Grain protection€¦ · 3rd Cassava World Africa highlights cassava’s emerging potential ... Namulonge from 29-30 November for the Agribusiness Congress East Africa conference

November/December 2017

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

Olam unveils the largest integratedfeed mill, hatchery and breederfarm in Nigeria, p 12

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ServingAGRICULTURE

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3737YEARS

Grain protection Ensuring grain health during storage

Plant nutritionFighting iron deficiency

TractorsLatest innovations

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News 04A topical digest of news, views and events including Farmer's Calendar

Events 10AGRITECHNICA 2017 Review

Poultry 12Olam’s new integrated farm set to boost growth in Nigerian poultry industry

Genetics to boost egg production

A natural alternative to antibiotics

Livestock 18Tanzania livestock master plan to create nearly two million jobs

Cassava 203rd Cassava World Africa highlights cassava’s emerging potential

Plant nutrition 22Preventing iron deficiency in fruit and vegetables on alkaline soils

Grain storage 26Protection of cereal grain in store

Crops 30Call for caution on glyphosate

Tractors 32Latest innovations

Data 38Effective intercropping with data

IoT to forecast crop disease

CONTENTS

Contents

Image Credit: Christopher Boswell/AdobeStock

The 5711 with a 110hp engine is the top model inMassey Ferguson's new 5700 Global Series. p32

Intercropping can help farmers reduce risks associ-ated with crop failure. p38

November/December 2017

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

Olam unveils the largest integratedfeed mill, hatchery and breederfarm in Nigeria, p 12

www.africanfarming.net

ServingAGRICULTURE

for

3737YEARS

Grain protection Ensuring grain health during storage

Plant nutritionFighting iron deficiency

TractorsLatest innovations

A 04/12/2017 12:45 Page 1

www.africanfarming.net African Farming - November/December 2017 3

Editor: Vani Venugopal E-mail: [email protected]

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EVENTS

AROUND 2,000 AGRI-PROFESSIONALS are expected to descendon the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) inNamulonge from 29-30 November for the Agribusiness CongressEast Africa conference and outdoor exhibition. Uganda’s Ministerof Agriculture, Animal Industry & Fisheries, Ssempijja VincentBamulangaki, will deliver the opening keynote address. Apart from the high-level conference featuring expert speakers, theevent this year will also feature more than 45 exhibitors, freetraining workshops and agronomy consultations, roundtable discus-sions as well as live demonstrations and crop trials. The agricultural and economic partners of Agribusiness CongressEast Africa include the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry andFisheries, National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), TheGrain Council of Uganda (TGCU), Agricultural Council of Tanzania(ACT), Eastern Africa Farmers Federation, Eastern African GrainCouncil, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), SA CapitalEquipment Export Council (SAEEC), National Crops ResourcesResearch Institute (NaCRRI) and VECO East Africa.The technology and services industry in the sector has come out inhuge support of the event and leading farming equipment suppliersJohn Deere and Mascor as well as Heartland Global are platinumsponsors at Agribusiness Congress East Africa while Case, Engsol,Tafe and Toyota are gold sponsors. The event will bring together key industry players in the region andis expected to play a major role in boosting Ugandan agriculture.“Land tenure and affordable finance are the major challenges toexpanding and developing the agri sector. Current interest rates putenormous stress on agribusiness and are often prohibitive. Weneed to look at novel ways to finance the agri sector, and getaround using land as collateral,” said Jon McLea, director atAgricona and session chairman at the event.

Uganda hosts Agribusiness Congress East Africa

FOLLOWING THE HUGE success of the AGRIKEXPO & CONFER-ENCES 2017, recently held at the International Conference Centre inAbuja , the organisers are now planning a bigger event for its eightedition in 2018. The last edition of AGRIKEXPO saw an impressive turnout of exhibitors and visitors from various areas of the agric value chain.AGRIKEXPO, supported by the FederalMinistry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment, is one of the leadingexpos dedicated to agricultural businessdevelopment in west Africa.

AGRIKEXPO 2018 will be held in18-20 September 2018 and theorganisers commented that tradevisitor traffic is set to grow with severalsector oriented seminars in poultry andlivestock care, machinery andmechanisation and input supply,including delegations from various sector associations.

Many countries have already signed on for national pavilions forthe event next year. Speaking to the organisers during the event, thehead of Indian High Commission confirmed that given the growingamount of bilateral relationship between Nigeria and India and theenormous opportunities in the sector, India will be looking to have anextensive pavilion at the 2018 event .

The conference will also see a presentation by the head of Ghanachamber of commerce and industry, Dr Apagye Dankyasso, who willbe leading a delegation of key agribusiness stakeholders from Ghana.The heads of trade association in Ivory coast, Senegal and Benin

republic are also expected at the event along with their delegations. Ahaji Sani Dangote who is part of the Nigeria agribusiness group

would again lead a delegation of agripreneurs for participation at theevent.

Vice-President Prof Yemi Osinbanjo, who is the head of theeconomic team of the nation hasbeen invited as special guest at theevent. The minster of agricultureChief Audu Ogbeh, minister oftrade and investment Dr OkeyEnelamah, several state governorsand a host of other dignitaries willbe present at the event.

AGRIKEXPO 2018 will be held atime when the need for localprocessing and packaging is

growing and one of the highlights ofthe expo would be the presence of key stakeholders in Agriculture, theorganisers, 151 PRODUCTS, said.

As the media partner for the event, African Farming will be onground to cover the event and to engage stakeholders, given its statusas Africa's foremost and most authoritative voice for farming andagribusiness.

In the words of the Ugo Nwabuisi, chief executive officer at 151 PRODUCTS, AGRIKEXPO will continue to create a credibleopportunity for bilateral Trade and Agricultural development ,especially in support of the effort of government at total transforma-tion of the sector.

Fostering agricultural business development in west Africa

AGRIKEXPO 2018 will see participation from key industry players.

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www.africanfarming.netAfrican Farming - November/December 20174

DECEMBER

08-11 Addis Agrofood ADDIS ABABA www.addis-agrofood.com

2018

FEBRUARY

01-04 Agroexpo ZMIR www.agroexpo.com.tr

MARCH

14-16 HortiFlora Expo ADDIS ABABA www.hppexhibitions.com

27-29 Agrofood Nigeria LAGOS www.agrofood-nigeria.com

APRIL

04-06 NIPOLI Expo IBADAN www.nipoliexpo.com.ng

12 - 14 Agritech Expo Zambia CHISAMBA www.agritech-expo.com

17-19 Fresh Produce Africa NAIROBI www.hppexhibitions.com

25-26 Aviana Nigeria IBADAN www.avianaafrica.com

Readers should verify dates and location with sponsoring organisations, as thisinformation is sometimes subject to change.

Farming Calendar 2017-2018


NEWS

A TEAM OF scientists has received a US$100,000 grant to refine a mobileapplication that uses artificial intelligence to diagnose crop diseases andaims to help millions of African smallholders.

The CGIAR Research Programme on Roots, Tubers and Bananas teamwon the grant during a big data conference in Colombia as part of theCGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture Inspire Challenges.

The app, to be used against cassava brown streak disease and thecassava mosaic disease, is expected to be rolled out in 2018.

It accurately diagnoses diseases in the field and will send mobile phoneshort message service (SMS) alerts to farmers in rural Africa.

David Hughes, associate professor of entomology and biology at US-based Penn State University, who leads the project together with JamesLegg, a plant virologist with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture,Tanzania, said that the team needs to continue field-testing and improvingits user-friendliness.

The app uses a Google programme called TensorFlow that allowsmachines to train and learn. “We trained it to recognise plant diseases.What the app does in real-time is to assign a score to a video beingcaptured,” said Hughes. “That score is the probability that the plant in thevideo shows symptoms of one of five diseases or pests.

So far the app distinguishes five major types of damage to cassavaplants: three diseases and two types of pest damage.

Cassava virus diseases alone cause losses of more than US$1bnannually in Africa, and threaten food and income security of over 30mnfarmers in east and central Africa.

“The main target will be farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. However, we willbe working with the global network of CGIAR, and this means that the appcould equally be of value in other parts of the developing world, such asLatin America and Asia,” said Legg.

“We think the most important value we will create will be through(agricultural) extension workers already helping farmers, and most of whom

do already own smartphones. It is realistic to anticipate that (most) farmersin sub-Saharan Africa will have smartphones capable of running the appwithin five to ten years.”

According to Hughes, the project’s expansion is aimed at collectingmore images to train the machine to identify more diseases in more crops —such as banana, sweet potato and yam — as well as work with farmergroups to provide local language apps they want to use.

Peter Okoth, a consultant agronomist at the Kenya-based NewscapeAgro Systems Ltd, told SciDev.Net in an interview that smallholders in Africacannot afford basic agricultural inputs, and thus well planned value chainarrangement with key players are needed to make its potential roll-out inAfrica feasible. “For this app to generate the desired impact, the developersmust partner with service providers and plant-health specialists andfinanciers to solve the problems,” explains Okoth. “The CGIAR needs tomove a step further and constitute action consortia with membership drawnfrom an array of actors who are needed to address the practical aspectsof solving the crop problems jointly with the farmers.”

THE AFRICAN UNIONCommission (AUC), the AfricanDevelopment Bank (AfDB) andEconomic Commission for Africa(ECA) pledged to do more tosupport African governments todevelop robust policies that willsupport the continent’s economicand social transformation by theoptimum use of land and naturalresources at the second biennialConference on Land Policy inAfrica in Addis Ababa.ECA deputy executive secretary

Abdalla Hamdok said the ECAremains committed to contributingto the implementation of the AUAgenda on land as demonstratedby its support through the hostingof the Land Policy Initiative (LPI),which is transitioning to the AfricanLand Policy Centre (ALPC), foreleven years.“We commit to provide support

to AU Agenda on land includinghosting the ALPC and continuing tosupport this land policy confer-ence,” said Hamdok, adding the

main purpose of the outfit is toenable the use of land to lendimpetus to the process of Africandevelopment.“Africa ought to see land as a

major resource to enhance foodsecurity, peace and security andensure environmental protection.By developing inclusive land

policies, we create an opportunityfor investment while simultane-ously protecting the interests of theAfrican people,” he said.AfDB’s director general for the

eastern Africa region GabrielNegatu, said the bank is preparedto work with partner institutions toassist governments to ensure land

governance and land policyprocesses in Africa aretransparent, easily understoodand accessed.Janet Edeme, head of rural

division in the department of ruraleconomy and agriculture at theAUC, said through hard work withpartners, they were buildingconsensus, raising awareness,generating evidence, developingcapacities and improving coordi-nation to enhance implementationof the AU Declaration on Land,helping to address some ofAfrica’s daunting land challenges.She said the ALPC will, among

other things, set the agenda onland issues in Africa, acting as arepository of knowledge andrepresent Africa on globalplatforms; drive continental landpolicy and advocacy to ensureland remains a priority in thepolicy agenda and createcontinental and regional platformsthat enhance coordination in theland sector.

ECA, AfDB, AUC pledge support for robust land policies in Africa

So far the app can distinguish five major types ofdamage to cassava plants.

An app that spots crop disease

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Inclusive land policies play a major role in creating opportunities for investment whileprotecting the interests of the people.

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NEWS

AFRICAN NATIONS ARE pushing for a review of an access and benefitsharing framework for exploration of genetic materials obtained fromfarmers in developing countries.

African countries raised their concerns at the seventh Session of theGoverning Body of the International Treaty on Plant GeneticResources for Food and Agriculture held in Kigali last week, whichseeks to expand the basket of crops exchanged through the Treaty'sMultilateral System.

The Treaty’s Multilateral System seeks to remove restrictions todiverse genetic materials stored in gene banks by scientific institutions,

plant breeders and other sector players.According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United

Nations (FAO), the number of food and agriculture plants currentlycovered under the International Treaty is limited to 64, namely maize,rice, wheat, potato, cassava, sorghum and banana, among others, whichprovide 80 per cent of world population's food intake from plants.

René Castro-Salazar, assistant director-general at FAO said theneed to expand the food basket is critical due to rapid populationgrowth and degradation of natural resources.

The threats of climate change including disease outbreaks, heavyrainfall and changing ecosystems, could result in many plant andanimal species going extinct. The need to strengthen the pact forcountries to develop crop varieties. is therefore crucial.

Available figures show the multilateral system resulted in anexchange of over four million samples of genetic resources over thepast 10 years. However, delegates from developing countries pointedout that the exchange was not mutually beneficial due to lack ofmonetary contributions to the treaty’s common fund.

It was also not clear how the transfer, mostly by private sectorresearch organisations and seed companies, improved food security,livelihoods or contributed to empowering needy communities aroundthe world. Developing countries pushed for stakeholders to commit tomaking the benefit-sharing provision work for all.

“The implementation of the benefit sharing agreement faces manychallenges since contributions are voluntary. The result is that despitea lot of material transfer, you find no sufficient funds going back tocommunities to support projects for enhancing their livelihoods,” saidRwanda's minister of agriculture and animal resources GeraldineMukeshimana.

THE MALAWI MINISTRY of Agriculture, Irrigation and WaterDevelopment has announced that it will hold the 2017 NationalFisheries and Aquaculture Forum in Mangochi. A press statement signedby Secretary for agriculture, irrigation and water development, GreyNyandule Phiri, said that the forum will provide an opportunity forexchange of experiences and challenges among the participants.

Participants at the forum include researchers, fish famers, fishermen,non-state actors and policy makers against the background of the rollingout of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy of 2016.

“The forum will also provide updates on the finalised, ongoing andplanned fisheries and aquaculture programmes as well as sharingresearch findings on fisheries and aquaculture with specific issues onclimate change, biodiversity conservation, governance, fish trade andgenetic improvement,” he said.

THE TANZANIAN GOVERNMENT is scrapping taxes and leviesimposed on coffee as part of measures to boost production.Minister for Agriculture Charles Tizeba said that the governmentwill scrap 17 levies and taxes. They include coffee buying,processing and selling fee as well as the marketing fees.

