There are several poultry diseases that can affect egg production in poultry farming. Below is a list of the most common poultry diseases in poultry farming and the important facts you must know about them.
Infectious bronchitis is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can lead to a drop in egg production due to respiratory distress and damage to the reproductive tract.
Newcastle disease affects the respiratory, nervous, and reproductive systems in poultry, leading to reduced egg production and eggshell quality. Watch this video to see how to protect your poultry farm from Newcastle disease outbreaks.
Avian influenza can cause a sharp decline in egg production, as infected birds may stop laying altogether. It can also lead to high mortality rates. Watch this video to see how to protect your poultry farm from bird flu.
It can cause severe respiratory distress in birds, leading to stress-induced reduction in egg production. Watch this video to see how to boost egg production in your poultry farm.
Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae can affect egg production by causing respiratory issues and salpingitis, which affects the reproductive organs.
It is caused by adenoviruses and can lead to a sudden drop in egg production, as well as soft-shelled and misshapen eggs.
Severe coccidiosis infections can lead to decreased feed intake, weight loss, and a decline in egg production due to the overall health of the birds being compromised.
Salmonella can cause reduced egg production as a secondary effect of illness, along with posing a food safety risk.
This condition may not be an infectious disease but can lead to decreased egg production.
It occurs when eggs are laid internally and cause inflammation in the abdominal cavity.
Preventive measures such as vaccination, biosecurity, and good management practices are essential to minimize the impact of these diseases on egg production in poultry. It's important to consult with a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and control strategies. Watch this video to learn how to implement effective biosecurity measures on your poultry farm.
Marek’s disease is also very common in poultry farming and below are some facts you should know about Marek’s disease.
Named After a Scientist: Marek's disease is named after the Hungarian veterinarian József Marek, who first described the disease in the early 20th century.
Immunosuppressive: In addition to causing tumors, Marek's disease virus (MDV) is known for its immunosuppressive effects, making infected birds more susceptible to other diseases.
Multiple Serotypes: There are multiple serotypes of MDV, with serotype 1 being the most common and virulent in poultry.
Lifelong Carrier State: Infected birds become lifelong carriers of the virus, shedding it intermittently and potentially infecting other flock members.
No Zoonotic Risk: Marek's disease is not a zoonotic disease, meaning it cannot be transmitted to humans.
Vaccination Challenges: Developing effective vaccines against Marek's disease has been challenging due to the virus's ability to rapidly mutate.
Integration into Host DNA: The Marek’s disease virus genome can integrate into the host's DNA, contributing to its persistence and the potential for disease outbreaks.
Control Strategies: Apart from vaccination, control strategies may include strict biosecurity measures, culling infected birds, and avoiding co-mingling of flocks.
Economic Impact: Marek's disease can lead to significant economic losses in the poultry industry, affecting both meat and egg production.
Global Prevalence: Marek's disease is prevalent worldwide and requires constant vigilance to prevent and manage outbreaks.
Marek's disease is a complex and challenging disease for poultry farmers, underscoring the importance of proactive prevention and management strategies.
Fowlpox in Poultry Farming
Fowlpox is a viral disease that affects poultry, primarily chickens and turkeys. To prevent fowlpox from causing damage in your poultry farm, you must know these important points about it:
1. Causative Virus: Fowlpox is caused by the avian poxvirus, which exists in two forms: cutaneous (skin) and diphtheritic (respiratory and oral).
2. Transmission: The virus is typically spread through direct contact with infected birds, contaminated feed, water, or equipment. Mosquitoes can also act as vectors, transmitting the virus from bird to bird.
3. Clinical Signs: Infected birds may exhibit various symptoms, including skin lesions, scabs, nodules, and diphtheritic membranes in the mouth, throat, and trachea. Affected birds may have difficulty breathing and swallowing.
4. Cutaneous Fowlpox: This form primarily affects the skin and causes scabby lesions on the comb, wattles, face, and feet. It's generally less severe than diphtheritic fowlpox.
5. Diphtheritic Fowlpox: This form affects the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, and respiratory tract. It can lead to severe respiratory distress and difficulty in eating and drinking.
6. Mortality: While fowlpox itself may not be highly lethal, it can lead to secondary infections due to open sores, making the affected birds susceptible to other diseases.
7. Prevention: Vaccination is a crucial tool in preventing fowlpox. There are both live and inactivated vaccines available for poultry. Proper biosecurity measures can also help reduce the risk of transmission.
8. Treatment: There is no specific antiviral treatment for fowlpox. Management involves isolating infected birds, providing supportive care, and preventing secondary infections.
9. Economic Impact: Fowlpox can have a significant economic impact on poultry farms due to reduced egg production, weight loss, and increased mortality in affected birds. Prompt detection, vaccination, and good biosecurity practices are essential for controlling fowlpox in poultry and minimizing its impact on flocks.
Handling poultry diseases caused by bacteria requires careful consideration of several critical factors. Here are some important details about these factors:
1. Biosecurity Measures: Implement strict biosecurity protocols to prevent the introduction and spread of bacteria. This includes controlling access to the poultry farm, disinfecting equipment, and proper waste management.
2. Vaccination: Administer vaccines against specific bacterial diseases common in poultry, such as Salmonella or Clostridium. Ensure proper timing and follow recommended vaccination schedules.
3. Quarantine: Isolate new birds before introducing them to the existing flock to prevent the potential spread of bacterial diseases. Monitor them for signs of illness during this period.
4. Hygiene and Sanitation: Maintain a clean environment within the poultry facility. Regularly clean and disinfect equipment, housing, and water sources to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.
5. Nutrition: Provide a balanced and nutritionally adequate diet to boost the birds' immune system. A well-nourished bird is better equipped to fight of infections.
6. Water Quality: Ensure a clean and uncontaminated water supply, as contaminated water can transmit bacterial diseases. Regularly test water sources for contamination.
7. Disease Surveillance: Implement a surveillance system to monitor bird health and detect signs of bacterial diseases early. Regularly inspect the flock for symptoms like diarrhea, respiratory distress, or reduced egg production.
8. Veterinary Care: Establish a relationship with a poultry veterinarian who can provide guidance on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment if necessary.
9. Isolation and Culling: If bacterial diseases are detected, promptly isolate infected birds and consider culling to prevent the spread of the disease to the entire flock.
10. Record Keeping: Maintain detailed records of vaccinations, treatments, and any disease outbreaks. This information can be valuable for future disease management and prevention.
11. Worker Training: Train farm workers on proper hygiene practices and biosecurity measures to minimize the risk of introducing or spreading bacterial diseases.
12. Zoonotic Risk: Be aware of zoonotic diseases (diseases that can transfer from animals to humans) associated with poultry, such as Salmonella. Take precautions to prevent human infections, including proper handwashing and safe handling of eggs and poultry products.
13. Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with local and national regulations governing poultry farming and disease control.
14. Genetic Selection: Consider breeding programs that select for resistance to specific bacterial diseases, as this can be a long-term strategy for disease management.
15. Environmental Management: Properly manage the poultry environment, including ventilation and temperature control, to reduce stress on the birds, which can make them more susceptible to infections.
16. Antibiotic Stewardship: Use antibiotics judiciously and in accordance with veterinary recommendations. Overuse can lead to antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
Remember that specific bacterial diseases may require tailored approaches, so consult with a poultry veterinarian or extension service for guidance on managing and preventing specific bacterial infections in your poultry flock.
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When you sit down to enjoy a delicious meal, have you ever stopped to think about the quality of the soil in which the ingredients were grown? Probably not. Most of us take our food for granted, assuming it's safe to eat.
When you sit down to enjoy a delicious meal, have you ever stopped to think about the quality of the soil in which the ingredients were grown? Probably not. Most of us take our food for granted, assuming it's safe to eat.
However, the reality is that soil contamination can significantly impact the safety and quality of the crops we consume. Discover the world of soil contamination and its impact on crops, as well as what you can do to ensure safe soil for healthier, safer food.
Soil contamination occurs when harmful substances, such as chemicals, heavy metals, pollutants, or pathogens, enter and accumulate in the soil. These contaminants can originate from various sources, including industrial activities, agricultural practices, waste disposal, and natural processes.
The presence of contaminants in soil can have far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the environment but also human health through the food chain. One of the primary concerns is how soil contamination affects the crops that grow in it.
Healthy soil plays a crucial role in providing essential nutrients to plants. When soil becomes contaminated, it can disrupt nutrient absorption, leading to nutrient deficiencies in crops. As a result, the crops may not receive the vital elements they need to grow and develop properly.
This can result in stunted growth, lower crop yields, and diminished nutritional value in the harvested produce. In addition, nutrient-deficient crops are more vulnerable to diseases and pests, further threatening their overall health and productivity. This not only affects the quantity of food available but also its quality, making it even more critical to address soil contamination.
One of the most concerning aspects of soil contamination and its impact on crops is the uptake of toxic chemicals. Plant roots can absorb chemical contaminants in the soil and accumulate in various plant tissues. When consumed by humans or animals, these contaminated crops can lead to serious health issues.
Common chemicals found in contaminated soil include pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals like lead and cadmium, and industrial pollutants. These harmful substances can persist in the food chain, causing human and wildlife health problems.
Soil contamination can also affect nearby water sources, such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater. When rainwater washes over contaminated soil, it can carry harmful substances into water bodies, further spreading pollution. This contamination can impact aquatic ecosystems and the quality of water used for irrigation, potentially harming crops.
Moreover, polluted water sources can have cascading effects on the environment, affecting fish populations and aquatic habitats. The interconnection between soil and water contamination underscores the need for comprehensive environmental protection measures to safeguard our crops and natural ecosystems.
Soil is a complex ecosystem teeming with beneficial microorganisms that aid plant growth and health. Soil contamination and its impact on crops can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to a decline in soil fertility and the presence of harmful pathogens.
A compromised soil microbiome can make crops more susceptible to diseases and pests, requiring increased pesticide use to protect them. Furthermore, excessive pesticide use can intensify the problem by further disrupting the soil microbiome. This vicious cycle not only harms crop yields but also contributes to the deterioration of soil health.
Even after harvesting, the effects of soil contamination can persist. Residues of contaminants may remain on the harvested crops, posing health risks to consumers. You must thoroughly wash and process crops to minimize the presence of contaminants, but complete elimination may not always be possible.
Proper washing and processing techniques, such as peeling or blanching, can significantly reduce the levels of contaminants in produce. Choosing crops that are less prone to absorbing contaminants can be a preventive measure in regions with known soil contamination issues.
Now that we understand the impact of soil contamination on crops let's explore ways to prevent and manage this issue to ensure safe soil for food production. By actively promoting research and development of sustainable farming practices and technologies, we can reduce the overall reliance on harmful chemicals and promote healthier soil ecosystems. Collaborative efforts between governments, farmers, and environmental organizations are vital in creating and implementing policies prioritizing soil health and preventing contamination.
