Adam

Like the flowing river

Top 8 effective plant pests and disease control measures to implement in an urban farm

urban farming

Pests and disease control measures are strategies taken to control, eradicate and curtail the adverse effects of pests and diseases to plant growth and produce. Pests and diseases attack plants at all growth stages but are more rampant in the early stage when the immunity is not fully developed. They also attack plant produce in store leading to losses. It’s therefore very important to have measures in place to avoid the negative effects of pests and diseases on plant growth and produce like: Common plant pests include: Plant diseases can be caused by both bacteria, fungi and viruses. Common bacterial plant diseases include: Common fungal plant diseases include: Common viral plant diseases include: Pest and disease control measures in a plant urban farm should take into account the following cautions: Resurgence is when pests and disease numbers multiply more after continued application and use of control measures like herbicides. After applying the herbicides, the pests and diseases can get used, digest, and break it down. Changing application time, herbicide type or rate with appropriate consultation from your agriculturalist can help you avoid resurgence and spread to other areas Whichever measure is chosen, the end food product should not be contaminated or have pathogens that can affect human health. Overapplication of chemicals results in residues in the products that can cause diseases like cancer to humans. Over and improper application of chemicals and organic manure can result in a bad smell in the agricultural products that will lower the quality and appeal to customers. Farming generally affects the presence, growth and functionality of important soil organisms like earthworms, and useful Bacteria like nitrogen-fixing bacteria that break down organic matter and replenish the soil. Chemicals, over ploughing and growing the same crop season after season also have detrimental effects on the entire soil profile. The resulting poor soil will have low yields. Narrow spectrum practices target a particular pest or disease while broad spectrum can target everything in that range or circle. The latter is not good as other useful organisms and plants can be killed in the process.  This is more seen in pesticide and herbicide applications. Some pesticides and herbicides or any other chemicals can be hard to break down and persist for years after application. When carried by rain, wind, water bodies or running water, these can have negative health effects on biodiversity and other ecosystems. We need food, but it has to be produced precautiously in a healthy and sustainable manner that ensures: Top 8 Plant pests and disease control measures to implement in an urban farm Plant pests and disease control measures to implement in an urban farm include: 1.Spacing Plant spacing is done to ensure proper plant growth through: Plant spacing depends largely on: 2.Growing resistant plant varieties These are plant varieties that are able to resist pest and disease attacks, withstand adverse conditions like drought and also yield greatly. 3.Sterilization Modern urban farm equipment and systems need to be sterilized and cleaned periodically or often to maintain them so that they last longer and more so to prevent clogging and buildup of pests, diseases and parasites which can attack crops in the next growing season. This helps to curb disease spread. Sterilization and cleaning can be done manually by hand for smaller systems or flushing and cleaning machinery for larger systems in aquaponics and hydroponics. Acceptable amounts of cleaning chemicals and detergent can be used during the process as not to have adverse effects on the plants. Sterilization can also be done on seedlings and sucklings before they are planted in the garden. The soil can also be sterilized using minimal chemicals, fertilized and then left to rest for some time before new crops are planted in the next growing season. 4.Crop rotation This involves growing different types of crops alternately on the same plot of land with each growing season. This is very important, especially on large farms growing on a soil medium. Smaller backyard farms, allotment gardens, rooftop and vertical farms occupy less space and soil is easy to manage. Here, microorganisms like bacteria and earthworms can be inoculated to facilitate crop and plant growth, unlike larger ones. It can be costly. In crop rotation, legumes like beans, and peas, are included in the growing profile or can be intercropped with other crops to nourish the soil with nitrogen. These have nitrogen-fixing bacteria: nitrosomonas and nitrobacter which fix nitrogen in the soil. 5.Liming Liming is done to maintain growing medium PH in acceptable ranges of acidity or alkalinity. Plants thrive well in medium with ideal PH levels.  PH affects: Calcium carbonate is applied in recommended levels as per the Liming helps to fix the PH of the growing medium and to control certain pests and diseases. 6.Thinning Thinning is done to remove extra plants in the garden. It’s done to: 7.Pruning This is the removal of extra or unwanted plant parts. It’s done to: 8.Spraying Spraying with pesticides and herbicides to control pests, diseases and parasites. The application should be done periodically not regularly and with care to ensure that correct amounts are applied depending on the Pesticides and herbicides inhibit pest and disease growth and propagation thereby killing them rendering the plants free. Conclusion Pests and diseases affect plant growth and yields. These strategies can help you get started so that you eradicate parasites, pests and diseases, yield greatly in your urban farm and agribusiness.

