting and the rearlinkage has 1530kg maximum lift capacity.

Case IH is a company that can trace itshistory in farm equipment production backthrough more than 170 years. Thecompany’s current range of tractorsincludes the Quantum series in C, N and Vversions. The C models are generalpurpose tractors with a standard width, theN specification is narrow with a 1236mmminimum width and the V tractors are forvineyards and other situations needing a1071mm overall width.

Specification details for the Case IHtractors include four-cylinder engines with3.2 litres capacity and power outputs from65 to 97hp. The transmission options startwith a 16x16 speed gearbox and the liftcapacity is 2360kg. Cab and platformversions are available.

As well as developments in small tomedium tractors there have also been newarrivals further up the power range in Europe.The newcomers include the M series tractors

TRACTORS


Quantum series tractors from Case IH are available in platform and or cab.

Tractors-New Holland's SuperSteer front axle in action on a vineyard tractord


from John Deere replacing some, but not all,of the existing 6030 range, and the first six ofthe new M models have rated engine outputsof 115 to 170hp. Models up to 140hp havea 4.5 litre engine with four cylinders,increasing to six cylinders and 6.8 litres forthe top two models.

Massey Ferguson has announced a newmodel at the top of their MF 7600 tractorseries. It has a 7.4 litre engine with 255hp

rated output increasing to 280hpmaximum, and the powershift transmissionwith automatic shifting through 24 speeds.The Massey Ferguson tractor range is builtby the AGCO company which is making abig investment in Africa, including a newMassey Ferguson assembly plant whichopened in Algeria last year plus this year’sannouncement of a new parts distributioncentre in South Africa.

The new additions to the Same tractorrange from Italian based Same Deutz-Fahrare the Virtus models powered by four-cylinder Deutz engines producing 99, 110and 122hp. The specification includes a6600kg lift capacity on the rear linkage, achoice of transmissions that includes a30x30 powershift with a 50kph top speedand an unusual feature is a power-assistedbraking system on all four wheels.

The Same Deutz-Fahr company alsomade news recently when they won theprestigious European Tractor of the Yearaward for 2013. The award, judged by apanel of European tractor specialists, wentto the Deutz-Fahr Agrotron 7250 TTVmodel offering 263hp maximum outputfrom a 6.1 litre Deutz engine. Thetransmission has a 50kph top speed with60kph available as an option and the rearlinkage lift capacity is 10.0 tonnes. h

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High clearance and a narrow width increases the versatility of John Deere's 83hp 5083EN tractor.

Mahindra’s 4010.


AGRIKEXPO, taking place from 11-13 July 2013, is a pan-West African exhibition foragricultural products and services, enabling visitors to explore the opportunities createdby the development of agricultural productivity in the region, as Ugo Nwabuisi fromorganisers 151 Products explained to African Farming and Food Processing.

HELD IN ASSOCIATION with the Nigerian-BritishChamber of Commerce and Industries, AGRIKEXPO willtake place at the Eko Conference Centre in Lagos.

Manufacturers, suppliers, agents, distributors, commodityexporters, farmers, financial institutions and several otherstakeholders will gather at the venue to interact with other keyfigures within the industry.

Nwabuisi said: “The intensified focus of government onagricultural development, primarily on food security andemployment, has thrown up great opportunities for agriculturalinvestments and new business relationships.”

Fostering business engagementThe show, which will be opened by President Jonathan, will alignwith the Nigerian government’s aim of transforming agriculture inthe region, particularly regarding business engagement.

“That vision is being diligently anchored by the minister of

agriculture, Dr Akin Adesina, who often says that agriculture is purebusiness and not a developmental project. Consequently, governmentis in clear support of AGRIKEXPO as a necessary infrastructure foragricultural business development,” Nwabuisi claimed.

Nwabuisi explained that several organisations will beshowcasing a variety of technological products at the expo,including state agricultural development agencies and researchinstitutes as well as private sector companies.

“Also there will be various export-orientated companies for primaryagricultural commodities and input supply companies (seeds,fertilisers, agrochemicals, etc). Banks are also coming to showcasenew finance packages to agro SMEs and farmers,” he added.

Other exhibitors will include the Farmers Association of Nigeria(AFAN), the Cashew Exporters/Growers Association, poultryassociations and many other farmer groups.

Nigerian potentialThe size of the agricultural sector in Nigeria is worth more thanUS$99bn a year, with the potential to grow to about US$256bn inless than 10 years, Nwabuisi said.

