AGRICULTURE.

Starting an Orchard.

2010-02-12T06:01:00.000-08:00

If you have a large amount of land that you have not put to use, you may consider planting an orchard. If you've had previous experiences with planting and maintaining trees, that is an added reason why you would be perfect for maintaining an orchard. It might seem like an overwhelming thing to undertake, but it is actually fairly simple. All it takes is some commitment.

If you've never grown a tree on your property, you might not want to make the time and money investment of buying lots of trees. If you are inexperienced, you will want to start with just one or two trees so that you can get a feel for the growing process. Once you have seen one tree along all the way to adulthood successfully, you are probably experienced enough to handle multiple trees. You should never plant so many trees that you are going to be overwhelmed, though. Only plant what you can handle.

Generally if you are getting started on a large amount of trees, you will want them to all be the same type. If they all require the same amount of water and nutrients, you won't have to spend as much time catering individually to the different types of tree. As an added benefit, you will become very familiar with the process of growing that specific tree. You won't be overwhelmed by having many different types, but instead you will become a master of that specific type.

If you already have a tree growing on your property that you have maintained from its childhood, then you know that the soil is acceptable for that type of tree and ones similar to it. Since you've already been through the process of growing that type of tree before, you shouldn't have any problem testing all of the soil to make sure it is similar to the segment you already planted on. Then it is just a matter of growing more trees and causing the process to be the same as it was before. Since you've already dealt with the same problems in the past, you probably have a good idea of how to deal with any pests that might come about during growth.

Generally in an orchard, the trees are planted in a row, then pruned to be in a two dimensional shape. This is known as either a fan or an espalier shape. There is one main branch in the center that is completely vertical, then multiple branches that go off to the side. If the side branches are horizontal it is known as an espalier. If they are sloped, it is known as a fan. Generally these 2 shapes are used in orchards because of how compact they are. By using them, you allow for many more trees to be in the certain amount of space. However, if land conservation is not an issue or you're not looking to be efficient, you should probably stick with the traditional tree shape.

To aid in the watering of your trees, you should install either a sprinkler system or an irrigation system. The sprinklers require more maintenance, but if you dig an irrigation ditch then it is really easy to just run the faucet for a few minutes every day and reach all the trees. It's just a matter of what you would prefer.

Once your tree collection starts to bear large amounts of fruit, you can consider starting a fruit stand or participating at the farmers market. Instead of letting the fruits go to waste or trying to eat them all (which can lead to some bad stomach aches), you can let the rest of the world enjoy the product of your intense labor. If you become a popular vendor, you might even make back a decent return on your investment. However, you can't count on making very much money. Starting an orchard shouldn't be a capitalistic investment. You should only start one if you have a passion for trees.

The Miracle Tree of Hope.

2010-01-24T08:05:00.000-08:00

There is growing interest in Moringa, a genus of trees with many uses as fertiliser and forage, and for oil, dyes, honey production, rope making, tanning, water purification and medicinal purposes. The best-known species, Moringa oleifera, occurs worldwide in the tropics and sub-tropics.

Moringa oleifera, the Miracle Tree of Hope, is being used throughout Africa for HIV/AIDS Nutritional Therapy and for malnutrition in women and children. It grows in all parts of the tropics from the rain forest to the desert. All parts are edible and are used as medicine.

Leaves can substitute for meat, soy or dairy products because:

¨ Moringa leaf is a complete protein containing all the essential amino acids

¨ Oz per oz leaves contain more Vitamin A than carrots

¨ More Calcium than milk

¨ More Iron than spinach

¨ Contains vitamins, A,B's, C, E and minerals, including Selenium and Zinc

¨ Lowers blood sugar levels in Diabetes

¨ Lowers blood pressure in Hypertension

BANANA DOLLARS IN AFRICA.

2009-10-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

After Latin America, Chiquita Brands International has set its sights on Africa for banana cultivation. The move by the American company is part of a strategy aimed at bringing it closer to Europe and benefiting from accords under which the EU guarantees ACP countries duty-free access for their bananas. Latin American countries currently pay €176/t in duty for bananas exported to the EU.

Vast plantations, employing thousands of workers, will be established in Angola as part of a joint initiative with ESCOM, a member of the Grupo Espirito Santo, and in Mozambique, where an alliance has been formed with Matanuska Africa Limitada. Chiquita's new African policy will profit from the relatively low labour costs in these two countries, both undergoing reconstruction after years of conflict which devastated their agriculture.

Source

PEACE-KEEPING WATER MELONS.

2009-10-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

In a region where conflicts between pastoralists and farmers are rife, two Sudanese communities have found an unusual way to overcome their differences. Instead of fighting over scarce natural resources, herders and farmers in the village of Gereigikh in North Kordofan State have learned to coexist, using watermelons.

"Our farmers discovered that whenever the (traditionally pastoral) Kawahla tribe brought their livestock into the fields, the animal droppings helped improve production, so the members of the Gawamha (traditionally farmers) started planting watermelons to attract the livestock to the field", says Ad-Dukhri Al-Sayed, a community leader. "The situation has improved so much. Now everyone lives in peace."