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Top 10 core agribusiness enterprise management areas that you should optimize for faster business growth.

agribusiness

Agribusiness enterprise management areas are major categories of things that need to be handled well to optimize business growth. Management is done both vertically and horizontally. Agribusiness is a chain reaction or a system where the success of one unit depends on and affects the success and performance of all the other different units. Thus everything should be handled thoroughly well. For example poor yields → less quantity and damaged crops → poor sales → fewer profits → less money to buy inputs. With proper management of these different areas, a business will see stupendous growth. These are the top 10 core agribusiness enterprise management areas that you should optimise for faster business growth  1. Farm management  The farm is the heart of the agribusiness. All agribusinesses like food-processing factories, and grocery stores get their raw materials from farms. Those other ones dealing in agriculture-related equipment, feed, machinery, chemicals etc. also rely on profits got from selling farm produce to operate as farmers buy from them. Farm management is therefore crucial and comes first. Experienced technical knowledge and skill is therefore required to get good farm yields and keep the whole enterprise running well. 2. Bookkeeping and accounting Business and farm records should be kept and documented well to manage finances well and stay in business. All inputs, outputs, expenditures, profits, liabilities, assets etc. should be balanced well and thorough accounting and planning should be done in all the farm’s production cycles. 3. Store management Business goods are kept in stores for safety and released according to the need of use or demand. Improper store management exposes goods in storage to spoilage and destruction as a result of attacks from pests, weather conditions, Bacteria and fungi degradation.  Groceries, produce and equipment should be handled and stored well to avoid losses in storage. 4. Procurement Inputs should be delivered and made available in time to facilitate the smooth running of the agribusiness. This may also involve buying stuff that will be used in future activities or production cycles earlier and keeping it in storage. The absence of things to facilitate the production or sales cycle can create a bottleneck in the entire production process. 5. Data management Agribusiness/ farm data and records should be kept and stored well to facilitate financial management, planning and planning for the future. 6. Sales and marketing This is another very important area that should be optimized for faster growth. Marketing and sales bring in customers for agribusiness goods, products and services that buy them at a profit. The more customers, the more profits, and the more growth. The marketing and sales team should be very efficient in setting up effective sales and marketing strategies that bring in more customers, sales, leads and drive business growth. 7. Customer service Customer service helps handle queries by customers related to agribusiness products and services. The customer service team builds great relations with customers so that they continue supporting the business/ brand by buying the goods or using the services 8. Transportation Goods, input and staff need to be moved from one place to another to facilitate the production and sales process. Public transport is great but it’s also vital that the business has its own vehicles to move things and do deliveries. 9. Staff management Staff should be well trained and experienced to handle and do the day-to-day business work very well. They are also paid and thus should do work that brings in returns and grows the business in whatever department or position that they may be operating in. Regular training should also be done to ensure that they are competent and can do work efficiently and effectively. 10. Activities and scheduling All activities follow a schedule in accordance with the production cycles, market demand and growing seasons. One activity prepares for the next and like a chain reaction, if one fails, then the whole season will be lost and affected. For those selling agriculture-related goods, daily activities should be balanced in line with business goals, market demand and other business-related activities like marketing. Conclusion The above agribusiness management areas are core and when managed efficiently, a business will run well and grow stupendously. It’s also important to know that these are like a chain reaction, one activity affects the other, and thus all should be managed well.

