BASIC STEPS IN CASHEW PROCESSING

BASIC STEPS IN CASHEW PROCESSING

 

Cashew nut trees, though originally native to Brazil, have spread all over the tropical world and today, the major producers of cashew include Nigeria, India, Vietnam and the Ivory Coast. The key differentiator about the cashew nut is the fact that the nut appears outside the fruit. The cashew fruit is also called as cashew apple and the nut appears outside the fruit. The cashew nut is the seed and this is surrounded by a double shell. In order to finally reach the seed, which is the cashew nut, these shells have to be removed and this involves systematic processing.

The steps involved are

• Cleaning

Initially, the raw nuts are cleaned and dirt, sand, stones and any other particles and foreign matter are removed.

• Drying

After cleaning, the nuts are dried in the open sun, in order to eliminate the moisture. In order to ensure that the nuts are dried on both the sides, they have to be rolled over on a regular basis. The drying process happens under the sun, usually in an open yard.

• Roasting

The outer shell of the cashew is extremely hard and needs to be softened. This is done by means of the roasting process. Here, the cashews are roasted in a cooker, which is supplied with steam from a boiler. The roasting time depends on the nature of the cashew and is judged based on experience.

• Cutting

Once the outer shell is softened, it is cut. The cutting process can be manual as well as automatic. In the case of automatic operation, there are special machines which do the task. But the blade setting is highly critical, to ensure that inner kernel is not affected. The manual method involves the use of either hand or leg operated machines. There is a greater control in this process and a higher percentage of kernels come out undamaged. However, great care needs to be taken, since the shell contains an allergic resin. This can be dangerous, if not properly handled.

• Drying in a hot chamber

Even though the outer shell of the cashew has been cut, there is an adhering seed coat or testa. This has to be removed. Since this seed coat is closely held on to the seed, the only way to remove this will be by drying in a hot chamber. Usually, the cashews are held in trays and hot air from a blower is passed over them. The temperature maintained is usually about 75 to 80 degrees Celsius. Once the testa is softened, further processing is easy.

• Peeling

In this stage, the testa is peeled. Although in the past, the manual method of peeling was used, this has now been mechanized. The most commonly used method is to blow the testa away by means of high pressure air. This will ensure testa removal without any damage to the kernels. Other methods employed include freezing, suction, passing the kernels via rubber rollers, etc.

• Grading and Packing

Finally, the kernels are graded. The broken pieces are separately sorted and the whole kernels also sorted based on their shape, colour and other parameters. Packing of different grades is done in a hygienic environment and the cashews are ready to hit the market for consumption.

Do you need a land to setup your cashew farm ? 
Kindly contact us via the comment box or mail Agrotrending@yahoo.com for a large hectares of land in our possession for sale / lease.

Read More

CULTIVATE CUCUMBER, EAT CUCUMBER.

CULTIVATE CUCUMBER, EAT CUCUMBER.

Cucumber water is one way to stay healthy and refresh. It's easy to make once you have your cucumber, just wash it thoroughly, slice it, and place the slices in a pitcher filled with water and place it in your refrigerator for some time, so the water can become infused with flavor, after an hour is ready for consumption.

Cucumber Water Helps in Treatment of Blood Pressure

Cucumber has mild diuretic properties owing to its high potassium and water content that regulate the blood pressure and treat both high and low blood pressure. Potassium increase and decrease of sodium intake can reduce your blood pressure by a small amount. Sometimes not drinking enough water or drinking way too much water can also increase blood, so it's essential to balance your water intake.

Cucumber Water Gives a Youthful look

Cucumbers help your body fight free radicals, due to their antioxidant content thereby slowing down aging and enhancing your body's ability to fight disease. Although not as high as some intensely colored vegetables, such as red cabbage.

Our bodies contain about 55-60%, the more we hydrate, the healthier our bodies and all the cells in them are. Water transports oxygen, essential minerals, and vitamins, and also serves as a way of flushing toxins out of our system, so getting an adequate amount is actually a component of healthy aging. And what better way to do it than with tasty cucumber spa water.