Historically, tensions have simmered over grazing and water rights between nomads and farmers in this region, and climate change is set to exacerbate the situation.

But the two groups in North Kordofan live comfortably because they have found a way to coexist. Faisal Eljack of SOS Sahel UK, an NGO working with the two tribes, explains: "The two communities in North Kordofan have developed a symbiotic relationship. They have relationships in the market place over the supply of manure and labour. They buy livestock from each other. These relationships have cemented over the years."

Increasingly, the pastoralists are staying longer in the village, and some members have married into the farming community. The herders supply the farmers with dairy products such as milk, butter and cheese, while the farmers supply them with agricultural produce.

CAGE FARMING NETS BIG PROFITS.

2009-10-20T05:41:00.000-07:00

Threatened by dwindling stocks of fish in Uganda's Lake Victoria, producers are turning to cage farming as a source of food and revenue. The world's largest tropical lake has been severely affected by pollution, over-fishing and algae growth. "This is threatening livelihoods of communities who depend on fish for survival," said Abudallah Napuru, Hatchery Manager at Source of the Nile (SON) Fish Farm, which is introducing farmers to the benefits of aqua-culture. "Fish farming is the best insurance against unreliable and ever-diminishing fish resources."

TILAPIA

SILVER FISH

CATFISH

Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Silver fish (Rastrineobola argenteus) are the preferred species. Farmers learn how to use cages and rear a large number of fish in such small space. The enclosures are cheap and easy to maintain, since wastes are washed away and float-feeding systems ensure minimal losses. They also protect farmed fish against aggressors. "Cage farming cuts off predators like Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)," said Godfrey Magezi, a researcher at the National Fisheries Resource Research Institute. Other advantages include higher rates of egg fertilisation and rapid harvesting techniques.

The SON farm sells 320 t of fish per year, much of it processed locally and exported as fillets to Europe and Asia. The cage farming boom offers a less expensive source of protein to local communities. Fred Kawuma, a trader in Jinja town, said "I can buy three fish grown in cages for 500 Ugandan shillings (UGX) each (€0.19) while one fish of the same size caught in the lake costs UGX1,500 (€0.56)."

THE JATROPHA EMPIRE.

2009-10-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

About one thousand farmers growing jatropha in Choma and Kalomo, Southern Zambia, are benefiting from a market access initiative. DI Oils Zambia, which has contracted the farmers, has committed 174,000 ha for planting of feedstock over the next 4 years.

Another main programme is the Kachumu Community Development Networking Triangular Farming Block, a 15,000 ha Public -Private Partnership aimed at encouraging rural development in northern Zambia. Planting has begun and over 100 people are already employed in this initial stage.

DI Oils Zambia provides seeds and technical advice and gua- rantees to purchase the harvest. The Zambian government has appointed the company as a member of the Task Force Committee on Renewable Energy to develop a biodiesel policy for the country.

In Mali's Koulikoro region, local firm Mali Biocarburant is producing biodiesel from jatropha nuts grown in hedges planted around fields rather than on new plantations where they would compete with food crops such as millet. The Koulikoro producers' cooperative has a 20% holding in Mali Biocarburant, with the remainder of the capital owned by Dutch shareholders.

This initiative produces revenue for farmers who plant and maintain the hedges and for women who harvest the nuts. A contract has also been signed with a Dutch company for the sale of carbon credits produced by these crops, with the proceeds to be reinvested in jatropha production.Twenty units are planned for Mali over the next 6 years, producing a monthly ouput of 1 million l of biodiesel.

http://www.malibiocarburant.com/index.php?actie=regeleng

URBAN AGRICULTURE: GROWING VEGETABLES IN CITIES

2009-09-02T06:54:00.000-07:00

Agricultural productions have been taken to be for the rural settlers. And also the urban market depend solely on the rural agricultural for the supply of agricultural commodities. But agriculture can be or is practiced by both rural and urban dwellers irrespective of whether you are staying in a rented house or your own.

Urban agriculture can be described as follows:

All forms of agricultural production in or directly adjacent to the cities, which mainly provide urban markets with food products for sale to consumers or for consumption by the city-dwelling growers themselves.

This involves;

1) Vegetable horticulture.
2) Animal husbandry.
3) Fuel and food forestry, including agroforestry.
4) Integrated waste-water aquaculture, including fish farming/production.
5) Cultivation of herbs.
6) Ornamental plants cultivation.
7) Fruits growing.
8) Production of silk.

But concentration here is going to be on; vegetable growing primarily intended for one’s own food supply, which can be achieved by means that are simple, cheap and locally available and based on Small-scale techniques.

Below, are descriptions of growing techniques:-

• Container culture: in pots or other containers or tyres.
• In sacks.
• In shallow beds.
• In compost pit or variants thereof (Compost trench or bed; dung pit).