Farmers and landowners should conduct soil tests to assess the health of their soil and detect any signs of contamination. Monitoring soil quality over time helps in early detection and intervention. Comprehensive soil testing identifies contaminants and provides insights into soil nutrient levels and pH, allowing for precise adjustments to improve crop health. Sharing soil health data among farmers and researchers can help identify broader contamination patterns and support the development of region-specific mitigation strategies.
Adopting sustainable agricultural practices minimizes soil contamination and its impact on crops. Practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced pesticide use, and organic farming can help preserve soil health and reduce the risk of contamination. Here is how:
Transitioning to organic farming methods, which prohibit synthetic chemicals, can help maintain a healthier soil ecosystem and reduce the potential for contamination.
Ensuring that hazardous substances are disposed of according to regulations can help protect soil quality. Government regulations and enforcement are critical in holding industries accountable for their waste disposal practices.
Encouraging recycling and responsible waste management practices can further reduce the risk of soil contamination. It's important for businesses to prioritize sustainable and environmentally friendly waste disposal methods and for individuals to properly dispose of household hazardous waste on a smaller scale to prevent contamination.
Moving abroad as an agriculturist presents unique challenges, especially when it comes to adapting to different agricultural laws and regulations in a new country. Whether dealing with varied soil quality, climate conditions, or agricultural practices, the transition requires careful planning and execution. Under these circumstances, Transparent International NYC, a proficient international moving company, becomes an invaluable partner. Such relocations often involve transporting specialized equipment, tools, and sometimes even delicate plant specimens. Here’s how they can help:
In cases where soil contamination is detected, remediation measures must be taken promptly. Remediation methods vary depending on the type and extent of contamination but may involve soil excavation, bioremediation, or phytoremediation.
Raising awareness about soil contamination and its consequences is essential. Educating farmers, policymakers, and the public about best practices for soil health and the importance of responsible land management can help prevent further contamination.
Conclusion
Safe soil is the foundation of safe food production. Understanding soil contamination and its impact on crops is crucial for protecting our health and the environment. Taking proactive measures to prevent, detect, and remediate soil contamination can ensure that our food is delicious, safe, and nutritious. It's time to recognize the vital role that soil plays in our food supply chain and work together to preserve its health for generations to come.
]]>Geographical Information System (GIS) is a branch of engineering science that has revolutionized the way locations and points on the earth can be stored and analyzed.
GIS offers many benefits and advantages to many sectors and industries, especially the agriculture and farming sectors
Geographical Information System (GIS) is any automated system which captures, stores, retrieves, analyzes and displays spatial data.
Geographic Information System (GIS) is designed to work with data referenced by spatial or geographic coordinates. Geographic information systems therefore are a group of software, hardware, and processes that are used for collecting, storing, and analyzing geographically referenced data. Then, this data will be presented through a computer-supported cartographic application, and mapping, a comprehensive tool for spatial analysis
An additional definition of a geographic information system is a software program used for presenting, interpreting, and preparing the results that relate to the surface of the earth. This program will maintain the process, analysis, making, and display of the maps
GIS operates on two conceptually different data models, Raster model and Vector model. These two models are based on different concepts with inherent advantages and disadvantages.
In the vector model the location (spatial data) is represented by coordinate pairs, (x) and (y).
If we examine the world around us and think about how they could be represented on a map, we will probably arrive at the conclusion that real world objects in most cases could be represented by three different types of geometrical shapes:
1. Points are used for representing objects without any area extent such as wells, rainfall stations, drilling sites, etc. These objects can be regarded as 0-dimensional and their location is described with one pair of coordinates.
2. Lines are used for representing linear objects such as roads, rivers, telephone lines, etc. Linear objects are described by vectors, in the simplest form a line having a start and an end point. These points are referred to as nodes. More complex lines have start point, end point and a number of breakpoints in between that define a change in direction of the line. The more complex the shape of the linear feature, the more breakpoints are needed to describe its shape. Such breakpoint is often referred to as a vertex and the location is described by a coordinate pair for each vertex.
3. Polygons (areas) are used for representing areas such as land cover classes, soil classes, etc. The pair of coordinates for the line that defines the limit or border of the area are stored in the same way as for a line object, with the fundamental difference that the coordinates for the start and end nodes are the same (the line delimiting the area must make a complete closure of the area, hence the coordinates must be the same).
Vector data have no scale in this respect and the resolution of the geographic co-ordinates is basically determined by computer limitations for storing decimals and the accuracy and precision that was used to measure the x and y coordinates. In most applications the resolution can be considered as mathematically exact
Raster format is when an area is divided into a grid containing a number of uniform grid cells. Each grid cell has a fixed size that decides the resolution of the information, a given position in the grid is expressed as geographic co-ordinates or row and column number, and a value telling which type of cell it is. This value may be of virtually any desired type, and is derived from the area the cell represents. It can be the arithmetic mean of revenue for the population in the area, the most important vegetation cover class or the mid-point elevation of the cell.
Satellite images and computer assisted classifications made from satellite images are examples of raster format data suitable to store in a GIS.
The simplest way data in a raster format file is stored is sequentially in a predetermined order in which the position in the grid can be identified for each cell. Each row in the raster data file may represent one row in the grid, or each cell can be stored on a new row in the data file, or the number of cell values stored on a row in the data file may be fixed to a certain number. The latter way of storing data is a common way to store digital satellite data.
Raster GIS has the advantage of simple data structure, all kinds of spatial analysis and modelling fairly fast and easy. The representation of continuously changing surfaces is good. Simulation is easy due to the uniform grid size. Data is also easy to combine with remote sensing data, since both are in raster format. The available software is generally fairly cheap. The main disadvantages are large data volumes, fixed (and often low) resolution, projection transformations are difficult to perform, advanced topology is difficult to establish, and finally the output is less beautiful than drawn line maps.
Vector models have good representation of complex topology making queries on attribute easy, the geographic precision is higher, updating is easier, and output is compatible to hand drawn line maps.
Disadvantages of Vector GIS models are the complex data structure, overlaying and simulation is difficult to understand, spatial analysis and filtering within polygons are impossible, and the vector technology is more expensive, both regarding software and hardware.
GIS have been developed independently for a wide variety of purposes and the future of GIS will depend to a large extent on the degree to which these various needs can be integrated and met by one type of product. The growth of GIS in recent years has been led by developments in a number of areas and there have been distinct differences in the forms that development has taken and in the meaning attached to GIS. Some of the strategic uses of GIS are as follows:
Forestry
Forestry has been responsible for a significant growth in the use of GIS in the past five years. Ideally, GIS technology would be used for the updating and maintenance of a current forest inventory and for modeling and planning forest management activities such as cutting and silviculture, road construction, and watershed conservation. In other words, the true advantages of GIS accrue only when emphasis is placed on the manipulation, analysis, and modeling of spatial data in an information system. In practice GIS have often been used for little more than automation of the cartography of forest inventories, because of limitations in the functionality of software or resistance to GIS approaches on the part of forest managers
The earliest motivation for GIS in forestry was the ability to update the inventory on a continuous basis by topological overlay of records, reducing the average age of the inventory from the existing 10 years to a few weeks. More sophisticated uses include calculation of marketable timber, modeling outbreaks of fire, and supporting planting management decisions.
The typical Forest Service GIS will be used to manage road facilities, archaeological sites, wildlife habitats, and a host of other geographical features. The relative emphasis on each of these varies greatly from forest to forest.
Several factors account for the recent very rapid growth of GIS activity in the forest industry. First, effective forest management has been a significant societal concern and has attracted government funding.
Secondly, GIS technology is seen as an effective solution to the problem of maintaining a current resource inventory, since reports of recent bums, cutting, and silviculture can be used to update a digital inventory immediately, resulting in an update cycle of a few months rather than years.
Thirdly, a GIS is attractive as a decision tool to aid in scheduling cutting and other management activities. Finally, because of the multi-thermatic nature of a GIS database, it is possible to provide simultaneous consideration of a number of issues in developing management plans
Property and Land Data
The acronyms LIS and LRIS (Land Information System and Land Related Information System) are often used in this sector, reflecting the relative importance of survey data and the emphasis on retrieval rather than on analysis. Most major cities and some countries have some experience in building parcel systems, often dating back to the earliest days of GIS.
The functions needed in a LIS are well short of those in a full GIS. In many cases all that is needed is a geocoding of parcels to allow spatial forms of retrieval: digitizing of the outlines of parcels is useful for cartographic applications. It is unlikely that many municipalities will advance to the state of creating a full urban GIS by integrating data on transport and utility and developing applications in urban development and planning.
In summary, automated cartography and retrieval will probably remain the major concerns of such systems in the immediate future and confidentiality and local responsibility will remain barriers to wider integration. It is likely that these needs will be met initially by vendors of automated cartography systems and Database Management Systems, although there will be a steady movement towards GIS capabilities as urban planners and managers demand greater analytic capabilities.
It is unlikely, however, that many municipalities will reach the stage of giving the digital data legal status as a cadastre because of problems of accuracy and confidentiality.
Civil Engineering
A major use of digital topographic data is in large-scale civil engineering design, such as cut and fill operations for highway construction. The first digital developments in this field derived from the photogrammetric operations, which are the primary source of data.
There are multiple systems installed in civil engineering firms and government agencies. Rapid growth is occurring in the world in the significance of digital topographic data for defense, because of its role in a number of new weapons systems, including Cruise, and because of the general increase of defense budgets in the industrialized world. This work has drawn attention to the importance of data quality, and the need for sophisticated capabilities for editing topographic data as well as for acquiring them. These needs are presently being met by enhancements to automatic cartography systems (e.g., Intergraph)
Agriculture and Environment
The use of GIS in agriculture approaches can be traced to the need to measure the area of land resources, to reclassify and dissolve prior to display, and to overlay data sets and to compare them spatially. These remain among the most basic justifications for GIS technology. GIS technology is of considerable interest in land management, particularly of national parks and other federal, state and provincial lands, and has been adopted in many countries.
In agriculture, the main issue arises from the critical importance in farming of changes over time and season. Although much research has been conducted on the interpretation of agricultural data from remotely-sensed imagery, there remain the conceptual problems of classification and interpretation. Marine environmental monitoring and climatology are good examples.
The use of geographic information systems and GPS is primarily in the production of exactness agriculture. Exactness agriculture is a catch-all expression that describes using technologies of geographic information systems and GPS to manage specific field areas. Technologies of exactness agriculture use information from various sources to aid farmers in decisions making about crop production and management based on the variability of the potential of production inside fields
SOURCES AND REFERENCES
Application of Geographical Information Systems by J. V. Iyengar (Jackson State University)
Uses and Applications of Geographic Information Systems by Ahmed Kareem Jebur (Department of Surveying Techniques, Kut Technical Institute, Middle Technical University, AL-Kut, Iraq)
Introduction to Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems by Ulrik Mårtensson (Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Sciences Lund University)
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Remote sensing is a critical component of precision agriculture. It is one of the systems and technologies that make precision agriculture tools effective in making agriculture more productive.
