https://www.facebook.com/308497369024313/

TIMI Farmhands, Lusaka (2025)

19/11/2024

The Radical Farmer Writes
On my way to Mutoni - Don’t Use W**d Killers and here are some organic reasons.

Disclaimer this is not a commercial class, commercial farmers please leave the room, allow those we call small scale farmers to remain as we discuss family issues.

You will have a meeting of your level too.

The use of w**d killers (herbicides) can have significant effects on the soil, living organisms, and soil compaction. These impacts vary depending on the type of herbicide used, its persistence in the environment, and how it is applied. Below are the key effects of w**d killers:

1. Effects on Soil Health:

• Soil Microorganisms:
Many herbicides, especially synthetic ones, can harm beneficial soil microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and earthworms. These organisms are crucial for maintaining soil fertility and structure. When w**d killers disrupt their populations, soil health can degrade over time.

• Soil Fertility:
Some herbicides, particularly broad-spectrum ones, can reduce the availability of nutrients in the soil. For example, glyphosate (commonly used in w**d killers) has been shown to alter the microbial communities that help break down organic matter and fix nitrogen, potentially leading to lower soil fertility.

• pH Changes:
Certain herbicides may affect the pH level of the soil, making it either more acidic or alkaline. This can impact plant growth and nutrient uptake, potentially harming crops or garden plants.

2. Effects on Living Organisms:

• Non-Target Plants:
Herbicides are designed to target w**ds, but they can also affect non-target plants if they are accidentally sprayed. This can harm crops, ornamental plants, and even beneficial wild plants that help support local ecosystems.

• Insects and Pollinators:
Some herbicides may have toxic effects on beneficial insects, including pollinators like bees, as well as other beneficial bugs like ladybugs and predatory beetles.

11/09/2024

🐔Differences between Broilers and Layer Farming

Broilers and layers are two types of chickens that are raised for different purposes. Here are the differences between broiler and layer farming:

1. Purpose: Broilers are raised for meat production, while layers are raised for egg production.

2. Breeds: Broiler chickens are typically meat breeds, while layer chickens are egg-laying breeds.

3. Growth rate: Broilers grow at a faster rate than layers, reaching market weight in 6–8 weeks, while layers reach maturity at around 20 weeks.

4. Feed requirements: Broilers require a high-protein diet to promote muscle growth, while layers require a balanced diet that includes calcium for eggshell production.

5. Housing: Broilers are typically housed in large open floor spaces or in cages, while layers are often housed in battery cages or free-range systems.

6. Lighting: Broilers are typically raised with 24 hours of light to promote growth, while layers require a specific amount of light to encourage egg production.

7. Space requirements: Broilers require less space per bird compared to layers, as they are usually raised for a shorter period of time.

8. Mortality rate: Broilers have a higher mortality rate compared to layers as they are raised at higher densities and are prone to health issues due to rapid growth.

9. Market value: Broilers have a higher market value per bird compared to layers as they are sold for meat production.

10. Lifespan: Broilers have a shorter lifespan compared to layers, as they are typically raised for a period of 6–8 weeks, while layers can produce eggs for up to 2 years.

11. Egg production: Broilers do not produce eggs, while layers are specifically bred for high egg production.

12. Temperament: Broilers are typically more docile and less active compared to layers, which are more active and can be territorial.

13. Vaccination: Broilers and layers require different vaccination protocols as they are raised for different purposes and have.

01/08/2024

Poultry terminology:

1. Broiler: Young chicken grown for meat production.

2. Layer: Female chicken grown for egg production.

3. Breeder: Adult chicken used for breeding purposes.

4. Chick: Young chicken, usually under 4 weeks old.

5. Pullet: Young female chicken, usually under 1 year old.

6. Cockerel: Young male chicken, usually under 1 year old.

7. Hen: Adult female chicken.

8. Rooster: Adult male chicken.

9. Flock: Group of chickens.

10. Hatchery: Facility where eggs are hatched.

11. Incubator: Machine used to hatch eggs.

12. Brooding: Rearing young chickens.

13. Grow-out: Rearing chickens from brooding to market age.

14. Laying cycle: Period of egg production by a hen.

15. Molting: Shedding of feathers, usually accompanied by a pause in egg production.

16. Pecking order: Social hierarchy among chickens.

17. Scrambled eggs: Fertilized eggs that have been mixed up during incubation.

18. Straight-run: Chicks that have not been sexed.

19. Sexing: Determining the gender of chicks.

20. Vaccination: Administering vaccines to protect against diseases.

21. Beak trimming: Trimming the beak to prevent pecking damage.

22. Debeaking: Removing the beak to prevent pecking damage.

23. Culling: Removing weak or unhealthy birds from the flock.

24. Grading: Sorting eggs or chickens by size or quality.

25. Gut health: The balance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system.

31/07/2024

HOW TO TEST SOIL PH

AREAS TO AVOID COLLECTING SOIL SAMPLES FROM
1. Avoid taking soil along the boundary, take at the middle of your farm.
2. Avoid areas with manure.
3. Avoid areas with trees.
4. Avoid swampy areas.

METHODS USED TO COLLECT SOIL
1. Traverse method.
2. Zigzag method.

MATERIALS REQUIRED
1. Soil sample
2. Water
3. Vinegar
4. Baking soda

- Collect soil from different points of your garden.
- Add 2 spoonful of soil sample into two different containers.
- Add half cup of vinegar into one of the containers.

RESULTS:
- If it fizzes, then the soil is alkaline with the pH of above 7.0.

BEST CROPS AT ALKALINE SOILS
Cabbage, spinach, beans, sunflower, watermelon etc.

NB: If it doesn't fizz after doing the vinegar test.
- Add distilled water to the other container with soil until its muddy.
- Add half cup of baking soda, then if it fizzes, it means that the soil is acidic with the pH below 7.0.

BEST CROPS AT ACIDIC SOIL
Kales, beans, irish potatoes, onions, spinach, sweet potatoes, pumkin, tomatoes, carrots, bananas etc.

NB: If it doesn't react either in vinegar or baking soda at all, it simply indicates that the soil is neutral with the pH of 7.0.

BEST CROPS AT NEUTRAL SOIL
Carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower etc.

.
.

31/07/2024

How To use Chicken Manure in Farming

Chicken manure is an excellent source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as other essential micronutrients, making it an excellent organic fertilizer for farming. Here are some tips for using chicken manure in farming:

1. Age the Manure: Fresh chicken manure is high in ammonia and can burn plants, so it should be aged for at least six months before being used as a fertilizer. The aging process allows the ammonia to dissipate and breaks down the manure into a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

2. Compost the Manure: Composting chicken manure is an effective way to further break down the manure, reduce pathogens, and create a more stable fertilizer. To compost chicken manure, mix it with carbon-rich materials like straw or leaves, keep the pile moist, and turn it regularly to aerate.

3. Apply the Manure: Once the chicken manure has been aged or composted, it can be applied to the soil. Spread the manure evenly over the planting area and work it into the soil with a tiller or garden fork. Apply the manure in the fall, after harvest, or in the spring before planting.

4. Don't Overapply: Chicken manure is potent, so it's essential not to overapply it. Too much nitrogen can burn plants and damage soil quality. Apply no more than 4-6 inches of manure per year and consider doing a soil test to determine nutrient levels before applying.

5. Be Careful with Potted Plants: Chicken manure can be too strong for potted plants, so it's essential to dilute it before use. Mix one part chicken manure with three parts water and apply it to the soil of the potted plants.

In conclusion, using chicken manure in farming is an excellent way to improve soil health and provide essential nutrients to plants. By properly aging or composting the manure and applying it in moderation, you can create a healthy and productive growing environment for your crops.

.

31/07/2024

HERBS TO USE AS ORGANIC PESTICIDES ON YOUR CROPS!

Home-made organic pesticides should always be sprayed on crops during the cool part of the day (mornings or late afternoons) to avoid burning of your crops.

1. Garlic - Crush and mix with hot water- cool for 2hrs, then spray to control aphids.

2. Tithonia (Mexican sunflower) - Crush 2kg of leaves, soak in 4 litres of warm water for 2-3hours or in cold water for 2 days. Spray to control caterpillars.

3. Thorn apple (Datura stramonium) - Take 1kg of leaves, fruits and branch stems, - Crush and boil in 4 litres of water for 20 minutes and let it cool. Spray to control scale insects, aphids and leaf miner (Tuta absoluta).

4. Pawpaw leaves - Take 1 kg of green and fresh leaves, - crush and boil in 4litres of water for 20 minutes. Spray to control scale insects, aphids.