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farm management

 13 best urban farm plant management practices for fast growth and enormous yields

urban farming

Urban farm plant management practices are activities that are done on a daily or scheduled basis to nurture plants for proper growth and high yields. Such activities ensure that plants have optimum conditions for growth in their growth medium (soil/ water), are growing well physically and are free from pests, diseases and parasites. Growing medium optimum conditions for growth include; water, PH, aeration, nutrients and support. External environment factors include; light required for photosynthesis etc. these should allow for optimum plant growth but not pests, diseases and parasites to thrive and destroy the crops for example too much humidity and improper lighting allow fungi to thrive and destroy the crops. Different plants thrive better in different environmental conditions and have different nutrient requirements for proper growth depending on their biology i.e. 1. Herbaceous or woody plants Herbaceous plants have weak stems and require more care and management than woody plants which have strong stems, sturdy and can withstand most harsh environmental conditions 2. Perennial or annual plants Annual crops grow in a short time and require immediate nutrition for growth than perennial crops which grow for more than one growing season. 3. Aquatic or terrestrial plants Some plants are more naturally adapted to grow in water than in soil medium so can survive a lot of water. However, with the rise of aquaponics and hydroponics, it’s possible to grow any type of plant in a controlled water environment medium and achieve even better results than in a soil medium. Aquaponics and hydroponics have numerous advantages but can be a bit expensive to set up. You can make a DIY setup however but it’s not as effective as the modern setup. Be it so, consideration should be made for proper plant type selection before choosing the growing medium 4. Adaptive capabilities Evolution has naturally modified plants to survive in different environmental conditions i.e. some can grow well in dry conditions while others cannot. On the other hand, some are naturally enhanced to resist particular pests and diseases. It’s therefore important to test the following factors before setting up a farm in a new area and periodically analyze them to stay ahead of the curve. In the modern era plant engineering and science have greatly modified plant biology and the resulting genetically modified plants can do extremely well in harsh environmental conditions and are highly resistant to most pests, diseases and parasites. These however have some disadvantages compared to traditional crops. Be it so the analysis has to be made to be on the safe side. Furthermore for plants to grow and yield well urban farming has to be streamlined in order to; A farmer, gardener, urban farmer, plant mom, plant dad, allotment or backyard gardener, therefore, has to be thoroughly equipped, knowledgeable and hard working to ensure that their plant or crop babies grow extremely well. They, therefore, need to implement the following activities. The best urban farm plant management practices for faster growth and high yields These are the best plant management practices done by farmers in urban farming to ensure proper plant growth and very high yields. 1. Manuring/fertilizing   This is done in the growing medium to provide plants with the nutrients required for proper growth. Traditionally organic manure or fertilizer is applied and mixed in the soil before planting is done. In an aquaponics or hydroponic setting, inorganic fertilizers like NPK or superphosphate are applied to the crops with the water in the growing medium. Plants need more of essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous to grow and non-essential nutrients like magnesium are also supplied. Depending on the growth stage, it’s essential to balance the nutrients to provide optimum conditions for plant growth. At the very young stage and fruiting stage is when plants take up more nutrients. It’s therefore very important to keep them available at all times. Your agriculturalist will give you a nutrient plant requirement chart for the different stages of plant growth. 2. Watering Plants need enough not too much water to grow. In a soil medium too much watering causes; In a water medium i.e. aquaponics and hydroponics, plants are adapted and get enough water for them to survive.  In absence of water plants: Watering should be just enough. In a soil medium, the intensity of watering depends on: Under normal circumstances, watering or irrigation is done once or twice a week for optimum plant growth. 3. Pruning This is the removal of extra or unwanted plant parts. It’s done to: 4. Thinning Thinning is done to remove extra plants in the garden. It’s done to: 5. Plant spacing Plant spacing is done to ensure proper plant growth through: Plant spacing depends largely on: 6. Supporting Plants need support when fruiting especially herbaceous plants like tomatoes. These need to be staked to support the heavy fruit. Trees need to be pruned and groomed in the early stages to leave a strong branch canopy system that will support the plant upon fruiting. The growing medium especially in water has to have extra means to support plant roots and hold the plant in an upright position. 7. Lighting Sunlight is need by plants to carry out photosynthesis to grow. It should be just enough as over exposure to heat can wilt the plants. In indoor urban farming and vertical farming, the lighting should be enough, well maintained and provide the appropriate wavelength required for plant growth. Plant biology should also be considered as some plants require more light than others to grow well. 8. Mulching Mulching involves covering the soil around the plants with dry grass or saw shedding. It’s done to conserve moisture in the soil by keeping it damp enough and preventing evaporation into the atmosphere.  The mulch also acts as organic fertilizer when it decomposes. 9. Spraying Spraying with pesticides and herbicides to control pests, diseases and parasites. Application should be done periodically not regularly and with care to ensure that correct amounts are applied depending on the 10. Potting

