Amsterdam: Prolinnova International Secretariat / Royal Tropical Institute (KIT). 12 pp.
In order to stimulate policymakers and practitioners to recognise farmer innovation in agricultural research and development (ARD), partners in the Prolinnova network have been developing and using various methods and tools for advocacy and lobbying. One of these is the Farmer Innovation Fair. The following guidelines reflect the network’s experiences in organising and hosting such fairs, with a focus on the experiences gained from the West African Farmer Innovation Fair held in Ouagadougou in May 2015, hosted by Inades Formation Burkina and the PROFEIS (Promoting Farmer Experimentation and Innovation in the Sahel) multistakeholder platform in Burkina Faso:
15 - 16 March 2017. Addis Ababa. This Kick-Off meeting was organized alongside a cluster of meetings on the FNSSA theme taking place in Addis Ababa to initiate the Working Group’s activities. (One of those meeting was the PROIntensAfrica final seminar (Addis Ababa, 13 - 15 March 2017) on effective and Efficient Research and Innovation Partnerships).
The meeting brought together the members of the Working Group and external experts with the aim of developing a report to be presented to the next plenary meeting of the senior officials of the EU-Africa HLPD (October 2017, tbc) and the Africa-EU Summit in November 2017.
The Roadmap outlines an implementation pathway as well as priorities for a joint developed research agenda, and was developed in the context of the Joint Africa-Europe Strategy (JAES) decided in 2007. These themes focus on: sustainable intensification, agriculture and food systems for nutrition, and expansion and improvement of agricultural markets and trade. Cross-cutting issues are also considered.
Emerging from discussions with stakeholders, the Working Group was established by the HLPD Bureau to provide oversight over the implementation of the Partnership on FNSSA. In particular, the need for greater coordination between the different instruments, partners, and projects implementing the Roadmap was highlighted during discussions. Included in this coordination is the need for monitoring and evaluating (M&E) the implementation of the Roadmap. In the beginning, the Working Group will focus its activities on M&E.
In view of the Africa-EU Summit 2017, the EU-Africa High Level Policy Dialogue on science, technology and innovation is focusing its work on developing a R and I Partnership in a second priority area: climate change and sustainable energy. Scientists, program owners and stakeholders from Africa and Europe gathered in an expert meeting on Climate Change and Renewable Energy organized by RINEA in Brussels. The meeting aimed at further identifying joint research and innovation needs in the area of climate change, renewable energy and sustainability, thereby building on existing collaborative initiatives.
22 March 2017. This webinar covered communications as a “process for change” rather than for promotion or awareness-raising communications: using communications for knowledge creation and sharing, participatory or social learning, creative participatory project synthesis and writeshops or learning briefs. How to work with multi-stakeholder platforms, or use tools like participatory video or farm radio..?
Michael Victor (CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems): Introduction/teaser into the topic
Meredith Giordano (Principal Researcher and U.S. Representative for the International Water Management Institute - IWMI).): Project synthesis (and its
communications) from a researcher’s point of view
Peter Ballantyne (head of communications and knowledge management at the International Livestock Research Institute - ILRI): Social learning, participatory comms, tools and processes to create and share knowledge (with some of ILRI’s
Julian Gonsalves (Senior Advisor for Asia at the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) Philippines): Repackaging research, using 'write shops' as an example
Fisher Qua (Principal Practitioner at Back Loop Consulting): How to use multi-stakeholder
platforms (with the Mekong dialogue as example)
Juliet Braslow (ex-CIAT, has worked with farmers and rural communities internationally for
the past 10 years): Video to engage farmers as a learning, empowering, and farmer to farmer exchange tool.
Karen Hampson ( (Regional Program Manager, ESA, Farm Radio International): Using farm radio and mobile phones as a way to reach farmers with research
Beatrice Makwenda, Head of Policy and Communication for the National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (NASFAM) presented: The uptake and communications
of aflatoxin research findings in Malawi and Zambia (replaced by Fancois Stepman (PAEPARD) due to technical issues) This last presentation of 10 minutes runs from 2:07 to 2:17 in below video
Management of Aflatoxin in Australian Peanut Industry
The 2017 AWARD AgTech Innovation Challenge for Southern and Central Africa (GAIA) was launched in March by the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) to increase agribusiness investments in technological and business model innovations that help bridge the gender gap in African agriculture and particularly those that enhance the positive participation of African women in agricultural value chains across the continent.
The AWARD GAIA (Deadline 16th of March) was looking for enterprises that:
Serve the agriculture or allied sectors;
Demonstrate clear benefits to groups that are often marginalized in agriculture including women smallholder farmers and other women value chain actors;
Have an innovative technology or business model;
Have a clear for-profit business model with high potential for scale;
Have some proof of concept on the ground, conducted pilots and are preferably generating revenues;
Are seeking funding to commercialize or scale.
The Benin Agribusiness Incubation Hub-SARL (BAIH-SARL) has been selected selected out of over 200 applicants as a high potential enterprise working in Agriculture Technology, while also working to close the gender gap.
BAIH-SARL is invited to Accra, Ghana to participate in an intensive 2-day boot camp (April 3-5) to further refine and develop their business model. AWARD GAIA will then showcase the selected enterprises to present their pitch at a public showcase where incubators, agriculture experts, investors, and the entrepreneurship community will be present. Related PAEPARD blog posts: PAEPARD Soja project receives Ministerial attention
26 July 2016. Cotonou. FARA visit to SOJAGNON project
14 - 16 aout 2016. Benin.
20 March 2017. Brussels. CTA Brussels Development Briefing. Strengthening rural livelihoods in the face of rapid urbanisation in Africa. Strengthening rural-urban linkages in terms of infrastructure, transport, market access and exchange of information, ideas and innovation can catalyse economic development in rural areas and provide future perspectives for rural population and especially youth. Rural development strategies should therefore consider some of the following opportunities:
New income-generating opportunities in food systems as a result of changing urban consumption patterns
Investing in towns and intermediary cities as hubs for economic growth and service delivery for rural areas
Boosting agricultural productivity and attracting youth to farming
Supporting job creation in the rural non-farm economy and enabling diversified and multi-local livelihood strategies
Panel 1: Potential of closer rural-urban linkages for rural transformation and job creation
Fostering Rural-Urban links and the implications for the rural economy Steve Wiggins, Senior Researcher, ODI
Employment opportunities in West African food systems Thomas Allen, Economist, Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat, OECD SWAC
Agri-Business-Led Employment for Youth in African Agriculture: new opportunities Edson Mpyisi, Principal Agricultural Economist, Coordinator, Agropoles and Agro-Industrial Parks, Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department, African Development Bank Group
Applying a territorial lens to rural development: West Kenya portfolio Petra Jacobi, Project Manager, GIZ
Panel 2: Creating opportunities for rural youth in transforming food systems
Fostering employment through territorial development, Denis Pesche, sociologist at CIRAD and member of the Research Unit ART-Dev “Actors, Resources and Territories in Development’ (Montpellier University)
Opportunities for young entrepreneurs in serving urban or semi-urban markets, Nono Dimakatso Sekhoto, African Farmers’ Association of South Africa
Adding value to local products for urban markets, Omar Ouedraogo, Fédération des professionnels agricoles du Burkina (FEPAB)
14 to 17 March, 2017. Bari, Italy. The annual General Assembly represented an opportunity to share tasks progress, periodic outcomes and/or deliverables, to discuss MycoKey on-going activities within the Consortium and was open to stakeholders.
International experts joined the MycoKey Consortium and discussed about mycotoxins issues. In addition, a qualified panel of experts in food safety and European policies – the External Advisory Board – support the MycoKey project by monitoring and evaluating the first year activities and progress.
This event allowed all the member to update the work plan, share knowledge and experience, manage potential risks, schedule next activities to achieve MycoKey goals, thus valorising any opportunity arising from the joint work of this international community.
The Institute of Sciences of Food Production – National Research Councilof Italy (ISPA-CNR), under the aegis of the MycoKey project (http://www.mycokey.eu/) and the International Society for Mycotoxicology (ISM), is hosting a 4 days Workshop-Training Course from 16 to 19 October, 2017.
The course aims at training smart, integrated, sustainable solutions and innovative tools to manage and reduce the major mycotoxins (aflatoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes and ochratoxin A) in economically important food and feed chains (maize, wheat, barley, dried fruits and grape) in pre and post-harvest.
Advanced technologies in the field of chemical detection, molecular analysis, modelling and ICT solutions will be covered by highly qualified international instructors, throughout lectures and laboratory experiences. About half of the duration of the workshop will be ”hands on” and spent in the laboratory.
Au Tchad, le poisson transformé est une denrée consommée accessible à toutes les couches sociales. A ce titre, il devient une préoccupation publique.
En combinant les protocoles d’analyses alimentaires et le suivi des diagrammes, le livre montre deux types de résultats assortis d’un plan destiné aux transformatrices. Le résultat du suivi des diagrammes a montré des lacunes préjudiciables à la santé humaine notamment les probables contaminations aux germes pathogènes.
Des points critiques : lavages des mains et poisson, inobservances de règles d’hygiène ont été déterminés et des mesures correctives ont été apportées sur des diagrammes améliorés de production.
Les analyses microbiologiques ont montré des échantillons traités positifs aux germes cherchés et sont non satisfaisants à 83,3% contre 16,7% satisfaisants. Ce résultat confirme les défauts technologiques dans le processus de transformation des poissons. Des contaminations diverses par les germes indicateurs de manquement aux règles d’hygiène ont été observées. De toute évidence les résultats de ces analyses et enquêtes invitent les transformatrices à une amélioration de la qualité du poisson transformé commercialisé au Tchad.
Kurwijila, L.R., Mboya, N., Laizer, M. and Omore, A. 2016. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.
Plastic milk containers commonly used in milk handling and transportation
of raw milk by traditional farmers and milk traders contribute to the poor bacteriological quality of milk commonly observed in smallholder dairy value chains in Tanzania.
These plastic containers are often not made from food grade plastic material or designed for milk handling but they are commonly used because they are more affordable than recommended metal containers.
This report presents results of field testing a new and affordable food grade plastic container (the “Mazzican“) to assess acceptability and validate its efficacy to improve the bacteriological quality of milk when it is used for handling and transportation of raw milk by agro-pastoralists and smallholder farmers.
This conference addressed the major risks for small farmers across agricultural sectors, and focused on how business can create scalable solutions to tackle future supply chain vulnerabilities. It focused on the top priorities across commodities to provide high-level insight and practical, actionable guidance on how business can implement effective programmes that will boost the resilience of smallholders at scale.
Capacity building: What is the role of major companies in supporting farmer independence and stability?
This session discussed what journey business must embark on to lay the foundation for a future of sustainable smallholder farming. The panelists explored how business models can align interests of business, government and farmers alike, and how collaborative effort can empower farmers at scale.
What role will business take to build capacity for sustainable smallholders?
How do we take it to scale with the huge number of smallholders spread across geographies?
How do we incentivise local governments?
How do we incentivise smallholders?
Alan Johnson, senior operations officer, IFC
Mike Warmington, (picture) director of microfinance partnerships, One Acre Fund
Roberto Vega, (picture) head smallholder policy and food chain relations, Syngenta
Anna Turrell, (picture) senior public affairs manager – sustainability, Nestlé
Collaborating for finance: How to manage and make partnerships for finance workThis session hosted a multi-perspective discussion from organizations engaging in these blended finance models. The discussion focused on how to best make financial partnerships for shared risk work.
Making shared decision-making work;
Overcoming conflicts of interest;
Deciding appropriate levels of financial commitment;
Overcoming implementation challenges in day-to-day partnership management; and
Avoiding negative reputation impact by association.
Hoi-Ming Mak, (picture) initiate lead "Impactor", ING NL
Kate Wylie, (picture) global sustainability director, MARS
Chris Isaac, senior director, investments and business development, AgDevCo
Urvi Kelkar, (picture) global agriculture policy and partnerships manager, AB InBev
Pre-competitive collaboration: How willing are companies to engage in knowledge-sharing across agriculture supply chains
Following on the previous session, it cannot be disputed that there is tremendous value to greater knowledge sharing, communication and collaboration and across agriculture supply chains. In an ideal world, organisations could come together in honest, pre-competitive space to work on common issues, share critical types of data and experience to find better solutions. Clearly, this is easier said than done.
This discussion assessed the potential of pre-competitive collaboration as means to greater communication and information exchange. The panellists addressed questions such as:
What might pre-competitive collaboration look like and is it realistic?
To what extent are companies truly willing to be fully transparent and disclose information to their competitors?
What are the obstacles to making pre-competitive collaboration work, and how can they be
John Magnay, head of agriculture, Opportunity International
Erinch Sahan, (picture) head of private sector team, Oxfam
Herbert Lust, vice president and managing director, Europe, Conservation International
10/03/2017Can smallholders count on better data? Data that is shared or reused can have a “far greater value than if it were simply used for its original purpose”, was a key conclusion of a recent Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) working paper.
However, working out how best to deliver on this opportunity is still in its infancy. According to research from ICT, while the opportunities might appear to be plentiful, a lack of reliable and contextualised data is currently working against smallholder farmers.
Currently, open agricultural data in developing countries is thin on the ground. Information must be localised to have the desired effect. As Theo de Jager, president of the Pan African Farmers’ Organisation pointed out to ICT “On a farm – whether it is one thousand hectares or only one hectare – I need real-time information. What does the market want now? What’s my soil like now? What’s the weather like now?’”
Better information means farmers are better equipped to know what to plant and when, yet this type of data remains hard to get hold of.
in Uganda, ICT4Ag-enabled Information Service is providing farmers with satellite-based data to help improve agronomic practice as well as financial and index-based insurance services and market intelligence on where and when to sell.
FarmSat and FieldLook are among the growing number of service providers offering satellite-based crop monitoring. Such advice-by-satellite is said to increase smallholder productivity by around 40%.
As Zara Rahman, a researcher at tech specialists Engine Room, warns, there is a crucial need to build capacity among smallholder farmers so they can deal with the growing amounts of data as they are becoming accessible. “Simply making data available is not enough … and more needs to be done, potentially through providing low-cost advisory services on data use, or more accessible capacity building options.”
2 March 2017. AGRIinsight Ltd announced that it had successfully secured two significant contracts with clients to deploy its online mapping tool to support agribusiness growth in East Africa. AGRIinsight has secured co-funding for this work from the UK’s Innovation Agency, Innovate UK.
AGRIinsight will start work later this month in Tanzania. The assignment focuses on the support of an agribusiness investment agency based in Dar es Salaam.
AGRIinsight will provide an online “client space” where relevant information is organized, deposited in various forms and imagery, to which access is facilitated to advance the agency’s objectives.
AGRIinsight will give users tools to map locations of agri-businesses and infrastructure, aggregate relevant information and enable targeted information sharing within different value chains, projects or investments.
AGRIinsight will also be providing training to agency staff to map a wide range of organisations involved in agriculture in specific high productive regions of the country. Ultimately, the work will enhance and crowd in investment into the region and thereby help develop a vibrant and profitable farming and agribusiness sector.
In March, in collaboration with its Ethiopian partner, Geospatial Analytical Services (GeoSAS), AGRIinsight will also deploy the online platform within organisations who have a pressing need to better understand and use the natural resource base and evolving commercial landscape of Ethiopia. The initial work will focus on identifying the range and types of data that are publically available. The aim will be to use the platform to determine the most effective ways of managing, packaging and presenting the data in a way that enables organisations to make better, more informed and commercially sound decisions.
Currently, substantial al amount of vegetables products are lost through limited availability of technologies and related infrastructure for post-harvest activities. This negatively impacts on incomes of vegetable farmers and the pursuit for national food and nutrition on security. Post-harvest losses in the vegetable value chain are associated with the perishable nature of the products and this is made worse by the weak links in the post-harvest value chain itself.
Most advocacy for the control of post-harvest losses in the vegetable value chain focuses on the cold chain and its related sophistication. However, for West African countries proper training and orientation on of actors within the post-harvest value chain (producers, middle men and women and retailers) and other related infrastructure are more critical than sophisticated machinery geared towards maintaining the cold chain.
Realizing the full potentials of the contribution of vegetables in the national economy depends largely on addressing bottlenecks in the post-harvest value chain. However, limited investments in processing and packaging facilities are a major hindrance in improving quality and lengthening shelf lives of vegetables produced in West African countries.
Governments of West African countries to consider matching grants to private sector actors in the vegetable post-harvest value chain.
Addressing post-harvest lost in the vegetable value chain requires strategic cooperation and communicate on between research and extension in this regard, a five year strategic plan focusing on research and extension on the vegetable post-harvest value chain would be worth considering.
The ministries responsible for agriculture together with the Ministry of Roads and Infrastructure to produce an action plan for upgrading of feeder roads targeting vegetable production sites and mobilize resources to implement the action plan.
Facilitation of market linkages with agribusinesses by developing strategic alliances with established marketing outlets such as supermarkets and hotels.
Develop and implement communication and sensitization strategy and tools on appropriate timing and methods of harvesting.
Develop and implement nutrition education programmes.
13 - 15 March 2017. Effective and Efficient Research and Innovation Partnerships Seminar for
research and policy. The final seminar also includes internal project meetings.
On Tuesday 14 March the initiative organises a seminar for policy and research to discuss how to mobilize expertise and resources for efficient and effective research and innovation partnerships to realize food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture in Africa and Europe.
The seminar, titled “PROIntensAfrica seminar for research and policy on Effective and Efficient Research and Innovation Partnerships” addressed, among others, the various aspects of the future partnership, alignment with ongoing developments, aligning new partners and the transition to formalised partnership. More information can be found in the Seminar Concept note.
Extract of the programme
Panel discussion with research, extension representatives, farmers
organisations on pathways concept and research and innovation agenda (see picture) Irene Annor Frempong (FARA), Silim Nahdy (afaas), Victor Agyeman (CSIR) and Bernard Mallet (AgenceRecherche)
Presentation of the TAAT programme: The TAAT program is a critical strategy for transforming agriculture on the continent that would ensure that Africa is able to feed itself through agriculture. The goal of the TAAT Program includes eliminating extreme poverty, ending hunger and malnutrition, achieving food sufficiency, and turning Africa into a net food exporter as well as setting Africa in step with global commodity and agricultural value chains.
To carry out these objectives, the African Development Bank (AfDB), working with IITA and other partners, has identified eight priority agricultural value chains relating to rice sufficiency, cassava intensification, Sahelian food security, savannas as breadbaskets, restoring tree plantations, expanding horticulture, increasing wheat production, and expanded fish farming.
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and the CGIAR Consortium and 12 of its 15 international agricultural centers active in Africa support this initiative by the Bank and the co-sponsors to revitalize and transform agriculture through the TAAT program within the shortest possible time while restoring degraded land and maintaining or strengthening the ecosystems that underpin agriculture.
These four pathways were pre-identified in the initial project proposal (2014). The work carried out in 2015 and 2016 by PROIntensAfrica, in particular in the case studies, has led to a revised and improved typology of the different pathways. An outline of these studies is gathered in this document.
The full reports are available in the document archive and the synthesis is provided in the strategy proposal for the future partnership programme, to be published at the end of the project.
Hosted jointly by Saïd Business School and the Oxford Business Network for Africa, the Oxford Business Forum Africa 2017 brought together distinguished leaders from top companies, innovative start-ups, government, and civil society from across Africa with thought leaders, students, and alumni from Oxford University to
discuss business in Africa.
Elsie Kanza, Head of the Africa World Economic Forum
Carlos Lopes, Former Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa
James Mwangi, Executive Director of Dalberg Group
Ronak Gopaldas, Head of Country Risk at Rand Merchant Bank
Khanyi Dhlomo, MD Ndalo Media
Amina Mohammed, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs
The Oxford Business Network for Africa is a student led group created to organise and channel the substantial interest in business in Africa amongst Oxford students, alumni and faculty. The group is run by current MBA students at Saïd Business School.
"Maize bears fruits once and dies because it is not rooted into the ground" - African ProverbGeneration Kenya, a McKinsey Social Initiative, explored the impact of youth unemployment. In this session Generation Kenya shared insights from the work they are doing to tackle one of Africa's most pressing challenges, youth unemployment.


