What would you do if a pest or disease infested your crop and you stood to lose 40 – 50% of your investment and future profits?
This episode answers just this question with farmers who are seeking or receiving help to combat their pest/disease problem. We found out that climate change plays a clear role in the prevalence of the issue but is this the only reason?
Watch the episode to find out more!
A major part of this episode features the efforts of the Plantwiseprogram- a global programme led by CABI, which works to help farmers lose less of what they grow to plant health problems.
Working closely with national agricultural advisory services they establish and support sustainable networks of plant clinics, run by trained plant doctors, where farmers can find practical plant health advice.
A method of production using soil less medium and a circulating nutrient water system! It’s called Hydroponics, a long awaited episode of the web series.
Mr. Dipsingh, operator of the Choon Hydroponics farm, shares tips on how he brought his enterprise into a success.
He constantly seeks ways to improve upon the farm. He has maximised his space, ensured regular access to seedlings with his own nursery, looks after the well being of his employees and has cut cost by sourcing all material and inputs for the operation right here in Trinidad and Tobago.
Mr. Dipsingh also explained that Agriculture is a sustainable endeavour for himself and his family as he left a high paying job in the IT sector at the executive level, to pursue farming.
Watch the series for more and do share with your friends and colleagues! Stay dedicated!
Not only does climate change affect people and crop production but it also has a big impact on livestock. This episode looks at strategies to safely manage livestock given our changing climate.
We learned that observing temperatures, proper housing, location of food sources, monitoring of potential risk for diseases and resilience after weather related shocks all contribute toward ensuring minimum stress to livestock of all types. This then results in better product (dairy and meat) in the long run.
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One of my favorite words in the world is ingenuity. It’s my go to definition for people in agriculture who not only solve their problems but do so with a curiousity and a flair that most people do not have.This attitude could be compared to that of an architect or an inventor who takes functionality, visual impact, sustainability and usuability, merging them all into one.
Using future technologies or even creating unique methods and techniques is now a common trend. Not only do the ingenious people of agriculture create or produce great products for consumption but their work also inspires others of all ages to create as well. We all need some inspiration sometimes, you just have to know where to look.
Furniture Farming
ThisBBC Report introduces us to Gavin Munroe, “the man who grows fields full of tables and chairs”. Taking his experiences as a child of having to straighten his spine and the odd growth of a bonsai tree, along with his exceptionally high level of patience (granted his designs take six years to grow), Gavin transformed this combination of factors into something that is creative, fufilling and profitable.
Phot Credit: Creator’s project of Vice News
Instead of growing trees to the best production size, choping them down, cutting them into smaller pieces and then putting it back together, Gavin grows the trees directly into the shape that is needed: It’s wood making redefined.
Underwater Gardening
Nemo’s Garden is an ongoing project of the group, Ocean Reef, who have for quite sometime been growing crops underwater! They have developed an underwater greenhouse which have grown crops such as basil, lettuce, strawberries and beans. President of Ocean Reef, Sergio Gamberini recognized that the ocean provides the perfect environment for plants to grow as they need constant temperature, water, light, protection from parasites, pests and changing weather patterns.
There’s a notion in general agricultural diaspora that the small farmers of the world are the majority group of food producers who truly feed the world. I would say this is true to a large extent but others may dismiss this an opinion. Regardless small farmers do make a contribution.
They are a majority that is treated like a minority. The issues this group of stakeholders face are many and yet they continue in their lives because agriculture is their life. It is a sustainable means to supply a livelihood for themselves and their families. And yet, I’ll say it again, they are a majority that is treated like a minority.
Welcome to Tech4agri: The Podcast episode 3 – Forgotten lands.
Pressures on the world’s meat production system is mounting. Issues such as chemical additives, threats to human health, poor food safety and handling, the stress production causes on the environment, the prevalence of ‘factory made meats’ and inhumane treatment of animals as well as a disregard for animal health are all hot topics of today’s world.
Livestock production despite being a major source of livelihood for millions of small farmers has a poor view in the eyes of the world’s watchdogs simply due to the irresponsible action of a few thousand large scale producers. As a result an alternative is now coming to life: Bug meat!
Entomophagy
What! Eating insects? Yes this is a thing or rather a re-surging way to be fed. Entomophagy is the practice of eating insects – including arachnids (tarantulas) and myriapods (centipedes). This is an age old human practice from civilizations of the past.
"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” —Franklin D. Roosevelt
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