The move follows complaints by farmers about multiple taxesimposed on coffee and other cash crops. Tanzania has beencharging US$1,000 for a licence to sell coffee abroad, US$20for a permit to purchase parchment dry cherry coffee andUS$250 for a coffee processing licence.

The country has put in place a 10-year development plan toraise the annual production of coffee.

African countries call for sharing framework for exploration of genetic materials

THE DISCOVERY OF heat resilient durumwheat that could potentially boost the incomefor one million farming families in the extremeheat of famine-affected Senegal, Mauritaniaand Mali1 2017 and has been awarded the2017 Olam Prize for Innovation in FoodSecurity.The genome fingerprinting researchproject, led by Dr Filippo Bassi of ICARDA andProfessor Rodomiro Ortiz (SLU, Alnarp), andfunded by the Swedish Research Council, usednon-GM molecular breeding techniques todevelop a set of durum wheat varieties that can

withstand constant 35-40 degree heat alongthe savannah of the Senegal River basin.

In this region, farmers grow rice for eightmonths of the year but the land remainsunproductive for the other four months. Thenew durum varieties have therefore beendeveloped to grow super-fast so that farmerscan grow the wheat between rice seasons,which could produce 600,000 tonnes of newfood, equivalent to 175 servings of pasta perperson per year in the region, and couldgenerate US$210mn in additional income for

the farmers.Through ICARDA’s policy of sharing all

germplasm and IP (identity preservation)freely with developing countries, the discoveryalso has wide adaptation potential for otherareas hit by increasing temperatures.

This ground breaking research was voted bya panel of expert judges as the winner of theOlam Prize for Innovation in Food Security –an international prize launched by the globalagri-business in partnership with the Agropolis Fondation.

Developing crop variety is crucial in facing the challenges posed by a growing populationand climate change.

Heat tolerant durum wheat discovery to aid farmers in West Africa

Tanzania scraps levies to boost coffee production

Malawi to hold national fisheries forum

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NEWS

THE NEW PRESIDENT of Nigerian Council of Registered InsuranceBrokers, (NCRIB) Shola Tinubu, has urged the federal governmentto make agricultural insurance compulsory in the country.

The NCRIB president highlighted the need for government toembrace insurance in its efforts to take prudent economic strides,considering that its scarce resources and tight budget had made itless likely to replace assets in the event of loss. On payment ofbidding fees by insurance brokers, the NCRIB president urgedgovernment to retool the procurement rules for insurance brokers,making it to be in tandem with similar professional bodies.

Tinubu also said that during his two year tenure as NCRIBpresident, he and his team will focus on eight point sustainableagenda that will ensure that insurance broking profession stands atpar with its counterparts anywhere in the world.

According to the NCRIB president, the quest by the governmentto reflate national economy and put the nation on a sustainablepath of economic growth has necessitated the government to makeagricultural insurances compulsory, as a pre-condition for facilities,subsidies and other government support.

Tinubu, applauded the progressive moves by government todiversify the economy from oil to non-oil.

He stated, “In order to increase insurance penetration in ageometric proportion, there should be concentration on the agricsector in terms of marketing the intrinsic value of the insuranceproducts to farmers and other agricultural and agro alliedsectors.”

CHINESE INVESTORS HAVE expressed interest to invest in anintegrated livestock, meat and dairy farm processing and ceramicproduction in joint venture with Ethiopian investors.

Xinfei Tangshan Technology Company is eyeing Ethiopia to investin milk, meat processing and production of ceramics out of the cattle bone.

Zheng Lixin is a Chinese investor who visited Ethiopia to see thepotential of the livestock sector. According to him, the integrated agro-industry parks which are aimed at providing the private sector withincentives are instrumental to speeding up the required transformationin the sector.

He said the country’s untapped livestock resource coupled withgovernment’s favourable tax and investment policies as well as theavailability of industrial parks demonstrate that the nation isconducive for livestock processing investment.

He expressed his interest to invest in meat and dairy processing inclose partnership with companies in Ethiopia particularly with Excel Agro-processing Company which is currently operating in thecountry.

Noting that Excel Agro-processing Company has rich experienceand gone long way to explore better ways of engaging in the sector,he said that working with the company would ease the challenges thatnovice investors may encounter.

“We are looking for partnership with the Ethiopian investors in theareas where feasibility studies are conducted and make the invest-ment easier for us,” he said.

Nigeria urged to make agric insurance compulsory

Chinese investors eye Ethiopian livestockprocessing



https://www.aaz-performance.fr/

http://www.omex.com/

NEWS

RECENT RESEARCH IN Morocco has revealed that a home-madefilter system using layers of soil and gravel cleans domestic wastewater well enough to make it suitable for irrigation.

The filter prototype, tested in Al Haouz, a rural district about 40km from Marrakech, removed a large amount of waste such assolid particles, organic pollution, nitrogen and fertiliser residue.The system was also successful at killing off coliform bacteria andother pathogens in the water including faecal matter, E.coli andstreptococci bacteria.

The filter system consists of a two-stage process that can beeasily assembled with local material in water barrels. Theresearchers created filter ‘bricks’ from sandy soil, charcoal,sawdust and iron scraps, and packed these into the barrels withgravel. While running through the barrel,the water is filtered alternatively by thebricks and the gravel.

The experiment’s results were publishedon 13 October in the International Journalof Hygiene and Environmental Health.Laila Mandi, a researcher at Morocco’sCadi Ayyad University and lead author ofthe paper, said the soil bricks on their ownwere good enough to filter organic wasteand nutrients from the water. But whencombined with the gravel, the two-stagesystem became effective enough to tacklepathogens.

She said the system could provide cheap and low-tech waterfiltration to rural, arid areas. “The cost of this technology is very lowcompared with systems like lagoon filters, wetlands and sandfilters,” Mandi said.

It also has benefits such as simple maintenance, no frequentclogging and no energy requirements, she added. The expectedlifetime of each filter system, if correctly maintained, is about 20 years.

The researchers worked with the people of Talat Merghen villageto test the prototypes. They collected domestic waste water from 72people in eight households. The water was stored in a holdingtank, from where it was first fed into a settling tank – to separatesediment and silt – and then into the two-stage filter system.

Once optimised for flow load, the system removed around 90per cent of pollutants, including around95 per cent of nitrogen, a fertiliserresidue. The filtered water was not safeto drink, but was usable for agriculturalirrigation and household chores. Itcould be made potable with additionaltreatment, such as chlorination or UVlight, Mandi said.

The method could help recycle waterin arid regions, such as the North Africanand Asian deserts, where water preserva-tion is crucial for farmers andexpensive, industrial water purificationis not available.

A TWO-DAY validation workshop on the review of the Liberia’s Agriculture approvalprocess was held recently in Monrovia. The workshop was organised by the Foodand Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with theGovernment of Liberia, through the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).

The two-day seminar was held in the framework of the Voluntary Guidelines on theResponsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context ofNational Food Security (VGGT) Programme. The objective of the seminar was tosupport the application of the VGGT by providing technical guidance on how tosafeguard the tenure rights in the context of agricultural land related investment.VGGT is a tool employed by the FAO to promote and secure tenure rights andequitable access to land as a means for eradicating hunger and poverty.

A MOBILE APP, Africa Tree Finder, hasbeen developed to help farmers and localauthorities in east Africa choose the rightkind of tree to plant - key to helpingcountries meet curb their emissions andadapt to a changing climate, say thedevelopers.

In Kenya’s Nyanza region, the appidentifies 80 different tree species thatcan potentially flourish for woodproduction, human consumption, animaluse, environmental use and to makemedicines.

The app draws on data which iscontinually updated from a potentialnatural vegetation map that shows

plants that would survive unaided,according to the World AgroforestryCentre (ICRAF), which developed theapp. The map covers Burundi, Ethiopia,Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Rwanda,Tanzania and Zambia.

“In African dry areas (for example),there is a very tight margin aroundwhich trees may be impacted by climatechange. However, if temperaturesincrease by say two degrees Celsius,there is a likelihood that some speciesmay not survive,” said Peter Minang,the global coordinator of an interna-tional partnership researching tropicalforest margins at ICRAF.

Soil-based filter bricks to recycle water for irrigation

ANDRÁS SZABÓ, THE ambassador of Hungary toGhana, has underscored the importance of innovationand research for the development of Ghana’s agricul-tural sector in his speech at the recent Ghanaian-Hungarian Agriculture Forum held in Accra

Szabó said that the future of agriculture and extraproduction in Ghana is expected to be dependent onnew innovations and technologies through research.

He further disclosed that a team from theHungarian National Agriculture Research andInnovation Centre visited Ghana to explore theagriculture sector for a further collaboration withGhana’s research centres and universities.

The team also introduced Hungarian crops andseeds and the application of different modules fromEurope to ascertain the best means of improvingagricultural production in Ghana, therefore to bringmutual benefit of both the countries.

He said that in order to support Ghana govern-ment’s ‘One-District, One-Factory’ (1D1F)programme, Hungary is taking steps to construct foodprocessing units in Ghana. In addition, Hungary hadalso held extensive discussions with some Ghanaianfarmers in the poultry and animal breeding industry tostrategise on quality meat production.

Victor Oppong Agyei, chairman of the Ghanapoultry farmers association, said that local farmerswere ready for the introduction of modern poultryequipment like processing plants and modern poultryhouses to improve and enhance broiler production inthe country.

The method could help recycle water for irrigation in arid regions where water resources are scarce.

Ghana–Hungary partnership to boost agricul-tural production

Helping east African farmers adapt to climate change

Liberia validates new agriculture process framework

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THE ETHIOPIAN MINISTRY of Livestock and Fisheries said it hasbeen aggressively working to establish modern animal rearingsystem with a view to making citizens more beneficiary and realisingthe country's goal to be best animal product supplier from Africa by2025.Opening the 1st Livestock and Fisheries week recently, minister

Professor Fekadu Beyene said, “Currently the nation's livestock andfisheries resources have been contributing a significant portion tothe economy, but compared to its potential much remains to bedone to benefit sector actors and the country by large.”Cognizant of its huge potential resources , the government has

planned to aggressively engage to ease challenges facing thesector by carrying out various capacity building activities supportedby researches and trainings, producing animal fodder both inquality and quantity, carrying out proper feeding and developmentmanagement, providing health services and productive speciesselections and distributions among other related activities.Besides, the government has also targeted to modernise the

sector by utilising latest technology, improving animal productivity,preventing and controlling animal diseases so as to providecommunities balanced diet among others.The minister also said that the week was organised aimed at

evaluating and promoting the nation's livestock and fisheriesresources. “It will boost contributions to the nation's economicdevelopment. It has a great importance to create awareness andestablish common ground to sector's actors and stakeholders.”State Minister Dr Misrak Mekonnen said that the country has

huge livestock resources animal, but the country is not utilising itshuge potential.

Ethiopia sets up modern animal husbandry system

The government has targeted tomodernise the sector by utilising

latest technology.

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EVENTS

This year’s Agritechnica show held at the Hannover Fairgrounds in Hannover, Germany, welcomed2,803 exhibitors and 450,00 visitors, including more than 100,00 from outside the country. The maintheme of this year’s show was ‘Green Future-Smart Technology’, with a host of exhibitors presenting theirnew innovations: tractors, farm machinery, equipment, spare parts and accessories.

THE 2017 EDITION of the showpresented a jam-packed line-up ofevents, including conferences andforums such as Young Farmers

Day, a day that welcomed young farmersfrom across the world to take part in aninternational exchange of experiences andWorkshop Live, an event that providedexclusive insights into the practical work ofyoung mechanics.

One of the biggest manufacturers oftractors, harvesting machines, dieselengines and agricultural machinery, Deutz-Fahr showcased its new offerings atAgritechnica. In a press briefing thecompany held, it presented its new offeringsin all power ranges for both the Europeanmarket and global markets. Deutz-Fahrshowcased the 9340 TTV and 7250 TTVmodels in the Warrior special limitededition at the show. The Same brand alsoshowcased the new SAME Frutteto Natural,Argon, Explorer TB and Virtus at the show

In Deutz-Fahr's combine harvesterofferings, the company has renewed themajor components of the 5 and 6 straw-walker models to further increase comfortand productivity. The C9300 Seriescombine harvesters are presented at thisyear's show with 340 hp and 395 hp StageIV Mercedes-Benz engines.

New Holland recently introducedagricultural implements the DiscCutter F320P front mower conditioner andDiscCutter 320P rear mower conditionerwith hydraulic suspension and stone releasewere exhibited at Agritechnica as part of thecompany’s product offering. The agricul-tural machinery manufacturer confirmedthey will form part of the yellow family ofharvesting machinery, where the brandalready offers big balers, round balers andforage harvesters, wherase the company’snew tillage solutions also presented at theshow are painted in New Holland tractorblue. “We provide all-round agriculturalsolutions to maximise the efficiency andproductivity of our customers: agriculturalimplements must be perfectly integratedwith the product they are fitted to – and thisis what we are doing - combining ourtechnological excellence with specific

expertise from Kongskilde,” said CarloLambro, New Holland Agriculture brandPresident. “

New Holland won Machine of the Year2018 Award in the Mid Class Tractorcategory at this year’s show for the NewHolland T6.175 Dynamic CommandTMtractor in the Mid Class Tractor categoryafter being judged against a criteria thatlooked at performance, productivity, cost ofoperation.

African Farming spoke to Rainer Syexport manager at Lemken at the show“South Africa was completely a turnaround- 2016 there was a drought almost adisaster. This is the same in Zambia,Namibia and other southern countries butnow we have had a pretty good year - weare heading US$5.9mn local turnover inSouth Africa which is quite good. Othercountries we had some sales in includeSenegal and Morocco and we are inprocess with Algeria. We have discussionswith Sudan and Ethiopia - where wealready have sales. Nigera has moreinhabitants than Russia, in the year 2013they expect to have more inhabitants thanthe US, so that is why they want to invest inagriculture and food security.”