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organically certified

Get organically certified: spicy details and top 5 juicy advantages you need to know now.

urban farming

Organically certified produce is that which is grown without chemicals or additives. It’s highly regarded as environmentally sustainable, fresh and good for health. With the rise of diseases and health conditions related to food, people are now getting more and more mindful about what they eat. We are what we eat. A healthy life is built not only on lifestyle but also the food and it has to be nailed down to the nitty gritty of the lowest ingredients in the composition. Why you should consume organic food Depending on body type, health conditions, family history and allergic reactions; certain people cannot consume certain foods or certain ingredients because of their body type or medical condition. Consuming such can be extremely catastrophic and life-threatening even in the tiniest amounts. Moreover, most people aren’t aware that not everyone is not just supposed to eat everything. A visit to a nutritionist or a dietician can be very enlightening. One will learn that certain foods will help them thrive and live longer depending on their body composition. It’s also beneficial to eat a lot of fruit, drink water and get good sleep. Health is wealth. One should not consider spending good money on their health and good food as a loss. That’s a great investment. It will not be beneficial to have all the money in the world and not be healthy enough to enjoy it. That being said, commercial agriculture utilizes chemicals; pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers as part of the production process to produce large yields. These chemicals not only affect the soil profile and the environment in the long run but also residues show up in human food. These chemicals, allergens and toxicants have negative effects on health, especially on very young, very old and immune-compromised people. In the long run, people may develop disorders, poisoning effects, cancer, liver failure, gut, and heart problems. Notwithstanding the fact that genetically modified food (GMOs) is also big on the market. GMOs are food that’s produced from crops or plants that have been altered or combined with others in the laboratory. This is done to produce; pest and disease-resistant varieties, high-yielding crops, crops with new flavours or just entirely new admirable plant species. GMOs also affect human health and the environment. Unfortunately, we all mostly consume food where some of these chemicals have been applied at some stage of the production process. To curb these effects one needs to; What does being organically certified mean? Organically certified means an agribusiness, a farm or farmer produces food without using chemicals or additives. The food produced is in its natural original state. To do this, one must be engaging in organic farming throughout the crop production or agribusiness process. Organically certified produce has a sticker on it or on the pack labelling it so. This is called an organic label.                    How to get organically certified Organic certification is mostly in western countries of America and Europe. Bodies that give out organic certification include; USDA agents and, IFOAM certifying agents. To get organically certified, the following steps are taken Advantages of getting organically certified 1. Produce seen as high quality Organic produce is seen as traditional and high quality which makes it appealing to most of the general public. Organically certified farmers can easily get supply contracts with most restaurants, supermarkets and grocery stores. 2. Sold at high prices Due to its careful production, organic produce usually sells at a higher price as compared to other foods. With an organic label, a farmer can cash in well and be assured of a good return on investment in their organic farming endeavours. 3. Easily pass customs to sell in different countries Countries nowadays require imported food to pass stringent quality standards, especially in Europe. Organic produce that’s grown well can easily ace the standards tests especially if it has that certified label. This means a broader market to sell and more income for the farmer. 4. Promote sustainability and good health Organically certified produce is considered environmentally friendly as it doesn’t use chemicals that harm the planet and ecosystems. The absence of chemical usage even during handling and storage means that organic food isn’t harmful to our health. Promoting sustainable development and saving our planet is now very paramount. Organic produce, therefore, gets high priority on the market. 5. More nutritious Organic food is usually sold and consumed in its natural unprocessed unaltered state. The consumer, therefore, gets all the nutrients from the food. Farm 100% organic is great for health. Great for health is great for consumers which in turn is great for the farmer. Happy consumers = happy business. Conclusion Organic farming has great benefits both to our environment and our health. Farmers should strive to get organically certified because it’s advantageous to the market. Organic food is great for health. It’s important to eat well to live well and be happy.