Cucumber Water Promotes Healthy Bones

Cucumbers has vitamin K which plays a very important role in strengthening bones by promoting orthotropic activity, the high amount of silica in it promotes joint by strengthening the connective tissue, cucumbers help keeps your bones healthier as you age. Vitamin K is also essential for proper blood clotting, so it's important to get your fair share. One raw cucumber with the peel on contains 62% of the daily required value according to Self Nutrition. By the way, Vitamin K, which is actually a group of chemicals, is present in several other green foods as well, such as kale, spinach, and collard greens, and some not so green ones, such as blueberries and cauliflower.

Cucumber Water Fights Cancer

One more reason to eat and drink your cucumber water is that its contains cucurbitacins which aids in treating cancer, because they kill cancer cells and prevent their proliferation. Cucumber sufficient fluid intake which is easy to do, if you do take tasty spa water regular all day long, also reduces chances of developing urinary cancer.

Cucumber Water helps in Weight Loss

Cucumber can also act as a natural mild diuretic helping you get rid of that excess water and bloating. Cucumber spa water will naturally quench your thirst and make you forget about drinking water juice or should I call it water loaded with sugar. This is an easy way to cut calories from your diet. Not only that, but cucumber water makes plain water taste better, which means you're likely taking more water. Water is an important factor in preventing constipation, which can cause swelling in the abdomen and add on a few extra pounds. Also, sufficient water intake helps your body's natural detoxification processes, which makes it function more efficiently, thereby facilitating weight loss.

Cucumber Water Moisturizes the skin

Full of a host of skin-loving nutrients, such as the mineral silica, cucumbers enhance good skin health by increasing moisture and improving elasticity, which is why you find it in so many skin products on the market. Drinking water keeps your skin hydrated and healthy. Drink some spa water while you take it with a few chilled cucumber slices on your eyes.

Cucumber Water Cures Hangover

Cucumber can also be used to cure a hangover and the headache. Alcohol is dehydrating and toxic to your system, you need plenty of water and nutrients to start healing splitting headache that makes you sick from a little too much drinking, cucumber should serve as a rescue. Replenish your body with cucumber spa water, which is full of water and essential electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals.

Watch out for our cucumber business plan in next few hours.
Kindly send a mail to us to request for the updated cucumber business plan.
Agrotrending@yahoo.com

Read More

MECHANIZATION IN AGRIBUSINESS

Every place has its own prime agricultural products such as cereals, fruits, vegetables and industrial crops. The sustainability of these products can be achieved through the technologically advanced interventions such as irrigation facilities, farm mechanization, planting of crop hybrid varieties, post harvest facilities, integrated pest management, biological control of pest and diseases, organic farming through the use of trichoderma compost activator and vermiculture in the production of organic fertilizers; and the construction of farm to market roads for the accessibility of farm products to the market outlets.

The construction of irrigation facilities can increase the area of irrigated ricelands; thereby, increasing the rice production and generate more profits to the rice farmers. Furthermore, this will generate more jobs to the farmers in the localities. In upland areas where the crop production are vegetables, ornamentals and fruit trees, the type of irrigation that can be used are open source pump irrigation, sprinkler or drip pressurized.

Farm mechanization can be achieved through the procurement of four-wheel farm tractors for the land preparation in upland areas; and hand tractors or mudboat power tillers in the lowland rice areas. Post harvest facilities are the rice treshers, rice harvesters, rice mills, flat-bed dryers and drying pavements for rice; and corn shellers/ corn mills for corn products.

The use of hybrid varieties of crops can increase the production even in the same area; and generate more employment, since more harvest needs more workers especially during harvesting and post harvest activities. More harvest means more income to the farming households.

A technologically advanced agriculture is needed by a technologically advanced society for its sustainability.