Remote sensing is a critical component of precision agriculture. It is one of the systems and technologies that make precision agriculture tools effective in making agriculture more productive.
Remote sensing is the term used to describe all methods used for the collection of data at a distance from an object under study by some kind of recording device.
According to the definition above a pair of binoculars or an ordinary camera are simple remote sensing systems. The camera was used already during the end of the 19th century for e.g. military reconnaissance, having the obvious advantage over simple visual inspection in the fact that it produced an image that could be studied and reproduced in several copies. Since the late 1920s, aerial photography has been an important tool in all kinds of mapping and planning work.
During World War II, two new remote sensing methods were developed, the sonar and the radar. After World War II, several systems have been developed for different types of electromagnetic radiation. Remote sensing systems based on electronic radiation detectors are not obviously image generating systems, that is, the result is not an image, but rather a set of numbers stored in a computer compatible format. The stored data can often be transformed into an image by a computer using dedicated software
Remote sensing systems are divided into two groups based on separate technical solutions: Passive Remote Sensing and Active Remote Sensing.
Passive remote sensing systems measure existing radiation such as the reflected solar radiation from the earth’s surface.
Active remote sensing systems emit radiation on the study object and measure the reflected amount of radiation.
An ordinary camera is an example of a passive remote sensing system using existing light as input, and forms an image on the film. If a flash is added to the camera it becomes an active remote sensing system since it then provides the necessary radiation without considering the existing radiation sources.
Examples of remote sensing systems of the active type are: Radar, Sonar, and Echo-sounder and the more recently added Lidar which use laser technology to emit and then collect reflections from the surface of the earth. Examples of remote sensing systems of the passive type are: Photography, Digital photography, Scanning Mirror (MSS), and Push broom Scanner.
Radar is currently being employed more frequently in different resource inventories, the use of radar remote sensing is particularly useful in areas that often have a thick cover, since radar waves penetrate clouds and even to certain extent vegetation cover. So radar images have been used e.g. to map landscape and soils in the Amazonas.
Lidar is a technology that is becoming more and more frequent in use, often in order to generate topographic maps and digital elevation models of high resolution. Another trend in the current development is the use of so called hyperspectral satellite sensors that instead of recording in 3-7 wavebands records in several hundreds of narrow wavebands. But still, the most widespread remote sensing systems are aerial photography and satellite multispectral scanning.
Meteorology: Development of Weather Systems
This is the application of science and technology to predict the state of atmosphere for a given location. It covers predictions ranging from short-lived to long-term weather. The information of interest includes, among others, the location and development of weather systems such as clouds, rainstorms, tropical cyclones, cold and warm fronts. Information needs a physical carrier to travel from the object to the sensor through an intervening medium.
Meteorological satellites can be used to keep track of weather systems days before they come close to an area. This is particularly useful in monitoring severe weather systems like tropical cyclones. The very basic application of meteorological satellite is in identification of clouds. Clouds can be broadly classified into three categories according to the cloud base height, namely, low, medium and high clouds. Some clouds, such as cumulonimbus (a type of thundery clouds), span the three layers. Sensors on board meteorological satellites are pointing towards the ground, enabling them to have bird eye view of the globe from the space.
Climatology: Monitoring Climate Changes
Remote sensing techniques, and specifically satellite images, have been already successfully used in a wide range of climate change fields, such as for: (i) investigating global temperature trends, both at the ocean surface and in the atmosphere, (ii) detecting changes in solar radiation affecting global warming.
It is used in aerial sensors to detect or locate objects on the earth's land surface or atmosphere, by means of transmitting electromagnetic radiation. Remote sensing has improved weather forecasts, showing wind movement and atmospheric temperature obtained from space.
A weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. Satellites can be polar orbiting (covering the entire Earth asynchronously), or geostationary (hovering over the same spot on the equator).
Geological Surveys.
Remote sensing data can help studies involving geological mapping, geological hazards and economic geology (i.e., exploration for minerals, petroleum, etc.). Such techniques are particularly beneficial for exploration of inaccessible areas, and planets other than Earth.
Remote sensing is the science of obtaining information about objects or areas from a distance, typically from aircraft or satellites using sensors. The most common are visible and infrared sensors, followed by microwave, gamma rays and rarely, ultraviolet. They may also be used to detect the emission spectra of various chemicals, providing data on chemical concentrations in the atmosphere. Radiation in the reflected IR region is used for remote sensing purposes in ways very similar to radiation in the visible portion. The reflected IR covers wavelengths from approximately 0.7 μm to 3.0 μm.
GPS is a technology used to get coordinates that “fix” points on the earth, whereas “remote sensing” is a technology to learn something about materials or objects on the earth. GPS uses the triangulation of multiple satellite positions to determine the GPS receiver's location.
Archaeology
Remote sensing has been able to assist archaeological research in several ways during the past years, including detection of subsurface remains, monitoring archaeological sites and monuments, archaeolandscapes studies, etc
Light detection and ranging, or LiDAR, has changed the face of archaeology by making it possible to measure and map objects and structures that might otherwise remain hidden. Mapping with light. Lidar, or “light detection and ranging” technology, directs hundreds of thousands of pulses of light toward the ground. Predictive modeling is a vital application for GIS in archaeology.
By incorporating historic map data, physical details of an area's landscape and known information about past inhabitants, archaeologists can Maps are important to archaeologists because maps illustrate the connection between artifacts, Eco facts, features, and the landscape. These connections, or associations, are sometimes referred to as spatial relationships by archaeologists.
Water Resources Surveys
The process involves investigations on the quality, quantity, effects of climate change, protection of water resources and the integrated relationship between surface water and groundwater. Water exposed on the surface can be detected using visible, infrared and radar images, while freshwater entering natural basins needs thermal infrared sensors. Water resource mapping related to the specific area and compare the evolution in the years.
Of these, the resources most available for use are the waters of the oceans, rivers, and lakes; other available water resources include groundwater and deep subsurface waters and glaciers and permanent snowfields. The current limitations for image-based remote sensing applications are mainly due to sensor attributes, such as restricted spectral range, coarse spatial resolution, slow turnaround time, and inadequate repeat coverage
Agricultural and Forestry
Remote sensing can detect, identify, classify, evaluate and measure various forest characteristics in two ways: qualitatively and quantitatively. In a qualitative way remote sensing can classify forest cover types to: coniferous and deciduous forest, mangrove forest, swamp forest, forest plantations, etc. It gives the soil moisture data and helps in determining the quantity of moisture in the soil and hence the type of crop that can be grown in the soil.
Through remote sensing, farmers can tell where water resources are available for use over a given land and whether the resources are adequate. The form of crops developed in an area, crop state, and yield can be considered. Recording crop state by remote sensing can get the crop status in addition to the condition and progress of their development.
Natural Disaster
Remote sensing can assist in damage assessment and aftermath monitoring, providing a quantitative base for relief operations. It is used to map the new situation and update the databases used for the reconstruction of an area, and can help to prevent that such a disaster occurs again. Natural hazards are naturally occurring physical phenomena caused either by rapid or slow onset events which can be geophysical (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and volcanic activity), hydrological (avalanches and floods), climatological (extreme temperatures, drought and wildfires), meteorological etc. The sensed data on wind patterns and trends in ocean rise have been useful in predicting the onset of hurricane and flood disasters. Such information has been used predict likely land areas to be affected and early relocation of identified vulnerable groups
Sources and References
Introduction to Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems (Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Sciences Lund University) by Ulrik Mårtensson
Applications of Remote Sensing by Dr. G A Karhale Head, Department of Physics, Madhavrao Patil ACS College, Palam Dist. Parbhani (M. S.) India.
]]>Are you thinking of going into poultry farming in Nigeria? I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about the profitability of poultry farming in Nigeria and how it is capable of employing millions of people, boost sustainable food ...]]>
Well, as someone who has a first-hand experience of living on and working in a poultry farm, I want to analyze the profitability of poultry farming in Nigeria. If you want to go into the poultry farming business in Nigeria, you need to be aware of the cost and profit potentials.
Poultry farming in Nigeria is one of the most advanced animal farming businesses in Nigeria. On closer inspection of national food expenditure in Nigeria, it can be observed that poultry and poultry-related food items has a total expenditure of over N800 billion annually, which amounts to over 2% of total food expenditure in Nigeria. This huge market and demand for poultry makes it a good agribusiness to invest in.
I’ll be using four parameters to analyze the profitability of poultry farming in Nigeria. These parameters are:
In order to do a fair and thorough analysis, I’ll be analyzing the profitability of poultry farming in Nigeria from the standpoint of someone who’s about going into poultry farming in Nigeria with 500 birds (layers).
STARTUP CAPITAL
I’ll be making an assumption that there’s an available land already. I won’t be factoring in the cost of getting a land.
Poultry Farming in Nigeria startup costs:
Total startup capital for 500 birds (layers): N15, 280, 000
OPERATION & MAINTENANCE (O&M)
Poultry farming requires a very high level of O&M because the quality of their production depends on how well you manage them. You have to feed them 2 to 3 times a day and maintain good sanitation. You have to make sure you give them quality water to drink. And from time to time, they’ll be visited by a veterinary doctor who will administer drugs and injections to them in order to keep them healthy. Failure to do this will expose your birds to all manner of diseases and flus. I still remember, like it was yesterday, how the chickens in our farm were dying in their dozens due to the bird flu outbreak of 2006.
Also, you’ll need to hire one farm labour to help you with the O&M. Hire someone who lives close to your farm so that you won’t have to pay him or her too much. The current wages of a farm labour for poultry farming in Nigeria is between N20, 000 to N30, 000 a month.
MARKET
There’s a very good market for poultry products. Eggs have many health benefits and are always in demand from both individuals and companies. Companies such as bakeries, restaurants, hotels etc. use eggs for making scotch eggs, cakes etc. While individuals love using eggs to eat bread, yam and to bake as well. The good thing about poultry (layers) is that after they’ve spent 18 months laying eggs for you, you can sell them off at a higher price than you bought them. If you can time the sales of your old layers (that’s what they call layers that have reached the end of their laying cycle) to coincide with a festive period like Christmas or Easter, people will fight among themselves just to buy your chickens!
The excretion of poultry can also be bagged as organic manure and sold to vegetable farmers as well. There’s a very good market, all-year-round, for everything that your poultry farm produces. Selling any of your products will never be a problem. Poultry farming in Nigeria is a business with a very strong cash flow
PROFITABILITY
I’ll exclude the O&M costs from these calculations because the variables can’t be accurately forecasted generally. They are specific to each person’s situation.