Fliegl presented its new product range atthe 2017 edition of the show, includingFliegl Buffalo, a new combination of rotorloading system, pickup, cutting rotor,holding hopper and overloadingapparatus. Material is taken up, cut, storedin a holding hopper and overloaded ontothe transport vehicle. The result is aharvesting process with unprecedentedefficiency - a revolution in grasslandharvesting. The Fliegl Buffalo was awarded

the Silver Innovation Award at Agritechnica. Joskin, provider of the word’s largest

offerings of trailers for transport andspreading of agricultural products,showcased its trailer dedicated to the palmharvest at the show. The company hasdesigned a new trailer for the harvesting ofpalm fruits. Based on the successful Trans-CAP, this trailer is simple, sturdy and canface all types of tracks. The sprung drawbarensures a significant flexibility and protectsthe driver from shocks.The Trans-PALMtipping trailer was designed to be packagedin containers, which increases the transportpossibilities while reducing the freight costs.As an example, up to 4 units of Trans-PALM4500/7C65 can be put in one 40"container.

Based in France and manufacturingagricultural machinery since 1946, Rolland,unveiled the HD Definition for its interna-tional clients at the show. This new panel ofoptions will seduce the intensive users byrising the spreader’s capacities while facili-tating the maintenance. The deck offersdismountable wearing parts and a bellcovers the gearbox shafts to prevent liquidsintrusions. The TCE concept designed byRolland 25 years ago, makes the beaterframe the closest as possible to the bedchain in order to mix the manure, while alsoimproving spreading quality and width.

A full width side deflector has beendesigned to easily spread on fields sides.The composting deflectors can now bepiloted hydraulically. A rubber protectionthat was designed for use in the miningindustry is available to protect the hoodfrom abrasion and chocs. It is a dismount-able wearing part.

This year’s show was hailed a successwith visitors from 138 countries; most ofthem from The Netherlands, followed byDenmark, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.Visitor growth was recorded in the numbersfrom North America, Eastern Europe, Asiaand Africa. The visitor survey showed morethan two-thirds of the surveyed farmers,contractors and machinery rings intend toinvest in the next two years. The focus of thisinvestment was primarily linked to replace-ment and expansion. h

Agritechnica 2017: The latestmachinery innovations

New Holland showcased the DiscCutter F 320P atAgritechnica. (Photo: New Holland)





http://www.graf-equipment.com/

https://www.bentallrowlands.com/

POULTRY

Olam Nigeria Limited recently unveiled Nigeria’s largest Integrated feed mill,hatchery and breeder farm. Iliya Kure writes about the farm, its operationsand the role it could play in transforming Nigerian poultry industry.

“WE STAND NOW on thesite of Nigeria’s largestintegrated animal feedmill, poultry breeding

farm and hatchery. With the governmentand the community as our partners, it is ourambition that this new investment will helpNigeria meet its ever-growing demand forhigh quality animal protein.”

These were the words of managingdirector and chief executive officer of OlamNigeria’s integrated feed mill, KC Suresh, inSeptember, at the inauguration and formalcommencement of business at theintegrated feed mill, hatchery and breederfarm in Kaduna, northern Nigeria.

The ground-breaking ceremony for theproject was performed by governor NasiruEl-Rufai of Kaduna State, on 8 April 2016.This followed meetings with Olam in

Singapore in September 2015, where thecompany made a firm decision to investfurther in Nigeria and in Kaduna State.

Located in Chikpiri Gabas village, KM25, along Kaduna-Abuja expressway, thestate-of-the-art poultry farms and animalfeed mill covers a total of 844 ha and isoperated with the latest techniques inbiosecurity and at full capacity will supply1.6 n day-old-chicks every week.

Olam Nigeria has invested aboutUS$150mn to establish two integrated

facilities in Kaduna and Kwara states,resulting in two animal feed mills, poultrybreeding farms and day-old-chick hatchery.

The company has an advanced feedlaboratory which further assures quality ateach state of production, and ensures allhatched chicks receive full vaccination andenvironment-controlled transportation toprotect their health.

The Kaduna facility has two warehouseswith storing capacity of about 8, 000 mt ofraw materials. It has 15 poultry farms, eachhousing 50,000 birds.

On an annual basis, the facility isexpected to process 180,000 tonnes ofcorn; 75,000 tonnes of soybeans and360,000 tonnes of animal feed.

Combined, the two state-of-the-artanimal feed facilities can provide localfarmers with 720,000 mt of poultry feed.

Pioneering growth in the Nigerianpoultry industry

Outside the animal feed mill at Olam'sintegrated feed mill, hatchery and breeder farm.

On an annual basis, the facilityis expected to process 180,000tonnes of corn; 75,000 tonnes

of soybeans; and 360,000tonnes of animal feed.

Image Credit: Olam


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https://www.bovans.com/en/

https://www.schulefood.de/en/

Innovations in poultry feed Olam’s two poultry feed brands, Chikunand Ultima, are fortified with amino acids,vitamins, minerals and feed additives whichmeet national and international standards.

According to the company, it isintroducing heat-treated mash and pelletedfeeds to Nigeria for the first time to ensurehigh microbial safety for its feed.

“We project that our investment willenhance domestic poultry production byapproximately eight billion eggs and 100mn kg of poultry meat - the equivalent of40 eggs and 0.5 kg of chicken per Nigerianper year," said Emma Blinkhorn, publicrelations officer at Olams International.

Fostering local content“We source many of the raw materials forour animal feed locally (soybeans, corn,cassava). In the crop year 2016-17, Olamwas the largest buyer of Nigerian soybeansfrom local farmers and traders.

“With the projected demand for these rawmaterials, we could impact more than 300,000smallholder crop farmers.” Emma said.

Olam believes that its poultry businesswill provide direct employment to morethan 250 people and create additional400-500 indirect jobs.

The animal feed and protein operationsare creating about 6,000 jobs to high

skilled individuals among them, veterinar-ians and aquaculture technicians.

Olam is working with the InternationalInstitute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA),Ibadan, an Agricultural Research Institute,in the area of high yield seeds production,which the company plans to distribute tolocal farmers.

“We have started 220 ha of soybeanseed farming on our Kaduna site and wehope to gradually expand this to offer high-quality seeds to farmers in Nigeria. We haveset a target to increase Nigeria’s soybeanproduction from 500mt to 2,000mt over thenext five to seven years,” said the publicrelations officer. This act, they believe, willimpact the livelihoods of more than300,000 smallholder crop farmers.

Support from the Nigerian governmentExpressing delight while speaking at the

inauguration and formal commencement ofbusiness at the Integrated Farm, governorNasiru El-Rufai, described the Olam projectas a major investment in the State, sayinggovernment had to go an extra mile tocreate a competitive business environmentfor investors.

“Kaduna State provided this land free ofcharge to Olam, carrying the burden ofpaying nearly US$1.3mn in compensationto customary title holders in the clear beliefthat such is a worthwhile expense for thebenefit of our people.”

According to him, his administration wasdeveloping a green economic zone inpartnership with an India based company,Skipper Seill, which will accommodate otheragribusinesses, including the OCP Centre ofAgricultural Excellence (Morocco), FlourMills fertiliser blending plant (Nigeria) andthe Mahindra tractor manufacturing plant

POULTRY

Day old chicks being fed at the farm. Olam is introducing heat-treated mash and pelleted

feeds to Nigeria for the firsttime to ensure high microbial

safety for its feed.

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Chikun animal feed bags at the farm.

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(India), all powered by clean solar energy,with gas turbines as back-up to be providedby Greenwich Energy of France andGreenville Oil and Gas (Nigeria).

El-Rufai described the project as asignificant milestone for Kaduna Stateespecially in Nigeria’s drive towards foodsecurity and economic diversificationthrough agriculture.

While inviting other investor to Kaduna,the governor described the state as one withcomparative advantage, saying, “Ourfarmers are the leading producers ofginger, maize and soybeans in this country.We are close second in the production ofsorghum, beans, tomatoes, chilly peppersand potatoes. Kaduna state is blessed withvast arable land, immense water resourcesand farmers who know how to farm, limitedonly by their small holdings."

He described Olam as the largest singleforeign direct investor in Kaduna State indecades, stressing that in addition tocreating thousands of direct jobs, it will alsocreate many more indirect jobs, as it willoutsource its grain supplies to farmers aswell as create a ready source of day-oldchicks to smaller poultry farmers.

Also speaking at the occasion, president

Muhammadu Buhari described the invest-ment as a symbol of national growth andstability of the nation, adding that apartfrom boosting food production, it will helpto reduce crime and rural-urban migrationthrough job creation.

Buhari described Olam as thoroughlyNigerian, stressing that since its incorpora-tion in the country in 1989, it had extendedits operation across the country.

“I would like to acknowledge their invest-ments in the country,” Buhari said.

A long historyEstablished in 1989, Olam tradedcashews from Nigeria to India. TodayOlam is a leading agri business operatingfrom seed to shelf, supplying food andindustrial raw materials to over 22,900customers worldwide.

Olam has over 70,000 employees across70 countries and has built leadershippositions in several platforms, includingcocoa, coffee, cashew, rice and cotton. Thecompany which is listed on the SingaporeExchange (SGX) and counted among thetop 30 companies by market capitalisation,sources its raw materials from over fourmillion farmers and their communities. h

POULTRY

Olam is working with theInternational Institute ofTropical Agriculture (IITA),

Ibadan, an agriculturalresearch institute, in the area

of high yield seeds production.


Sharad Gupta, vice-president of Olam Grains and head ofanimal feed and protein.


https://metamino-hub.evonik.com/front/home

EGG CONSUMPTION IN Africa percapita is steadily increasing, with thebenefits of the low cost protein stillbeing discovered. As the population

grows and income levels rise, the pressureto supply eggs will intensify, and Africanproducers have a great deal of opportunityto succeed in the marketplace. In fact, eggsare one of the most efficient and costeffective ways of converting feed intoprotein for human consumption, with farlower environmental impacts than, forexample, cattle farming. Therefore, theprospects for everyone involved in the eggproduction value chain over the next fiveyears are very promising.

Boom inthe poultry industryAs some recent events demonstrate, Africacontinues to be an important area of growth.From October 1-6, representatives attendedthe Poultry Trade Mission in Uganda andRwanda, hosted by the Netherlands-AfricanBusiness Council (NABC) as well as the firstever Poultry Africa Expo & Conference. Thetrade mission was attended by 12 Dutchpoultry companies with a programme ofactivities intended for networking and discus-sion. After the mission, the first Poultry AfricaExpo and Conference took place in Kigali.This event gave opportunities for all partici-pants to exchange information and

knowledge. The mood of the event waspositive as many in the field have recognisedthat regions such as Uganda and Rwandahave an intensive agricultural sector wherebypoultry farming has become an importantindustry. The demand for eggs is steadilyincreasing, and the poultry sector in Rwandais still relatively small, but fast-growing.

Improving production with geneticsWithin commercial production, producersrequire robust, easy to manage andforgiving birds, capable of bouncing backto full production following the inevitablechallenges. Using genomic selection,exhaustive testing of egg quality andinnovative monitoring techniques, HendrixGenetics’ research and developmentprogramme results in breeds with uniqueand highly desirable combinations ofresilience, efficiency and performance.Additionally, technical support, offered by

the global team, is crucial in order to setproducers up for success in managingdisease, nutrition and egg production.Within the R&D department, testing of

pedigree birds is conducted in commercialenvironments in approximately 25 locationsaround the world with hundreds of thousandsof birds annually. The commercial cross birdstested are the daughters of pre-selectedcockerels, and by testing a large number ofbirds the company is able to gather a largeamount of data. The more measurementscollected, the more accurate breeding valuesbecome for selection purposes. Furthermore, the offspring of the cockerels

in the commercial line are tested in at leasttwo different locations so that the effects ofmanagement, feed and climate differencescan be incorporated into the analysis. Forthese reasons breeds such as the feedefficient ISA Brown and the versatile, robustBovans are popular across Africa. Newperformance standards have recently beenreleased, giving producers even moreaccuracy in predicting flock performance.Egg production in Africa accounts for

less than five per cent of the world total. Atthe same time, as egg consumptioncontinues to grow, African egg producersare poised to tap into the tremendouspotential within the region with the rightproducts and services within their grasp. h

POULTRY

Genetic tools can play a major role in boosting egg production withgenomic selection, egg quality testing and innovative monitoring techniques.

Genetics toboost egg production

Genetic tools can also play a role inmanaging disease and nutrition.

Within commercial production,producers require robust, easy

to manage and forgiving birds,capable of bouncing back tofull production following the

inevitable challenges.

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NEWS

THE OVERUSE OF antibiotics in humanmedicine is a major cause behind thedevelopment of bacterial resistance.Another important contributing factoris the overuse and misuse of antibioticsin intensive animal production. It isestimated that over half of all theantibiotics produced is used up in farmanimals, that too for non-therapeuticpurpose. When animals are adminis-tered an antibiotic that is closelyrelated to an antibiotic used inhuman medicine, cross resistanceoccurs and disease-causing bacteriabecome resistant to the drugs used inhuman medicine.Non-therapeutic use of antibioticsare being slowly limited fromintensive animal production. Worldwide,consumers are actively pressurising govern-ments to bring resolutions to limit the use ofantibiotics as growth promoters. However,the burning question now is, what do youreplace antibiotic growth promoters with? According to feed additives company,Ayurvet, nature has provided us with

immense treasure which when harnessedwith right kind of knowledge can providesolutions to practically every problem. NBIOTIC is a phyto additive growth promoterfortified with essential oils created by theresearch and development team of Ayurvet.According to the company, it is a naturalalternative to antibiotic growth promoter,

helps in improving FCR and attainingbetter final body weight in pigs andpoultry. The herbs present in NBIOTICinclude allium sativum, zinzibar offici-nale and cichorium intybus amongothers. The herbs promote gut functionand maintains the micro biocenosis ofthe gut. They are natural growthpromoters, have antioxidant andantimicrobial properties and promotegut morphogenesis.The main mechanism through whichNBIOTIC promotes growth is byincreasing the height of villus andcrypt depth, thus improving theabsorptive capacity of the gut. It alsohelps in improving the intestinalenvironment for the growth of benefi-

cial bacteria while inhibiting pathogenic bacteria. The gobletcell number also increases, thus providingprotection to the gut from local antigens.Ayurvet points out that the overall effect isthat it provides all the benefits that are foundin antibiotic growth promoters whileproviding food safety.

THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT has announced ambitiousplans to increase the country’s chicken population by fourmillion over the next five years. In turn, this will take the totalchicken population to 11mn by 2023 and increase egg produc-tion by 143 per cent in the east African country.This move was announced by the minister for agriculture and

animal resources (MINAGRI), Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, in abid to increase protein availability and help improve nutrition forthe Rwandan people. During talks with government institutions,development partners, and members of Rwandan Parliament, theminister laid out her plans on how to further develop theeconomy while at the same time achieving farming targets. She said the move was intended to scale up the livestock

sector, especially poultry, which is rich in protein and cancontribute to rapidly improving nutrition among Rwandans.

MINAGRI figures from 2010 show that the country had 3.5mnchickens. Egg production that same year was 80mn whichincreased to 157.7mn in 2016. According to these figures, aRwandan ate about seven eggs per year in 2010, or half an eggper month, which increased to 13 eggs in 2016, about one eggper month, which are very low consumption statistics.However, farmers in Rwanda state that they are hindered in

developing their poultry flocks as the cost of feed is muchhigher than the returns from eggs and poultry meat. Addressingthe issue of costs of production, minister Mukeshimana said,“We are working with people who produce day-old chicks sothat we set up a system that will allow a smallholder farmer toget the chicks after six months so that they are able to spendless money rearing the chicks, as after three months, they canget yields.”

Rwanda to increase chicken population by four million in next five years

NBIOTIC uses herbs that promoteintestinal microbiocenosis.

A natural alternative to antibiotics

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https://www.ayurvet.com/

LIVESTOCK

Inter-disciplinary research by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MALF) has revealedthe potential benefits of a comprehensive livestock master plan in Tanzania.

WITH RAPID ECONOMICgrowth forecast in much of thecontinent, governmentdevelopment priorities largely

focus on increasing productivity and invest-ment. And in Tanzania, where approxi-mately 37 per cent of the rural householdspossess cattle, chicken, goats, pigs andsheep, this puts livestock at the centre of thedevelopment debate.Despite accounting for 11 per cent of the

African cattle population, livestock-relatedactivities contribute only 7.4 per cent toTanzania’s GDP and growth of the livestocksector at 2.6 per cent is low. In recent years,the government of Tanzania has prioritisedthe transformation of the agricultural sector,yet the absence of a livestock roadmap hashindered progress. The absence of clearroadmaps to develop the livestock sectorhas persistently hindered successfulimplementation of these previous invest-ment plans.However, detailed inter-disciplinary

research by the International LivestockResearch Institute (ILRI) and the Ministry ofAgriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MALF)reveals the potential benefits of a compre-hensive livestock master plan in Tanzania.

Development of the planFunded by the Bill & Melinda GatesFoundation, development of the Tanzanialivestock master plan was overseen by ahigh-level technical advisory committeeconvened by the MALF livestock permanentsecretary, Maria Mashingo, and chaired byCatherine Dangat, ministry’s director forpolicy and planning. The committeecomprised directors of key MALF livestock-related departments and other governmentagencies, and representatives from theprivate sector, civil society organizationsand development partner agencies.

Data collection and quantitative diagnos-tics were supported by ongoing involvementof national livestock experts and in consulta-tion with a wide range of key stakeholders.The quantitative sector analysis wasundertaken using a Livestock SectorInvestment and Policy Toolkit developed by

the World Bank, the Agricultural ResearchCentre for International Development(CIRAD) and the Food and AgricultureOrganization of the United Nations workingunder the auspices of the African UnionInterafrican Bureau for Animal Resources.

Targeted outcomes of the MALF/ILRI planThe plan sets out the investment interven-tions—better genetics, feed and healthservices, which, together with complemen-tary policy support—could help to improveproductivity and total production in the keylivestock value chains for poultry, pork, redmeat, milk, and dairy cows. With relativelysmall levels of investment in the livestocksector, US$621mn over five years, the jointMALF/ILRI plan aims to create 1.8mn full-time jobs—80 per cent going to farm familymembers and another 20 per cent to hiredemployees. Beyond the direct benefits to the liveli-

hoods of rural people, transformation of thecountry’s livestock sector has the potentialto lower foods prices, benefitting urbanconsumers, and to generate foreignexchange earnings through increasedexports. Implementation of the livestockmaster plan is also seen as critical to

Tanzania livestock master plan tocreate two million jobs

The livestock master plan could help to improveproductivity and total production in the key

livestock value chains.

Investment in the developmentof crossbred dairy cows could

lead to a 35 per cent surplus ofmilk production.

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achieving food and nutritional security athousehold and national levels.

Revaluating the livestock industryThe Tanzania plan assesses contributions bythree traditional pillars of livestock develop-ment—breeds, feeds, health—as well as byinstitutional policies on key livestock valuechains (crossbred dairying, and red meat,pig and poultry production) for the long-rundevelopment of the sector. The plan provides evidence that invest-

ment in the development of crossbred dairycows could lead to a 35 per cent surplus ofmilk production over domestic demand,enhancing nutritional security, industrialoutput (eg in the baking industry) andexport earnings.The story is less positive in the red meat

subsector where limited access to land forgrazing and feed production will constraingrowth in the beef sector. Without a substi-tution away from beef consumption,Tanzania is still likely to face a 17 per centred meat deficit by 2022. Since smallruminant meat accounts for less than 20per cent of red meat production, it is unliketo significantly help close this projecteddeficit. With a rising population, this is likelyto put upward pressure on red meat prices.

Increasing meat productionSuccessful interventions—largely in theareas of breed selection, disease controland feed production—could significantlyexpand the share of poultry in the economyby 182 per cent, to US$323mn within fiveyears. Interventions in the pig sector—leading to more sustainable and climate-smart operations and ensuring high-qualityand safe pig meat/pork—could significantlyreduce poverty by increasing householdincomes, food and nutritional security. Thecontribution of pork to Tanzania’s GDP

would be expected to rise by 83 per cent, toUS$36mn by 2022.Perhaps most importantly, the growth of

the poultry and pig subsectors wouldenable Tanzania to close the projected ‘allmeat’ deficit, increasing the share of whitemeat to total meat consumption from thecurrent nine per cent to 41 per cent by2032. There are, however, some caveats.The benefits that can accrue fromimplementing the livestock master plan willrequire investment in changing tastes awayfrom red meat. h

LIVESTOCK


The plan aims to introduce more sustainableand climate-smart operations in the pig

sector. (Timestudia/AdobeStock)


http://gsieame.com/

CASSAVA

Cassava's potential in Africa is slowly expanding beyond food security. The 3rd Cassava World Africaheld in Lusaka from 10-11 October 2017 focused on the role cassava could play in bolstering industryand economies in the continent. Nawa Mutumweno reports.

ALTHOUGH CASSAVA’S ROLE infood security in the continent isnow being recognised, it still lagsbehind maize, rice and wheat in

terms of attention and research. Cassava is abundant in sub-Saharan

Africa, and is a worthwhile alternative toimprove food security for millions ofpeople. Turning a traditional crop likecassava into the commercial realm for foodand non-food applications is the ambitionof many African countries. For many years,commercial cassava cultivation in Africahas been limited but it is heartening that thisis changing.

Governments across Africa are pushingfor the expansions of cassava investmentsand value addition that can potentiallycreate more employment and economicdevelopment for the countries.

Even though Africa produces the largest volumes of cassava, it is yet tocapitalise on its harvests through modernmechanisation, availability of high yieldcassava varieties and improving itsprocessing capabilities. Limitation of invest-ments in agriculture tools and infrastructureare hurdles on the road to success.

It is against this background that theCentre for Management Technology (CMT)organised 3rd Cassava World Africa inLusaka from 10-11 October 2017 under thetheme: ‘Raising Cassava Productivity in Africato Meet Rising Demand in Food & Industry’.

A platform where stakeholders convergedThe event has established itself as thepreferred conference for cassava industryplayers across Africa. The summitaddressed that included cassava varieties,supplemental irrigation, seedlings and hadthe attendance of key players from west and

east Africa sharing their experiences,challenges, and opportunities with thecommon goal of maximising cassava valueadded products.

New features at the forum included:commercial farm operator’s perspective oncassava plantation investment; regionalgovernments’ smart incentives and policiesfor cassava investment; mechanisationsolutions in advancing cassava farming;market prospects of value added products –starch, biofuels, animal feed, glucosesyrup, flour; outlook for maize vs cassava inAfrica; and latest processing technologiesto produce quality starch.

Exploring new opportunities for cassava The Cassava World Africa also covered, interalia, areas like land availability for cassavafarming and new land models; access to agrifinancing and options; improving produc-tivity and quality – learning from Asia;commercialisation of smallholder cassavaproduction; high quality cassava seedmultiplication; processing and brewingcassava beer; latest updates on new cassavavarieties; and cassava projects anddownstream investments.

It presented cassava market businessprospects across Zambia, Mozambique,Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania. Among keyspeakers was Dick Siame, country

programme officer at International Fund forAgriculture Development (IFAD) who sharedon ‘Commercialisation of SmallholderCassava Production in Mozambique andZambia: Opportunities and Challenges’.

Also commenting on the commercialcassava processing initiatives was UnionDicon Salt on its investment in commercialcassava plantation and downstreamprojects in Nigeria and Flour Mills ofNigeria’s account of its cassava breadinitiatives pinpointing how it overcameconstraints of inadequate equipment forflour production to impact on cassava flourinclusion in bread formulations. Presentingits successful case study was ZambianBreweries describing its journey inprocessing and brewing cassava beer andhow it worked with smallholder farms andmanaged the supply chain.

Zambian Breweries has investedUS$2.2mn in Luapula Province that willenable 4,000 small-scale farmers to growcassava. The brewery plans to turn Mansa,the provincial headquarters, into the‘cassava capital city of Zambia’.

"The brewery has collaborated withZambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI)to develop new varieties for cassava andinvest in mechanisation of cassava produc-tion with support from Musika," the firm’sagriculture manager Chris Nicole said.

Cassava’s emerging potential

The summit was attended by key industry players from across the continent.

There has been interest frommining firms to use cassava

starch in processing plants andin the beverage industry for

beer production.

Image Credit: 3rd Cassava W

orld Africa


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Support from governmental and non-governmental sectorsThe summit also had Uganda’s Ministry ofAgriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheriessharing details of the country’s smartincentives and policies to promote cassavainvestment via land availability and newland models and developing basic infras-tructure from farm to processing facilities.

Funding cassava projects, both upstreamand downstream, as well as marketingcassava value added products in Africawere two key highlights at the event whichfeatured panel discussions on ‘Financingcassava projects and downstreaming invest-ments’ and ‘Towards better market access’featuring speakers from the RockefellerFoundation, Zambia National CommercialBank, Zambia National CassavaAssociation, and Tanzania Private SectorFoundation (TPSF), among others.

Beer and starch production from cassavaThe forum was a meeting point for decisionmakers from cassava plantation investors/owners; processors and end users from thesectors of food and beverage, brewery,paper, textile, livestock feed, plywood;starch producers and traders; bioethanol,biofuel producers; asset managementcompanies, investment banks, agriculturalfunds companies; seeds/enzymes suppliers;machinery and technology providers; fertil-izer, agro-checmical and biotech companies;crop consultants; irrigation and wastewater

management companies; governmentagencies and research institutes.

Opening the event on behalf of theZambian Minister of Agriculture Ms DoraSiliya, ministry permanent secretary, JuliusShawa, said the country has found alterna-tive use for excess cassava.

There has been interest from miningfirms to use cassava starch in processingplants and in the beverage industry for beerproduction. The country has also issued thefirst licence for companies to produceethanol from cassava.

"The demand for cassava is likely tooutstrip the current excess cassava produc-tion in the country,"’ he revealed.

Presenting a paper on value additionand investments in the cassava industry,Premiercon Starch Company Limited (PSCL)CEO, Lubasi Yuyi, said the firm intends toestablish a starch manufacturing companyin Zambia.

With support from the Citizens EconomicEmpowerment Commission (CEEC), it willset up a US$3.5mn plant anchored on anout-grower scheme with a target of about80,000 mt of processed cassava annually.

Nigeria has started to benefit from its

import substitution policy in cassava starch– led by the federal government – which hasearned it US$4mn in the financial year thatended 2016.

A hardy, versatile cropCassava is worthy promoting as a food andcash crop because of its adaptability(drought-resistant), low labour require-ments, multiple by-products (flour, pellets,feed, and starch) and high energy outputper unit area and labour compared tocereals, according to the Food andAgriculture Organisation (FAO).

"This renders it a suitable and cheapersubstitute for cereals in starch and feedmanufacture," the UN agency added.

"There is need to establish linkagesamong farmers and processors to create areadily available market, which is currentlya challenge. We need to improve the supplychain efficiency by strengthening farmerorganisations’ storage and infrastructurefacilities," the Indaba Agricultural Policy andResearch Institute (IAPRI) rightfully observed.

The potential of cassava as a cash crop willincrease but the extent to which this transfor-mation can be achieved is yet to be seen. h

CASSAVA

Even though Africa produces the largest volumes of cassava, it is yet to capitalise on its harvests through modern mechanisation.

Nigeria has started to benefitfrom its import substitution

policy in cassava starch – ledby the federal government –which has earned it US$4mn

in the financial year thatended 2016.

Image Credit: Ado

be Stock/ tinglee1631



http://www.maschio.com/home-hi-IN/

PLANT NUTRITION

Deficiency of iron presents one of the biggest constraints on the harvest of goodquality fruit and vegetables from alkaline soils. Dr Terry Mabbett writes on how plantnutrition can be managed to incorporate adequate levels of iron for crops.