PHOENIX, Ariz. – James Sutherland wondered what was happening to his once beautiful front lawn. “No matter how much I watered it, it was thin and pale compared to my neighbor’s lawn. On top of that I was starting to see these dead patches, so I decided it was time to get my irrigation system checked.”
According to Dennis Lee of D&L Sprinkler Repair Service, common lawn problems can occur during the summer in Phoenix, each having a slightly different solution. So how do you know what to do? Dennis has the following helpful advice for homeowners in the Valley.
“If your lawn looks thin, pale or brown in comparison to other lawns in your neighborhood, you should check your water schedule first; most people don’t realize how much water evaporates in the heat of the summer so they have to water a lot more to compensate,” Dennis states. He went on to recommend a basic watering schedule of 10 to 15 minutes per day per zone for Bermuda grass with standard pop-up sprinkler heads. Dennis elaborates, “That should be a minimum water schedule; it will vary depending on the type of sprinkler heads you have, how good your coverage is, how much sun exposure the lawn has and how short the grass is mowed.”
Mowing the grass is an important detail most homeowners don’t consider. Dennis went on to say, “It’s very important not to cut the grass too short in the summer. Keeping the grass a little longer will help it retain moisture during the long hot day. You’ll also save money on your water bill because you won’t have to water as much.” He said the shorter the grass is, the harder it is to keep it green in the intense summer heat.
The next piece of advice Dennis has is, “Fertilizing your lawn will thicken the growth and improve the health and color of your lawn; pale or thin grass is usually starved for nutrients.” But he cautions, “Water immediately after applying fertilizer, don’t let the chemicals sit on your lawn and burn it. Watering will dissolve the chemicals and push the nutrients into the soil.”
So, what about James Sutherland’s dead patches? Dennis explains, “The most common reason for dead spots is improper sprinkler head coverage. Sprinkler coverage should be from head to head without exception with minimal over-spray.” He also says that nozzles should be replaced if they’re clogged, sprinkler heads should be replaced if they’re leaking and valves should be checked if the water pressure is too low.
Dennis also mentions, “Other reasons for dead spots may have nothing to do with the irrigation, such as tree shade or rabbit damage.” He said rabbits can eat the grass down to the roots and too much shade can kill off Bermuda grass under trees. “Bermuda is a sun-loving grass. If you have dead spots under trees you’ll need to find a shade tolerant grass seed to fill in those areas”.
As always, Dennis recommends homeowners regularly inspect their sprinkler systems for leaks and proper coverage. He says a brief weekly inspection of your sprinkler system during the summer can reduce unnecessary water usage, improve the health of your lawn and save you money. He says homeowners can do this themselves, and this will familiarize them with their system and make problems easy to spot when they occur. “And when problems occur that you can’t fix yourself, give me a call,” Dennis says, “I’ve been doing this since 1999 so there isn’t a problem that I can’t fix.”
Dennis Lee is the owner/operator of D & L Sprinkler Service here in Phoenix which services customers Valleywide. Call his friendly staff at 602-329-3396 Monday through Saturday or visit them at www.dandlsprinklerservice.com.