Read More

MAIZE UPDATED BUSINESS PLAN

MAIZE BUSINESS PLAN ANALYSIS

Corn

General Information

Corn (Zea mays) has been grown in the

northeast for generations, and is a demanding

crop but one that is highly-valued for its use

as animal feed, silage, and as a grain for

human consumption. Corn’s energy

production per acre is higher than any other

crop, and it is a durable grain that is relatively

easy to process.

There are a few different types of corn. Flint

(or Indian), silage, flour, sweet, pop, and

ornamental varieties exist, but flint and flour

corn are the types most commonly grown for

human consumption in the northeast.

Popcorn is relatively simple to grow,

germinating and growing more quickly than

other varieties, but is difficult to properly

process.

Preparation & Planting

Corn requires a high level of nitrogen in order to do well, and will grow well in well-drained

loam with a pH of between 5.6 and 7.5. To prepare the seed-bed, chisel-plow a sod field in the

fall and apply manure if needed, then till the seedbed 2-3 times before planting in late spring.

Pulverizing the spring soil as soon as it dries out will build up a mulch layer and prevent the soil

from becoming too hard to plant into. Corn can be planted after a cereal or legume crop if

nitrogen levels are high enough, but should be cultivated with enough time before planting to

eliminate annual weeds.

If corn is planted later than mid-May, yields generally decrease. However, planting too early (in

soil temperatures lower than 60°F) may lead to slow corn emergence and greater weed

competition. Growers are advised to use desired plant density (24,000-26,000 plants per acre) to

calculate their seeding rate, which should ideally be about 10% higher than the plant density.

(Use the following calculation if germination rates or low seed weights are a concern.) Very

high seeding rates can lead to lodging once ears have formed.

We shall give out free copies to the first 5 agropreneurs to request, while others get it at an affordable fee.

Kindly check your mail for the complete business plan. if not there, kindly drop your mail below in the comment box or send mail to us @Agrotrending@yahoo.com

Read More

COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING ON PINEAPPLE CULTIVATION WITH OFFTAKERS LINK

COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING ON PINEAPPLE CULTIVATION WITH OFFTAKERS LINK

We will be training 1,000 Organic Pineapple farmers across south west Nigeria by 2018. Its a 5days online pratical Agronomy and Marketing training.

The project comes with offtakers agreement, meaning the farmers produce is as good as sold even before planting.

Its a paid training and it cost N10, 000. You will be added to the online class once your payment is confirmed
Highhill Agribusiness Dev. Incubation
Zenith Bank: 1015187324

Pre- register here:
https://t.me/joinchat/CMUfOUO-7-QILrv3PbmZDQ

We are doing a 5 days pratical step by step video and pictures based trainning on whatapps. The training is 100% pratical ams it will be conducted as if you are on the farm.

You will get free feasibility study. Plus 100% access to the trainer for 1 year Including visit to our farm in Wasimi Town, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

√HERE IS THE BREAKDOWN FOR PINEAPPLE CULTIVATION PER ACRE. (Kindly note that this price can change based on your location)
1. Land clearing: the cost depends on the mode of clearing.
a. Manual clearing is N15k per acre while you will still need to destump which will cost around N40k per acre depending on how thick the trees are.
 b. Mechanised is N50k per acre
2. Land preparation which includes
a. Ploughing N15k
b. Bed preparation and mulching film installation N40k
3. Mulching film to prevent weed is N170k per acre
4. Treated hybrid pineapple suckers is N30 and 20,000 is need for 1 acre
5. Transport ? The cost will be determined based on your farm location
6. Planting is N5 per sucker
7. Organic foliar fertiliser required for the 18 months period is N150k
8. Fungicide is N30,000
9. Only 1 farm workers is required because 80% of the land has been covered by mulching film. Salary is between N15k-N20k per month depending on your location.
10. Harvesting is N2.5 per ball.
11. Miscellaneous N50k
Sales is betweens N150 - N200 per ball.