“The government has plans for huge improvements in the sectorand has deployed an Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) asa key strategy to change. Local food production witnessed a recentboost to 8.1mn tonnes and the target is to add 20 tonnes of foodto national production over a four-year period,” he elaborated.

In the last year, more than US$8bn worth of private sectorinvestments have been made in Nigerian agriculture, with this figureset to grow due to the country’s increasing population, large arablelands and the desire of the government to cut down on food imports.

Nwabuisi added, “I would advise companies involved inagricultural business to consider an entry into the Nigerian marketfor early bird benefits.” h

Exploring agricultural opportunityin West Africa

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S12 AF MayJune 2013 Irrigation_Layout 1 20/05/2013 11:13

Modern farming methods have increasingly adopted sprinkler or overheadirrigation as a way of distributing water, because it is more efficient, lesswasteful and more appropriate to sandy soils susceptible to erosion. TerryMabbett reports.

CROPS CAN ONLY reach water sources by root growthbut water is fluid and can be delivered to the growingcrop. This is the essential rationale of irrigation andliterally a life saving one for an increasing number of

farmers. In extreme circumstances virtually all water required bygrowing crops on the farm may come from irrigation. More usuallyit will be confined to one crop a year coinciding with the dry seasonor throughout the year to several crops in succession dictated bylevel of natural rainfall and growth and development stage of thecrop to maximise yield and maintain crop quality.

Some countries, regions and farms still use the more traditionalmethod of surface flooding or irrigation by using basins, bordersand furrows as conduits for distribution of the irrigation water.Modern farming methods have increasingly adopted sprinkler oroverhead irrigation as a way of distributing the water, because it ismore efficient, less wasteful and more appropriate to sandy soilssusceptible to erosion and loss of top soil through flood irrigationmethods.

In recent years irrigation efficiency and water conservationhave become increasingly important for more African farms and

farmers as drought intensified and spread out from traditionallyhit areas like the West African Sahel to affect a much wider area.

Sprinkler irrigation is carried out by conveying water in pipesunder pressure then forcing it through a nozzle so that the liquidsheets break up into small droplets which fall on the crop likenatural rainfall. As a general rule, sprinkler irrigation systemsrequire much less water and labour than will surface irrigationmethods.

There is a wide spectrum of sprinkler irrigation methods eachsuited to particular crops and soil conditions in which the cropsare growing. That said, all methods of sprinkler irrigation featureseveral common components which are the pumps, mainlinepipes, lateral line pipes and the actual sprinklers.

Irrigation byrotary precipitation


IRRIGATION

Sprinkler or overhead irrigation is moreefficient and less wasteful.

In recent years irrigation efficiency and waterconservation have become increasingly important

for more African farms and farmers.



Pumps and pipesPumps provide the power and the energy to draw the water from itssource, which may be a river, a reservoir or a borehole, and then pushit into the actual irrigation system for delivery to the field anddistribution amongst the crop plants. The pump will be driven by either

an internal combustion engine oran electric motor. Mainline pipesdeliver the irrigation water from thepump to the lateral pipes.

Where the water source is stableand perennial, and the croppingprogramme well ordered, themainline pipe will be installed as apermanent feature on the farmand will invariably be buriedbeneath soil level. In othersituations a mainline pipe mayneed to be temporary, so that itcan be moved to service variouswater sources in completelydifferent areas of the farm. If thepipe is to be permanent then it willusually be made of galvanisedsteel or heavy duty plastic. Weightis all important for temporarypipes, so lightweight aluminiumalloy or plastic will be preferred toallow easier movement of themainline pipe from one place toanother.

The next stages in the irrigation layout and design are the lateralpipes which branch off from the mainline pipe at appropriateintervals and positions to deliver the water now under pressure fromthe mainline pipe to the sprinklers. Like the mainline pipe they can bepermanent or temporary structures and are invariably of a narrowerbore.

Irrigation sprinklersSprinklers for agriculture are generally one of two major types whichare the sprayline and the rotary sprinkler.

The sprayline is simply a pipe with small size holes or nozzlesdistributed along its length and through which the irrigation water isdelivered as spray droplets onto the crop. Originally, spraylines wereused in the stationary mode but more recent developments employan oscillating mechanism in which they move from side to side oralternatively they can be designed so that they rotate around a centralaxis.

Rotary sprinklers are the most commonly used pieces of irrigationequipment. Some designs utilise a number of small rotary sprinklersthat operate in unison (mobile lateral systems) while others just use asingle big sprinkler commonly called a ‘rain gun’ (rain gun systems).