IISR Celebrates World Food Day
Every year entire world observes 16 October as World Food Day to commemorate the establishment of FAO, an agency of UN. World Food Day is celebrated to convey the message to entire World fraternity to work collectively for hunger and malnutrition free world. In the same ethos IISR organised programme to celebrate World Food Day today in the campus. Chief Guest of today's function Dr. S. A. Faruqui, Ex. Director, IGFRI, Jhansi appealed each one specially scientists and development workers to work hard for rapid transfer of Agricultural technology to the farmers so that they can harvest more crop per unit of resource used and contribute substantially in fighting hunger and malnutrition especially in rural areas. At this occasion Director, IISR, Dr. S. Solomon read out the message of Hon'ble Union Minister of Agriculture Shri Radha Mohan Singh Ji. Hon'ble Minister in his message quoted year 2014 as Year of "Family Farming" and he emphasised on popularisation and large scale adoption of family farming all over the country. Dr. A. K. Sah, Principal Scientist said that sugarcane may be focal crop in the theme of family farming as it provide a large amount of money to farmers at the time of harvesting and also provide ample opportunity to grow pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, green fodder etc as inter crops between wide row spaces in sugarcane. This way farmers can fulfil entire need of monetary income, food items such as pulses, vegetables etc for his family. In popularisation of family farming KVKs plays important role by providing vocational training and demonstrating crop cafeteria technique.
In today's function development workers of agriculture and cane departments of Uttar Pradesh, SMSs of KVKs and farmers from Raipur (Chattishgarh) participated. A training session on cane cultivation techniques, fodder raising and Animal husbandry practices was organised. Their visit to Demo Farm, bio control lab, jaggery unit was also organised to provide do-how training. Information on latest cultivation techniques was provided by Dr. S. K. Shukla, Dr. A. Baitha, Dr. S. I. Anwar, Dr. Rakesh Singh and others.


Organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed.
Specific requirements must be met and maintained in order for products to be certified as organic. Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications, and must remain separate from conventional products. Farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes, petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludgebased fertilizers.
Eating natural, wholesome organic food is one of the best ways to protect yourself from preventable diseases while maintaining a healthy body and mind.