IRON IS A commonly occurring elementin soil but frequently insoluble andunavailable for uptake by roots andtherefore useful in plant growth and

development. Plant-unavailable iron presents one of

the biggest constraints on the harvest ofgood quality fruit and vegetables fromalkaline soils. Soils may be alkaline due tothe over-liming of naturally acidic soils andthe application of alkaline irrigation water.These constraints are easily lifted but themost common underlying and hard-to-curecause of alkaline soil is calcium carbonate-rich parent rock material weathering anddeveloping within an arid or dry environ-ment to form so-called calcareous soils.

Citrus, olives, top fruit (apples andpears), stone fruit (peaches, plums,cherries, apricots and nectarines) andavocado are some of the classic fruit treecrops that are potentially cursed by irondeficiency when growing on calcareous,alkaline soils.

Iron in abundance but unavailable to plantsPear (Pyrus domestica) is one of the fruit treecrops most prone to plant unavailable iron,plagued by iron deficiency symptoms and thephysiological consequences of irondeficiency. Marked leaf chlorosis (yellowing)as a hallmark symptom of iron deficiency isaccompanied in pears by a significantreduction in yield and quality of harvestedfruit and a shortened productive life for peartrees and orchards of around five to six years.The situation is no better for crops that bear

their fruit and foliage closer to the ground.Grapevines and soft fruit including strawber-ries are all at risk of iron deficiency, as aresalad crop vegetables including tomato,capsicum pepper and cucumber, leaf cropsincluding lettuce and various brassicas andlegume crops such as peas and beans.

Another classic case is cucumber(Cucumis sativus) prone to iron deficiencywhether grown in the field or greenhouse.Iron deficiency causes a uniformyellow/green chlorosis of the newest leaveson cucumber plants while all the otherleaves remain dark green.

Initially, veins on the by now chloroticnewest leaves will stay green to give the leafa net-like pattern. However, under acuteiron deficiency conditions, smaller veinsalso lose their natural green colour withleaves developing ‘burn’ (a dry necrosis),especially when exposed to strong sunlight.

Iron is fundamental for crop plantsFoliar chlorosis (leaf yellowing) as thehallmark symptom of iron deficiency in crop

plants should come as no surprise becausethe micronutrient is an essential andfundamental mineral element for plantmetabolism including as an activator ofenzymes in photosynthesis and cellularrespiration.

Magnesium is the central component ofthe chlorophyll molecule but synthesis of thislight-intercepting plant pigment requiresiron. Iron is also vital for maintaining thestructure and function of chloroplasts whichare the cholorphyll-containing cellorganelles.

Of equal importance to plant growth anddevelopment is the position and role of ironas the ‘heme’ component in thecytochromes of the electron transport chainand closely involved in the generation ofATP, the universal chemical energy currencyof life.

Plant response to iron stressIn addition to the visible morphologicalsymptoms shown by plants in response tothe availability of iron (or rather a lack of it),

Ironing out deficiency in fruit andvegetables on alkaline soils

Pomegranate fruits are supremely rich in iron and in India are recommended as part of a diet to boost blood iron and alleviate anaemia Citrus, olives, top fruit (apples

and pears), stone fruit(peaches, plums, cherries,

apricots and nectarines) andavocado are some of the

classic fruit tree crops whichare potentially cursed by iron

deficiency when growing oncalcareous, alkaline soils.

Image Credit: Dr Terry Mabbett



a deficiency also produces physiologicaland biochemical responses at plant-rootlevel in dicotyledonous plants. Physiological responses include increased

extrusion of hydrogen ions or protons [H+]to lower pH of the rhizosphere and therelease of natural reducing and/or chelatingchemical compounds including phenolicsand flavins. Plants will additionally set inmotion a two-step mechanism to facilitategreater uptake of Fe (iron). Trivalent ferriciron Fe (III) is first reduced by a plasmamembrane bound enzyme called ferric-chelate reductase (FC-R) to the divalentferrous iron Fe (II) which is subsequentlyabsorbed by the roots. Soil bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere

may also play a part by the secretion of‘siderophores,’ which are small high-affinityiron chelating compounds. They areamongst the strongest soluble Fe3+binding agents known.Overall result of these mechanisms is

increased plant availability of iron and amore efficient movement of the ironmicronutrient across living cell membranesand into plant roots. Among the moremarked plant biochemical responses is anaccumulation of organic acids, primarilycitric acid as citrate and malic acid asmalate, in the roots and the leaves. Andclearly a mitigation response to iron stressbecause these organic acids are naturalchelates.

Cast iron chemical secrets of successSolutions to these problems lay in theapplication of foliar sprays of soluble ironnutrient products. The most basic choice isiron (ferrous) sulphate (FeSO4), but thissimple and soluble, divalent iron salt isrelatively unstable and therefore rapidlyoxidised and precipitated out as insolubleplant-unavailable trivalent iron compoundssuch as ferric hydroxide (Fe (OH)3). The oxidation/precipitation process

begins in acid conditions, rises further as thesoil medium moves up the pH scale towardspH 7, the point at which soil condition isconsidered to be neutral (neither acid noralkaline). It accelerates thereafter as pHmoves further upwards into alkaline soil‘territory’ (pH 7+). Acidity/alkalinity ismeasured and recorded over a pH range of1 to 14. pH 1 denotes extreme acidity andpH 14 the extremity of alkalinity. A soil–water solution of pH 7 is neutral.Secret to crop cultivation and production

success on alkaline soils is the stability andability of the iron nutrient delivery system inholding onto and protecting the solubleiron fraction from oxidation and precipita-tion, so it can be presented to the plant asavailable and usable iron. Requirementsare for nutrient compounds and deliverysystems with physical-chemical propertiesthat maintain stability and integrity of theFe-chelate in the face of rising pH levelsand increasingly alkaline reaction soils. pH is a measure of the concentration of

hydrogen ions [H+] (otherwise calledprotons) in the soil medium. Rising pH is aresult of a decreasing proportion ofpositively charged hydrogen ions (H+) in

relation to negatively charged hydroxyl ions(OH-). The latter cause oxidation andprecipitation by reacting with ferric ions(Fe3+) produce insoluble ferric hydroxide.

Chelated solutions to iron unavailability inplantsThe natural reaction and response of cropplants and associated soil micro-organismsin the rhizosphere, to iron stress is clearlyimportant but invariably insufficient toovercome the inherent problem of ironunavailability in alkaline- reaction soils.This requires the application of solublenutrient products containing powerful andproven synthetic chelating agents. A chelating agent (chelate) has molecules

of which can form several bonds with a singlemetal ion in this case Fe3+. In other words, achelating agent is a multi-dentate ligand. Thechelate effect is the enhanced affinity of suchchelating ligands for a metal ion compared tothe affinity of a collection of similar non-chelating (mono-dentate) ligands for the samemetal. Net result of this high affinity for Fe3+is enhanced stability of soluble iron andsuccessful transfer of iron into the roots forutilisation by the plant’s metabolism.

Omex Fe N Feed and Omex FeomaxHowever, the use of iron chelates in agricul-ture and horticulture is not a ‘one fits all’situation because different chelates havediffering abilities to hold on to ferric ions asthe pH level moves up and into alkaline soilterritory. Omex Agrifluids a United Kingdom

based company with an internationalmarket base has harnessed these differ-

PLANT NUTRITION

Solutions to these problemslay in the application of foliarsprays of soluble iron nutrient

products.


2 First symptoms of iron deficiency in citrus occur in thefoliage which takes on a pale yellow appearance.


Cucumber is susceptible to iron deficiency but the greenhouse crop seen here, though growing in an inherentlyalkaline soil, looks good thanks to foliar spray treatment with a soluble iron nutrient product.



PLANT NUTRITION


ences to provide farmers and growers witha two product choice in a ‘horses forcourses’ approach for rectifying andovercoming problems for plant growth anddevelopment and arising from the non-availability of iron to crops growing inalkaline soils. “The problem of iron unavailability to

crop plants actually ‘kicks in’ within acidicsoils, subsequently accelerating andaccumulating beyond pH 7 (neutral) andinto alkaline soil territory,” said Peter Prentis,marketing manager at Omex. “Our ironavailability programme is based on twodifferent iron chelates which are Fe-EDTA(Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and Fe-EDDHA (ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid),” said Omexexport manager Alan Lowes. “To overcome iron unavailability and to

correct deleterious consequences for plantgrowth and development (including irondeficiency symptoms), that begin in mildlyacid soils, we recommend our Omex Fe NFeed product based on the Fe-EDTAchelate,” said Prentis. “Fe-EDTA remainsstable and therefore holds on to its solubleferric ion component up to point approxi-mately mid-way between pH 6 and 7,”added Lowes. “But much beyond this point(pH 6.4) Fe-EDTA is rapidly destabilised byan increasing concentration of [OH-](hydroxyl ions) with soluble iron oxidisedand precipitated out as insoluble and plant unavailable ferric compounds,” saidPrentis. “As such we recommend the use of Omex

Fe N Feed for crops growing in soil up to pH6.4,” added Lowes. “Beyond this pointfarmers and growers should alternatively

use our Omex Feomax containing Fe-EDDHA that stays stable and continues tohold on to its soluble ferric iron componentup to a pH level pf 8,” said Prentis.Some other manufacturers will claim that

Fe-EDDHA is effective up to pH 11.However, attempts to grow crops onalkaline soils with a pH much above eightare likely to run into all sorts of other seriousproblems, in addition to plant unavailableiron. This is the time to use soil amendmentproducts to bring pH levels down into arange within which plants can cope, albeitwith assistance from Fe-chelates such asOmex Fe N Feed and Omex Feomax.So far we had talked about crops grown

in natural soil so I asked Alan and Peter ifthey had any specific recommendations forthe increasing number of growers opting for

soilless media and hydroponic systems inthe greenhouse industry. “Monitoring the pH of water and soilless

media is much easier than pH testing ofsoils as well as being more likely to givegrowers a definitive reading and clear cutanswer to act upon. Thus when regulartesting is carried out on soilless media andhydroponic systems and provided pHcontrol is adequate growers should obtainthe desired result from using the Fe-EDTAchelate as Omex Fe N Feed. However,where greenhouse cultivation still relies onnatural and intrinsically alkaline soils, forwhich it is much more difficult to obtaindefinitive results from pH testing and toeffectively reduce pH level, then the morestable Fe-EDDHA chelate as Omex Feomaxwould be advised,” they said. h

Capsicum pepper is commonly grown in greenhouses and needs to be monitored carefully for iron deficiency.

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ttTHE FALL ARMYWORM, a transboundarypest that is difficult to manage and firstreported in southern Africa in late 2016,continues to cause damage to maize andother crops in the region. Key concerns aboutthe fall armyworm infestation are the impacton food security and livelihoods of especiallysmallholder farming households.From 30 November - 01 December 2017,

he Food and Agriculture Organisation of theUnited Nations (FAO) and Southern AfricanDevelopment Community (SADC) will holdthe southern Africa fall armywormstakeholders’ meeting in Johannesburg,South Africa.The meeting will bring together key

stakeholders in the region, includingrepresentatives of member states, donors,academia, research organizations anddevelopment partners. The stakeholders willpresent and discuss their fall armyworm

response actions and plans for the 2017/18agricultural season. They will also identifypolicy issues that will inform the response inthe short, medium and long-term.Donors and development partners will

give their perspectives on the concluded andplanned fall armyworm response actions.The key outputs of the meeting will be a

situation update of the fall armyworm infesta-tion in the region, including response actions,a regional preparedness plan for the2017/18 production season, key messageson fall armyworm management for farmersand policy issues that will inform theresponse in the short, medium and long-term.The event will be co-hosted by the FAO

subregional coordinator for southern AfricaDavid Phiri and Esaiah Tjelele, cropsprogramme officer at SADC and supportedby the Department of Agriculture, Forestryand Fisheries, government of South Africa.

Johannesburg to host the southern Africa fall armyworm stakeholders’ meeting

Fall armyworm damage to a maize crop.

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GRAIN STORAGE


Whether harvested from African fields or imported on foreign ships, cerealgrain must be protected in store. Dr Terry Mabbett writes about grainmanagement practises to ensure the protection of cereal grain in store.

INSECT PESTS OF stored grains weretraditionally temperate (eg Sitophilusgranarius – grain weevil) or tropical(eg Sitophilus oryzae – rice weevil) in

origin and distribution. But the interna-tional marketing of grain and use oftemperature controlled stores hasvirtually eliminated this distinction.African countries now have to cope withthose insect pests imported together withconsignments of grain from NorthAmerica and Europe as well as their ownindigenous insect pests.

Most in store pests are larva andadults of beetles and weevils(Coleoptera) or larva of various moths(Lepidoptera). The most important pestsinclude Sitophilus sp (grain weevils),Tribolium sp (flour beetles), Rhizoperthadominica (lesser grain borer) andwarehouse moths (Ephestia sp). Safestorage of grain requires an integratedpackage of pesticide application tocontrol residual infestation in emptystores and insects which are typicallycarried into store on newly harvestedgrain, eg Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella).

Chemical control must be sufficiently residual to protect bulkgrain consignments throughout the entire storage period from thefeeding activities of hatching larvae or adults and without compro-mising eventual use of the grain. Those charged with protection ofgrain in store, and especially on small units and farm enterprises,require a package of portable and versatile machinery which isboth effective and user friendly.

Store cleaning and disinfestationThe physical and biological integrity of incoming grain andcleanness of the store must be assured prior to the start of anychemical control. Improperly cleaned and dried grain is a bonusto insect pests, fungal moulds and bacteria and is more likely toharbour insect and mite pests, while furnishing favourableconditions for arthropod activity. Mud, dust, dirt and organicmatter will inhibit the activity of pesticides and disinfectants anddegrade their performance.

Many of the most important insect pests of stored cereal grain,including Tribolium sp (flour beetles), saw-toothed grain beetle(Oryzaephilus surinamensis) and the larvae of Ephestia sp(warehouse moths) and Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal moth)are secondary pests. This means that in most instances these insectscan only feed on physically damaged and broken grains. Otherpests such as Carpophilus sp (dried fruit beetle) and Cryptophagussp (silky and fungus beetles) of maize and small grain cereals areattracted to mouldy grains on which they will feed.