The rotary sprinklerSprinkler irrigation does exactly what the name says. Water forcedunder pressure through an orifice (a small round hole or a nozzle) isissued as a jet and into the air. As the water jet travels through the airit progressively shatters into small drops of water and subsequentlyfalls to earth just like the drops of water that make up naturalprecipitation (rainfall).

By rotating in a horizontal plane the sprinkler generates a circularwetting pattern in the field with the distance from the sprinkler to theoutside edge of the circle known as the ‘throw’. As a general rule astandard small rotary sprinkler will irrigate a circle of soil and cropsurface of around 36 m in diameter. Rotary sprinklers on a cropirrigation system have the same high level of importance as thenozzles on the boom of a crop sprayer. As the last component in thewhole system through which water flows, their design andperformance ultimately determines success or failure of the entiresystem.

IRRIGATION

Crops near Cape Town, South Africa, enjoy regular soakings from a massive irrigation system.



watermark


The rotational movement in sprinkler irrigation is caused by thewater jet working in conjunction with the spring-loaded swingarm. During operation of the sprinkler the swing arm interruptsthe water jet and is thus forced in a horizontal direction by theforce of the water flow. However, once free of the jet, the armreturns due to tension in the spring and interrupts the water jetonce again. But on its return the arm makes contact with one sideof the sprinkler which makes it turn very slightly. This procedure isrepeated in what may be described as a constant beating motionso that the sprinkler undergoes a slow steady rotation. Thevelocity of rotation is determined by the tension in the swing armspring and this must be adjusted so that the sprinkler rotates at aspeed which ensures every part of the crop within the circularswathe receives ‘sprinkled’ irrigation water.

Uniformity of water distributionControlled water application rates producing a satisfactoryspectrum of droplet sizes to provide uniform spread of irrigationwater are the key features of a properly functioning sprinklerirrigation system.

Designing a rotary sprinkler that generates uniform irrigationacross the entire wetted circle of crop foliage and soil is no easytask. Generally speaking deposition of water is progressivelyreduced from the actual sprinkler to the edge of the wetted circle.This problem may be overcome by operating two or threesprinklers near to each other so that the patterns of waterdistribution overlap and compensate for any distributiondeficiency. However, care must be taken not to site the sprinklerstoo close together in case problems of over-application to crops

and unacceptably high costs kick in. Generally speaking theoverlap should cover approximately two thirds of the diameter ofthe wetted circle.

Rate of water applicationApplication rate is defined as the rate of water provided to thecrop (in mm/hour) from a group of rotary sprinklers operatingclose together and therefore essentially as a unit. The applicationrate will be determined by the magnitude of the sprinkler nozzle,the operating pressure (in bar) and the distance between thenozzles. The application rate can be increased by increasing thesize of nozzle used, elevating the operating pressure and placingthe rotary sprinklers nearer to each other.

Water drop sizeA rotary sprinkler will typically produce a wide spectrum of dropsizes ranging from diameters of 0.5 mm to 3 mm or more. Dropsizes exceeding 4 mm tend to shatter into many smaller sizedroplets. The smaller the droplet size the less is the momentumand the closer it will fall to the sprinkler nozzle. Care must betaken with larger droplets ‘thrown’ longer distances because theymay damage sensitive crop foliage and some soil types bycausing a phenomenon known as ‘soil capping’. This will reducethe permeability of the upper soil profile and therefore the waterinfiltration rate. Drop size spectrum can be adjusted by nozzleselection and manipulation of operating pressure. Water dropstend to become bigger with a reduction in operating pressurebecause of the reduced energy available to break up the waterflow. h

IRRIGATION


Researchers at the International Institute of TropicalAgriculture (IITA) in Ibadan say that maize linesand hybrids developed in the institute offer hopeto African farmers to saving them from thechallenges of drought.

ACCORDING TO IITA’S Communications Officer,Godwin Atser, the maize were of extra-early maturinggenotypes developed and conserved at the institute’sgene bank.

He noted that identification of the maize lines had led to thepossibility of sustainable development of more resilient varietieswith dual characteristics of escaping and tolerating drought in thenear future. The discovery of the maize parental lines was alsoseen as ‘good news’ for farmers, especially in drought-proneareas of Africa, where maize remained a key staple.

An IITA scientist, Muhyideen Oyekunle, said 48 per cent of theearly maturing lines under study at IITA were drought-tolerant withtolerance indices ranging from 0.17 (low) to 15.31 (high).