Your birds, if well raised and managed, have the capacity to produce 8,670 crates of eggs for you over an 18 month period i.e. 17 crates a day from the 2nd month to the 18th month. You can conveniently sell one crate of egg for N2,,000. So, for 18 months, eggs alone will generate N17, 340,000 (8, 670 X N2000) for you. At the end of their production cycle, assuming you have a death rate or mortality rate of 5% (this means 5% of your 500 birds, 25 birds, die during their production cycle) you should have about 475 birds left in your farm after 18 months.
Depending on what time of the year you choose to sell them. You can process the birds and sell them (prices of chicken are highest during festive periods like Christmas and Easter) for N3, 500 per chicken. So your 475 birds can generate N1,662, 500 (475 X N3, 500) for you.
From egg and bird sales alone over an 18 month period, you will generate a total sale of N19, 002,500. There’s also money to be made from selling their excretion as manure but the cash generated from this is insignificant compared to the eggs and chicken sales. This is an aspect of poultry farming in Nigeria whose potential isn’t being properly harnessed.
With an invested capital of N15, 280, 000 and total sales of N19, 002,500, your gross profit margin is 24.36%.
Note that most of the things you spent your money on like the cages and poultry pen to house the cages are fixed assets in nature. You will be able to use them for future layer productions and you don’t have to recover their cost in one production. In poultry farming, the tanks and most of the structure you put in place are fixed assets in nature and their costs would be recovered over several productions. As for the feeding, you don't have to provide the money for feeding all at once. You can be generating the feeding expenses monthly from egg sales. Personally, I love the positive cash flow aspect of poultry farming in Nigeria because you get to make sales on a daily and weekly basis.
CONCLUSION
Going by these four parameters that I’ve used to analyze the profitabilty of poultry farming in Nigeria, poultry farming in Nigeria has an overall rating of B. Poultry farming is a good business to go into and it has unique strong points and weak points.
The trick in poultry farming is to know the techniques and practices that will reduce mortality (or death rate) and boost growth and production. You should also maintain good records of treatment, egg production etc.
The analysis above is not 'cast in stone' or fixed. It's meant to give you a general overview of cost implications. You can decide to do away with some items in order to reduce cost and boost profitablity. For example, you can decide not to use cages and you can opt to manufacutre your own feeds instead of buying already manufactured feeds. If you want to manufacture your own feeds, you should consider maize farming too because maize is a very critical ingredient of poultry feed.
Also, not using cages means your eggs would be laid on the floor making it susceptible to being broken and becoming very dirty. You should also factor insurance to help cover losses from unexpected disease outbreaks.
I hope this analysis helps you to make the decision to start your poultry farming business. There are other things you need to put in place before starting a poultry farming business in Nigeria but the ones highlighted above are the basics.
If you need a professional and comprehensive business plan to guide you and help you raise money to start and grow your poultry farming business, you can get one from us.
Our poultry farming business plan and online poultry farming training will show how to start a poultry farm with 2,000 birds and grow it to over 5,000 birds. It will show you all the materials you need to get, how to reduce death rate on your farm (medication and vaccination plan guide), the best way to build your poultry house so that they lay more eggs, what you should feed your birds so as to reduce feeding costs, expected profits, balance sheet and cash flow for 5 year's of operation and so much more! Please see a screenshot of our poultry farming business plan below:
For a payment of N30,000 we will send you our professional poultry farming business plan containing the latest and current prices needed for starting a poultry farming business (layers and broilers) and also give you one month access to our online poultry farming training course. You can see a sample of one of our poultry training video classes below:
Our professional poultry farming business plan also comes with architectural and structural drawings and design for building a modern poultry farming pen that can house 2,000 birds.
With our standard poultry farming business plan you can raise money to start and grow your poultry farming business from banks, investors, donor agencies etc.
To learn more about how to get our poultry farming business plan and online training, please call or chat with us on +2348089864121 or send a mail to agsolutions@agricdemy.com
And if you are interested in a 2-weeks practical and physical training on our layers poultry farm, you can also call or chat with us on +2348089864121 or send a mail to agsolutions@agricdemy.com to get training dates and cost.
[Ed. Note: This article was reviewed on January 5, 2024]
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In the culinary art world, the fine dining experience isn't solely about the ingredients; it's about the mastery behind every element that graces the plate.
In the culinary art world, the fine dining experience isn't solely about the ingredients; it's about the mastery behind every element that graces the plate.
Custom breading manufacturers, often unsung heroes in the gastronomic realm, play a pivotal role in elevating dishes to new heights of taste and presentation. Their meticulous craftsmanship transforms ordinary meals into culinary spectacles, enhancing textures, flavors, and visual appeal. Let's explore these artisans' intricate artistry and significance in fine dining.
Custom breading is more than just coating food; it's an intricate process that demands expertise and precision. These manufacturers skillfully blend diverse ingredients, from flours to spices, creating bespoke breading mixtures tailored to complement specific dishes. The balance of flavors and textures is meticulously calibrated to enhance the natural essence of the food while adding a delightful crunch or a subtle hint of seasoning.
One of the critical hallmarks of custom breading manufacturers lies in their ability to innovate and customize. Chefs collaborate with these artisans to craft unique breading formulations, aligning with the vision and identity of their culinary creations. Whether it's a delicate fish fillet, a succulent chicken breast, or a medley of vegetables, custom breading accentuates the dish's character and elevates the dining experience.
Quality and Consistency: Pillars of Excellence
In the realm of fine dining, consistency and quality are non-negotiable. Custom breading manufacturers uphold stringent standards to ensure each batch meets precise specifications. The sourcing of premium ingredients and adherence to rigorous production protocols guarantee a consistent product that embodies excellence in taste and texture. This commitment to quality empowers chefs to deliver exceptional dishes consistently, earning the trust and admiration of discerning diners.
The impact of custom breading on the dining experience extends beyond aesthetics. The sensory delight of biting into a perfectly breaded delicacy, hearing the satisfying crunch, and savoring the harmonious blend of flavors create a symphony on the palate. Its attention to detail distinguishes a mundane meal from a memorable culinary journey, leaving an indelible mark on the diner's senses.
The relationship between chefs and custom breading manufacturers is symbiotic. Chefs leverage the expertise of these artisans to translate their culinary vision into reality. The manufacturers, in turn, draw inspiration from the chef's creativity, pushing the boundaries of innovation to craft breading solutions that amplify the dish's allure.
Custom breading manufacturers operate behind the curtains, their craft largely unnoticed by the diner's eye. However, their influence on the fine dining experience is profound. Through their dedication to craftsmanship, innovation, and quality, these artisans play an integral role in transforming ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary marvels.
As diners relish the symphony of flavors and textures, they unwittingly indulge in the collaborative artistry that defines the pinnacle of gastronomy—a testament to the harmonious fusion of skill, passion, and ingenuity in fine dining.
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The future of food and agriculture faces uncertainties that can serve as a platform for successful agriculture careers.
Some of ...]]>
Some of the uncertainties faced by agriculture revolve around different factors, including population growth, dietary choices, technological progress, income distribution, the state of natural resources, climate change, the sustainability of peace etc.
In the midst of these uncertainties facing food production lies opportunities that can lead to successful agriculture careers for people who are results and solutions oriented. This article highlights these uncertainties and the agriculture careers that they produce.
The following are agriculture careers that are best suited to solve the problems that agriculture and food production are facing now and in the future.
Extreme poverty, measured in terms of the number of people living below the recently updated poverty line of US$1.90 a day (valued in ‘purchasing power parity’, or PPP), has significantly declined since 1990, when almost 2 billion people, or more than 37 percent of the world’s population, were extremely poor.
According to the World Bank, extreme poverty is disproportionately concentrated in rural areas. Across all low- and middle-income countries, a person living in rural areas is almost three times more likely to live in extreme poverty than someone living in urban areas.
Most of the world’s poor and hungry are rural people who earn meagre livings from agriculture, fisheries and forestry. Rural people in most low-income countries rely on agriculture for an important share of their incomes; in some regions, income from agriculture often represents the largest share of household earnings. Family farms are the backbone of agriculture in low- and middle-income countries. Almost 75 percent of these farms, around 375 million, are smaller than one hectare. They engage almost 75 percent of the economically active rural population and produce a significant share of the farming family’s food.
Investment in food and agriculture is one of the most effective means of stimulating economic growth and reducing poverty, especially in countries at a low level of economic development. It is also essential for ending hunger and malnutrition in all of their dimensions – by increasing food production to meet growing demand, by improving the access of vulnerable people to food, and by stabilizing markets so that prices are affordable for consumers and remunerative for producers.
Food and agricultural investments are also necessary to improve the resilience of rural incomes and livelihoods by addressing climate change, conserving natural resources and facilitating the transition to sustainable agriculture.
All the above makes a career in agriculture finance necessary. An agriculture financial expert will identify the available sources of investment funding (international remittance, foreign direct investments, donor agencies, bonds, bank loans, equity investors etc.) and guide farmers and entrepreneurs on how to access them in order to be able to grow and expand their farming businesses.
BECOME AN AGRICULTURE FINANCE PROFESSIONAL
Do you know what current options are available for farmers to help them raise funds and find investors? This finance course goes through the available options in more details and shows you how to explore opportunities in your own country!
The rise of a global middle class, as a result of the fast income growth in emerging countries, has accelerated dietary transitions that are changing the composition of the demand for food. The trend is strongly towards higher consumption of meat and dairy products and other more resource-intensive food items, hence with implications for the sustainable use of natural resources.
Despite this desire for more animal protein food, challenges such as higher temperatures and less reliable supplies of water will also create severe hardships for small-scale livestock producers, particularly in arid and semi-arid grassland and rangeland ecosystems at low latitudes.
Heat and water scarcity will have a direct impact on animal health and will also reduce the quality and supply of feed and fodder. There is some evidence that global warming has already affected the distribution of some marine fish species, with warm-water species shifting towards the poles.
Both gradual atmospheric warming and associated physical changes (sea surface temperature, ocean circulation, waves and storm systems), and chemical changes (salinity content, oxygen concentration and acidification), have impacts in aquatic environments.
For example, rising sea levels will threaten coastal aquaculture production in river deltas and estuaries. Higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are making the oceans more acidic, reducing the ability of important aquaculture species (e.g. mussels, clams and oysters) to form and maintain shells and slowing down or even preventing the growth of coral reefs, which provide an important habitat for fish. These changes can have a major impact on small-scale fishers using traditional methods, with a consequent impact on food security. Furthermore, extreme weather events and sea level rise will damage fisheries infrastructure, such as ports and fleets, further raising the costs of fishing, processing and distribution.
Animal scientist with good understanding of the physiology of animals will be very critical in developing systems that will help animals adjust to the changes in their living environment thereby ensuring regular supply of animal food protein sources.