CULTIVATION IN POTS OR CONTAINERS

The production of crops in all kind of containers is widespread. You can grow plants in round or rectangular synthetic packaging of any size and material, as well as in car tyres. These by-products are easily available in urban areas and you can place them almost anywhere, anticipating the changing environmental influences.

You can grow all kinds of vegetables, herbs and flowers in containers of different sizes and materials. Space for the roots is more restricted than that of shallow beds, but the advantage is that optimum use can be made of the nutrients. Growing a second crop after harvest in the same soil is strongly discourage; the soil is exhausted and much less fertile, and there may be soil diseases or soil-based pathogens present, so it would be better to use fresh soil.

MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION OF CONTAINERS

The above topic simply means the things you need to start cultivation and also the different type of containers that you can use.

Below, is what you will need:-
1. A container.
2. Growth medium/soil.
3. Reliable and constant water supply.
4. Compost and/or fertilizer.

First choose a crop and then a suitable container. A wide variety of locally available and free or inexpensive containers can be used for planting including: pots and pans with holes in the bottom, basket, steel cans, wooden or cardboard boxes, trays and cuts plastic bottles.

But please note this; avoid aluminium containers because aluminium suspension can be toxic for the plants. Galvanised steel containers are not appropriate because these release toxic zinc salts. It is advisable not to use synthetic paint, fuel or pesticide containers: these organic substances could still be present in small quantities in the container walls and be a health risk for the plants and-ultimately-to humans.

Small pots made of woven leaves or other vegetable matter or fibres are excellent for growing seedlings because they can be transplanted. Put a layer of gravel or broken earthenware at the base to help the water to drain, and place the pot on the gravel or a layer of wood chips.

Container size is largely dependent on local circumstances and plant size, and whether they need to accommodate one or many plants. Generally, low and flat containers will not be suitable for plants with tap roots, while filling up a deep container to grow shallow-rooting plants is a waste of soil and water. The larger the container, the more water the growing medium can hold and less frequent the watering. Very small containers such as cups are appropriate for growing seedlings.

MAINTANANCE AND CARE
Containers should be kept in a convenient location with adequate shade and sunlight. The soil temperature in the container can rise and fall to extremes of heat and cold, all of which are harmful to plant growth. Under sunny conditions, light-coloured containers reflect sunlight and thus heat away from the soil in the container. In the cold season or in cold areas, dark-coloured containers can absorb sunlight and thus maintain a favourable soil temperature for some time during the night. You can reduce the influence of fluctuating temperatures and humidity by covering the soil with compost, leaves or mulch.

Good drainage and water supply are very important in URBAN AGRICULTURE. The soil must hold some water but soil and container must allow good drainage because water-saturated soil encourages diseases and suffocate roots.

CONSTRUCTION OF A TYRE CONTAINER

Tyre containers are easy to make and move about. Old and worn-out tyres are easy to find.

Procedure
• Lay a car tyre flat on the ground.
• Cut off the top rim using a sharp knife or machete, but ensure that it remains one piece.
• Press a round piece of chicken wire over the base.
• Cover with a piece of plastic large enough to cover the entire base and a little up the tyre sides.
• Now, turn the top rim which you cut off upside down. It will fit tightly over the bottom rim, holding the plastic firmly in place.
• Cut small openings in the plastic base to ensure proper draining of the growing medium.
• You can now fill the container with soil and do the planting.

CONSTRUCTION OF A SACK CONTAINER

Used (grain) sacks made of woven synthetic material are obtainable anywhere and are usually very cheap or even free as by-product. Planting in sacks is worth trying out because the earth is held together all around and evaporation from the soil is minimal. It is suitable for crops that quickly develop and keep growing for a relatively long time like; tomato, potato and cabbage.
Note: Tomato and Cabbage should be sown in seedbed before being planted in sack.

Procedure
• Get used woven polyethylene rice, coffee or sewing seed sacks. Watertight plastic can also be used. Jute is not suitable as it rots too fast.
• Clean the sacks thoroughly and let them dry well. Sacks with small holes are usable – the holes will be good for drainage.
• Prepare the soil: use compost and/or earth. Mix it thoroughly, for instance, in a large container or on a clean floor or in a wheelbarrow. Moisten the soil well and let the excess water drip out. Decide where you want to put the sacks and fill them on the spot with the soil, up to three-quarters full.
• Tie up the sack and lay it on its side. If the soil is too wet, then prick holes n the sack on the sides just above the ground, fro drainage. Check if enough drainage occurs.
• Then carefully cut holes in the upper surface of the sack at the desired planting intervals. Put plants or sow seeds in the holes.

MAINTAINANCE AND CARE
Irrigate the soil regularly and according to your own insight and experience. Do not allow the soil to get saturated, thus watch the drainage. Depending on the condition and development stage of the plants, fertilise accordingly.

The sun’s rays quicken the breakdown of plastic. To prolong the life of sacks you can cover the entire sack with straw, dried dung or mud with husk, fine straw or chopped grass.