Oyekunle and other researchers, according to the release, foundthat under drought conditions, hybrids performed better than open-pollinated varieties and could provide safety nets for farmers duringdrought. He also identified five diverse groups among the earlymaturing maize inbred lines studied and two inbreds as the best interms of combining ability for future hybrid production.

Oyekunle explained that general considerations in breeding fordrought tolerance in maize include information on genetic diversityamong tropical maize lines and populations, hybrid performanceand inheritance of drought tolerance.

He said IITA and other stakeholders had made early and extra-early maturing maize varieties and hybrids available to farmers inWest Africa.

The varieties, he said, were being widely adopted to the extentthat maize cultivation was largely replacing sorghum and millet inthe savanna ecologies. h

IITA maize holdssolution toAfrica’s drought

Drought-tolerant maize.


S13 AF MayJune 2013 Equipment_Layout 1 20/05/2013 11:42

SGS RECENTLY DISCUSSED how toachieve sustainable crop productionthrough its precision farming services (PTS)at the third Commercial Farm Africaconference, for which it is was also asponsor.

The event, which took place from 19 to20 March in Accra, focused on the latestagricultural developments andopportunities available in Africa under thetheme ‘Into Africa – building localmarkets, improving farm productivity &increasing ROI’.

In line with this, SGS managing directorCobus Burger gave a presentation entitled‘Searching for the key that will unlock themap towards sustainability in cropproduction’.

In the presentation, Burger placedemphasis on the importance of analysis tohelp manage soil fertility and quality,which in turn determines crop potential,tillage practices and farm layout, he said.

In addition, he noted that plant analysishelps to evaluate and manage the nutrientstatus of a crop during the growing seasonwhile water analysis determines the riskinvolved in irrigation.

Burger advised that to attract investorsto farming projects, a return on investment(ROI) of 10 to 15 per cent or more isnecessary.

“Increasing yield is the most effectiveway to sustain and increase the ROI aswell as managing your risk in cropproduction,” he added.

SGS has therefore developed aprecision farming service (PFS), a globalpositioning system (GPS) solution whichcreates maps to show the variability in thenutrient status of the soil.

According to Burger, the solution takesin to account the soil’s physical propertiesto determine crop potential under dry landor under irrigation conditions.

Research from SGS suggested thatconditions for growth are optimal when soilis made up of 45 per cent minerals, 25 percent water, 25 per cent air and five per centhumus. On the other hand, soil thatcontains, for example, 79 per cent minerals,10 per cent water, 10 per air and one percent humus, has been over-cultivated andwill most likely develop a crust/salt layerwhich damages the aeration of the soil, andas a result the crop production, Burger said.

PFS can therefore help identify the areasthat are lacking in nutrients so that fertilisermay be applied in the correct locations.

In the face of increasing input costs andfalling food prices alongside a growingreliance on plant genetics, the answer is,according to Burger, “Increasing theyield/ha using what nature has to offer toleverage a positive result.”

Usage of the SGS PFS solution hasgrown across Africa since 2010, when itwas employed in South Africa, Namibiaand Zambia. The company’s operationshave since expanded to includeBotswana, Angola, Tanzania, DR Congo,Kenya, Cameroon, Ghana and Egypt as of 2013.


SGS discussed precision farming at Commercial Farm Africa

NEWS

Illustration of process to create a map that showsvariability in the nutrient status of the soil.


Alvan Blanch Development Company Ltd have supplied Nigerian and American-owned fish feedmanufacturers US Lynx with a new steam extrusion system, capable of producing floating feed. This hasallowed Abuja-based US Lynx to join the handful of fish feed suppliers in Nigeria which produce floatingpellets capable of achieving higher fish survival rates and improved feed conversion ratios.

NOW FULLY INSTALLED by engineers from the local AlvanBlanch Nigeria technical office and commissioned by anengineer from the UK, the feed mill is successfullyproducing various sizes of pellets for different stages of fish

growth – from 3mm to 8mm.

The demand for extrusion systemFish consumption accounts for 35 per cent of the animal proteinintake in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country but, currently, morethan half of the nation’s fish consumption is imported. With FederalGovernment programmes aimed at promoting and supportingnutritional self-sufficiency, growth in aquaculture throughout the valuechain is a prioritised initiative. The availability of cost-effective highquality feed allows local fish farms to improve their fish yields andprofit margins – and is thus a key driver in the expansion of thisimportant industry.

Alvan Blanch recognised the demand that many African fish feedproducers have for a higher quality feed which would not disintegratein water – and would be able to compete with the standards ofexpensive imported feeds. They have teamed up with a long-established Dutch manufacturer to introduce the Almex single screwsteam extrusion technology into their feed milling portfolio because itis the ideal way to reliably produce floating fish feed that is in greatdemand across Africa.