Mint, grows easily and has so much freshness to offer
Mint keeps you cool, we love it for its refreshing characteristics, especially in summer in a lovely cocktail or in homemade lemonade. Hundreds of years ago, the romans already understood the rich virtues of mint, using it in baths and perfumes, heavenly!
Today we differentiate about 25 varieties, difficult to distinguish as they pair very easily in nature…
I’d strongly recommend it to plant in the herb garden; it grows and disperses fast, a huge yield assured. As you can see in the picture, we have enough to enjoy it the whole year round! We dried them in the kitchen for several weeks hanging upside down and removed the leaves from the stems as it gives a purer flavor in our infusions, the stems are bitterer.
It would be a waste to throw the stems away though, so why not make syrup from it?
Here’s how it works:
As it depends on your yield, this recipe is a bit more intuitive.
- a whole bunch of mint stems (chose an appropriate container accordingly)
- water (as much as you need to submerge the stems)
- 1 lemon
- sugar (cane sugar for instance): half of your water infusion weight
First you need to make an infusion from the stems to which you add the lemon roughly pealed and cut in pieces. Submerge it all in water and leave it to infuse overnight for at least 24 hours.
Have a taste of the water to see if the mint flavor has infused enough, leave it a bit longer if needed.
Bring it all to boil; use a little plate as shown in the picture for instance to keep the stems and lemon submerged in the infusion.
Once it has reached the boiling point, you can turn of the heat and sieve the infusion and weigh it.
Add the sugar to the water and boil it down until you obtain a syrupy consistency.
Note: keep an eye on it to prevent it from boiling down to caramel.
Sterilize your bottles by pouring boiling water over it or steam them in the steamer if you have one.
Then you're ready to fill them up, turn them around until they are cooled down. The syrup can easily be preserved for a couple of months in the fridge.
Use it in your lemonades, yoghurt, aperitif, or even as a sweetener for your homemade kefir.


Monday, 13 August 2012 12:02–The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Sharon Bar-Li, will lead discussions on the usefulness, utilization and innovations to advance and transform Ghana’s agriculture.
The Ambassador who is due to speak in one of the seminar sessions of the 4th National Food and Agricultural Show (FAGRO), scheduled for August 23-25, 2012 at the Efua Sutherland Park in Accra will focus on spreading Israeli technologies that will improve food production, increase Ghana’s agricultural output and fulfill the Ghanaian right to food.
Israel is a world leader in agricultural research and development; this has led to dramatic increases in the quantity and quality of the country’s crops.
The drive to increase yields and crop quality has led to the development of new seed and plant varieties.
A statement issued by the organizers of the show quoted the ambassador as saying that, with an increasing population, Ghana was faced with the challenge of satisfying rapidly growing food demand.
She said the recent global food, fuel and financial crisis have demonstrated the need for Ghana to fully utilize technology to address its food needs.
“It is possible to increase food production in Ghana that represents the basis of the country’s food security system; adopting new and improved crop and food management practices can increase food production substantially,” she said…Read More>>


If you are health conscious and want to feed your family with the goodness of fresh herbs every time, then a kitchen garden full of the best herbs is, of course, your long-nurtured desire. Confused about which herbs to go for and which herbs will be better for your indoor kitchen garden? Then your confusion has a solution in our today’s article. We have come up with the best kitchen garden herbs options for you.
Always keep in mind that for quick success, start with healthy plants rather than seeds. You just need a bright space where there are sunlight and abundant wind circulation. If your herbs get at least 5 to 6 hours of bright light a day, that will be the best thing for your kitchen herbs. So let’s not waste much time and let see which are those best kitchen garden herbs that you can grow with ease…
Best Kitchen Garden Herbs To Grow In Your Home:
Basil (Ocimum Basilicum):
It is a short-lived perennial herb which is also known as the “king of herbs” and the “royal herb”. Possibly a native to India, this is a tender herb and very famous in the Italian Cuisine. It has that clove-like aroma and anise-like flavor and is very famous for its medicinal uses. It is anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, insect repellent and full of Vitamins A, K, C and magnesium, iron, calcium. Basil can be easily grown in your kitchen garden and they wonderfully attract pollinators to your garden.
Thyme (Thymus Spp):
A wonderful evergreen herb with culinary, medicinal as well as ornamental uses. Thyme is antibacterial, antifungal, and potent antioxidant. Full of vitamins A and C this herb is appetite stimulant. Grow thyme in your kitchen garden and sprinkle it to any chicken, fish, fruit salad items and you can even use it by adding it to your daily cup of tea.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis):
If you are fond of those yummy Italian dishes then Rosemary is a must have in your kitchen garden. There are two types of rosemary, the upright and the trailing one. Plant rosemary in a well-draining soil pot and give it maximum sunlight. Rosemary improves memory, freshens up breath, helps in anti-aging and is a perfect liver detoxifier. One of the most-recommended kitchen garden herbs for you.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. Hirtum):
This is spicy but not bitter. Has an amazing flavor and is a great culinary herb. Greeks described this herb as the ‘joy of the mountain’. And that is really justified. It is very easy to plant and one of the best kitchen garden herbs for the beginners.
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum):
This flowering herb is widely used in the European, Middle Eastern and American cooking. Very famous for its garnishing usages, this herb is often used in many soups and snacks items. Grow parsley in your kitchen garden and enjoy its pungent and flavorful taproot. Go for flat-leaf parsley as it has more flavor than the curly leaf parsley and it is easy to chop.
Mint (Mentha longifolia):
This, one of the best aromatic kitchen garden herbs is easy to grow and has several health benefits. Starting from its breath freshening quality to weight loss and digestion problem cure qualities, mint is a very useful medicinal herb. Grow mint in your kitchen garden and have fresh mint juice every day. It will help you combat bad pimple problems and it will also soothe your body thoroughly.
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) :
It is also known as coriander or ‘Chinese parsley’. All parts of this herb are edible and its fresh leaves are most traditionally used in different cuisines. Try to use unglazed terracotta pots to plant cilantro because it allows a greater amount of air and moisture to pass through the roots. This no calorie, cholesterol free herb is having a good amount of dietary fiber, vitamins, antioxidants,
Very famous for its sweet, floral aroma and oh so beautiful violet looks, Lavender is nicknamed as ‘the herb of love’. Lavender oil can widely be used in your bath water as it purifies your body. Choose a sunny, well-drained area as lavender needs dry soil to thrive well. Occasional watering and annual top dressing of compost are all you need to do to get a well-thrived colorful lavender herb in your garden.
Sage (Salvia officinalis):
Finding for a herbal remedy for your grey hair? Here is the solution. Sage-tea is an effective herbal remedy for your grey hair and sage is also very popular as a seasoning herb in many sausage recipes as well. Put the herb in a well-drained, slightly sandy soil pot and partly shady sunlight is the best option to grow healthy sages. Enjoy your evenings with a cup full of sage tea and treat your stress and soothe your mind.
Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus):
This herb is mainly used as a garnishing herb for chicken, seafood, egg, and vegetable dishes. Famous as an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, iron, zinc, and calcium, tarragon is also used as a natural deodorant. Grow this one of the best kitchen garden herbs
Having those fresh leafy herbs on your plate every day is a healthy option and when you grow them in your own kitchen garden with your own hands, that sensation is of more satisfaction. So these were some of the best kitchen garden herbs for you which you can easily grow without even being a pro in kitchen gardening. So try them out and open your kitchen door every time to see those freshly growing green herbs.


Your Guide to Health & Well-Being
Welcome to the online edition of PA Health magazine, where you’ll find all the great content from our print edition.
Like remarkable stories about our neighbors’ triumphs over health challenges. And ways to make the most of our region’s natural areas and recreation spots. Plus, delicious, healthy recipes.
You’ll also find bonus content, like more tasty treats to make, inspiring videos about local people who are thriving after facing health issues — and quick links to in-depth information about the conditions they’ve overcome. Because when we share resources, we make good health more accessible for everyone.
Springtime in Pennsylvania is something to celebrate. Days get longer, the ground begins to thaw, and we start seeing new growth everywhere. Now is the time to plan — and plant — your summer garden. In this edition of PA Health, you’ll read about healthy vegetables that are easy to grow and discover a simple recipe for them once they’re ready to harvest. Packed with nutrition and flavor, the produce you plant today will help keep your family healthy and happy for months to come.
Do good. Get healthy.
Doing good for your community can do a lot of good for you. Here are some of the great charities you can volunteer with and events you can sign up for in PA. From running for a cause to lending a hand at an animal shelter, they’ll get you up and moving while you do something for a good cause.
A feast right from the garden
A garden full of healthy produce. What could be better than that? Recipes to help you make the most of it. We’ve discovered salads that are delicious, easy to prepare and colorful enough to brighten any table. Just what you need to help keep your family healthy this summer.