Thorough physical cleaning of empty stores using industrialvacuum cleaners or sweepers, with all sweepings burnt, and carriedout in good time prior to harvesting is the first step required tosecure the safe storage of grain. Next step involves spraying anappropriate and approved insecticide to disinfest the empty store orsilo. This can be carried out using lever-operated knapsack sprayersor compression sprayers with hydraulic nozzles, or a shoulder-mounted (knapsack) mistblower. Mistblowers operate on a twin-fluidprinciple in which one fluid (air) is used to break up another (water)into droplets. Choice of sprayer will be determined by dimensions,capacity and internal structure of the building to be protected.

Small, flat storage units can be adequately sprayed using leveroperated knapsack sprayers or compression sprayers fitted with anextension lance if necessary. Horizontal booms fitted to the lanceand holding several nozzles will speed up treatment of large floorareas. The advantage of compression sprayers is that they can be

Protection of cereal grain in store

Thermal fogging of bagged cereal grain in store.

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Chemical control must be sufficiently residual to protect bulk grain consignments

throughout the entire storage period withoutcompromising eventual use of the grain.


used free standing or shoulder-slung aswell as in the knapsack mode. Care mustbe taken to spray all surfaces includingthe roof, walls and achieve goodcoverage of ‘dead’ spaces around plantand equipment including conveyors,elevators and other grain handlingequipment.

For larger premises, especially wherethere are many cracks and crevices and a requirement for rapiddrying the low volume shoulder-mounted (knapsack) mistblower ispreferred. Key benefit of mistblowers is the propulsion of a mistcomprising of small droplets into every corner and alcove of thestore. This provides dual ‘space’ and residual protection againstcurrently active insects and insects that will hatch from eggs oremerge from pupae once the grain is in store. Knapsackmistblowers deliver low volume (LV) sprays of smaller droplets forimproved coverage with minimum liquid run off and surfacewetness. Coverage and economy can be enhanced and improvedeven more by fitting the sprayer with custom-designed ULV jets.These reduce flow rate and allow the operator to achieve ultra-lowvolume (ULV) spray application.

Final act in the ‘empty store’ protection programme is terminaldisinfestation using an appropriate insecticide that is typicallydelivered by fumigation, smoke canister or thermal fogging(thermal or ‘hot’ fogger). Thermal foggers can deliver a pre-mixedcommercial fogging formulation or a ‘standard’ insecticideformulation (eg emulsifiable concentrate) mixed and diluted with arecommended and approved carrier liquid (oil or solvent). They aredesigned for use in the hand-held mode. The operator starts to fogat one end of the building and carefully walks backwards towardthe exit, which is shut tightly on completion.

Alternatively, thermal foggers can be set up in automatic modeand run for the stipulated time as a stand-alone unit with allpersonnel safely outside of the store. The tiny droplets produced bythe ‘hot’ fogger, which are just 10µ (micron) or less in diameter, willform a fog that stays suspended in the air for a long period of time.The active insecticide thus enters and penetrates every ‘nook andcranny’ in the store to kill off any remaining insect infestation. Thetiny droplets will eventually sediment out onto a surface to provideresidual protection against hatching larvae and adults.

Careful farmers and store managers will follow up with aterminal fog disinfection using a powerful and broad spectrumdisinfectants including those based on the ‘peroxygen principle’ –

mixture of hydrogen peroxide and peroxyactic (peracetic) acid.Disinfection by fogging ‘takes care’ of any potential fungal andbacterial infections including air-borne fungal spores like thoseproduced by Aspergillus sp and other mycotoxin-producingmoulds. Modern disinfectants will also destroy a wide spectrum ofanimal viruses. This extended activity is particularly importantduring outbreaks of foot and mouth disease, swine vesiculardisease, avian influenza and other highly pathogenic andcontagious viral diseases of livestock.

GRAIN STORAGE

Use of pesticides in enclosed storage situationsand especially the application of grain store

insecticides with a typically high fumigantaction are potentially hazardous.


For larger premises,especially where there are

many cracks and crevices anda requirement for rapiddrying the low volume

shoulder-mounted (knapsack)mistblower is preferred.

Custom-built grain silos are the key to the successful and safe storage of cereal grain.

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http://www.awila.de/

GRAIN STORAGE

Treating the grainHaving secured pest-free status for the empty store or silo the nextstep is to treat and protect the grain as it is loaded onto theconveyor and carried into the store. In the past, many grain storemanagers relied on dust formulations of insecticide to treat grain.However, these are difficult to apply uniformly, hazardous to handleand leave unnecessary solid residues on the grain. Insecticidesformulated as liquid are easier to handle, will offer superiorcoverage and leave deposits and residues that will all butdisappear. Attempts to treat grain after it has been loaded into thestore will result in superficial protection only thus allowing infesta-tions inside the bulk or grain heap to escape. Treatment of the grainwhile it is spread out on the conveyor during loading is the only wayto ensure effective coverage and protection.

Provided the store has been properly disinfested and the graintreated with insecticide during loading via the conveyor there is noreason why the grain heap should not stay pest free throughout theduration of normal storage. If isolated problems do occur, perhapsvia rodent or bird infestation, then lightweight hand-held ultra-lowvolume sprayers are among the most useful and versatile applica-tors available for the targeted spot applications usually required.

Use of pesticides in enclosed storage situations and especiallythe application of grain store insecticides with a typically highfumigant action are potentially hazardous. And this together withthe application of insecticide through low volume and ultra-lowvolume sprayers, which generate small and highly mobile droplets,will create and present one of the most high-risk situations for anyspray operator. Recommended and stipulated protective clothingand safety equipment, including face masks, face shields, gogglesand respirators, must be worn and used when handling, mixing andapplying all chemical pesticides. h


Specific insect pests such as the Angoumois grain moth are brought into the store fromthe field on harvested grain. This is one of the key reasons why grain cleaning and dryingprior to storage is so important. Ripe wheat ready for harvest in Kenya.

Maize grains are brought for cleaningand drying at Masindi in Uganda.

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AFRICAN RESEARCHERS HAVEintervened in a controversialdebate involving scientists anddecision-makers around concerns

that the agricultural chemical glyphosatemight be carcinogenic, and have called forthe precautionary principle to be applied.

Glyphosate is the main ingredient ofRoundup, the most widely used herbicide inthe world. According to a study conductedby the statistics company Statista, globalconsumption of glyphosate rose from 56.3mn kg in 1994 to 825.8 mn kg in 2014.

A study that assessed the value ofglyphosate in the South African agriculturalsector with a focus on the 2012/3013season, concluded it was the country’s mostused herbicide and found that in 2012,over 23 mn litres of glyphosate were sold atan estimated value of US$47mn.

However, there has been a strong call toban the product in South Africa andEurope. While it is popular with farmerswho appreciate its effectiveness, it facesstrong opposition a section of societyconcerned about evidence that it could be

a carcinogen. The International Agency forResearch on Cancer (IARC) has classifiedglychosate as probably carcinogenic.

On 25 October, the EuropeanCommission will hold a vote on a proposalto extend, by ten years, the commerciallicence of this product. A public campaignis underway to stop its approval. Around 40European NGOs launched a EuropeanCitizens’ Initiative to call for a ban onglyphosate in line with EU pesticide law thatprohibits the use of substances that maycause cancer in humans at the beginning ofthe year.

Contested evidenceGlyphosate is part of a group of 80chemical agents considered potentiallydangerous, according to the IARCMonographs on the Evaluation ofCarcinogenic Risks to Humans.

Speaking to SciDev.Net, IARC researcherKathryn Guyton said that this is based onlimited evidence that glyphosate causesnon-hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in humansand convincing evidence that it causes

cancer in laboratory animals. The IARC alsoconcluded that there was strong evidence ofgenotoxicity, both when it comes to ‘pure’glyphosate and its formulations.

However, the IARC assessment has beenchallenged by the European Food SafetyAuthority (EFSA) and the EuropeanChemicals Agency (ECHA).

“The Monographs Programme providesscientific evaluations based on a compre-hensive review of the scientific literature, butit remains the responsibility of individualgovernments and other internationalorganisations to recommend regulations,legislation, or public health intervention,"the IARC said in an interview.

The fact that these agencies have cometo different conclusions appear to be largelyattributed to variations in the methodolo-gies they describe.

Some have, for instance, focusedexclusively on glyphosate, while others havegone further to also look at the range ofadjuvants chemicals added to enhanceeffectiveness and to obtain specificformulations.

CROPS

As the EU considers extending its approval for the herbicide, glyphosate,African researchers highlight safety concerns.

Call for caution on glyphosate

Glyphosate is the main ingredient of the herbicideRoundup, which is used extensively in Africa.

Image Credit: bannafarsai/Adobestock



THE MOZAMBIQUE GOVERNMENT hasrevived and restructured the MozambiqueGrain Institute (ICM), giving it the power tocoordinate agricultural marketing, the ministerof industry and trade, Max Tonela, told thecountry's parliament.Answering questions from deputies on

agricultural marketing, he said that the otherkey attributes of the ICM were to maintainreserves for food security purposes, and tooperate as a buyer of last resort.Tonela said the ICM has signed 51 memoran-

dums of understanding with other stakeholdersin the agricultural marketing chain in order toensure a market for agricultural surpluses, andto prioritise national production in supplyingfood processing industries. The agreementssigned this year envisage the marketing ofalmost 593,000 tonnes of crops, particularlymaize, beans and soya.The detailed figures given by Tonela indicate

that a great deal of this year’s harvests must stillbe in the hands of farmers. The target formarketing all food crops (grains, vegetables,root crops, pulses and oilseeds) in 2017 is16.75 mt, but marketing in the first nine monthsof the year fell just short of nine million tonnes.2.37 mt of grain (mostly maize) was marketed.Although this was a 10 per cent increase on thefigure for 2016, it was only 69 per cent of the

target of 3.42 mt. Tonela believed this isbecause many producers are holding backmuch of their maize, waiting for prices to rise.The marketing of vegetables was an unquali-

fied success. In the first nine months of 2017,producers sold slightly more than two milliontonnes of vegetables, which was 43 per centmore than the target.Tonela said a major contribution had been

made by large supermarkets, hotels and restau-

rants in buying up surplus vegetables, and thisguaranteed market had encouraged smallproducers in the green belts aroundMozambican cities to step up their production.The minister announced that before the end

of the year the government will issue regulationson the sale, import and export of agriculturalproducts that will remove barriers which stillexist in marketing, and induce increases inagricultural production and productivity.

Mozambique Grain Institute revived

Multinational agrochemical companyMonsanto was asked whether it mightconsider suspending production of Roundup,on public health grounds, until the scientificcommunity reaches a consensus.

“The reality is that glyphosate safety issupported by one of the most extensiveworldwide human health, crop residue andenvironmental databases ever compiled ona pesticide product,” said the company inan email statement. “In evaluationsspanning four decades, the overwhelmingconclusion of experts worldwide has beenthat glyphosate can be used safely.”

“Like all pesticides, regulatory authoritiesaround the world routinely review the latestsafety data on glyphosate. To be clear: Noregulatory agency in the world hasconcluded glyphosate is a carcinogen,” thecompany added.

Concerns in AfricaA lively public debate around these issues istaking place in Africa too — particularly inSouth Africa, Senegal and Benin, where anNGO has called for the compound to bebanned.

“Glyphosate is used by rice farmers inthe Senegal River Valley but no research

has been done on this molecule inSenegal,” said Amadou Diop, a lecturerspecialised in analytic chemistry andbromatology, based at the AnalyticChemistry and Bromatology Laboratory inthe Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy andOdontology of Dakar’s Cheikh Anta DiopUniversity.

But, he adds, from the point of view of itschemical composition, glyphosate is in linewith the rules that need to be followed.“What is more concerning is its potentialgenotoxicity,” he says.

According to Diop, “When there arestrong grounds to suspect a given moleculemay be toxic and scientific evidence doesnot show it to be harmless, common sense

suggests that we should stop using it untilwe have conclusive evidence. That’s theline that us Africans should take”.

Risks and alternativesThe pressing concern among those thatoppose the ban on glyphosate remains thatthe ban could have an effect on food securitygiven the pesticide’s popularity with farmers.

Diop pointed out there are alternativesthat “work just as well”.

“There is a whole range of moleculesthat can be employed instead ofglyphosate,” he said. “Generally,organophosphorus compounds are used asinsecticides, and we should not forgetbiopesticides”.

But, moving beyond these debates, Diopbelieves that the best way forward lies in anintegrated approach to crop management.

“Not all of the soil’s micro-organisms arebad for crops,” he pointed out, beforenoting that excessive reliance on pesticidesleads to soil depletion. Often, wheninappropriate amounts of pesticides areused, yields don’t increase, they go down,”he said. h

-Scidev.net

CROPS


“Glyphosate is used by ricefarmers in the Senegal River

Valley but no research has been done on thismolecule in Senegal.”

-Amadou Diop

The ICM will maintain grain reserves for food security purposes.

Image Credit: Marek/Shutterstock


TRACTORS

The African tractor market is diverse, with the wide range of farming systems and sizes in place creatinga demand for tractors of every type and in all the major power sectors. Mike Williams gives a roundup of the latest developments and innovations.

ONE OF THE features of the tractor market in Africa isits diversity, with a varied range of farming systemsand sizes producing a demand for tractors of everytype and in all the major power sectors.

This year’s additions to the Massey Ferguson range include newmodels for both the upper and lower ends of the power range plussome in the middle. For contractors and the biggest farms MasseyFerguson has the new 8740 model at the top of their highhorsepower 8700 series. It has a 400 hp engine and the perfor-mance figures include 12 tonnes of lift capacity on the rear linkageand five tonnes at the front. Like the other six 8700 series models,the 8740 features a Massey Ferguson CVT transmission and anISOBUS compatible terminal for the driver.

There are also new additions to Massey Ferguson’s GlobalSeries, the mechanically simple, no-frills tractor range that ispopular in African markets. The new models are the 5700 seriesavailable in 100 and 110 hp versions with a specification thatincludes a gearbox transmission with 12 forwards and reversespeeds with up to 40 kph available. The rear linkage lifts 4.3tonnes and cab and platform versions are available. For their newmid-range tractors Massey Ferguson has announced the 6700 Sseries with six models powered by four-cylinder engines providingrated outputs from 120 to 175 hp.

