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ORIGIN
Though its Origin has not beeen well established but its believed that Okra originates from West Africa, its scientific name is “Abelmoschus esculentus” and can also be called “ Hibiscus esculentus”
Okra known as lady’s fingers, gumbo, okro (English); gombo, gumbo (French); bandakai, bindi (India); Kachang bendi (Malay); quimgombó (Spanish).This crop belongs to the family Malvaceae. It thrives well in a well drained deep soil. Optimum temperature required is 25-30 0 C. It takes about 90-100 days before okra starts flowering.
VARIETIES
Some of the varieties of Okra are:
Park’s Candelabra Branching: which is a base-branching okra plant. This type of branching enables easy harvesting.
Louisiana Green Velvet: it is spineless and smooth. Its plant is often about 6 feet tall.
Cultivars/hybrids of okra include Annie Oakley, Annie Oakley II, Green Best and 1285.
PLANTING
The planting of Okra can be done either directly in the garden or first on the nursery site before transplanting. Okra thrives well in fertile, well-drained soil preferably loamy. You could soak the seeds overnight in tepid water to help speed up germination. Intra-row spacing ( spacing in between plants on the same row) on permanent field should be about 1 -2 feet apart, while inter-row(spacing in between rows) should be about 3-4feet apart. Weeding should be done as at when necessary. If cultivated during dry season, watering may be necessary.
Farm yard manure or compost manure could be applied to boost soil fertility.
Pests and Disease
Stink bugs
Aphids
Corn earworms
Fusarium wilt
Constraints
Insect and disease attack: There have been high incidences of insect pests and disease attack.
Inaccessibility to improved varieties of seeds
Harvesting
Harvesting should be done every other day in other to reserve its freshness. Harvested okra is about 2-3 inches long. Cut the stem with a knife just above the cap. The varieties of okra with spines could irritate the skin while harvesting, so it is advisable to put on hand gloves while harvesting.
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Ig @agrocentric_

PRACTICAL SNAIL FARMING: SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE FARMING BUSINESS.
Snail Farming is a scientific process of domesticating snails picked from the forest; thereby making their new home become familiar with their original home or raising land snails specifically for human consumption. The best known and most often cultivated land snail in Nigeria is the Giant African Land snails (GALS).
Other type of land snails are:
1. Achatina achatina (Giant Ghana tiger)
2. Achatina Marginata (Margies)
Health Benefits of Snails
1. Snails are a great source of the valuable lectin, possesses anti-cancer properties and helps in boosting the immune system and fighting against cancerous cells.
2. The snail slime is extremely rich in allantonin, collagen and elastin, which is beneficial for the treatment of skin diseases and broken bones. The secretions also have a copper peptide, which is regarded as the only source of a substance manufactured for creating creams that are useful in minimizing scars and wounds.
3. Serum secreted by these snails is an excellent source of oligosaccharides that act as a hydrator for the skin. When applied directly on the skin, this serum works wonders.
4. The venom extracted from the ocean snail is highly beneficial for people suffering from suffering from addictions, depression and Parkinson’s disease.
Don’t fetch or buy baby snails for rearing; buy the grown ones so that after they have been domesticated in their Pen; they can be sure to mate and reproduce.
You can start Heliculture business in small; medium or large scale; the choice is dependent on your plan and available start-up capital
A successful snail culture requires:
Functioning equipment
Good snail pen
Hygrometer : for measuring the humidity of the atmosphere
Thermometer: for measuring temperature.
Accurate soil moisture content:
Good humus soil
Weighing scale
Vernier caliper: The Vernier Caliper is a precision instrument that can be used to measure internal and external distances or diameter of an object accurately.
Water sprinkler or watering can
Good breed of snail
Requirement for a good snail farming
1. Temperature: The temperature requirement for optimum snail production ranges from 45-75°F. At temperature less than 45°F snails hibernate, when temperature is greater than 64°F snail becomes inactive. When greater than 75°F, all growth stops and at 80°F snail aestivate.
2. Humidity: Humidity requirement must be 75-95%. Humidity over 80% will promote snail activity, especially at night and ensure good growth. Humidity in a snail farm must not exceed 95%.
3. Wind movement: Wind movement is normal for good snail rearing, because high wind movement speeds up moisture loss and could result in high mortality (death) in the snail farm.
4. Snail enclosure: Snail enclosure must be damp not wet, the use of waterlogged area is discouraged and rain water must be allowed to run off immediately.
Moisture content: moisture content of 80% is favourable at night.
Ninety nine percent of snail activity, including feeding, occurs in the cool, dark night time, with peak activity taking place 2 to 3 hours after darkness, night time dew helps the snail to move easily and snails prefer to hide in shaded area during the day.
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Ig @agrocentric_

AQUACULTURE:FISH FARMING (concluding part)
POND FISH HARVESTING,MARKETING AND PRESERVATION

Harvesting

A fast growing fish species is capable of reaching marketable size or weight in 4-6 months (depending on desired consumer weight) under pond condition. By this age,tilapia may weigh 100-250g and catfish about 200-500g. In practice,the size of fish in the pond is sampled from time to time using scoop-net. When desired weight or size is achieved,a drag-net is drawn through the pond water.

Marketing

Before a fixed harvest date, aggressive advertisement should be embarked upon to sensitise and secure buyer in advance. Also, due to the recent demand for fish marketing fish is not much a problem as Nigerians now demand for high nutritive and proteinous food which fish belongs. 

To maximise profit, efforts should be made to keep harvested fish alive,since live fish usually attract the best price compared to frozen and smoked fish.

Preservation

Dead and live fish that cannot be sold immediately,or that have to be transported to distant markets,must be promptly and properly preserved to avoid spoilage. 

Refrigerated van, cold room, freezer,iceblock and refrigerator can be used

Smoking over wood or charcoal fire is the traditional method conventionally used to preserve fish. Salting and canning can also be adopted. 

ITEMS OF COST

Land, Fish pond (Above-ground or Earthen),Water pump or any other source of water,Scoop-net, Drag-net,Plastic container, Weighing scale etc. 

BACKYARD ESTIMATE FOR INVESTING IN AQUACULTURE.

Juvenile: #20-#25 (per one but will reduce if buying large quantity) 

Fry: #10-#15 (per one but will reduce if buying large quantity) 

Fingerlings: #15-#20 (per one but will reduce if buying large quantity) 

Plastic pond/tank: #20,000-#25000 (depending on size and stocking density) 

Feed (floating or sinking feed): Starter #5,000 per bag ,Finisher #7,000 (subject to change) 

CONTINGENCIES 

Unforseen or unexpected expenses that are bound to arise in the course of operating the business. Estimate 10% of capital and running cost. 

For questions,Observations and suggestions:-
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Lets go AGRIC, the time is NOW

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