- Red Mulch or Brown Mulch $40/cu. yard
Virgin wood fibers that are tumbled in a coloring agent. Colored mulch is environmentally friendly, retains it’s color for 2 seasons or more and is slow to decompose.
- Hardwood Bark Mulch $34/cu. yard
The most economical ground cover available. Reduces weed growth, retains ground moisture and adds valuable soil nutrients.
- Northern White Cedar $42/cu. yard
Aromatic, insect resistant, and slow to decompose. It is a combination of bark and wood fiber. A medium to coarse texture and golden in color.
- River Rock available in 2 sizes, either size $75/ton
Small ¾” average size Large 1 1/2” average size
- Compost $52/cu. yard
Locally produced, all natural ingredients. One cubic yard covers about 324 sq. ft. when applied 1” deep. Should be used as a soil amendment or light top-dressing.
- We also carry sand at $32/yard, gravel at $25/ton, decomposed granite at $54/ton and pulverized top soil is $59/yard.
Gift Certificates now available!


Extra Virgin Olive Oil with a Golden personality
Pepa y el Olivar is an extra virgin olive oil which is characterized by a fine balance of bitter flavors, allowing the fruity notes to shine through. The golden-green colour is an indication of its high quality as this is an unfiltered olive oil.
The Arbequinas olives selected for the creation of Pepa y el Olivar are harvested during the first ten days of November each year. From that moment, our team of technicians ensure that a stringent control process protects the fruit from any iclement weather and to guarantee that the aging process is of the highest quality.
Pepa y el Olivar is made exclusively from Arbequinas olives. Its colour is a golden green since this is an unfiltered oil made from the first press of the year. Limited production only.


Soft, smooth, breathable and thermoregulator. Of much higher quality than standard cotton, our variant requires more time, skill and dexterity in almost all stages of production and is far more sustainable.
Organic cotton is grown according to the rules of organic farming, therefore without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or other toxic chemicals harmful to the environment and to humans. It reduces gas emissions by 94 and wastewater pollution by 98 compared to the standard one, is not genetically modified and protects farmers from disease.ttie.
Wearing an organic cotton garment makes a huge difference in ecological and ethical terms. Organic certification does not only examine compliance with precise and stringent environmental requirements but also the conditions of workers, their health and the correctness of their pay.
Nile Delta, Egypt


Organic Mealworm Frass
- Live arrival Guarantee for USPS shipments is only valid if temps are between 45F and 85F. Please leave a note with your order if you want it held for pickup and include contact phone#. Any orders not held for pickup will NOT qualify for LAG. See our Shipping Policies page for more info!
- Due to COVID-19, we are experiencing higher than normal order volume. Please be patient while we work to get your orders processed and shipped.
Our organic Mealworm "Frass" is a great general fertilizer that helps keep moisture in the soil and will not burn roots. Our Frass is collected weekly from our mealworm farm. As our mealworms are fed only organic vegetables and organic wheat bran, their frass is safe for any organic gardening application.
Our Mealworm Frass comes vacuum-sealed to preserve quality!
You can mix our frass directly into your soil or with water to form a tea.
- 1 cup of frass to 1 gallon of potting soil
- 1 cup of frass to 1 gallon of water


You can make a difference. Learn about sustainable palm oil production and the decisions you can make as a consumer.
The Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil
The RSPO aims to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil through cooperation within the supply chain and open dialogue with its stakeholders.
Sustainable Palm Oil Platform
The Zoological Society of London's Sustainable Palm Oil Platform provides information for all stakeholders in the sustainable palm oil supply chain, from upstream growers right through to downstream consumers.
The World Wildlife Fund
The World Wildlife Fund provides information on which everyday products contain palm oil.


Turf Tips Joe Rimelspach, Program Specialist in the Department of Plant Pathology at The Ohio State University Plant Pathology, provides Turf Tips. Click to review the videos.
Grateful Embrace will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the Dayton National Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio and the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio. Sign up to participate and donate your time to beautify the cemeteries and honor our soldiers and veterans.
The Ohio Lawn Care Association serves the lawn care and affiliated industries by providing essential agronomic, business, education, and legislative resources while improving the environment.
Latest News & Notes from the Buckeye Turf Program at The Ohio State University


Doctoral student Caroline Arantes received the 2015 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Graduate Research. This award recognizes and encourages excellence in graduate student research for both master’s and Ph.D. students.
The Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Awards are the highest awards in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences presented to faculty, staff and students.
She will receive a framed award, embossed pen and a $500 monetary award. This award will be presented during the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, September 16 at 3:00 p.m. in the AgriLife Center.


Summer’s here and with that comes a wealth of produce from the garden.
Problem for me, is that it all comes at the same time and when it does it’s time to get inventive and try new recipes.
Good fresh produce shouldn’t need much except maybe something to enhance it’s flavour.
So I preach the “simple is best” theory of cookery, especially when it comes to fresh summer produce such as tomatoes, courgettes, beans or whatever other loveliness is growing in my garden.
This year I planted double the amount of tomato seedlings with the hope that when some died off, due persistent mildew or “maladie” as the French call it in these parts, I’d still have a tomato or two for my salads.
True to form the “maladie” came and some plants were lost but most survived resulting in millions of tomatoes for me to use. Happy gardener, happy days!
This dish is so simple and flavoursome it should be in everyone’s repertoire.
Roasting the tomatoes releases sugar making them sweet while bringing out more flavour at the same time.
The addition of garlic and balsamic gives the dish a savoury meatiness that is rounded out by the creamy feta or goats cheese.
Top everything off with a sprinkle of fresh basil the result is a light summer dish that would be equally at home eaten on a cooler day in the fall.


Youngstown’s Idora Neighborhood, working with some local nonprofit groups, is undergoing an ambitious campaign to get into urban fish farming. This is part of a wider urban agriculture strategy for the Idora Neighborhood, which is the site of targeted reinvestment.
This video is for a kickstarter campaign supporting the project. The group hopes to raise $5,000 dollars, so that they can start raising some talapia in the city. Only 20 days left to raise close to $4k!
Donate your spare change here!
Here’s some more info from the group:
We’ve got veggies. We’ve got fruit trees. Now all we need is some protein!
WE WANT TILAPIA!
Your help is being requested by the Parkview Community Garden group to construct a fish farm in the Idora Neighborhood of Youngstown, Ohio. The farm will be a neighborhood-scale, zero discharge recirculating aquaponics system that will enable the group to raise and harvest healthy and nutritious tilapia, as well as fresh produce year-round. The system will incorporate environmentally friendly components, including the reuse of an existing large vacant garage structure that is directly across the street from the existing garden site, solar thermal to heat the water (tilapia prefer warm water), rain barrels, and sky lights for natural lighting.
What the heck is aquaponics???
Basically it’s a recreation of a naturally occurring ecosystem. The fish are fed a predominately vegetarian diet of food produced in the system (like duckweed and algae). The water with the fish waste is pumped into a grow bed with gravel, home to lots of little tiny bacteria that work to purify the water. The fish waste is also a high-grade fertilizer that leafy vegetables love to soak up, further filtering the water that eventually makes its way back into the fish tank. Sustainable and all-natural!
Why are we doing this???
Like many inner-city neighborhoods, the Idora Neighborhood has become a “food desert” and does not currently have access to a full-service grocery facility. As the majority of the neighborhood’s population is comprised of low income (27% below poverty level) and minority (80% African American) individuals and families, the lack of healthy food options locally presents a serious social justice issue that this group and project is seeking to overcome. Idora also contains a large youth population (35% under the age of 19). Given the poor educational trends of the city population at large, this large youth demographic represents an at-risk population.
Your support of this project will enable neighborhood residents to provide themselves greater access to healthy and fresh food choices. Being able to raise and harvest fresh fish locally will build upon an already thriving Parkview Community Garden, allowing neighborhood residents to provide themselves with a locally produced and nutritious complete meal, supplementing healthy vegetables with a fresh protein option. This project will also provide an opportunity for neighborhood residents and participants to gain valuable knowledge about environmentally friendly practices related to urban food production, renewable energy production, and resource conservation, empowering them to implement changes within their own homes to improve the neighborhood’s quality of life.
So please donate to this unique project and take part in the ongoing revitalization of the Idora Neighborhood and the City of Youngstown. The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving as the fiscal agent for this project, making your donation tax deductible!