BECOME AN ANIMAL SCIENTIST
Do you want to know more about animal health and productivity? Then check out our video courses on the common animal protein businesses such as fish farming, cattle farming, poultry farming, grasscutter farming, snail farming and pig farming
Food security is threatened by an alarming increase in the number of outbreaks of transboundary pests and diseases of plants and animals. These pests and diseases jeopardize food security and have broad economic, social and environmental impacts.
Transboundary animal diseases are highly contagious epidemic diseases such as Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), Newcastle disease etc. that spread rapidly across national borders, causing high rates of death and illness. The risk of serious outbreaks is increasing as more people, animals, plants and agricultural products move across international borders, and as animal production systems become more intensive.
A worrying trend is the upsurge in zoonotic diseases, such as avian influenza and swine flu, which can also have serious repercussions on human health.
The spread of transboundary animal diseases is facilitated by the lack of access to goods and services in rural areas, and the disruption of veterinary services and trade in livestock and animal products. A good example is lumpy skin disease, which affects livestock throughout Africa and is spreading quickly to the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
The impacts of transboundary plant pests and diseases vary from region to region and year to year. In some cases, they result in total crop failure. Globally, annual crop losses to plant pests are estimated to be between 20 to 40 percent of production. In terms of economic value, plant diseases alone cost the global economy around US$220 billion annually and invasive insects around US$70 billion.
Infectious disease control specialists will be in high demand to implement strategies for preventing global outbreak of transboundary pests and diseases.
BECOME AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE CONTROLLER
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Researches and projections to 2050 suggest the emergence of growing scarcities of natural resources for agriculture. Intensified competition for these resources could lead to their overexploitation and unsustainable use, degrading the environment and creating a destructive loop whereby resource degradation leads to ever increasing competition for the remaining available resources, triggering further degradation. For millions of farmers, foresters, pastoralists and fisherfolk, this could create insurmountable barriers to improving their livelihoods and escaping poverty.
Globally, 33 percent of the world’s farmland is moderately to highly degraded. This degradation affects particularly dryland areas, affecting the quality of local people’s livelihoods and the long-term health of ecosystems. In general, land degradation is an impediment to realizing food security and reducing hunger. Globally, there are few opportunities left for further expanding the agricultural area. Moreover, much of the additional land available is not suitable for agriculture. Bringing that land into agricultural production would carry heavy environmental, social and economic costs.
Soil scientists and nutrient expert can help with making existing agriculture land more nutritious and fertile so it can produce more crops. They can also devise ways by which already degraded land can become reusable thereby increasing the quantity of land available for food production.
BECOME A SOIL SCIENTIST
Check out this course that will teach you the characteristics and properties of the soil that contribute to fertile soils and the necessary control measures for pests and weeds
With the increases in food supply in recent decades, the world now produces more than enough food to satisfy the dietary needs of the entire global population. The average DES (dietary energy supply) per person per day in low- and middle-income countries is around 2,750 kilocalories and in high-income countries it is around 3 350 kilocalories. Both these figures exceed the minimum requirement of around 1 950 kilocalories per person per day. The same applies to protein requirements.
However, adequate food availability does not automatically imply adequate food intake by all. First, inequality in incomes and other means of subsistence explain large differences in access to food and why still hundreds of millions of people are undernourished. Second, poorer households tend to face impediments to the adequate utilization of food owing to lack of access to facilities, such as food storage, cooking equipment and clean water, and to services, such as health care and basic nutrition education.
Third, the dietary transition is partially reflected in improved access to more nutritious foods, including meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, but not necessary in the right balance. Analyses based on household surveys, as well as the trends shown above based on the FAO food balance sheets, suggest accelerated growth in consumption of meat and slower growth in consumption of fruits and vegetables.
These trends, together with rapidly growing consumption of processed foods, often with excessive quantities of salt, sugar, and preservatives, has given rise to concerns over the shift towards less healthy diets and the increasing prevalence of micronutrient deficiency and overweight.
While population growth increases the demand for agricultural products and stimulates farming activities, urbanization requires food to be easily stored and transported. Thus, food processing has become a key factor in the transformation of food systems.
The world will need more food processing professionals to help convert raw foods into products that have long shelf-life and also convert food wastes in the food value chain into edible products for both humans and animals. They will also be needed for the creation of food products that are more nutritious in order to improve global health.
BECOME A FOOD PROCESSOR
Do you want to start an agriculture career in food processing to solve the problem of food wastage, food value addition and dietary problems? Then take this free course.
Currently around 14 percent of all energy used globally comes from renewable sources. Around 73 percent of that comes from bioenergy, including liquid transportation fuels and the combustion of municipal solid waste and woodfuel.
Projected demand for bioenergy in electricity generation indicates growth of 50 percent between 2013 and 2020, while bioenergy for heating purposes is projected to grow by approximately 25 percent.
The consumption of cereals and oilseeds for the production of biofuels has increased, as has the use of biomass as a substitute for petrochemicals.
This shift to bioenergy has implications for agriculture and food production. For example, in aquaculture, which provides more than 50 percent of all fish consumed, oilseeds are becoming a major component of fish feed, and demand for oilseeds will expand as aquaculture production methods continue to intensify.
In recent years, there has been a significant increasein the production of biofuels, from around 60 billion litres in 2007 to around 130 billion litres in 2015. Output was projected to grow to 140 billion litres in 2020, with a corresponding impact on the production and consumption of food and feed crops.
There has also been an increased use of vegetable oil for biofuel production. Between 2000 and 2009, the consumption of vegetable oil for all purposes grew at an annual rate of 5.1 percent, while the consumption of vegetable oil for biofuel production grew at an annual rate of 23 percent.
Projections indicate that by 2024, one-quarter of sugarcane production will be used for the manufacturing of ethanol, a 21 percent increase from 2014. The increase in production of these bioenergy crops have led to a conversion of considerable areas of forest into farmland.
The World Economic Forum estimates that, globally, the revenue potential for new business opportunities in the biomass value chain could amount to about US$295 billion in 2020, which is three times its 2010 value. The importance and challenges of sustainable bio-economy development and its transformative role of the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors, were recognized at the 2015 meeting of the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture, which gave FAO the mandate to coordinate international work on a ‘food-first’ bio-economy
Recent work by FAO and other organizations has shown that there are a number of good practices that can accommodate the sustainable production of food, bio-based products and bioenergy, including biofuels. They include agro-ecological zoning and complementing the production of food with bioenergy generation through sustainable agriculture intensification.
There is also good potential for developing integrated food-energy systems that optimize land use, such as mixed food and energy crop systems, and increasing the use of biomass for energy (e.g. biogas from livestock manure).
Biomass and clean energy specialists will be in high demand to help with the production of biomass needed for the food and clean energy requirements of the world.
BECOME A CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIALIST
This free online course on technologies for clean and renewable energy production teaches you about the concepts of clean energy and renewable energy, as well as the cleaner routes for energy production
The world faces an impending water crisis and already certain countries are water-stressed. Countries may be considered water-stressed if they withdraw more than 25 percent of their renewable freshwater resources.
Also, countries approach physical water scarcity when more than 60 percent is withdrawn, and face severe physical water scarcity when more than 75 percent is withdrawn. Water withdrawals for agriculture represent 70 percent of all withdrawals. Research estimates that more than 40 percent of the world’s rural population lives in river basins that are classified as water scarce.
In many low-rainfall areas of the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, and in India and China, farmers use much of the available water resources, resulting in the serious depletion of rivers and aquifers.
In some of these areas, about 80 to 90 percent of the water is used for agricultural purposes. The intensive agricultural economies of Asia use about 20 percent of their internal renewable freshwater resources, while much of Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, in contrast, use only a very small percentage
Given these constraints, the rate of expansion of land under irrigation is slowing substantially. FAO has projected that the global area equipped for irrigation may increase at a relatively low annual rate of 0.1 percent. At that rate, it would reach 337 million ha in 2050, compared to around 325 million ha in 2013. This represents a significant slowdown from the period between 1961 and 2009, when the area under irrigation grew at an annual rate of 1.6 percent globally and more than 2 percent in the poorest countries. Most of the future expansion of irrigated land is projected to take place in low-income countries.
Growth in agricultural water use is decelerating, partly owing to the improved performance of irrigation systems and agricultural practices. However, with rapid urbanization, the demand for water is becoming more and more spatially concentrated. Competition for water, and the construction of dams and diversions that interfere with fish migration, can have also a major impact on inland fisheries.
While allocations of water are shifting away from agriculture to meet the needs of urban users, there is still room for improving these allocations in both economic and environmental terms. In this regard, finding non-competing uses of water resources, such as using treated urban wastewater for irrigating crops, will become increasingly important. There may be some scope to further exploit water resources, such as rivers and lakes, to increase food production through the development of inland aquaculture.
It is expected that aquaculture will continue to expand in the decades ahead through intensification, species diversification, expansion into new areas (such as offshore marine waters), and the introduction of innovative, more resource-efficient technologies. Thanks to these improvements, output from aquaculture – having become the major source of fish for human consumption in 2014 – is expected to overtake total output from capture fisheries from 2021.
Water engineers are therefore needed to conserve and maximize existing water sources, produce purification systems for converting waste water into clean water suitable for human consumption and agricultural purposes.
BECOME A WATER ENGINEER
Learn about practices and global issues involved in soil and water conservation engineering in this free online course
As agriculture adopts labour-saving technologies, agricultural employment is expected to shrink, with both women and men moving into other sectors.
However, while men may diversify out of subsistence farming or out of agriculture altogether, women in many low-income countries may continue to work in agriculture. This has led to concerns about the feminization of agriculture.
A recent background review by the World Bank and FAO assesses the available evidence of the feminization of agriculture globally. In many countries in the Near East and North Africa, Central Asia, South Asia and Latin America, the female share of agricultural employment has increased significantly in recent decades, and women have become the majority of those employed in the sector.
The striking rise in women’s responsibilities in agriculture is driven by demographic pressures and land fragmentation; the intensification of agriculture, which affects demand for male and female labour; jobs growth in other sectors; and social norms around women’s responsibilities
As for the men who remain in agriculture, there’s going to be a rise in their ages because younger men will not be going into agriculture at a high enough rate to replace the men already in the profession.
These two trends demand the creation of more tools and equipment that will handle the laborious tasks of agriculture. An easy solution to this growing problem will be robots.
Agriculture robots will be able to solve all the hard labor of farming that previously used to be done by younger men and they should be simple and easy to control so that it can be easily understood and operated.
BECOME A ROBOTICS EXPERT
This free online diploma course in robotics unravels the fundamentals of this field, starting with its history before moving onto the various applications and laws of robotics.
Despite the generally fast growth of agricultural trade, most of the food consumed in many countries is produced domestically; net imports are within the range of 0-20 percent of the domestic food supply in many instances.