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market research

How to do market research in an agribusiness in 7 easy simple ways that yield great fast results

agribusiness

How to do market research in an agribusiness is an important question that must be addressed to expand an agribusiness venture, get more customers, and generate more sales or leads. The more marketing that is done, the more growth there is for an agribusiness as more people will get to know about the business products/services. Market research has its ups and downs. It needs to be done right in order not to waste resources and time with people who aren’t the right fit for the agribusiness. It’s therefore important for the business owner to first know their ideal customer; who they are, where they are found, likes, dislikes, how to reach them, and some other important demographics. Ways how to do market research in an agribusiness depend usually on; 7 easy simple ways on how to do market research in an agribusiness that yield great fast results The following are ways how to do market research in an agribusiness that yields great fast results   1. Surveys Online and offline community surveys can be used to find out customer opinions about certain products or services that the agribusiness offers. Simple questions are usually asked and giveaways are offered to entice more people to fill out the survey forms. The questions can be about; 2. Agricultural organizations, boards, and government bodies These always have large databases of information on agricultural and agribusiness-related topics and subject matter which is always free. This can help provide thorough background information on a topic not only for a piece of particular information but also worldwide. Examples include; FAO, and CGIAR. 3. Online databases Online databases, research organizations, newsletters, articles, and blogs can also be a great way to do market research in an agribusiness. The beauty of these is that they also contain statistically proven data, summaries, and the right conclusions. This results in informed decisions and great results 4. Experimental selling; samples, freebies When introducing a new product on the market, it’s vital to look at all the 7 points but the most important is to first make a few products at a subsidized price and experiment with them on the market. Hitting the market hard with a large number of products can result in losses if the consumers don’t like it and if there are changes that need to be made to suit the tastes of the market.  Besides great feedback got from the initial set of a few products or samples given out to the consumers can be used to adjust and improve the product; quality, flavor, price, and appearance among other product-related factors. 5. Product modification; adding value to existing products so as not to veer far from the market Let’s say the new business is selling products that are already on market and the competition is stiff. The success of how to do market research in an agribusiness of this scenario will depend on the ability of the business owner to identify which key pain points aren’t met or those that are missing from the market and address them in order to beat the competition. Under most circumstances, existing products would need to be modified through value addition to create an entirely new but not different product that addresses key needs and tastes. This way the business owner can penetrate the market, beat the competition, create a new product, take existing customers and grow their agribusiness. 6. Online Advertising Advertising metrics like clicks, sign-ups, sales, likes, and shares for a new product/ service can be used to determine whether it will be successful for a particular group of people. The results and feedback of the advertising campaign can be useful in conducting agribusiness market research analysis. Extrapolations and forecasts can then be made for future marketing goals for particular regions that had been advertised to. 7. Agricultural shows and trade fairs At agricultural trade fairs, an agribusiness can conduct market research to get a public opinion about its products or services. They can get instant feedback from questions asked, product samples given out, and also get direct leads through contacts got from people who visit their tents.   Conclusion When market research in an agribusiness is done right, it can help a business grow greatly by reaching new people, generating leads, and introducing an entirely new product on the market that can generate big revenue as a result of less competition. In most cases, a professional is needed to carry out market research or generate a great marketing strategy. The above ways can be a great start in agribusiness.

