Google helped me harvest a bumper crop

Is the internet your lifeline, or your nightmare? People across Africa have been sharing their stories with BBC News.

ZACK MATERE, FARMER, ELDORET, KENYA

Not long ago I had a problem on my half-acre potato farm in rural Kenya.

My healthy crop of potatoes was suddenly dying one after the other, much to the puzzlement of our local agriculture officer and me.

A search on Google for potato pests and diseases finally identified the problem - ants! They had infested the farm to suck the sap of the potato stems and finishing them of one after the other.

The solution suggested was simple and environmentally friendly - sprinkle wood ash at the base of the stems.

After a few days of this treatment the ants disappeared and I was able to harvest a bumper crop two months later.

Hidden bonus

An unexpected bonus to this story was that I was able to sell my crop at a good price to a local restaurant in the nearby town of Eldoret.

This customer came to me from the initial Google search that had the contacts of the Kenya Potato Growers' Association, who connected me to the customer.

Going online also enabled me to get high quality seed potatoes and technical advice from the Kenya potato research station at Tigoni.

Intrigued by the unique way in which the internet and mobile phone had added value and knowledge to my enterprise, I was challenged to share my experience with my fellow small scale farmers.

They are much better than me at farming - all they lack is a digital know-how.

The question was: how best to reach and interact with a farming community of 10,000 residents in an area of 50 km radius?

The idea of Leo network of notice boards came to me. In my rural community, it is about making use of simple wooden notice boards, with print outs of text messages, e-mails, photos illustrations and articles, all talking of local issues.

Deteriorating agriculture sector

AGRICULTURE is one of the major contributors to our GDP. It is the sector to which a major bulk of our population is linked directly and indirectly and is a source of livelihood for them. It provides raw material to our industry and earns a considerable amount of foreign exchange in the form of exports of agricultural products. But the negligence of the government has thrown it in a continuous state of degradation.

Unavailability of electricity, shortage of canal water, unchecked increases in the prices of fertilisers and skyrocketing prices of petroleum products have further aggravated the sufferings of middle and lower class farmers.

An interesting thing is that there has been a continuous fall in the prices of most of agricultural products for the last two or three years. For instance, the maize rates have gone down from approximately Rs900 to Rs1,000 per 40kg in 2010 to Rs600 to 650 per 40kg in the current year.

Similarly, potato growers had suffered unaffordable losses at the beginning of the current year due to fewer exports this year than the previous year.

Neither the provincial nor federal governments have given any importance to the development of this sector as is obvious from their recent budgets. No proper regulatory authorities have been set up by the government to fix the prices of agricultural products. It is usually observed that the prices of a crop considerably fluctuate in the same season, and even day-to-day prices vary greatly within a specific area.

Besides, enough variations in the prices of crops have been noted in different areas the same day regardless of the quality of the crops. So, poor farmers are left at the mercy of intermediaries who exploit them.

The agricultural sector needs special attention of the government. Prices of fertilisers and crops should be regulated by the government itself. An increase in the rates of crops proportional to the rates of inputs like fertilisers, electricity rates and petroleum products should be made.

If the government takes serious interest in the development of this sector, it can save it from further deterioration and can provide relief to poor farmers.

M. AHMAD ARAIEN
Ladhaywal, Okara

Cultivation without chemicals
While watching an Indian programme, Satyamev Jayate, on an Indian TV channel, hosted by actor Aamir Khan recently, I noted that it was against the use of pesticides and fertilisers.

Research has proved that the use of chemicals is most harmful to the land and crops are also laced with harmful chemicals.

However, we really do not require experiments to know that the chemicals are harmful. It is a known fact.

The policy of not using chemicals is extensively being pursued in India. As informed in the programme, Sikkim has completely banned agricultural chemicals. Bihar has broken the world record of per acre yield for cotton and rice, without any use of pesticides and fertilisers.

When you stop the use of chemicals, the yield drops initially. But that is compensated by the money saved on procurement of expensive pesticides and fertilisers. Within a couple of years, the earth regenerates its vitality and the yield increases.

Some indigenous simple equipment solution within is used for trapping/killing  insects. Like aromatic glued paper, traps using lamps, female insects in traps to attract males, etc.

The more we are close to nature, the better our life would be.

We should emulate the proven example from India.

NUSRAT K. SIDDIQUI
Karachi

ARE POTATOES ACIDIC OR ALKALINE?

Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images

By Meg Campbell

Depending on the compounds they produce when metabolized, all foods — with the exception of pure water — are either acid-forming or alkaline-forming in the body. Consequently, each food you eat has a temporary and minuscule effect on your body’s pH balance. Alkaline-forming foods support your body’s natural homeostasis and contribute to critical alkali reserves. When over-consumed, acid-forming foods deplete alkali reserves and ultimately tilt your body pH away from its naturally alkaline state toward acidity. The potato is a low-acid, alkaline-forming food — depending on how you prepare it.