Some countries, such as Argentina, Australia and the United States of America, have net exports of more than 50 percent of their domestic food supply, while the Near East/North Africa region imports more than 50 percent of its food supply. Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and China are also net importers of food.
Future levels of food prices depend, among other factors, on how production will be able to accommodate tightening resource constraints and climate change. Climate change may jeopardize the possibility of expanding agricultural yields in some regions of the globe, which is required to meet growing demand; the result would be upward pressure on prices.
In addition, mitigation policies may require the internalization of carbon-emission costs. Furthermore, prices in the long run may also rise, as long as there will be a need to reduce GHG emissions in order to comply with international agreements on climate change. However, adopting these mitigation measures would impose additional costs (at least in the short run), which would put upward pressure on output prices.
While some regions of the world experience high food prices due to inadequate food production, other parts of the world have lower food prices due to excess food production. Effective marketing and trade will be needed to create a symbiotic relationship whenever these disparities occur.
Agriculture Marketers and Trade specialist will be needed to create and take advantage of food price disparities around the world in order to ensure that farmers always receive adequate compensation for the items produced on their farms.
BECOME AN AGRICULTURE MARKETER
Explore digital marketing such as the AIDA marketing funnel and email marketing strategies to sell your agriculture products with this free online course
The past 30 years has seen a rising trend in the occurrence of natural disasters. This increase is particularly noteworthy in climatological events such as droughts, hydrological events such as floods, and meteorological events such as storms.
The increase in weather-related events is of significant concern to agriculture, given the sector’s dependence on climate. The intensity of these disasters is increasing, and it may continue to increase as climate changes. For some regions, climate change will result in more intense precipitation, leading to more floods, longer dry periods between rain events, leading to more drought. Droughts are expected to intensify, especially in the subtropics and low- and mid-range latitudes.
For example, the 2015/16 El Niño phenomenon was one of the strongest observed over the last 50 years, and its impacts were felt worldwide. Several severe tropical cyclones affected the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asian countries throughout the 2015/16 cyclone season.
An FAO report on the impact of disasters on agriculture and food security showed that, between 2003 and 2013, the agriculture sector in low-income countries absorbed 22 percent of the impact of natural disasters, including total economic damage to physical assets and infrastructure as well as losses due to changes in economic flows.
Agriculture’s share rose to 25 percent when only climate-related disasters are considered, and up to 84 percent in the case of drought. Production losses suffered by producers in the aftermath of a disaster were twice as high as the direct damage to agricultural assets and infrastructure.
Agriculture Meteorologists will become more important in the coming years as they will be able to interpret, predict and analyze weather conditions that will direct farming activities in certain regions based on their understanding of the prevalent weather conditions.
BECOME A METEOROLOGIST
Study the basics of meteorology, natural hazards, climate change and mitigation strategies in this free online course.
The IPCC is moderately confident that agronomic adaptation can improve yields by the equivalent of 15 to 18 percent. However, the effectiveness of adaptation varies by context. Specific social and environmental conditions will influence smallholders’ choice of adaptation measures. It is important to note that current adaptation measures to improve yields may have different impacts as the climate changes.
The adoption of sustainable land, water, fisheries and forestry management practices by smallholder agricultural producers will be crucial to efforts to adapt to climate change, eradicate global poverty and end hunger. Such practices could yield significant productivity improvements.
However, in order to encourage adoption, improvements will also be necessary in infrastructure, extension, climate information, access to credit, and social insurance – conditions which are at the heart of rural development.
Face-to-face extension services are being complemented, and sometimes replaced, by mobile phones, the Internet and more conventional media, such as radio, video and television. In many countries, extension services have evolved away from top-down ‘technology transfer’ to participatory and discovery-based approaches that inspire innovation.
Agriculture Extension worker will be in high demand as they will be at the forefront of spreading current sustainable and advanced agriculture practices to farmers in rural and urban areas so that food production and security can be achieved globally.
In its latest assessment, the IPCC has stated with high confidence that in low-latitude countries crop production will be ‘consistently and negatively affected by climate change’. In northern latitudes, the impacts on production are more uncertain; there may be positive or negative consequences.
Increasing variability of precipitation and increases in the frequency of droughts and floods are likely to reduce yields in general. Although higher temperatures can improve crop growth, studies have documented that crop yields decline significantly when daytime temperatures exceed a certain crop-specific level.
Climate change may affect the nutritional properties of some crops. Research has found that under conditions of elevated levels of carbon dioxide, the concentrations of minerals in some crops (e.g. wheat, rice and soybeans) can be up to 8 percent lower than normal. Protein concentrations may also be lower, while carbohydrates are higher.
Agricultural biotechnology will help the world better prepare crops to withstand drastic weather conditions that affect crop growth and production.
Agricultural biotechnology, defined as ‘any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use’ can make a significant contribution to productive and sustainable agriculture. Biotechnologies range from low-tech approaches, such as artificial insemination, fermentation techniques and biofertilizers, to high-tech approaches and advanced DNA-based methods, such as genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
BECOME AN AGRICULTURE BIOTECHNOLOGIST
This free online course takes you through the role of biotechnology in agriculture and animal breeding
Agriculture is affected by a rising trend in the number and intensity of natural disasters worldwide
The vulnerability and exposure of individuals and their communities to the impacts of natural disasters depends on a range of factors, including gender, age, socio-economic status and ethnicity. The impacts are often different for men and women, primarily because of gender-determined socio-economic status.
Agriculture subsectors can be affected differently by natural hazards and disasters. Crops tend to be most affected by floods and storms; livestock is overwhelmingly affected by drought; the fisheries subsector is most affected by tsunamis and storms such as hurricanes and cyclones, while most of the economic impact on forestry is caused by floods, storms and wild fires.
Agriculture insurance will help develop financial products that farmers can use to protect their losses from weather and other natural disasters.
BECOME AN AGRICULTURE INSURANCE PROFESSIONAL
This free risk management course will teach you about the importance of insuring against risk and explore the most prevalent types of insurance policies and insurers
Conflicts are a major driver of food insecurity and malnutrition. They reduce food availability, disrupt access to food and health care, and undermine social protection systems. Every famine in the modern era has been characterized by conflict.
These conflicts are complex by nature. They can be triggered or amplified by climate-related natural disasters and the impact that these have on poverty eradication and food security. Natural disasters tend to trap vulnerable people, in particular, in a cycle of poverty because they are less resilient and lack coping capacity.
The end of the Cold War led to a dramatic decline – more than 60 percent below peak levels – in interstate and societal conflict during the 1990s and into the 21st century. While a growing global population might be expected to provoke an increasing number of violent conflicts, this was effectively inverted between 1995 and 2003. However, the prevalence of conflicts has increased markedly since the early-to mid-2000s, due to the rapid emergence of several factors at both international and national levels.
The main drivers of conflicts include ethnic and religious differences, discrimination and marginalization, poor governance, limited state capacity, population pressure, rapid urbanization, poverty and youth unemployment. Drivers of conflict specific to the agriculture and rural sectors include competition for land, water and other natural resources, food insecurity, environmental mismanagement, and government neglect of poor and marginalized areas, such as arid and semi-arid zones essential for livestock-dependent populations and subsistence fishing grounds.
Conflicts in rural areas, especially civil conflicts, can heavily affect agricultural production and livelihoods. Vulnerable people and at-risk communities lose access to the range of resources necessary for food and agriculture production, through the seizure of natural resources and displacement from land, homes, fishing grounds and grazing areas. Denials of access, as well as the destruction of food stocks, which are increasingly used as tactics of war, are in direct violation of international humanitarian and human rights laws. Countries with the highest levels of undernourishment tend to be those engaged in, or recently emerged from, violent conflict.
A worrying trend is that the impacts of conflict-induced food insecurity are no longer limited to specific countries or regions, but have become global. In 2015, more than 65 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced, the highest number since the end of the Second World War. Forced displacement is a crisis affecting mainly low-income countries, which host 89 percent of refugees and 99 percent of internally displaced persons. At its root are the same 10 conflicts that every year since 1991 have accounted for the majority of forcibly displaced people, who are consistently hosted by about 15 countries and who are overwhelmingly in the developing world.
Conflict mediators with a good understanding of the legalities of land use and other natural resources that impact food production will be needed to mediate and resolve conflicts in time before they escalate to dangerous levels.
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While, in general, world population growth is slowing down, in some regions population will continue to expand well beyond 2050 and even into the next century. More people now live in cites than in rural areas, and this discrepancy is projected to increase as population grows. Urbanization has been accompanied by a transition in dietary patterns and has had great impacts on food systems.
As a whole, the world population is growing older. Ageing is now also accelerating in low-income countries, where the process tends to start earlier and is becoming more pronounced in rural areas. Urbanization and ageing will have important repercussions on the agricultural labour force and the socio-economic fabric of rural communities.
Global population growth is slowing, but Africa and Asia will still see a large population expansion.
Rapid population growth changes the population structure, with younger generations making up an increasing share of the overall population. Between 2015 and 2050, in low- and middle-income countries, the number of people between 15 and 24 years of age is expected to rise from about 1 billion to 1.2 billion. Most of these young people are expected to live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, particularly in rural areas, where jobs will likely to be difficult to find.
In the coming decades, the world is likely to be not only more populous and urban, but also demographically older. This is not a new trend. From 1950 to 2015, the share of children below the age of five declined from 13.4 percent to 9.1 percent, and the proportion of older (65+) people rose from 5.1 percent to 8.3 percent. This development is expected to accelerate. By the end of the century, the share of young children could decline to 5.8 percent, while the proportion of older people is forecast to rise to 22.7 percent.
Ageing in rural areas tends to start earlierand proceed faster than national averages would indicate. Rural ageing has major implications for the composition of the rural labour force, patterns of agricultural production, land tenure, social organization within rural communities, and socioeconomic development in general.
Environmental degradation, climate change and limited agricultural technology tend to affect older farmers more than their younger, healthier and better-educated counterparts. The disadvantages faced by older farmers may be compounded by discrimination against older rural people in accessing credit, training and other income generating resources.
In countries where the agricultural labour force is ageing, the adaptation of farming technologies and agricultural policies to the capacities and needs of older farmers could help to keep older people engaged in productive activities. In areas experiencing ‘compressed ageing’, the provision of social services may involve the adaptation of social support systems to accommodate the new age structure.
Elder care professionals will be needed to cater to the wellbeing of the ageing farming workforce. These older farmers will need nutritional and therapeutic guides that will help them better cope with the demands of farming.
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Since the challenges facing food and agriculture are interconnected, addressing them will require integrated policy approaches at national and international levels. Designing such approaches will not be easy, given the past performance of sector-specific policy-making and the deficiencies in global and national governance mechanisms, regulatory systems, and monitoring and accountability
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and related global agreements stress the interdependence of the challenges facing the global community on the path to sustainable development. They recognize the need to combine diverse actions to achieve linked objectives and that this combination will place new technical demands on policymakers at all levels and new demands on institutional arrangements and coordination at various levels of governance.
