Blog - Page 11 of 16 - Agriculture in Zambia

Smart Data Yields Big Harvests to Feed the World

2017-12-12 by Shimanga Mubitana

The global population is careening toward 11 billion by 2100, up 52.7% from the 7.2 billion recorded in 2014. Looking at a more immediate date and in our lifetime, 2050, the projected population climbs to 9.1 billion.

Is current agriculture production equipped to feed these masses, especially those in poorer, undeveloped regions? Can farmers keep up with the 80 million people that are added on average each year, and address the needs in sub-Sahara Africa, which is expected to have the highest growth?

How To Prune Herbs

2017-11-30 by Shimanga Mubitana

If you want your herbs to grow into their most luscious, abundant self, then you need to know how to prune them. Pruning herbs or cutting off leaves and parts of stems helps them grow well. Left unpruned, your plant will grow and blossom but also starts to die. Regular pruning also alerts you to disease and insect problems that may start small and you could possibly remove before they affect the entire herb.

Growing Lettuce: An Overview

2017-11-22 by Shimanga Mubitana

Most lettuce varieties are quick and easy to grow and produce a harvest within a month or two. Lettuce does NOT like hot weather. Therefore, you can only grow it during the cooler months from May to July. Although it grows faster in full sun, it is one of the few vegetables that tolerates some shade. What’s more, you can grow lots of lettuce in a small space. You can even grow it with other taller plants like tomatoes.

Sweet Potatoes: From Planting To Harvesting

2017-11-09 by Shimanga Mubitana

Sweet potatoes are tropical plants that grow best when it’s hot. The plants are sensitive to shade which leads to low yield. However, for maximum root filling to occur, the temperature should be between 25-32°C. Higher temperatures slow photosynthesis leading to vegetative growth (lots of kalembula) and not for tuber filling. Preparing to plant Sweet … Read more

Value-Added Potato Products

2017-11-03 by Shimanga Mubitana

Potato starch and potato flour are two value added potato products that bring in valuable returns to food processors. And, a smart farmer trying to diversify knows that the global consumption of potato as food is shifting from fresh potatoes to added-value, processed food products.

Growing bananas – An Overview

2017-10-182017-10-13 by Shimanga Mubitana

Banana plantations can last a long time. However, if you want good harvests, you must dig up the plantation after 7 to 10 years. Some commercial farmers dig up after 4 years. You’ll also have to practice crop rotation and plant legumes such as beans for 2 years before you plant on the land again.

What To Feed Your Cattle

2017-12-122017-10-09 by Shimanga Mubitana

For dairy and beef cattle, there isn’t a single formula that provides an ideal diet. While there are guidelines for nutrition you should follow, the feedstuffs you choose will depend on your farm and what is available.

How to grow black pepper

2017-10-03 by Shimanga Mubitana

Black pepper also called “Black Gold” is one of the most expensive and popular essential spices. It is the cooked and dried unripe fruit of the Piper Nigrum plant. White pepper on the other hand, is the ripe fruit seeds.

If you don’t know the potential of cassava as a cash crop, then you need this…

2017-09-29 by Shimanga Mubitana

CMT’s 3rd Cassava World Africa summit presents cassava market business prospects across Zambia, Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania. On 10-11 October 2017, at the Radisson Blu Hotel Lusaka, they take stock of Africa’s cassava commercialisation success stories – across food and non-food applications and challenges hindering the region from a complete ‘transformation’ despite producing large volumes of cassava!

Watch out for these onion diseases

2017-09-282017-09-27 by Shimanga Mubitana

There are a number of diseases and disorders that affect onions and related crops. Most of these are either fungal or bacterial whereas others are caused by air pollutants, adverse weather, nutritional imbalances, soil conditions and pest control products.