Courtesy: GO GREEN AFRICAN
SHOLA OLUBUNMI DON

Read More

FARMLAND NOW AVAILABLE

FARMLAND NOW AVAILABLE
In our quest to ensure you have a prosperous farming season this 2018, we have secured about 250hectares of farm land within Ogun state Nigeria. Precisely Obafemi Owode LGA & ODEDA LGA.
Kindly show your interest in the comment box or send a mail to us @ Agrotrending@yahoo.com
Note: first come, first serve.

Be Informed, Be Prepared, Be Successful.

Read More

FISHERY BUSINESS PLAN ( HATCHERY TO PROCESSING)

FADAMA III AF
National Fadama Coordination Office
Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Nigeria
GRADUATE UNEMPLOYED YOUTH & WOMEN SUPPORT PROGRAMME
Standardized Aquaculture Business Plan Module
2017
FISHERY
AQUACULTURE ENTERPRISE MODULE BUDGET FOR FADAMA GUYS


INTRODUCTION 
Aquaculture is the rearing of organisms in a controlled environment, organisms include animals and plant. Aquaculture is relatively new in Nigerian hence the profitable practice must be thought, it is important for practitioners to arm themselves with knowledge and basic principles. Below are activities that must be considered;

Kindly check your mail for the complete business plan, it comprises of fishery module from hatchery to processing ( Smoking). if not there, kindly drop your mail below in the comment box or send mail to us @Agrotrending@yahoo.com

Read More

FORUM FOR AFRICAN YOUTHS IN LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES INCUBATION VALUE CHAIN ENTERPRISES

FORUM FOR AFRICAN YOUTHS IN LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES INCUBATION VALUE CHAIN ENTERPRISES
To be the leading forum for supporting investment and business start-up in livestock and fisheries agribusiness for the African Youths

OUR MISSION:
To support the youth to build viable enterprises in livestock and fisheries sector

Follow one of the links below to register as a member of the Forum. Please note, the forum is strictly for youths in agribusiness value chain across Africa.

Follow this link if you're from French speaking country
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczVrlRsgruebD8MXmUhHI_1yU1USemMRL1qeUhorAplc49Ug/formResponse

Follow this link if you're from English speaking country

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrkxlF1F3yOE7pmA2Ox6UsB97Ed5-VNsTHcL8T7Rdg_wVxsg/viewform

Be Informed, Be Prepared, Be Successful.
Agrotrending Team

Read More

HOW TO START A CATFISH SMOKING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA
By
Olugbenga (Agri-ads)

One of the easiest and cheapest cottage agric businesses you can start without stress is a catfish smoking business.
There are several catfish farmers in Nigeria today, so getting catfish to smoke is not a problem. All you need to start this business is skill and determination.
You don’t have to be a catfish farmer, you might not even have an idea of how fish grows but you can make big money smoking fish for fish farmers.
This is a business for both fish farmers and non-fish farmers.
Smoking fish can be easy if you follow some basic steps.

The four basic steps in smoking fish are cleaning, curing, smoking and drying.

Tips on smoking catfish

The first step in your fish smoking business is to obtain some fresh fish.

If it doesn’t look FRESH or smell FRESH or feel FRESH, it probably isn’t, and it will make your finished product taste bad.

Use fresh fish. 
Smoking will not hide old fish. The quality will be reflected.
Catfish harvest is categorize into two namely_
Melange (unit weight between 300g-600g) and
Table size(600g-above),the price/kg of melange is sold for N600 and above N800 and above for table size as at today.
The pocket size of your target audience will determine the type in terms of size of fish to smoke.
After harvesting (as a farmer) or purchasing (as a non farmer) your fresh catfish, put them in a container and add a reasonable amount of cooking salt and cover the container with a lid and place a heavy object on the lid to prevent the fish from getting out of the container.

Leave for about 30 minutes after which all the fish must have been dead then you can start the steps mentioned above.