Graco FieldLazer Field Striper
This Graco FieldLazer Field Striper is the ultimate in design, speed, and reliability. This 900 psi field marking machine is powered by a 35cc Honda 4 stroke engine and rolls on tall wheels smoothly pass over bumps from typical field traffic.
The Easy Out filter prevents clogs at the tip of the sprayer and dramatically decreases the amount of time spent striping the field. Tank holds .65 gallons which is the equivalent of about 45 minutes of pure field striping.
Line width can be adjusted from 4″ to 8″ very easily by hand. Get the job done right and get the job done fast with this FieldLazer Field Marking Machine.
- Exclusive tall-wheel cart rolls easily over ruts and cleat marks
- Easy out filter makes tip clogs a thing of the past
- 35cc Honda 4 stroke engine
- Three semi pneumatic 14″ tires
- 900 psi
- Gas tank holds .65 gallons and should be good for 45 minutes
- Adjustable spray shields make line width changes from 4″-8″ fast and easy with no tools
- Siphons from the original 5 gallon paint container to eliminate tank and pot cleaning hassles
- Fold-down handle makes transportation easy; Weight: 80 lbs.


Hemp seed oil
Hemp seed oil is obtained from the seeds of the hemp plant by gentle cold pressing.
Hemp seed oil has a nutty, earthy taste reminiscent of walnuts and sunflower seeds and is suitable as an ingredient for salads , smoothies, spreads, dips, or baked goods, for example. It can also be used to fry meat or vegetables.
Hemp seed oil can also be used in the processing industry as a component of cosmetics or as a carrier oil for CBD oil. It is also used, for example, in the production of detergents and soaps.
Types of Hemp Seed Oil
Golden Hemp Seed Oil
The finest oil is the golden hemp seed oil. It is manufactured by pressing only the peeled hemp seeds which yield a clean golden oil that is free of bitter chlorophyll and has a mild and nutty taste.
Green Hemp Seed Oil
The green oil is the result of pressing whole cleaned hemp seeds. It therefore contains chlorophyll from the hemp shells which give the oil a herbal taste. Combined with the fine nutty flavour of the oil from the inner seed, the green oil has a full-bodied herbal and nutty taste.
Deep-Green Hemp Seed Oil
The deep-green oil is the result of pressing the cleaned hemp seeds combined with hemp seed shells. It contains a higher chlorophyll concentration than the other oils which gives the oil a slightly bitter, herbal taste and its deep-green color.


Auto On/Off Timer Function: LED grow light comes with a circular memory timing function, which can be timed to 3H, 6H, 12H as you need. Growing light will automatically turn on/off at the same time every day according to your timer settings. This timer function will help bring proper and regular brightness to your plants, allowing them to grow vigorously.
Full Spectrum LED Grow Light: Indoor plant light with stand provides your plants with a full spectrum from 380nm up to 800nm which meets the conditions of plant growth without sunlight. Floor grow light has made up of 48 LED beads, including 12pcs red beads, 4pcs blue beads, 8pcs white beads, and 24pcs yellow beads, suitable for all stages of growth such as seedling, germination, vegetative flowering.
6 Brightness Settings: This grow light with stand provides brightness settings in full spectrum by pressing ''+'' / ''-'' button from 10% to 100%. So you can choose the best and most suitable brightness for your plants according to the growth stage. You can avoid wasting time on researching botany and spending money on hire gardeners. You are the best gardener£¡
Adjustable Stand & Flexible Gooseneck: The tripod stand can be adjusted from 23 inches to 59 inches as needed and the gooseneck is flexible but strong enough to withstand the weight of the lamp. This design can flexibly control the angle and distance of illuminations, and provide sufficient light for your indoor plant seedlings, potted plants, and greenhouse vegetables.
Professional Grow Light: This indoor growing lamp has obtained the certifications of FCC, CE, and ROHS which long to 50000H. Our plant light indoor with stand use low heat emission and low energy consumption lamp beads, which have higher luminous efficiency, but can save monthly electricity bills. Choose grow light with stand, bring spring into your home!