The related challenges include: combining instruments implemented at different levels of governance in ways that are mutually reinforcing, while containing inevitable trade-offs; and capitalizing on synergies among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and related targets, among different sectoral policies, and among the diverse stakeholders at local, municipal, provincial, national, regional and international levels.
More inclusive governance will be needed to improve dialogue about the hard policy choices to be made. It is crucial to avoid the marginalization of the poor, who lack the political force to influence decisions, and progressively engage them in the development process
Growing competition over natural resources can cause the rural poor to be dispossessed of the very foundation of their livelihoods, especially in protracted crisis situations and conflict and disaster-affected areas. A key governance challenge is ensuring the recognition of the poor’s formal and informal rights of access to, and use of, natural resources through implementation of voluntary guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests, and through support to the realization of the right to adequate food.
Other areas requiring improved governance include: financing for inclusive food and agriculture development; meeting employment and migration challenges; addressing shortfalls in the multilateral trading regime in relation to food and agriculture systems; and providing open access to data and statistics to enhance the role of all stakeholders in governance.
Intellectuals with sound understanding of international relations will be needed for addressing the need for coherent and effective national and international governance to coordinate solutions to agriculture problems.
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REFERENCES
The Future of Food and Agriculture: Alternative Pathways to 2050 (FAO)
The Future of Food and Agriculture: Trends and Challenges (FAO)
Water Use in Livestock Production Systems and Value Chains (FAO)
Impacts of Climate Change on Fisheries and Aquaculture (FAO)
OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2021 - 2030
The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture: Addressing the Information Gap (FAO)
]]>Safe irrigation practices for agricultural crops are pivotal in ensuring abundant and high-quality yields.
Safe irrigation practices for agricultural crops are pivotal in ensuring abundant and high-quality yields.
Agriculture heavily relies on efficient water management, making safe irrigation crucial for crop health and agriculture sustainability.
It’s not without challenges, however. Water contamination and scarcity pose significant hurdles in maintaining safe practices. Additionally, safeguarding the food supply chain involves more than just irrigation; cold chain services are instrumental in preserving food safety from farm to table.
Safe irrigation methods refer to techniques that ensure water's efficient and careful application to agricultural crops. Water quality is important in irrigation, directly impacting plant health and productivity. Various factors, such as weather conditions, soil types, and topography, profoundly influence the implementing safe irrigation practices. So, understanding these elements helps farmers tailor their irrigation strategies to suit specific crop needs and environmental conditions.
Embracing safe irrigation practices offers many benefits, notably enhancing crop quality and yield. Consistent and appropriate watering minimizes stress on plants, reducing the risk of diseases and improving overall plant growth. Moreover, efficient water use through safe irrigation practices contributes to resource conservation, promoting sustainability in agricultural operations. Ultimately, safe irrigation practices for agricultural crops contribute significantly to a reliable, bountiful food supply and environmental responsibility in farming.
In our context, the cold chain encompasses a series of temperature-controlled stages. All of them are equally crucial for maintaining the quality and safety of perishable goods from harvest to consumption.
Cold chain services assist in upholding food quality and safety by meticulously controlling temperatures during transportation and storage. These services ensure that perishable crops, sensitive to temperature variations, remain fresh and free from spoilage throughout the supply chain. As such, the cold chain is essential in the industry, as cold chain services protect the food supply chain. It guarantees safe transportation and storage conditions, preventing the proliferation of harmful bacteria and preserving the nutritional value of food.
So, connecting safe irrigation practices with the cold chain reveals a critical relationship. Irrigating crops safely ensures their initial quality, and cold chain services sustain this quality throughout the supply chain. The synergy between safe irrigation and the cold chain is vital in maintaining food safety standards.
Safe irrigation hinges on four main pillars, which are as follows:
Drip irrigation
Drip irrigation stands out as a water-efficient, tool-assisted method that minimizes risks in crop cultivation. This technique delivers water directly to the roots, reducing wastage often seen in traditional methods like flooding or sprinkler systems. Drip irrigation ensures plants receive just the right amount needed by releasing water slowly and precisely at the root zone. In turn, it helps in cutting down water loss due to evaporation or runoff.
This targeted approach also diminishes the likelihood of soil erosion and weed growth, preserving soil structure and nutrient content. Additionally, because water is delivered close to the roots, there's less moisture on the plant leaves. This element in itself assists in lowering the risk of diseases caused by excess humidity.
Overall, drip irrigation maximizes water efficiency, minimizes water-related risks, and contributes to healthier, more robust crop growth.
Sprinkler systems
Sprinkler systems also play a crucial role in evenly distributing water across fields, ensuring consistent hydration for crops. These systems disperse water in a controlled manner, covering a wide area with uniformity. By regulating water pressure and nozzle design, sprinklers achieve an even spread, catering to different crop types and field layouts.
Moreover, these systems minimize water contact with the crop foliage, reducing the chances of contamination. Keeping the water at ground level decreases the risk of diseases caused by wet leaves. As they do, they limit the potential for water-borne pathogens to adhere to the plants.
This method is instrumental to safe irrigation practices for agricultural crops. It supports effective hydration for plants and contributes to maintaining crop health by preventing potential contamination issues and supporting higher-quality yields.
Soil moisture monitoring
Soil moisture monitoring also holds significant importance in managing irrigation schedules efficiently. By regularly assessing the moisture levels in the soil, farmers gain valuable insights into when and how much water their crops require.
This data helps optimize irrigation schedules, ensuring that plants receive the right amount of water at the right time. Monitoring allows for adjustments based on real-time soil moisture data, preventing overwatering or underwatering, which can harm crop health. It thus aids farmers in making informed irrigation decisions, considering factors like weather changes and specific crop needs.
Ultimately, this practice allows for precise water management, maximizing the effectiveness of irrigation while conserving water resources.
Finally, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices are closely linked to safe irrigation methods in agriculture. By employing IPM, farmers focus on preventing pest problems rather than solely relying on pesticides.
This approach integrates techniques like biological control, crop rotation, and pest-resistant varieties. Interestingly, these practices also intersect with safe irrigation by promoting a healthy crop environment. When adequately watered using secure irrigation methods, crops become less stressed and more resilient to pest attacks.
Moreover, IPM strategies consider water conservation, as excessive irrigation can create favorable conditions for certain pests. Therefore, with IPM, farmers can create a balanced ecosystem that reduces the reliance on harmful pesticides.
Conclusion
In summary, safe irrigation practices for agricultural crops are foundational in ensuring sustainable and abundant food production. Their significance lies in fostering healthy crop growth while conserving water resources and mitigating risks associated with contamination and scarcity.
However, these practices are just one part of the larger picture of food safety. The crucial role of cold chain services cannot be overstated in maintaining the integrity of our food supply chain. These services ensure that the high-quality produce remains preserved and safe throughout the transportation and storage phases. As such, the synergy between the two is undeniable. It both helps secure a safe and reliable food supply for consumers and promotes sustainability in agriculture
]]>Are you thinking of going into catfish farming? I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about the potentials of catfish farming in Nigeria, and how it is capable of making you millions of Naira.
For instance, according to the United Nations, the global fish industry makes a total sales of over $400 billion and fish farming contributes over $250 billion to the total sales amount made in the fish industry.
Total fish production per year in Nigeria is close to 1 million metric tons and from this amount, 313, 231 metric tons of fish is produced from aquaculture. Most of the catfish produced in Nigeria is consumed locally, which according to latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, over N1.3 trillion is spent every year on Fish and Seafood.
As someone who has a first-hand experience in catfish farming in Nigeria, I want to analyze the profitability of catfish farming in Nigeria because catfish farming is one of the most common agribusiness ventures in Nigeria and in Africa.
If you want to go into the catfish farming, you need to be aware of its costs and profit potential so that you can make the necessary preparation. I’ll be using four parameters to analyze the profitability of catfish farming in Nigeria. These parameters are:
In order to do a fair and thorough analysis, I’ll be analyzing the profitability of catfish farming in Nigeria from the standpoint of someone who’s trying to start a catfish farming business with 500 catfishes.
STARTUP CAPITAL
I’ll be making an assumption that you already have land whether on lease or full ownernship. I won’t be factoring in the cost of getting a land.
Catfish Farming in Nigeria startup costs:
500 fingerlings: N10,000
Wooden (VAT) tank construction and labour: N150,000
4-months’ worth of feeding: N300,000
Total startup capital for 500 fishes: N460, 000
OPERATION & MAINTENANCE (O&M)
Catfish farming doesn’t require a very high level of O&M. However, the success of catfishes growth depends on the cleanliness of their water tanks and the quality of their feeds. To keep their tanks clean, you’ll need to have a good drainage system that flushes out their dirty water and replaces it with clean water. This water disposal system is always factored into the construction of their tanks, like the image below shows.
Their feeds need to be of the highest quality. You can either opt for already packaged feeds or you can choose to manufacture or produce your own feeds. Packaged fish feeds like Coppens, Durante etc. are more expensive compared to producing your own feed.
To produce your own feed, you need a very good fish feed formula to guide you in sourcing ingredients and determining the ration of how these ingredients will be combined. Most catfish farmers guard their feed formula jealously and won’t reveal it to just anyone. Catfishes don’t need a veterinary doctor to check up on them regularly. But if you don’t maintain them well, you can have a disease outbreak. You’ll also need a farm labour to help you with operations and management if you won’t be available to run the catfish farm full-time.
MARKET
There’s a very good market for catfishes too. There’s a very high demand for catfishes all year round. The demand is highest from football viewing centers, restaurants and market women who buy in bulk and sell in retail either as live catfishes or smoked catfish. Individuals also demand for catfishes too for personal consumption. With catfishes you’ll never have any problem selling your products.
PROFITABILITY
I’ll exclude the O&M costs from these calculations because the variables can’t be accurately forecasted generally, they are specific to each person’s situation.
Assuming they are well raised and you have a very low death rate or mortality rate (about 5%, which means of the starting 500 fishes, 25 die along the way), you can expect each of your 475 surviving fishes to grow to a minimum of 1kg each, giving you a total weight of 475 kg. The current market price for 1kg of fish is N1,300 so you can generate sales of N617, 500 (475 X N1,300).
With an invested capital of N460, 000 and sales of N617, 500, your gross profit margin is 34.23%. Catfish farming doesn’t have a good cash flow. You won’t be able to sell every day or every week. You have to spend a minimum of 4 months raising the fishes before they reach market size of 1kg each.
You can boost your profitability in catfish farming by smoking or canning the fishes and selling them to individuals or supermarkets. You can also export your smoked catfishes to countries like Canada, America, Australia etc. This form of catfish commands a higher price in the market but you’ll have to spend money either hiring someone to smoke them for you or buying the smoking equipment and doing it yourself.