CLEANING
•     clean fish, removing the gills and intestine.
•     Wash in clean water.

BRINE AND CURE
what is brine?  Basically, brine is salt and water.
Soaking the fish in brine will achieve a few things:
•    It will firm up the flesh to be less mushy.
•    It will draw out any old blood, which will improve the taste.
•    It will add some saltiness to the fish in the right amounts; this is desired.
•    It will add some additional flavoring to the fish.
•    The cure will ensure that we are protected from the deadly botulism bacteria, especially since this is a relatively low temperature cooking environment.
(Brine recipe • 1/2 gallon good clean spring water • 3/4 cup kosher salt (or plain salt, but not iodized salt)

SMOKING AND DRYING
•     Prepare smoker.  Too much smoke will cause the fish to taste bitter. Use just enough wood to maintain a steady smoke (Read my next post for types of oven and there advantages)
•     Remove fish from brine and rinse with cold water.
•     Place fish, skin side down on oiled smoker rack.
•     Keep the fire low, for the first two hours.
•  Increase heat after the first two hours.
The length of time will depend on the thickness of the fish, and on your preference for dry or moist smoked fish.
• . Continue smoking until fish is flaky and cooked through.
Always try to use oven, there are different
There are many advantages for smoking fish.
It prolongs the “shelf life” of the fish once it has been smoked.
Many people believe it enhances the flavor when used in sauces and soup.
If you harvest a number of fish at a time, you can decide to smoke some to increase your income.
A kilo of smoked fish is between N2500 – N3000 or more.
You can pack them in bags per kilo by sealing with low oxygen or even sell as fish hampers.
A smoked catfish can be stored in the freezer for sixty days.
Last but not least, smoked fish is a great way to get omega-3 fatty acids.

If you need any of the required raw materials (cat fish, oven, others) kindly contact us via agrotrending@yahoo.com or drop your comment in the box below.

Read More

Nigeria's Agriculture Revolution: A 2017 Timeline

Nigeria's Agriculture Revolution: A 2017 Timeline

Pre-2017 Context

November 17, 2015: Launch of the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) by President Muhammadu Buhari, in Kebbi State. The ABP was created by the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide a linkage between smallholder farmers (SHFs) of key agricultural commodities, and "anchor" companies involved in the processing of these commodities. The ABP provides farm inputs in kind and cash (for farm labour) to smallholder farmers to boost production of these commodities, stabilize inputs supply to agro processors, and address Nigeria's negative balance of payments on food. At harvest, the SHFs supply their produce to the Agro-processor (Anchor) who pays the cash equivalent to the farmer’s account. Since inception, the CBN has invested more than N40 billion in the ABP, benefiting more than 200,000 smallholder farmers -- growing rice, wheat, maize, cotton, soya beans, poultry, cassava and groundnuts as well as involved in fish farming -- across 29 states of the federation. Find out more about the ABP here

February 2016: Groundbreaking ceremony for the 120,000MT per annum WACOT Rice Mill in Argungu, Kebbi State.

December 2, 2016: Birth of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) with the signing of a Phosphate Agreement between FEPSAN and OCP, on behalf of Nigeria and Morocco respectively. Details here: bit.ly/PFING

2017

February 14, 2017: First output of blended NPK Fertiliser rolls out under the PFI

April 2017: Launch of new Tomato Policy by the Federal Government to boost investment in local production.

July 2017: Launch of the Presidential Economic Diversification Initiative (PEDI), aimed at supporting the revival of moribund industries (especially in Agro-processing) and facilitating new investments, by reducing regulatory bottlenecks and enabling access to credit.

July 27, 2017: Commissioning of Indorama Eleme Fertilizer Plant, Port Harcourt, by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

August 1, 2017: Commissioning of the 120,000 MT per annum WACOT Rice Mill in Argungu, Kebbi State, by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. It was the first Rice Mill to be conceived, completed and commissioned under the Buhari Administration.