Horticulture. One of the few great realizations brought on by the pandemic.
In the last year, people were forced to stay indoors, away from their workplace and leisure activities. They hurriedly bought food and necessities at the closest available grocery store. The uncertainty of the lockdown’s duration grew. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into more than one year.
However, since the administration of the vaccine, normalcy returns to the world in small steps. People work in their office spaces, certain leisure activities begin again, and students return to their learning institutions.
Additionally, this led to a realization among those staying at home. The unpredictability of such situations may lead to another rush of panic. Food security and its uncertainty is seen through a different scope, its situation as unpredictable as what the future holds.
During the lockdown, many aided feelings of isolation, restlessness, and anger through gardening. It started as a hobby but grew into something of greater importance. People realized that there is a possible way to secure their food supply. Growing their own.
Therefore, horticulture became a widely researched topic. From simply growing flowers, people evolved to fruit and vegetables during the pandemic. Moreover, they continue to do so as restrictions lessen.
Horticulture is far from a new concept. It has been around for tens of thousands of years, starting in the ancient years. Its past forms evolved through the years, giving us information and methods to lead a more sustainable and healthier life.
Introduction to Horticulture
Horticulture comes from two Latin terms: hortus (garden) and cultura (cultivation).
An art and science, horticulture focuses on the growing of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and ornamental plants. It is the only plant science that incorporates the science and aesthetics of plants. It ranges from planting in gardens to food production and medicinal ingredients.
However, slight confusion arises between horticulture and two other sciences concerning plants. ‘Crop science’, the study of the world’s major food, turf, and fiber crops. This discipline focuses on the production, improvement, and marketing of such products. ‘Botany’, the academic study of plants. It does not focus on plant use, improvement, and marketing.
Although it may seem similar, it differs from agriculture. Horticulture focuses on specialized practices. Its operations are on a smaller scale.
Similarly, gardening and horticulture are of the same branch. They focus on the growing and cultivation of plants, but one is done in a professional manner.
Forms of Horticulture
There are many forms of horticulture, but four take precedence.
- Olericulture. From the Latin words olerus (vegetable) and cultura, this focuses on the production of vegetables.
- Pomology. From the Latin words pomo (fruit) and logus (study, knowledge), this form focuses on the production of fruit.
- Floriculture. Where florus (flower) meets cultura, this form centers around the production and study of flowering and ornamental plants.
- Post-Harvest. This deals with the methods of handling, packaging, and processing harvested crops. As a result, their storage life and availability increases.
The other forms are:
- Viticulture. Vitis (wine) meets cultura. It is the production of grapes, specifically for wine-making purposes.
- Turf management concentrates on turf grass for sports, leisure, and convenient use.
- Arboriculture, where arbor (tree) joins cultura, is the cultivation and care of individual trees and perennial woody plants.
- Landscape horticulture is the selection, production, and care of plants in landscape architecture. Landscaping refers to the art of beatifying a piece of land. It involves using garden designs, methods, and plant materials.
The Neolithic Age and Horticulture
Horticulture in the Neolithic Age proved to be a turning point in human history. It shows humanity’s response to the changing environment. As a result, the development of horticulture and agriculture came to be.
About 20 000 years ago, pre-historical humans began a trial-and-error process in domestication of wild plants and animals. Therefore, they evolved from nomadic goods collectors to settled food producers. The reason being is that their long-term processes of food security required a lot of care. Hence, settlements allowed them to regulate their food supply.
By 3 000 BCE, evidence shows the beginning of crop domestication.
In the very beginning, their efforts required hard manual labour. First, the crops grew near the dwellings of pre-historic farmers. Then, gradually, they spread into the countryside.
However, there is no exact date for the start of enclosed yards. Yet, evidence shows that as early as 3 000 BCE, enclosed vegetable and fruit yards existed in ancient Sumeria. In short, it showed vegetables growing in rows and watered by irrigation systems.
The evolution of horticulture continued through the years, even with the tools used.
In 40 000 BCE, pre-historical humans used bone digging sticks for soft soil, a precursor for a shovel. Pike-like mattocks broke hard soil, a precursor to the hoe. Between 5 000 and 4 800 BCE, the early form of the plough developed.
As the years went on, to determine a plant’s conditions for survival, humans began observing their crops. Additionally, this led to the identification of weeds, pests, and diseases.
Moreover, they implemented different treatments on their plants and crops. One required animal sacrifices to ward off disease and pestilence. Another was hand-picking noxious insects off plants.
In many cultures, women were the main garden cultivators. Men usually worked in the field.
Ancient Egypt and Horticulture
Historians believe ancient Egypt to be the birthplace of horticulture. The Egyptian temples cultivated fruit trees, palms, and grape vines.
However, the horticultural advances did not occur within Egypt. Borrowed and refined, the ancient Egyptian advances were adapted from discovered innovations from other parts of the world.
On the other hand, they introduced the first hydraulic engineering and systematic irrigation systems. This advancement made us of canals and dikes. The discovered illustrations show small irrigation systems within the temples. Although it is likely that it was initially invented by the Sumerians, but improved and modified by the Egyptians.
They cultivated a wide range of food, a variety of herbs and spices, and medicinal plants. Moreover, they grew over 200 species of flowering and aromatic plants. Plants growing in pots show they understood container gardening.
In addition to their own advances, present-day gardening uses their methods and techniques. Firstly, symmetrical and rectangular garden layouts prove to be an efficient way to irrigate plants and crops. As well, it provides easy access for weeding and harvesting. Secondly, linked terraces held multiple levels of gardens. Thirdly, adding water features to gardens as an aesthetic. Fourthly, using walls, tree lines, or pergolas to separate garden sections. Fifthly, classifying gardens according to form and what grew.
Horticulture in ancient Egypt linked to myths, folklore, and religion. This is seen in their early gardens, as well as in today’s modern culture.
Horticulture of Greece and Rome
Ancient Greek writings on agriculture and horticulture spread throughout the world. This influenced ancient Rome’s methods during the rise of its empire. Additionally, it influenced medieval herbalists later on.
The ancient Greeks introduced knowledge of grafting, budding, legume rotation, and enclosed, sheltered gardening. Soon, it spread to the Roman Empire.
As for ancient Rome’s advances, their horticultural activities expanded to country estates. Within those country estates were fruit orchards, flower gardens, as well as decorated and landscaped gardens.
Around the 2nd century BCE, the ancient Romans refined and improved their practices and techniques. They began creating specialized tools, such as pruning knives and fruit-picking ladders.
The ancient Greek and Roman methods to prevent pest and disease damage involved performing sacrifices and applying folk remedies.
Their horticultural practices influenced the development of European horticulture for centuries.
Horticulture of China and Japan
What sets ancient China and ancient Japan apart is their centuries-long isolation from other centers of development. In other words, their methods are their own.
Among their horticultural innovations were the cast iron hoe and single-wheeled wheelbarrow.
Around the 2nd century BCE, they used heated structures to grow alliums (flowering plants such as garlic and scallions).
In the 1200s, oiled paper composed their greenhouses. There, they grew their flowers and vegetables.
Documented in their writings were their ornamental gardens. They contained artificial hills, water features, and irregularly shaped rocks.
Ancient Chinese ornamental designs influenced ancient Japan.
Their Zen gardens are a famed Japanese design known around the world. With a focus on Zen Buddhism, the gardens have a meditative focus.
Flower cultivation and arrangement were art, with many plants holding a symbolic meaning.
The Importance of Horticulture
Horticulture’s importance lies with continued sustenance. Additionally, with the combination of modern technology and techniques of the past, it maintains a levelled well-being within individuals.
Landscapes continue to develop. With that, there is the need for sustainable landscape systems. This is essential for the growth of horticultural practices, as well as its importance to the environment.
However, what sets it apart is the focus and care put into the growth of plants. As well, horticulture uses a combination of applied and basic methods. Therefore, there is further understanding and managing of plant cultivation.
Above all, there is a wide scope of plant materials.
Fruit and vegetables are important as energy-giving materials for the human body. They are a source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, flavor, and aroma. Moreover, they provide health-benefiting compounds and medicine.
Along with the aesthetic value, horticulture plays its part in protecting the environment. The plants produce an abundance of oxygen through photosynthesis. As well, they remove the chemicals and bacteria floating in the air.
All this is done through the work of horticulturalists. Farmers work their hardest to provide the freshest vegetables and fruit for their consumers, along with the beauty of flowers and plants.
Horticulture plays a role in a nation’s economy. It makes up a segment of a country’s total agricultural production. This segment is comprised of many factors within horticultural practices, such as the benefits of high export value, best utilization of wasteland, and the provision of raw materials for industries.
In addition to a country’s economy, horticulture improves farmers’ economic conditions. The livelihood of the unprivileged classes improves. Many of the harvesting and production processes offer employment opportunities for women in rural areas.
Being an international and national demand, it serves as a good source of foreign exchange.
COVID-19 and Horticulture
COVID-19 changed the quality of life. The infection and quarantine measures disrupted the regular flow of goods and their connected sources. It changed the political, environmental, and economic way of life.
It affected the agricultural industry, and therefore, affected the consumers. Businesses needed to adapt to what would become the new normal.
With the regular flow disrupted, there were shortages and a lack of availability and labour. Additionally, there was a reduction in demand for certain food products and flowers.
Horticultural practices, just like the agricultural industry, put themselves on hold. The quarantine measures put a halt on exporting plants, fruit, and vegetables from known locations. The reason being is that specific measures need to be taken to ensure nothing becomes contaminated. At the same time, in a time of food security concerns, people began their own gardening. Starting small with a few plants, they branched out to grow their own own fruit, vegetables, and herbs. However, this does indicate that people will become less reliant on the hard work done by horticulturalists. It means that should a pandemic cause another lockdown, they will be better and sustainably prepared.
Horticulture and the Future
COVID-19 taught the human population that at any given moment, there will be unpredictable circumstances. These circumstances will hinder the routines we follow in our daily lives. By disrupting those routines, it leads to anarchy within our own mental state. Added to that is the uncertainty of normalcy’s return.
Scientists predict that within the next ten years, we will face the same situation as 2020. Viruses such as COVID do not disappear, they only get stronger with time. In other words, the time will come for us to remain in our homes once again as the battle for health and safety commences on a larger scale.
While another pandemic will affect horticultural practices, that will not stop its professionals from completing their purpose. They remain heavily involved in trends of sustainability and green energy. For example, the majority of modern-day buildings come with green roofs, where plants and small amounts of crops can grow. As a result, there is natural insulation. The buildings remain warm during the cold months and cool during the warm months. Moreover, there are reduced expenses and reliance on conventional methods.
Another benefit of green roofs is urban hydrology, where the collection of rainwater is used inside buildings.
In the combat against climate change, horticulture plays a crucial role in the architecture and maintenance of infrastructure solutions. As new technology develops, there are endless possibilities for what horticulturists thrive to accomplish to better the world.
In short, horticulture is not only beneficial to the body, but to its surroundings.
Additionally, this keeps the social and cultural connection to the past alive. If not for the trial-and-error basis of the past, none would have the innovations existing today.


Permaculture and forest gardening, these fashionable concepts are not new: they were already applied in ancient times in the oases of Tunisia!
A forest garden
is a garden created on the model of the forest and which gathers various agricultural productions on several levels. A concept of natural and sustainable agriculture
, very popular in the context of permaculture
(sustainable agriculture system using biodiversity).
But what is an oasis
, if not a forest of palm trees created by man, irrigated by multiple channels fed by springs?
And here is what the Latin author Pliny the Elder wrote in the first century AD about the oasis of Gabes
, in southeastern Tunisia:
“There, under a very high palm tree grows an olive tree. And under the olive tree, a fig tree. And under the fig tree, a pomegranate tree. Under it, the vine. Under the vine, wheat is sown, and then vegetables, all in the same year, all growing in each other’s shade.”
Dates, pomegranates and bananas
Thus, two thousand years ago, various crops were combined in the same space, on several levels, under the protective shade of tall trees!
Even today, in the traditional Tunisian oases, date palms are associated with many fruit trees and vegetable plants.
The pomegranates and henna of Gabes are famous. In Tozeur, small bananas are produced in the shade of palm trees.
From Pliny the Elder to Al-Idrissi
Pliny the Elder is the author of the Natural History, an encyclopedia in 37 volumes!
We also have this testimony from the Moroccan-Andalusian geographer Al-Idrissi, author of a monumental atlas dedicated to King Roger II of Sicily (12th century):
“Gabes is a considerable city, well populated, surrounded by a real wood of orchards that follow one another without interruption and produce fruit in abundance, palm trees, olive trees, …”
The oasis of Gabes is a candidate for inclusion in the Unesco World Heritage since 2008. Also read: Tunisia’s World Heritage sites.
Sahara: The Tunisian South
Nature: Discover the natural variety of Tunisia
Tozeur, the oasis city