Mr Onyechi Okolo, Managing Director of US Lynx, explained thatwhichever breed of fish is farmed – be it Tilapia or common Catfish –it is more efficient to give them floating feed as the only way to assessthe performance of the fish is to study them surface feeding. The otherbenefit of feed produced through an Alvan Blanch Extrusion system, isthat is can float on the surface for hours, which leads to less wastedrations, while avoiding excessive water contamination. For manyfarmers this leads to a big saving in wasted fish feed as well asreduced labour costs from regular feeding.

US Lynx insist on using only top quality ingredients, locally sourcingwherever possible, formulated with care to produce the high protein,well-balanced rations that are ideal for efficient growth andconversion rates in local fish varieties.

“There has been tremendous interest in our product since westarted production” said Mr Okolo, who pointed out that fish farmersare willing to pay a premium for international standard product.

The system processThe process starts with multiple raw material reception pits, withautomatically controlled discharge into a weighing mixer, hammer milland secondary mixer to ensure thorough blending. The mixture is thenconditioned with steam before being propelled into the steamextruder, being pushed out through small dies and cut to form smallpellets. These are conveyed through a continuous drier, oil coated andcooled before being held in a bagging hopper with automaticweighing and sacking system to finish.

Andrew Blanch, MD of Alvan Blanch, has just returned from a tripto Nigeria – and to the US Lynx site. He received much interest in thesteam extrusion system: “It is clear that floating fish feed is the futurefor African aquaculture, and with the Alvan Blanch system being botheffective and affordable, African businesses can now compete withimported quality fish feed”.

Alvan Blanch manufacture the steam extrusion feed milling system– based on the customers’ requirements – for use worldwide, with afocus on the evolving African feed production market. h

Key to profitable African aquaculture


AQUACULTURE

Complete feed mill with steam extrusion - for fish feed. US Lynx Ltd, Abuja, Nigeria.The extruder.

The availability of cost-effective high quality feedallows local fish farms to improve their

fish yields and profit margins.


Complete feed mill with steam extrusion - for fish feed. US Lynx Ltd, Abuja, Nigeria. Bagof feed.


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NEW HOLLAND, IN partnership with Tree-Nation, is to plant 120 Moringatrees in Dosso, Niger. This is part of a larger project, which aims to plantover 50,000 trees this year in the county to combat desertification andclimate change as well as helping to alleviate local poverty andmalnutrition.

The initiative was announced recently during the SIMA InternationalExhibition in Paris. Financed by New Holland Agriculture and incollaboration with Tree-Nation, this initiative is another example of theClean Energy Leader strategy in action. New Holland is committed tosustainable farming practices, which enhance agricultural efficiency andproductivity whilst respecting the environment.

Within the framework of its Clean Energy Leader strategy, launched in2006, the company looks for practical and accessible ways to reconcile theneeds of the agricultural industry with increasingly urgent calls for action toprotect the environment. This strategy has led to heavy investment in its ownlow emissions engine technology together with its sister, powertrainmanufacturer FPT Industrial.

New Holland is already involved in many projects such as a large-scalebiomass power generation programme in Sierra Leone and ruralmechanisation projects in collaboration with governments. Its attention toenvironmental preservation has also led to awareness campaign initiativessuch as the sponsorship of the Sustainable Innovation Forum hosted in thelast two years by Climate Action in partnership with the United NationsEnvironment Programme, respectively in Durban (South Africa) alongsidethe 2011 Climate Change Conference (COP17), and in Doha (Qatar) forthe 2012 Climate Change Conference (COP18).

By supporting tree planting, New Holland is not only contributing toreducing the global carbon footprint; the Moringa trees also support localcommunities. Their leaves are highly nutritious and are a rich source ofprotein, vitamins A, B and C and contain more than four times the calciumof an equivalent quantity of milk. They can also be used as cattle feed, and

test results show, that when fed Moringa leaves, cattle gain more weightand milk output increases significantly.

Tree-Nation is the pre-eminent global social network, which is focused onreforestation projects and has received United Nations EnvironmentProgramme backing for its ‘Plant for the Planet’ Campaign.

To date, more than 100,000 individuals and over 200 companies havesupported their projects. Tree-Nation has already planted more than500,000 trees in projects across Africa and South America to fight climatechange, deforestation and help local economies. Their objective for 2013is to reach one million trees.

New Holland supports tree planting in Niger



african farming may june 2013

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