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agriculture automation

Automation in agriculture: advantages. Savory reasons you should do it now.

agribusiness, urban farming

Automation in agriculture is the future. The advantages are numerous and the modern farmer or gardener can harness them all and grow big in a short time while maximizing profits and minimizing risks or loses  What is agriculture automation and modernisation Automation is the process of letting things get done almost by themselves while putting in less effort. This allows the farmer to prioritize other tasks, work efficiently and effectively. Who wouldn’t like to sit back and get some free time while getting the work done at the same time? Long-ago humans used to do every single bit of work themselves:  mailers used to travel thousands of miles to deliver mail on horses which would take months, businesses, and daily farm activities required 100% constant human labor which is no longer the case today thanks to the rise of technology and machines. You may be having a farm and you sell produce or you may be having an agricultural-related enterprise that would require labor and time to get things done and meet business goals. With automation, the process can be streamlined and done efficiently along the vertical and horizontal lines of production. Different units can also be run at the same time. There are a lot of machines today that can handle different day-to-day farm activities like milking, planting, weeding, harvesting, irrigation, and spraying. Automatic water supply, irrigation, feeding, and cleaning systems can also be incorporated into agricultural systems to get the work done at set intervals. The internet of things is also used in climate-smart agriculture and modern farming systems. Here, a range of interlinked farm devices and robotics are controlled at one central unit or tablet and linked via a network or the internet. These devices can include; There is a large amount of software today that can handle different day-to-day agribusiness activities: like emails, accounting, and bookkeeping, advertising. Marketing agricultural products can also be done online through digital marketing. 1.Saves time Labor that would have been done by many people is done efficiently and effectively in the shortest time possible. This frees the farmer time to do other farm activities 2.Eases work Machines do the work fast and easy peasy. At the tap of a button or a switch; a farmer can irrigate or spray crops, water animals, get environmental crop data, control all farm lights, and manage other parameters using machines in modern urban farming and agriculture. 3.Saves money Money is saved on labor and other costs like security. It’s also easy to monitor and manage farm activities. Wastage is also reduced. Inputs from one unit can be efficiently utilized in another unit. 4.High yields and profits As a result of increased efficiency and ease of work, farm yields and profits increase. Automated devices can also be used to monitor farm activities at a single point which data is used to foresee issues and avoid losses. 5.Possibility of growing on a large scale Food and animal production can be done easily and efficiently on a large scale since most of the work can be automated. Large-scale production results in increased profits for the farmer. 6.Ability to serve a large market. With large-scale production comes the ability to grow more and meet market demand both locally and internationally. 7.Possibility of growing a variety of crops and animals on the same piece of land Agricultural automation and modernization allow for easy integrated crop and animal production on the same piece of land. Different units can be set up, controlled, and monitored together. Output from one system can easily be transferred and used in another system. Its also easy to control pests and diseases. 8.Smooth business activities Agricultural automation and modernization allow a streamlined flow of farm activities, easing work while improving efficiency and effectiveness. 1. Very expensive Modern agricultural equipment ain’t cheap. Irrigation systems alone are very expensive and cannot be afforded by majority of the poor farmers. Besides most don’t exist in developing countries and importing them can also be very costly. 2.Lack of technical knowledge Equipment may require some good technical knowledge and expertise which most farmers may not have. 3. Maintenance issues To work properly, the equipment must be kept in pristine conditions. Regular routine checkups are required to make sure all equipment are working properly, no damages or blockages, and that replacements are done where need be. A technical person should always be a call away. 4. Increased power consumption The equipment uses electricity to run which increases the power bill at the farm. 5. Possibility of entire shutdown In cases the systems are interconnected and co-dependent, damage to one system can cause a shut down of the entire system. Results can also be affected especially when the problem wasn’t identified early enough and action is taken immediately. conclusion Agricultural automation and modernization are the future of agriculture. With the rise of world hunger, modern systems are needed to easy food production and efficiency so that the planet has enough food. It’s very expensive to start but it’s possible anywhere if you start small, incorporating one system at a time. Automation has great benefits to farm production if practiced in whatever form. Start today.