Massey Ferguson’s Electronic Power Management feature canadd up to a further 25hp, bringing the output for the top model to200hp. The lift capacity at the rear is up to 9.6 tonnes andtransmission options include a powershift and Massey Ferguson’sconstantly variable transmission or CVT.The Massey Ferguson brand name is owned by the AGCO

group which also makes tractors and machinery under theChallenger, Fendt and Valtra names. Fendt is a leading Germanbased company with a reputation for build quality and engineeringinnovation, and medium and high horsepower Fendt models haverecently been introduced in southern Africa, attracting a positiveresponse.

Fendt 1000 series models make their markFendt tractors are available with power outputs from 70 hpupwards, but much of the interest following the African launch hascentred on the four 1000 series models at the top of the range.They offer power outputs from 396 to 517 hp and feature anupdated version of the Fendt Vario CVT, originally introduced morethan 20 years ago. Fendt was the first company to offer a tractor with a CVT, and it

remains the only major manufacturer specifying this type oftransmission throughout the range from 70 hp upwards. Thespecial feature on the latest Variodrive version available on the1000 series Fendt tractors is that it powers the front and rear wheelsindependently, allowing the torque to be allocated automatically tomaintain the maximum work efficiency depending on the conditionsand the type of equipment being used.

Intelligent power management Recent additions to the John Deere range include two flagshipmodels at the top of the 6R series. Rated outputs for the new 6230

The 5711 with a 110 hp engine is thetop model in Massey Ferguson’s

new 5700 Global Series.

Fendt tractors are available with power outputsfrom 70 hp upwards, but much of the interest

following the African launch has centred on thefour 1000 series models at the top of the range.

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and 6250 models are 230 and 250hp, but the Intelligent PowerManagement feature can provide an additional 50hp for eachmodel, making 300hp available on the 6250. Lift capacity figuresare five tonnes at the front and up to 10.4 tonnes on the rearlinkage and a cab suspension system plus front axle suspension areboth available. While the new 6R tractors give a boost to the John Deere range

in the higher horsepower sector, the company is also reportingincreased demand in some southern African markets for their 5Eseries utility tractors providing 55, 65 and 75 hp outputs. Some ofthe extra sales are from farmers choosing to diversify into smallscale alternative cropping enterprises, explained Jurgen Schlebuschof John Deere in South Africa. Vegetable production, fruit growingand vineyards can all provide marketing opportunities and areattracting increased interest, he said, and the 5E tractors plus awide range of John Deere implements and attachments are apopular, value-for-money choice. The three 5E models have 2.9-litre engines and are available in two and four-wheel drive versionswith a mechanical transmission providing either nine forward andthree reverse gears or 12 gears forward and in reverse.

Catering to multiple sectorsThis year is the 175th anniversary of the Case IH company whichbegan making farm machinery in the United States when fieldequipment was powered by horses and oxen. Power farming startedwith steam, and the first Case steam engine was built in 1869, withCase later becoming the world’s largest manufacturer of agriculturalsteam engines before making a successful move into tractor power.Present day Case IH products feature one of the largest

selections of tractors available, including the flagship Quadtracmodels with four rubber tracks, articulated steering and poweroutputs up to 620 hp. Recent arrivals below the 100 hp thresholdinclude the Case IH Farmall JXM series with two models producing80 and 88 hp rated output. The JXM models are designed asgeneral purpose workhorse tractors, available in two and four-wheel drive versions and with 2.5 tonnes rear lift capacity.Transmission choices start with a shuttle gearbox providing eightratios forwards and in reverse and there is also a 20-speed shuttlethat includes slow speed creeper gears.

Claas offers greater engine powerIncreased engine power and transmission improvements wererecently announced by Claas for their Axion 900 series tractors,with availability scheduled for early next year. As well as updatedversions of the original four models, there is also an extra model atthe top of the range producing 445hp. All Axion 900 series tractorsare powered by six-cylinder FPT engines with an upratedturbocharger providing additional power output, the drive system isan updated version of the Claas CMATIC CVT and the lift capacityon the rear linkage for all models is 11 tonnes with up to 6 tonnesat the front. Claas is also introducing updates for the smaller Arion 500 and

600 series tractors covering outputs from 115 to 185 hp. The 500

series models are equipped with four-cylinder DPS engines whichhave two turbochargers, including a smaller one providing fastresponse times. The transmission options are a four-range, six-speed powershift or a CVT system, the rear linkage lift capacity isup to eight tonnes on the largest 600 models, and the new ClaasProactive front axle suspension system is available at extra cost toprovide a smoother ride with increased stability.

TRACTORS

While the new 6R tractors give a boost to theJohn Deere range in the higher horsepower

sector, the company is also reporting increaseddemand in some southern African markets fortheir 5E series utility tractors providing 55, 65

and 75hp outputs.

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The John Deere 5E series utility tractors have power outputs between 55 and 75 hp.

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Kubota M7001 series tractors are built in France with up to 175 hp maximumpower output.

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The high horsepower 1000 series Fendt tractors are now available in southern Africa.




http://www.soilmaster.co.in/

http://lemken.in/

A comprehensive tractor range New Holland offers one of the most comprehensive tractor rangeswith up to 557hp available from the top T9 series model, and insome African countries there is a strong demand for the selectionof special tractors including narrow models for fruit production andvineyard work. New Holland TT4 utility tractors are a popularchoice in Africa, with four models powered by FPT enginesproducing rated outputs between 55 and 88 hp. The enginecapacity is 2.9 litres for the two smaller models, increasing to 3.9litres for the 4.80 and 4.90 models with 80 and 88 hp outputs. AllTT4 tractors have turbocharged engines, with intercooling includedon all but the 55 hp version.The TT4 lift capacity on the rear linkage is said to be the best

available for tractors up to 90 hp, with up to 1845 kg for thestandard specification and 2,050 kg maximum with the optionalspecification. TT4 series mechanical transmission choices include apowershuttle option providing 20 speeds forwards and in reverseand maximum travel speeds are up to 36 kph depending on themodel.

Innovations from Deutz-FahrA special feature on the high specification 9340 TTV Agrotronmodel in the Deutz-Fahr range from Germany is the electricparking brake or EPB. The brake has a control system that automat-ically releases when the operator selects a gear to start driving thetractor either forwards or backwards, and the brake is automaticallyapplied when the operator dismounts from the tractor. The 9340TTV is powered by a 336 hp engine, the CVT drive system has a 60kmph top speed and the rear lift capacity is 12 tonnes.The lower horsepower Deutz models include the narrow V, S and

F models in the Agroplus series. Designed to work in vineyards, fruitproduction and other situations with restricted space, Agroplusspecial tractors are available with overall widths from 1.16 mupwards, they are available with three and four-cylinder enginesdeveloping between 82 and 106 hp and the transmission optionsinclude the OverSpeed shuttle gearbox with 45 speeds forwardsand in reverse.

Kubota expands to medium power sectorKubota’s success in the tractor market was originally confined to thelow horsepower sector where they were a leading manufacturer ofsmall agricultural and compact tractors. While the small tractorsuccess continues, Kubota has been expanded its product range tocover implements and machines, and the Japanese basedcompany has also introduced tractors in the medium power sector.Much of the machinery expansion has been achieved by takingover existing manufacturers, but the tractors are based on Kubotaresearch and development and two years ago they opened a newpurpose-built factory in France to build the new M7001 seriestractors. The three M7001 Kubota tractors provide rated outputs of 130,

150 and 170 hp plus a 20 hp power boost for the 130 and 150hp models and a 5 hp boost for the 170 hp tractor. Kubota is oneof the world’s biggest manufacturers of diesel engines for agricul-tural and construction equipment, and they make the 6.1-litreengines for the M7001 tractors. Transmission choices are a

powershift with 24 speeds forwards and reverse plus optionalcreeper speeds, and customers who prefer a stepless CVT typedrive system can choose the Kubota designed KVT option.

Lovol takes over GoldoniChina’s ambitions to extend their influence in the world tractormarket have taken another step forwards with the news that theChinese based Lovol company has taken over the Goldoni tractorbusiness in Italy. Goldoni is a specialist manufacturer of tractors inthe 38 to 75hp range, including agricultural and special vineyardand fruit models, and the new owners plan to extend Goldoni’sproduction and marketing and introduce updated models. Lovol already owns Matermacc, a specialist seed drill company

in Italy, and they are also developing new 5100 series tractorscovering the 110 to 136 hp sector. The tractors will be built in Italyusing the Arbos brand name, with some of the parts supplied fromChina, and these tractors plus the Goldoni range will be sold inEurope and China initially, with further markets planned. Thetractor range will also be extended with additional models up to260 hp currently under development, and additional machineryproducts will also be introduced including a range of tillageimplements, sprayers and fertiliser spreaders following theMatermacc purchase, and a combine harvester is also at thedevelopment stage. h

TRACTORS

New Holland TT4 utility tractors are a popularchoice in Africa, with four models powered byFPT engines producing rated outputs between

55 and 88hp.


With 1.16 m overall width, the narrowest version of the Agroplus tractors from Deutz-Fahr is designed for vineyard work.

Arbos 5100 series tractors are built in Italy by the Chinese based Lovol company.

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NEWS

FARMTRAC TRACTORS EUROPE, part of theEscorts Agri Machinery company unveiled itsfirst electric tractor produced by its Indianparent company Escorts at Agritechnica 2017,Hanover.

Farmtrac also showcased its latest globaltractor series created in cooperation withStudio FA Porsche ranging from 20-120 HP atthe show.

Named NETS, New Escorts Tractor Series,the latest Farmtrac tractors are fully compliantwith tier-4 emission norms of Europe andAmerica, and custom-designed with simplicityfor unique farm applications at each horsepower level. This includes the flagship NETSwith higher horse power (70 to 90 hp),compact tractors in 22 to 30 hp range,crossover tractors for both paddy andhaulage applications, and tractors with cabinoptions for driving comfort.

Farmtrac also introduced tier-4 emissionnorms' compliant CRDi engines, whichhitherto was limited to cars and naturally-aspirated machines that work good fortractors operating in slush. The companyshowcased futuristic and eco-friendly electrictractor along with variants with Hydraulic andMechanical power transmission platform

within the NETSseries. The Global NETS series has been

introduced to meet customer demand from theUnited States, Europe, Latin America, Africaand ASEAN countries.

Speaking on the launch at Agritechnica,Nikhil Nanda, managing director at Escortssaid, "At Farmtrac, we are extremely proud toassociate with the state of the art Studio FAPorsche committed to technological innova-tions and building smarter and most efficienttechnology. NETS, Global Tractor Series is yet

another breakthrough to meetgrowing customer needs acrossUnited States, Europe, Africa,Latin America, Middle East andASEAN countries. We are excitedto introduce the electric tractorbuilt for sustainable and greenagriculture. Farmtrac TractorsEurope today offers farmsolutions for farmer demandsacross all price points andtechnology applications,globally."

Ravi A Menon, chief executiveofficer, international andemerging businesses at Farmtrac

said, "NETS designed by Studio FA Porsche isa unique industrial offering which adds a newdimension to comfort and style along withpower and utility."

"At Farmtrac, we will continue to innovateand offer the latest in the industry. We arecommitted to offer indigenous and state of theart technologies for better productivity andcustomer value. Our global technologycollaborations will help us bring the best toour global customers," Rajiv Wahi, head ofinternational business added.

Farmtrac produces more than 20types and varieties of tractors.

Escorts unveils its first electric tractor

Image Credit: Farm

trac


S10 AF NovDec 2017 - Equipment 01_Layout 1 04/12/2017 12:17 Page 37

INTERCROPPING

New research aims to help farmers gain more benefit from intercropping bymaking information about fertiliser use available.

INTERCROPPING, THE PRACTISE of growing two crops simulta-neously on the same piece of land provides multiple benefits tofarmers. However, it also requires careful planning andresource management.

One of the challenges in the adoption of intercropping is amajor information gap. Farmers often find it hard to decide on theoptimal levels of fertiliser that has to be used. For instance, in someparts of Africa, farmers intercrop sorghum - a grain - and peanuts.However, there has been very little study gone into the fertiliser usefor intercropping sorghum and peanuts in these areas.

A new study by researchers from Niger, Mali, and the UnitedStates aim to fill this information gap. They have developed amethod to help farmers determine how much fertiliser to applywhen intercropping.

"Using fertilisers efficiently can help farmers improve profits fromtheir crops," said Charles Wortmann, an agronomist at theUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln. "That can help many break out ofcycles of poverty and increase food production and food security."

Insight into sorghum-peanut intercroppingThe researchers have developed mathematical equations tocalculate crop yields as the level of application for a nutrient, suchas nitrogen, changes. These equations - called crop nutrientresponse functions - also consider local soil properties and climate.

"They can help determine how much fertiliser to apply based onfertiliser cost, grain value, and money available for fertiliser use,"explained Wortmann. This knowledge, according to him, can helpfarmers optimise fertiliser use and maximise profits.

Similar research in the past has focused on grain crops, like riceand corn. "There has been much less research on legume crops,such as peanut," said Wortmann. "Also, very little work has beendone on sorghum-peanut intercropping."

In this study, researchers developed crop nutrient responseequations for sorghum grown in Sahel areas in Mali and Niger. TheSahel lies south of the Sahara and has little rainfall. The soil issandy with little organic matter and the conditions are often harshand stressful for crops.

The researchers determined sorghum responses to severalnutrients, including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Thenthey used the data to create similar equations for intercroppingsorghum and peanut.

"Our findings will allow farmers to optimise their fertiliser useduring intercropping with little or no additional research,"Wortmann said.

That's important, because both sorghum and peanut are

important vital crops in many parts of Africa. They are usedprimarily for human consumption. Sorghum is ground into flourand cooked as porridge. It is an important source of energy as wellas protein. Additionally, both sorghum grain and the non-grainparts of the plant may be used for livestock feed.