5. Wood ash - Get maize combs, burn them and dry the ash. This should be applied around the plants especially the transplanted vegetable seedlings, to control cut worms in fields where cut worms are a problem.

6. Hot pepper - Crush 500 grams of riped hot pepper fruits, mix with 5 litres of water, boil for 20 minutes. Sieve and add another 5 litres of water mixed with 50ml of any mild dish wash (non-detergent) soap - Spray to control ants (termites), aphids, flies, caterpillars.

7. Lantana camara - Get branches and leaves, burn to get the ash- broadcast in the field or affected area to control ants and worms.

Keep learning.

.

31/07/2024

Boring animals

Earthworms are indeed example of "boring animals" that play a crucial role in ecosystems. Here are some of their economic importance:

Benefits:

1. Soil aeration: Earthworms burrow, creating tunnels that improve soil aeration, water infiltration, and root growth.

2. Nutrient cycling: Earthworms break down organic matter, recycling nutrients, and making them available to plants.

3. Soil structure: Earthworms improve soil structure, increasing its water-holding capacity and fertility.

4. Ecosystem engineering: Earthworms modify their environment, creating habitat for other organisms.

5. Biodiversity: Earthworms contribute to biodiversity by supporting complex food webs.

6. Agriculture: Earthworms are used in vermicomposting, producing nutrient-rich compost for agriculture.

7. Ecological indicators: Earthworms serve as indicators of soil health and ecosystem quality.

13/07/2024

GENERAL EGG KNOWLEDGE

1. Storing eggs upside-down makes them last longer. Turning your eggs upside down before stashing them in the fridge will make them last longer. Placing the pointy end down in the carton will prevent air pockets inside the shell from coming in contact with the yolk, which helps slow down the aging process.

2. It is generally not recommended to eat eggs from reptiles like snakes and lizards, or other non-bird animals, because their eggs are not a good source of nutrition for humans. They are often high in fat and low in protein compared to bird eggs. Some reptile eggs can carry harmful bacteria or parasites that can make you sick.

3. Washed eggs need to be refrigerated. When a hen lays an egg, with that egg pops out with a nearly invisible coating called a bloom. This bloom helps prevent air and bacteria from permeating the shell and prematurely aging the egg. That is why fresh eggs straight from the chicken are often placed in bowls or baskets on the kitchen counter. Grocery store eggs, on the other hand, have been washed, thus removing the bloom and requiring refrigeration to keep them fresh.

4. The colour of the egg yolk should be very bright yellow or deep orange. The difference in colour is based on what the chicken is eating. Chickens who only eat the grain feed given to them will lay eggs that are yellow. Chickens that are free-range and eat mostly bugs and vegetation will produce these orange yolks.

5. Chickens can still lay eggs even if there is no rooster (Male chicken). Many people think that you need a rooster for a hen to lay eggs. Most of the hens producing eggs today have never seen a rooster in their life.

6. In the stores, you can usually find small, medium, large, and jumbo or extra-large eggs. Some may speculate this has to do with breed, but in the commercial industry, it usually has more to do with a hen's age. The Older the Hen, the Bigger the Eggs.

11/07/2024

Did you know? TIMI FARMHANDS is a group of well esteemed individuals with a common goal of helping aspiring farmers? This team is specialized in the following activities:

👉 Business opportunities identification: the team helps individuals who are struggling with identifying a business opportunity in a particular area. This is done by giving them knowledge on Entrepreneurship skills.
We also help farmers with the knowledge on the modern methods of:

👉 Poultry farming: how to rare broilers and layers starting from planning up to marketing.

👉 Planting crops: e.g. maize and vegetables.
👉 Irrigation management.
👉 Fertilizer application.
👉Pest management in crops.
👉W**d control.
👉 Harvesting crops.

👉 Soil conservation and management.
👉 Seasonal preparations.
👉Fish farming.
👉 Livestock care (dairy farming, piggery etc).
👉 Conservation farming.
👉 Organic farming.
👉 Compost and waste management.
👉 Marketing and sales of farm products.
👉 Record keeping.
👉 Research development.

And many more. The group has qualified individuals who are able to deliver the services efficiently and effectively.

TIMI Farmhands

19/11/2024

11/09/2024

01/08/2024

31/07/2024

31/07/2024

31/07/2024

31/07/2024

13/07/2024

11/07/2024

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share