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organic farming

Organic farming. 10 wonderful advantages you didn’t know.

urban farming

Organic farming is the type of farming that doesn’t involve the use of chemicals like herbicides, pesticides. The products from here are purely natural and not under the influence of artificial means like hormones, drugs, chemicals, or Genetically Modified Organisms. Treatment, fertilization of plants is done using natural substitutes. The same goes for animals which are also raised chemical-free and are fed only organic food substitutes. Crop production also involves crop rotation, use of cover crops, and integrated pest and weed management.  Resistant good breed animal varieties are used to produce high-quality animals and combat pests, diseases, and other hardships. Organic farming tackles the increasing environmental concerns (pollution, climate change), chemical usage in agriculture, and health issues like cancer associated with most agricultural products nowadays.  There are farms that sell organic products in supermarkets and these have labels/ seals that tag them as organic. However, to do so, a farmer/company has to get certified by certain bodies and their products will be “organically certified”.  Products labeled as “100% organic” must contain overall natural nutrients excluding water and salt.  Products labeled just “organic” must contain at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients excluding salt and water.  In the USA for example, certification is done by the USDA and the NOP. Advantages of organic farming. 1. Ecological and conservation benefits; prevents soil degradation, erosion, and contamination decreases pollution, optimizes biological productivity, biodiversity protection, and environmental protection. 2. Development of resistant crop and animal varieties as they’d be exposed to natural hardy conditions which will make them adapt and become better. Such varieties can resist drought, pests, diseases, and vectors. 3. Health benefits; organic products are chemical-free implying no incidences of diseases like cancer or poisoning. 4. High-quality products. Organic products taste better and are more nutrient-rich compared to their chemically and artificially produced counterparts. 5. High market and demand for organic products makes their production a lucrative venture. With increasing health awareness, most people nowadays are resorting to buying such products. Doing business in such an area is thus something everyone would need to look into. 6. costs of starting and operating an organic farm make it a profitable niche. Additional costs of chemical fertilization and any artificial inputs are cut off thus reducing production costs. 7. Workers on organic farms enjoy a clean and contamination-free environment as the necessity of wearing protective gear like masks and gloves to avoid exposure to harmful herbicides and pesticides is avoided. 8. Organic farming pest control measures like crop rotation, use of organic pesticides, use of resistant varieties, and predator-prey pest control methods help to naturally kill off pests and parasites on farms and prevent incidences like pest and vector resurgence that arise as a result of continued usage of chemical control on farms. The result is that the pests and vectors multiply instead much stronger and more resilient than before. 9. Soil protection. Crop rotation and the use of organic manure to fertilize the soil result in improved soil fertility without harming the soil and its fauna by using harmful chemical substitutes. The use of cover crops helps to prevent soil erosion and fix nitrogen into the soil by leguminous cover crops. 10. Organic farming minimizes wastage and facilitates integrated agriculture. outputs from one system of the farm can be used in another unit for example organic manure from the animals can be used to fertilize crops. Bottom line. Organic farming is a very important aspect to invigorate in farming systems we have today to do away with harmful chemicals and get food in its natural form. Besides health and environmental benefits, organic agriculture has numerous other advantages soeveryoe should practice it on their farms, gardens and lives.

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fifo

FIFO. How is it important in agribusiness?

agribusiness

Fifo stands for FIRST IN FIRST OUT. This is a principle where earlier acquired produce is sold first before that which is newly acquired in the production cycle. In urban farming and agribusiness, all produce dealt with is mostly perishable and therefore it’s very wise to sell off the old produce within the validity period before that which is new to prevent losses that could result from expiry and rancidity. The principle also holds true for goods that have undergone some value addition and simple processing like curing, canning, vacuum sealing, and packaging. FIFO is also used in-store management. Here, goods are arranged in batches with the newly acquired produce put at the back while the older is being pushed at the front as it is being removed for sale. Let’s take an example of Seth who is a fruit farmer in California. He harvests his fruit and organizes it in batches in his warehouse. Each of the batches is labeled with a batch number, the amount, section of the farm where it was harvested, the operator, and the date of purchase. Seth is a smart farmer who stores his fruit on organized separated racks with rows in a cold storage room to preserve them. He also washes his fruits, packages them in boxes, and follows quality assurance standards. He also keeps records of all the batches and the entire production cycle. To apply the FIFO in his agribusiness, Seth sells the old fruit first to his customers which is always at the front while the new fruit is arranged at the back in a continuous production process. FIFO is very important in agribusiness management because of its many advantages which include;  Bottom line FIFO is a very important aspect in agribusiness management because of its importance in business growth and loss prevention. Once adopted, business owners can see a positive effect in their businesses.

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