Acid Content

The organic acid content of nearly all foods is high enough to give them acidic values on the pH scale, which runs from 0 to 14. Pure water has a value of 7, and is neutral. Foods with pH values below 7 are acidic, while those valued above 7 are basic, or alkaline. Acidic foods are divided into two categories: high-acid foods, or those with values lower than 4.6; and low-acid foods, or those with values between 4.6 and 6.9. Potatoes, like the majority of vegetables, are a low-acid food with a pH value of 6.1. Compared to potatoes, asparagus is as acidic, sweet potatoes are slightly more acidic and peas are slightly less acidic.

pH and Metabolism

A food’s pH value isn’t indicative of its pH nature in the body. While nearly all vegetables have slightly acidic pH values, most are alkaline-forming in the body. This is because the metabolic process changes the nature of some of the food’s compounds as it is broken down. Many fruits and vegetables contain potassium citrate, for example, which becomes potassium bicarbonate, a highly alkalizing compound, when metabolized. According to “The Acid Alkaline Food Guide,” potatoes are moderately alkaline-forming in the body. Baked potatoes, including the skins, are the most alkalizing, followed by mashed potatoes prepared with milk and butter. Homemade fried potatoes are slightly alkaline-forming, while most fast food fries are highly acid-forming.

Acidity Vs. Alkalinity

Cells and tissues require a slightly alkaline environment to function properly. Alkaline-forming foods include herbal teas, mineral water, most vegetables, herbs, fruits and spices, and some grains, legumes and nuts. When you consume acid-forming foods, including sugar-containing foods and beverages, dairy products, alcohol, coffee, meat, poultry, fish and most grains, nuts and legumes, your body must buffer and remove the acidic residues to maintain homeostasis. A diet emphasizing acid-forming foods can lead to acid buildup in your tissues, because the body has a limited daily capacity for the buffering and removal of acids. Continued acid buildup can result in chronic low-grade metabolic acidosis, a condition marked by a slightly acidic body pH. According to “The Acid Alkaline Food Guide,” metabolic acidosis sets the stage for numerous conditions and diseases, including cancer, chronic fatigue and inflammation.

Considerations

Pesticides diminish the alkalizing potential of all foods. To obtain the most nutrition and alkalizing potential from potatoes, buy organic and consume the skin, rather than peeling the skins off of conventional varieties. An organic baked potato seasoned with parsley, sea salt and chives is far more alkaline-forming in the body than a conventional baked potato topped with butter, sour cream or cheese. Sea salt, vegetable salt and parsley are highly alkaline-forming in the body, as are most herbs and spices. Olive oil is another alkalizing food you can use in place of butter for added flavor and richness. Butter, sour cream and cheese, however, are acid-forming foods. Cottage cheese is also slightly acid-forming, but contains fewer calories and is generally considered a healthier topping.

References

“Encyclopedia of Healing Foods”; Michael Murray, N.D., et al.; 2005

“The pH Balance Diet”; Bharti Vyas, et al.; 2007

“The Acid Alkaline Food Guide”; Dr. Susan E. Brown, et al.; 2006

Oklahoma State University; The Importance of Food pH in Commercial Canning Operations; William McGlynn

Original Article Here

Belarus’ agricultural producers urged to be competitive in foreign markets

Belarusian agricultural products must be competitive in foreign markets, Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich told journalists while attending the international exhibition Belagro-2012.

“Our products must be competitive, not only in the taste qualities but also in prices. We have to work with minimal costs. We are going to trade and sell large quantities of our high-quality products, but they have to stand up to tough competition,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

As an example, the Prime Minister cited trade cooperation with Russia. "Today we trade with the Russian Federation, our main partner in the Single Economic Space. But they also produce dairy products and seek to make them high quality," he said. In this situation, domestic producers have to be prepared for increased competition. The same applies to other markets, where Belarus’ agricultural products are exported. “The traditional markets, where we work now, will not buy, for example, our poultry in two or three years because they will start to produce it by themselves. This also applies to potatoes,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

That is why the use of cutting-edge technologies is getting increasingly important in all sectors of agriculture. "Belarus has already made good progress in agriculture. To make the next step, we need high technology in livestock breeding, production of animal feed. We are focused not on production figures only. We seek to produce more with less,” he said.

Belarus is interested in implementing joint projects in the agriculture with other countries. “Issues relating to trade are getting to the sidelines, and this is right. We need to unite effort in production, we need to create transnational corporations,” said the Prime Minister. Such cooperation including single industrial policy will be discussed at a meeting of the heads of government of the Customs Union member states in St. Petersburg on 15 June

Mikhail Myasnikovich praised the latest achievements of the Belarusian agrarians, scientists and industrialists displayed at the Belagro exhibition, emphasized the NASB’s considerable contribution into agriculture. In his words, Belarusian science has focused on concrete projects and advanced technologies.

Apart from original national developments, the exhibition showcased many “hydrides”, i.e. machinery, equipment and technologies developed by Belarusian specialists taking into account international practices. “It should be encouraged in every possible way, especially at the first stage with pilot batches. The state support plays an important role here as well, and we are determined to provide it,” the head of government said.

Attending the exhibition are numerous delegations that hold talks regarding joint projects, establish new contacts. “Such contacts should bring contracts. Every fair, exhibition or stand should result in concrete economic agreements,” the PM said. Readiness to expand partnership with Belarus has been confirmed by Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan.

Belagro-2012 is taking place at the Football Manege in Minsk on 5-8 June and at the Gastellovskoye showground (Minsk District) on 6-10 June. The exhibition is conducted by Minsk Expo in cooperation with the Agriculture and Food Ministry, the Industry Ministry and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. The traditional agrarian forum demonstrates Belarus’ main agricultural policies and the latest achievements in the agrarian sector. Partaking in the exhibition are over 300 companies from 18 countries.

Original Article Here