Most of the structure you put in place for catfish farming are fixed assets in nature and their costs would be recovered over several productions.
CONCLUSION
Going by these four parameters that I’ve used to analyze the profitability of catfish farming in Nigeria, catfish farming in Nigeria has an overall rating of A, meaning that it is a profitable business. Catfish farming in Nigeria is a good venture to go into.
The trick in catfish farming is to know the techniques and practices that will reduce mortality or death rate and boost growth and production. You should also maintain good records of treatment, mortality, feeding etc.
The analysis above is not 'cast in stone' or fixed. It's meant to give you a general overview of cost implications and profitability.
You can decide to do away with some items in order to reduce cost and boost profitablity. For example, in catfish farming, you can decide to smoke and package your fishes for export, sales to supermarkets and shops instead of selling to market women.
I hope this analysis helps you to make the decision to start your catfish farming business. There are other things you need to put in place before starting a catfish farming business in Nigeria but the ones highlighted above are the basics.
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For a payment of N10,000 you can get our catfish farming business plan and online fish farming training.
To learn how to make payment for our catfish farming business plan and how to get quality fingerlings and juveniles for starting your catfish farm, please call +2348089864121 or send a mail to agsolutions@agricdemy.com
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]]>To nourish and sustain current and future generations, there is an urgent need for a development path towards sustainable agriculture.
This pathway must not only ensure increasing output. It must also make more efficient use of increasingly scarce global resources, be resilient to and help mitigate climate change, and improve human well-being.
Every day, agriculture produces a minimum of 23.7 million tonnes of food, including 19.5 million tonnes of cereals, roots, tubers, fruit and vegetables, 1.1 million tonnes of meat, and 2.1 billion liters of milk. Capture fisheries and aquaculture harvest daily more than 400,000 tonnes of fish, while forests provide 9.5 million cubic metres of timber and fuelwood. In one day, crop production uses 7.4 trillion liters of water for irrigation, and 300,000 tonnes of fertilizer. The total value of that one day of agricultural production is estimated at over $7 billion.
The world’s population is projected to grow from around 8 billion to 9.3 billion in 2050. That population increase and the expected dietary changes associated with income growth indicate that, by 2050, agriculture will need to produce 60 percent more food globally, and 100 percent more in developing countries, if it is to meet demand at current levels of consumption. To meet the current and future food demand without further harming the climate and environment, sustainable agriculture must be practiced.
Agriculture is the mechanism that utilizes natural resources (land, water, biodiversity, forests, fish, nutrients and energy), environmental services and transforms them into agricultural products (food, feed, fiber, fuel) and the associated economic and social services (food security, economic growth and poverty reduction, health and cultural values).
Sustainable agriculture therefore can be defined as the management and conservation of the natural resource base, and the orientation of technological change in such a manner as to ensure the attainment of continued satisfaction of human needs for present and future generations.
Sustainable agriculture conserves land, water, and plant and animal genetic resources, and is environmentally non-degrading, technically appropriate, economically viable and socially acceptable.
The vision for sustainable is therefore that of a world in which food is nutritious and accessible for everyone and natural resources are managed in a way that maintain ecosystem functions to support current as well as future human needs.
Agriculture’s current demands on the world’s freshwater resources are unsustainable. Inefficient use of water for crop production depletes aquifers, reduces river flows, degrades wildlife habitats, and has caused salinization on 20 percent of the global irrigated land area. Inappropriate use of fertilizers and pesticides have translated into water pollution, affecting rivers, lakes and coastal areas.
By 2025, an estimated 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world population could be living under conditions of water stress. With the rate of water consumption growing twice as fast as the global population, agriculture’s share of water could be drastically reduced.
Current food production and distribution systems are failing to feed the world. While agriculture produces enough food for 12 to 14 billion people, some 850 million – or one in eight of the world population – live with chronic hunger. The vast majority of the hungry live in developing regions, where the prevalence of undernutrition is estimated at 14.3 percent.
The main cause of hunger and malnutrition is not lack of food, but inability to buy. According to UN projections, 80 percent of the additional food required to meet demand in 2050 will need to come from land already under cultivation. There is little scope for expansion of the agricultural area, except in some parts of Africa and South America. Much of the additional land available is not suitable for agriculture, and the ecological, social and economic costs of bringing it into production would be very high.
In addition, 33 percent of land is moderately to highly degraded owing to the erosion, salinization, compaction and chemical pollution of soils. Drought and desertification are responsible for the loss of about 12 million hectares of land each year. Over the past decade, some 13 million hectares of forests were converted to other land uses, mainly agriculture, at the cost of a myriad of ecosystem services.
Agriculture contributes significantly to climate change, which is the most serious environmental challenge facing humanity. It is estimated that 25 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions are directly caused by crop and animal production and forestry, especially deforestation, to which can be added around 2 percent of emissions accounted in other sectors, from production of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and from energy consumption for tillage, irrigation, fertilization and harvest. Conversion of natural ecosystems to agriculture causes losses of soil organic carbon of as much as 80 tonnes per hectare, most of it emitted into the atmosphere.
Agriculture also suffers the consequences of climate change – rising temperatures, pest and disease pressures, water shortages, extreme weather events, loss of biodiversity and other impacts. Crop productivity is expected to decline in tropical areas, where the majority of the world’s food insecure and undernourished people live, with yields in Asia and Africa falling by 8 percent by 2050.
The negative impacts of climate change on agricultural production and the efficient boosting of agriculture output can be achieved by adopting sustainable agriculture practices.
Given the current impact of agriculture on the degradation of environmental resources, a more sustainable agriculture has the following benefits:
Achieving sustainable agriculture requires the development of strategies that make wise choices in order to reach the objectives of sustainable agriculture. The five principles to achieving the vision of sustainable agriculture are:
Principle 1: Improving Efficiency in the Use of Resources.
This includes natural resources, such as land, water and soil; human resources (labour) and capital resources, such as equipment, technologies, buildings and infrastructure.
For example, in Morocco, water resources are stretched to their limits and climate change projections indicate a reduction in available water. Through its National Programme for water saving in irrigation, Morocco has embarked on an ambitious programme of enhanced water productivity in agriculture, providing farmers with technologies, approaches and market support that allow them to increase their production and their benefits while reducing their water consumption.
Principle 2: Direct Actions to Conserve, Protect and Enhance Natural Resources.
This calls for appropriate and feasible strategies for improving natural resource conservation while maintaining or increasing agricultural production levels.
For instance, traditional aquaculture in rice-based farming systems in Southeast Asia boosts the productivity of rice by increasing nutrient availability to the plants. Rice-fish farmers generally enjoy higher incomes than those who produce only rice. The fish also provide a readily available source of protein, fatty acids and micronutrients that are especially needed by children and pregnant women, and biological control of mosquitoes that transmit malaria.
Although rice-fish systems may use more water than would be required for rice cultivation alone, the fish also feed on snails, weeds and insects in the rice fields, which reduces or eliminates the need for pesticides, which in turn protects water quality. Taken together with improved income, this is an example of synergy between sectors that improves livelihoods and promotes sustainability.
Principle 3: Protecting and Improving Rural Livelihoods, Equity and Social Well-being.
This principle highlights the importance of an inclusive agricultural development process to the sustainability agenda, which provides for human needs while yielding socially equitable outcomes along all stages of the agrifood system.
For instance, backyard poultry production is a major contributor to family nutrition in Afghanistan, and women have responsibility for more than 90 percent of village production of eggs and poultry meat. The Government recognized the potential of village production managed by women to reduce poverty and improve food security in the country.
Together with FAO, it engaged in a poultry training programme specifically targeting women. The approach proved successful: during the first three years, participants produced 106 tonnes of poultry meat and 21 million eggs.
Today, the thousands of women who participated in the projects are connected to markets and to suppliers through their poultry producer groups. Lessons have been used in the preparation of the National Poultry Production Plan.
Principle 4: Importance of Enhancing the Resilience of People, Communities and Ecosystems
Agriculture depends fundamentally on the interaction between natural, economic and social systems. As such, it is exposed to a wide range of environmental and human-induced risks and hazards. Building resilience to these risks and hazards is critical for ensuring continued conservation of and benefit from agro-ecosystems.
Sustainable intensification of crop and livestock production can reduce the need for additional land and with it the rate of deforestation. A number of productive mixed cropping and agro-forestry systems produce more food and feed from the same area of land, helping mitigate climate change through increased carbon sequestration and improving ecosystem services such as soil fertility.
For example, in Thailand, dairy farmers have developed a “food-feed” system of cassava intercropped with cowpeas, which produces up to 2.4 tonnes of fodder per hectare. The system produces generally lower cassava yields, compared with monocropping, but increases land use efficiency and gives higher economic returns.
Principle 5: Responsible and Effective Governance.
In many ways, this principle overarches the preceding four and is a critical factor in the implementation of policies and strategies to achieve more sustainable agriculture across all countries. Effective governance at all levels is required to mediate trade-offs and enhance synergies between the principles of sustainable agriculture and their associated indicators.
Governance systems that facilitate effective and inclusive dialogue between stakeholders – including governments, the private sector and civil society – and make a concerted effort to ensure that the voices of the poor and marginalized are heard, are critical for sustainable agriculture
For example, in Bangladesh, young farmers are developing a profitable and environmentally sustainable mushroom farming sector. The government faced a problem when youth unemployment doubled from 6.32 percent in 2000 to 12.8 percent in 2017, creating a large need for employment opportunities that are attractive to rural youth with limited access to land.
The Government of Bangladesh established the National Mushroom Development and Extension Centre (NMDEC), to improve the knowledge of and attitude towards mushrooms, and act as an intermediary between mushroom farmers and wholesalers.
Country-wide training programmes are educating farmers on proper hygiene and sterilization techniques, and raising awareness among consumers of the nutritional benefits of mushrooms. The training programmes have proven effective at improving farmer knowledge and attitudes, as well as attracting youth.
Conclusions
Agricultural development is, by definition, unsustainable if it fails to benefit those whose livelihoods depend on it by increasing their access to resources and assets, their participation in markets and their job opportunities. Since 75 percent of the world’s poor live in rural areas, broad-based rural development and the wide sharing of its benefits are the most effective means of reducing poverty and food insecurity.
However, the current situation is far from being ideal, and past agricultural performance is no longer a guarantee of future returns. While supplies have been growing, the current trajectory of growth in agricultural production and productivity is unsustainable. Food production on land and in aquatic systems therefore need to imbibe the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture in order to be able to support mankind in a manner that doesn’t create problems in other areas or sectors.
Sources and References
FAO Building a Common Vision for Sustainable Food and Agriculture: Principles and Approaches.
FAO Progress Towards a Sustainable Agriculture: Drivers of Change
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