Peanuts are commonly crushed and cooked with a vegetable.That provides a good balance of energy from the peanut oil tocomplement the protein, vitamins, and nutrients provided.

Benefits of intercroppingWith intercropping, the yield of each crop may be lower than ifthese crops were grown individually. However, the combined yieldof the two crops generally exceeds the yield of sorghum orgroundnut grown by itself.

Intercropping can also benefit farmers in several other ways. Ifone crop does poorly - due to insects or pests, for instance - theother crop may not be affected.

"It can reduce risks associated with farming compared withproducing a single crop," says Wortmann. "Often the unaffectedcrop may over-perform and compensate for the reduced perfor-mance of the other crop." This is especially important in parts of theworld with less food security.

According to Wortmann, the findings of this study can be appliedto areas beyond the Sahel. "I think our results can help farmers inother areas of West Africa and also in parts of southern Africawhere sorghum-peanut intercropping is important," he said.

"The research findings have already been integrated intodecision tools for optimisation of fertiliser use," Wortmann added.Farm advisors and farmers are now being taught how to use tools.

But achieving broad impact is a challenging task. "There are tensof millions of farmers in Africa," said Wortmann. "Reaching them allcan be difficult given the scarcity of resources." h

-phys.org

Making intercropping more effective with data

Intercropping can help farmers reduce risks associated with crop failure.

One of the challenges in the adoption ofintercropping is a major information gap.

Farmers often find it hard to decide on theoptimal levels of fertiliser that has to be used.

Image Credit: Fotokate/Ado

be Stock




http://www.africanfarming.net/

IoT

Eseye, global provider of M2M cellular connectivity for theInternet of Things (IoT), has partnered with Burkard, to use IoT inforecasting crop disease, with an aim to enhance yields.

THE GROWING WORLD populationis posing the increasingly criticalquestion of global food security.With sustained global population

growth, it is estimated that by 2050, a 70per cent increase in food production isrequired to ensure the world is fed. In thisscenario, crop diseases can have adevastating humanitarian and economicimpacts.

Traditionally, the method of identifyingsigns of crop disease has been time-consuming, cumbersome and costly,involving research scientists assessing thecontents of in-field samplers under amicroscope. Preventative pesticide sprayingis also used to protect crops from possibledisease, with weather or planting datesinforming decisions on the chemicals to beapplied. This is less effective and more costlythan targeted spraying, it may be detrimentalto consumer health and the environment,and over time, sees pests and diseasesbecoming resistant to the treatment.

Jeremy Potgieter, regional head atSADC, Eseye said that 20-40 per cent ofcrop losses are attributed to disease, “Theaccurate prediction and prevention ofdiseases is a vital area to address in thebattle to enhance yields, and is now anarea in which cellular IoT and the AWSCloud is providing support to an innovativesolution.”

Real-time pathogen monitoring equipmentBurkard, the designers and builders of airsamplers for agricultural research, hasdeveloped a piece of real-time pathogenmonitoring equipment to predict andprovide an early warning system of cropdisease risk. The company has collaboratedwith Eseye, global provider of M2M cellularconnectivity for IoT, which delivers highlysecure and reliable global cellular networkdata through its AnyNet Secure SIM, andprovides automatic routing onto up to 440

cellular operators in 190 countries and linksseamlessly to the AWS Cloud.

Burkard’s innovative product usesEseye’s AnyNet Secure global cellularconnectivity and AWS IoT to enable farmersto receive tailored information from theirown fields, whenever they want it, and tohave full control over that data.

The reach of IoTPotgieter explained that the Burkard AutoSampler sits permanently within a farmer’sfield remotely collecting DNA release anduses a LAMP assay to quantify airbornespores. “Crop data is transmitted, over-the-air via the AnyNet Secure SIM, back to theAWS Cloud where it is analysed andreported in a matter of minutes using AWSIoT Gateway tools, which do themathematics behind the forecasting.Information is stored and presented back sofarmers can see exactly which fields are atrisk and act accordingly to treat the crops.”

Earlier, for similar agricultural projects,Burkard used a general modem and SIMcard to send texts to alert on potential croprisks. However, Burkard found thisunresponsive because the lack of reliableconnectivity across different locationsresulted in the frequent need to changeproviders.

Stuart Wili, managing director at Burkard,said, “While working on a similar project afew years ago, we had to send operators outwith mobile phones from as many differentproviders as possible to find out which hadthe best signal in certain fields. It was notonly extremely inefficient but often connec-tivity was lost anyway. This time we knew weneeded a reliable connectively solution tomake the project a success.”

Support from AWS’ software tools and cloud The AnyNet Secure SIM enhanced featuresalso enable IoT devices to remotely andsecurely activate, provision, authenticate

and certify devices or ‘things’, in field, over-the-air. Integration with AWS CloudServices, further simplifies project set upand deployment by reducing the need forinvestment in specialist in-house infrastruc-ture and development resources.

“With the AnyNet Secure SIM, farmersdon’t need to rely on single local networkcoverage, which often can’t be guaranteed.Instead they can be assured accurate datafrom the field is being securely andaccurately transmitted back to the server,without any concern over connectivity, theAnyNet Secure SIM will utilise any and allconnectivity available. ” said Wili.

Delivering timely dataThe module deployed, an Eseye Hera 604with add-on logger functionality, can storeall data and publish to AWS as required,ensuring there is no loss of information. Akey challenge to the solution is to deliversecure and resilient connectivity, otherwisethe farmers’ data will be void.

Wili explained, “We are finally givingfarmers an answer to their concerns overthe ramifications of crop disease. This notonly provides peace of mind, but thesolution also supports the environment andsaves precious time, resources andultimately money. Looking to the future, weplan to roll out the technology across theglobe, particularly in developing countries,where the importance of farming is farhigher, and therefore the need to preventdisease to ensure a healthy crop is evengreater.”

“Eseye’s work with Burkard and AWS is aprime example of the range of economic,social and environmental benefits whichcan be reaped through IoT. By using AnyNetand AWS solutions, the agricultural industrycan harness the knowledge and foresightfrom accurate data in making informeddecisions,” said Paul Marshall, chiefcustomer officer at Eseye. h

Image Credit: Nirutft/Ado

be Stock


IoT to forecastcrop disease

AWS IoT to enablefarmers to receive

tailored informationfrom their fields.


NEWS

CASE IH’S NEW ActiveDrive 8 version of itslatest Maxxum Multicontroller tractor range hasbeen awarded the Machine of the Year title for2018 at AGRITECHNICA.

Judged by a panel of European agriculturalmagazine editors, the accolade has been givenin recognition of the performance and cost-savingbenefits the new transmission and other rangedevelopments bring to this tractor market segment.

The Machine of the Year award, one of thekey events on the Agritechnica agenda, isjudged by journalists from the German agricul-tural publications agrarheute, traction,Agrartechnik, Land & Forst, BayerischesLandwirtschaftliches Wochenblatt and from otherinternational agricultural publications. Thejournalists make their overall selection from 14categories ranging tractors and other self-propelled equipment to implements. The winnersof each category are then revealed in mid-November, before the overall MOTY winnerselected is revealed at Agritechnica.

An entry into the MOTY ‘mid-class’ tractorbracket, the latest Maxxum Multicontrollermodels feature a new semi-powershift transmis-sion offering eight powershift steps in each ofthree ranges. Named ActiveDrive 8, it joins theexisting four-speed semi-powershift and continu-ously-variable transmission options available onMaxxum tractors, which respectively have beenrenamed as ActiveDrive 4 and CVXDrive.

ActiveDrive 8 provides a total of 24 speeds inboth forward and reverse. The transmissionincorporates a number of features designed tomake the tractor more efficient and the drivermore relaxed. A creeper version is optionalavailable for special applications.

Covering speeds up to 10.2 km/h, rangeone is specifically designed for heavier draftwork. For special applications requiring verylow speeds, such as vegetable crop work,ActiveDrive 8 is also available with additionalcreep speeds. Range two, the main workingrange, covers nearly 90 per cent of all field,

grassland and loader application requirements,allowing the tractor to work under full load,without any torque disruption, from 1.6-18.1km/h. For road travel, the transmission isdesigned to start in range three, and a skip-shiftfunction allowing quick progress through thepowershift speeds. An auto shift feature meansthe tractor can be set to progress automaticallythrough any set of eight speeds in the field, andthrough all 16 gears in the top two ranges onthe road. A pedal kick-down function can beused to over-ride the transmission automationand cause it to downshift.

AGCO CORPORATION HAS introduced the industry’s first Class 8 largesquare baler at AgriTechnica in Hanover, Germany.

The Model 2370 UHD baler has been created to meet the needs oflarge commercial hay growers, operations that export hay andbiomass material and businesses harvesting biomass for the biofuelsand livestock feed industries.

This new baler is designed specifically for producing heavy, densebales from light-weight, dry, slick grass and crop residue that can be hardto bale. It offers the throughput and reliability large operations require

when harvest windows are small, and tons-harvested-per-day is drivingan operation’s profitability.

“As their market demands increase, our customers have asked foreven more capacity, density and reliability from large square balers,”said Shaun Allred, tactical marketing manager for hay and forageproducts at AGCO. “Our engineers in Hesston, Kan., went to work,and the result is the industry’s first Class 8 baler. The Model 2370 UHDmakes 3’ X 4’ bales with 20 percent greater density than our industry-leading Model 2270XD baler, and it is built with the durability to rununder high loads, covering thousands of acres, bale after bale.”

Small and large square balers are ranked in Class 1 through Class8 using rated plunger load, the most measurable factor impacting abale’s density. Class 8 is for balers with 750-plus kilonewtons (kN)plunger force, the highest classification.

Key features of the new large square baler, include a faster, 15 percent heavier, more powerful plunger that operates at 50 strokes perminute. It packs a maximum load capacity of 760 kilonewtons (kN) –63 per cent greater than the 2270XD baler. It also offers a heavy-duty main chassis frame, designed to handle heavier loads commonlyseen when producing ultra-high-density bales. An all new OptiFlowpickup assembly system with five tine bars and 80 double tines on thepickup assembly to deliver 25 per cent greater pickup capacitycompared to previous Hesston balers is naohter new feature. Themachine is has a simple design with fewer cylinders, hoses, couplersand hardware compared to competitive balers, to help reduce mainte-nance and service and offers greater twine capacity and newshielding that makes service faster and easier which also helps keepthe baler running more hours for greater productivity.

AGCO launches industry’s first Class 8 large square baler

ActiveDrive 8 provides a total of 24speeds in both forward and reverse.

Case IH's new Maxxum Multicontroller tractor wins Machine of the Year

Image source: Case IHImage Credit:

Small and large square balers areranked in Class 1 through Class 8 using

rated plunger load.

Image Credit: AGCO


S11 AF SepOct 2017 - Equipment_Layout 1 04/12/2017 12:25 Page 41

Company............................................................Page noAAZ Union ....................................................................7Alvan Blanch Development Co. Ltd ..........................29Amandus Kahl GmbH & Co. KG ................................13AWILA Anlagenbau GmbH ........................................27Ayurvet Ltd ..................................................................17Bentall Rowlands Storage Systems Ltd ..................11Carfed SA ......................................................................9Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH..................................15Format Solutions Ltd..................................................25Graf GmbH ..................................................................11GSI Hungary Kft. ........................................................19Institut de Sélection Animale B.V. ............................13Jaycee Strips & Fasteners Pvt. Ltd ..........................35Kukje Machinery Co. Ltd ..............................................2LEMKEN GmbH & Co. KG ..........................................35Maquinas Agricolas Jacto S.A. (Jacto AF) ..............44Maquinas Agricolas Jacto S.A. (Jacto) ....................33Martignani S.r.l. ..........................................................33Maschio Gaspardo S.p.A. ..........................................21Milltec Machinery Pvt Ltd ..........................................43Omex Agrifluids Ltd. ....................................................7Pan Trade Services Ltd (Baldan) ..............................37Prive S.A. ....................................................................28Symaga SA ..................................................................29Unipoint AG ................................................................42

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NEW HOLLAND AGRICULTURE is launching the new CX5 and CX6 five-and six-strawwalker combine harvester series, which stands out for itsextraordinary flexibility. With four models and seven versions, thiscombine series delivers unique quality and performance in every fieldand every crop. This performance comes with best-in-class comfort of thenew Harvest Suite Deluxe cab. The high capacity, together with thehighly fuel-efficient engines featuring ECOBlue HI-eSCR technology forTier 4B compliance, and the easy, quick maintenance, results in best-in-class operating costs for the customer. The new CX5 and CX6 seriesoffers a solution for all: from livestock farmers who want quality straw tocontractors and cash crop farmers who can easily switch crops withoutcompromising on performance and quality.

Lars Skjoldager Sřrensen, head of harvesting product line at NewHolland, explained, “The CX5 and CX6 Series offers a wide range offeatures and adaptation possibilities that can address everyharvesting situation: fixed or Smart Sieve self-levelling cleaning shoe,Autofloat II system, a wide choice of headers including High-Capacity, Varifeed, Flex and Draper options, and the possibility toselect straw chopping or rowing. Combined with the Series’ best-in-class crop-to-crop flexibility and advanced automation features in thePLM system, it makes the CX5 and CX6 ideal for customers who needthe highest levels of versatility for crops and fields – cooperatives,mixed farmers, medium cash crop farmers and contractors.”

The new Harvest Suite Deluxe cab integrates feedback receivedthrough extensive customer consultation to set new standards inoperator comfort. With 3.7cu m of volume, it is the biggest cab in itsclass and comfortably accommodates two occupants.

New Holland launches new

CX5 and CX6 Series combines


New Holland’s patented Smart Sieve system controls the lateral movement of the sieveaccording to the degree of the slope and the size of the grains.

Image Credit: New Holland


http://www.unipoint.ch/pages/english/home.php?lang=EN


http://milltecmachinery.com/


http://www.jacto.com.br/

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Grain protection€¦ · 3rd Cassava World Africa highlights cassava’s emerging potential ... Namulonge from 29-30 November for the Agribusiness Congress East Africa conference