August 29, 2017: Commissioning of the 60,000 MT per annum Edo State Fertilizer Company Limited (also managed by WACOT, in a Public Private Partnership with the Edo State Government), by the Vice President.

September 12, 2017: Commissioning of OLAM's 750,000 MT per annum Integrated Poultry Facility (consisting of Feed Mill, Hatchery and Breeder Farms) in Kaduna State, by President Buhari

September 2017: Fifteen (15) moribund NPK Fertilizer Blending Plants now revived and in operation across Nigeria, under the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative. Target is 18 before the end of 2017.

October 2017: Dangote Rice Company Limited launches the Dangote Youth Rice Farm project, an out-grower scheme for youths, at the Lower Niger River Basin Authority, Kampe, in Yagba West local government area of Kogi State. The Dangote Rice Company provides seedling, pesticides, and fertilizers while the Basin Authority provides the land.

December 1, 2017: Commissioning of Kellogg's Tolaram Cereal Plant, in Lagos. It will produce 10,000MT of cereal per annum.

December 21, 2017: Commissioning of Mitros Rice Mill in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to produce Ofada and Parboiled Rice. 

Read More

Edo State to fully roll out Agriprenuer programme, targets 55,000 Participants

Edo State to fully roll out Agriprenuer programme, targets 55,000 youths in 2018 – 

To sustain the on-going youth-focused agricultural programme in Edo State, the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration says it will in the first quarter of 2018, fully roll out its agriprenuer programme after a successful pilot scheme.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State
Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Budget, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, who disclosed this in a chat with journalists in Benin City, Edo State capital, said that the programme is part of the state government’s plan for Micro, Small-scale and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and youth-focused agricultural initiatives.
Eboigbe said that though the government in 2017 provided cheap credit to MSMEs, in 2018, it will significantly enhance the package of incentives to the enterprises, as there is anticipated growth in the sector, which will naturally translate to jobs.
“In 2017, the state government piloted the agriprenuer scheme. By the first quota of 2018, we will roll out the programme fully. The agriprenuer programme will target about 55,000 youths, who indicated interest in agriculture through Edo Jobs,” he said.
According to him, “Each person will be allocated five-hectare land to de-risk the process. We intend that in one or two planting seasons, these youths will have developed the capacity to cultivate, manage the farm and harvest. From there, the youths will transit into managing their own farms on a sustainable basis.”
He added that the state government will continue to anchor its economic growth largely on agriculture, as it intends to exploit the 75 percent of its 20,000km2 arable land.
“We anticipate major economic growth in the agriculture value chain; from production, cultivation processing; harvesting and processing,” he added.
Other sectors that will record significant activities in 2018, according to him, include: construction, MSMEs, and services sector.
“The government will embark on massive road construction and rehabilitation projects; and as part of the urban and rural development plans, the state government will scale up housing development in the state. All these will translate to more jobs for our people,” he added.

Read More

Dear Fadama GUYS,
We congratulate you all in advance for the disbursement of your grant.
As it has been earlier advised by Y. I Wambai that we should build a strong marketing network ahead of our production.
We at Agrotrending have prepared our platform to suit your business module.
We are dearly passionate to see you succeed in the agribusiness enterprise you have chosen. Hence, either you have been practising the agric enterprise or you just stepping in, it doesn't matter we have furnished our platform with reputable Agricbiz mentors who are ready to guide you in your agribusiness.
We have also compile a long list of agric produce buyers & sellers to make it easy for you to  reach out your potential customers.
Furthermore, we have linked our platform with NAIC (Nigeria Agricultural Insurance company) to enable you insure your farm easily.
Kindly click the link below to register as a member of the platform to enable you benefit from all the aforementioned.

https://agrotrending.blogspot.com.ng/p/register.html?m=1

Be Informed, Be Prepared, Be Successful.

Agrotrending Team

Read More