Gardener's Guide to Botany
- Unit Price
Ever wonder if plants sleep or why their leaves are shaped a certain way? The inner workings of the plants you love are revealed and celebrated in this guide by botany expert Dr. Scott Zona.
A Gardener's Guide to Botany is not just another book on how to grow plants. Instead, it's a lushly illustrated botanical journey into what makes plants tick, delivered in layman's terms that are easily understood and appreciated by both advanced gardeners and first-timers. It's the chlorophyll-infused science behind the plants you know and love, whether you grow them indoors or out.
You'll learn how different plant parts function (do you know what stomata are and why every leaf has hundreds of them?), the traits that separate plants from animals, and how through eons of evolution the plants we grow in our gardens and homes have developed a million different fascinating adaptations that allow them to survive and thrive. From their leaf shape and growth habit to how they have sex and metabolize the nutrients they absorb, A Gardener's Guide to Botany covers it all in an accessible and thought-provoking way.
Divided into chapters based on what plants need to survive, some of the topics you'll discover include:
- How plants convert water, air, and sunshine into roots, stems, leaves, and flowers through photosynthesis
- How plants react to their environment and "know" when it's right for supporting growth and reproduction
- How light can inhibit or facilitate chemical reactions in a plant
- How plants access and use water and different nutrients, including through lifelong partnerships with other living organisms
- How plants reproduce in some pretty ingenious ways, both with and without sex
- How plant genes are dispersed via seeds spread by wind, water, animals, or by the mechanics of the plant or the seed itself
Up your #plantnerd status by going on a knowledge expedition to learn about all things botanical, including the enlightening science of plant communication, hormones, insect relationships, and even plant sleep. Plus, learn the many varied ways plants protect themselves, from growing spines and producing toxic leaf compounds to emitting volatile chemicals that serve as messages to insect predators or warning signals to neighboring plants. Through beautiful illustrations, full-color photographs of plants from around the world, and fascinating and relatable text, get to know your plant family like you never have before
Whether you grow houseplants on a windowsill, vegetables in raised beds, or shrubs and perennials along your front walk, A Gardener's Guide to Botany takes you on a beautiful adventure into the amazing kingdom of plants.


Willow Crossing Farm is an experimental and educational organic family farm, and the birthplace of the Prospect Rock Permaculture Project and Medicine Womyn Healing Arts & Apothecary.
We grow a diversity of nuts, fruit trees, vines, berries, vegetables, medicinal and culinary herbs and teas, sell nursery plants, produce eggs and honey, and host a variety of educational programs. We research, innovate, experiment, evaluate, demonstrate, and educate about new crops, techniques, and value-added products that have the potential to be both profitable and ‘ecologically regenerative’. Our mission embodies permaculture design as an economically viable farm and homestead that increases ecological health while meeting human needs.
The site itself is rich alluvial floodplain and floodplain terrace, including ponds, wetlands, upland forest, and over 3/4 miles of Lamoille River edge. While mismanaged in the past (from an ecological perspective), we are slowly creating a sanctuary for wildlife: birds, insects, rare and endangered wetland and riparian plants and animals; and connecting people to the natural world and cultivated diversity.
In addition to earning a living, offering employment for friends and neighbors, and producing an abundance of nutrient dense organic food and medicines to our community- our goals include welcoming the wildlife that shares our farmland, providing refuge and habitat for birds, bees, and other insects, and contributing to a healthy watershed for our valley by connecting people with wild nature and regenerative human ecology for purposes of healing both the land and ourselves.
Medicine Womyn Healing Arts & Botanicals (www.MedicineWomynHealing.org) is run by Kori Gelinas- Herbalist, Aromatherapist, Yoga teacher, Bodyworker and crafter of custom blended teas, tinctures and other herbal medicines for clients from our gardens and Apothecary


On Thursday, June 23, the Kearny Farmers Market returned at its customary location next to the Kearny Public Library. Shoppers can enjoy “JERSEY FRESH” produce, strawberries and blueberries, honey, herbs, and specialty cookies.
This year, the Kearny Farmers Market welcomes a new, local area vendors, Charlie’s Nursery and Garden Center and Curiosity by Intrinsic and welcomes back New Jersey Beer Co., a craft brewer with a seasonal license to sell craft beer at the Kearny market and Alstede Farms. Alstede Farms will again sell a wide variety of fruits and vegetables at the market.
“The Kearny Farmers Market has been gaining in popularity every year. We anticipate that this season will be even better than before.” said Councilwoman, Susan McCurrie. Mayor Alberto Santos encouraged Kearny residents to support New Jersey Farmers by coming out and shopping at the Kearny market on Thursdays. “We are proud of the popularity of the Kearny Farmers Market. There’s such a great assortment and freshness of fruits and vegetables, fruits, and now craft beer,” stated Mayor Santos.
The Kearny Farmers Market will be located on Garfield Avenue, between Kearny Avenue and Chestnut Street, adjacent to the Kearny Public Library. The market will be held every Thursday through October, from 12 Noon to 6 pm.


William & Sons
COFFEE COMPANY USA
Manchester, New Hampshire
COFFEE SHOP AND ROASTERY
We were so excited to recently visit the William & Sons Coffee Shop in Manchester, New Hampshire which recently opened due to your generous donations! Jon and Patty Hutchins (pictured right) created this brand in Brazil (see the Brazil tab below for more details of their start) where they grew strong relationships with local coffee growers. The Hutchins worked alongside these farmers to buy their fresh coffee beans, roast them locally, and open a coffee shop in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Now, they are importing the green coffee beans and roasting them just 30 minutes away from the new coffee shop!
Jon and Patty are a hard working, talented couple who have a passion to see nationals supported by their coffee business. First in Brazil, and now in New Hampshire, they provide opportunities for jobs and development in the community as they share the stories of coffee farmers all over the world. They have partnered with growers from Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia, DR Congo, India, and beyond.
We partnered with Jon and Patty when they first began developing William and Sons in Brazil. We have been so blessed to continue to grow our relationship with them and were thrilled to fund this new project of a coffee shop in a growing area of Manchester, NH. Your generous giving and their hard work day in and day out renovating this shop has produced a fabulous location to build community, support nationals, and bring delicious coffee directly from the source to their customers. We look forward to all they continue to do in their endeavors, stay tuned for future projects with them! To order their amazing coffee and merchandise, please visit https://www.wsonscoffee.com/.


Agronomy is the branch of agriculture sciences dealing with principles and practices of crop production and field management. Agronomy is mainly based on following basic principles Agrometerology, Soils and Tillage, Soil and Water Conservation, Dryland Agriculture, Mineral Nutrition of Plants, Manures and Fertilizers, Irrigation Water Management, Weed Management, Cropping and Farming Systems, Sustainable Agriculture.
Agrometerology: Agrometerology is the branch of meteorology, which investigates the relationship of plants and animals to the physical environment. Agrometerology describes Agrometerological Observatory, Atmosphere, Wind, Clouds and Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Air Temperature, Soil Temperature, Humidity and Evaporation, Weather Hazards and their Mitigation, Weather and Crop Productivity, Weather Relations of crops, Weather Forecasting and Classification of Climate and Agroclimate in relation to agriculture.
Soils and Tillage: Soils and tillage are necessary to know how soils should be managed and conserved for sustainable crop production. Under this principle of agronomy we can learn Physical Properties of Soil, Chemical Properties of Soil, Biological Properties of Soil, Soil Organic Matter, Salt Affected Soils, and Tillage.
Soil and Water conservation: We must conserve soil and water because these are the most critical resources. In this principle we will touch to Soil Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion, Soil and Water Conservation Measure.
Dryland Agriculture: Dryland farming is cultivation of crops in regions with annual rainfall more than 750 mm. Under this we need to read History of Dryland Agriculture, Problems of Dryland Agriculture, Monsoon and Length of Crop Growing Season, Drought, Moisture Conservation in Drylands, Water Harvesting and Protective Irrigation, Crops and Cropping Systems, Mitigating Adverse Effect of Aberrant Weather, Alternate Land Use Systems, Watershed Management and Improved Dryland Agricultural Implements.
Mineral Nutrition, Manures and Fertilizers: Nutrient Management is one of the most important principles in agronomy which includes Essentials in Plant Nutrition, Nutrient Uptake by Plants, Soil Fertility Evaluation, Manures, Fertilizers in Indian Agriculture, Nitrogen Fertilizers, Phosphatic Fertilizers, Potassic Fertilizers, Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur, Micronutrients, Mixed Fertilizers, Fertilizer Application, and Fertilizers & Environment.
Irrigation Water Management: Irrigation Water Management is very important for success of agriculture. In irrigation management we need to read Irrigation in Indian Agriculture, Water Resource & Their Development, Systems of Irrigation, Soil – Water Relationships, Plant – Water Relationship, Evapotranspiration, Water Requirements of Crops, Measurement of Irrigation Water, Scheduling Irrigation, Methods of Irrigation, Irrigation & Water Use Efficiency, Irrigation Practices for Major Crops, Quality of Irrigation Water, Drainage, Cropping Pattern in Command Areas, Pricing Irrigation Water.
Weed Management: Weed is a plant grown at place & time which is not desire. Understanding of Common Weeds, Losses and Benefits, Weed Ecology & Classification, Crop – Weed Association & Competition, Methods of Weed Control, Classification of Herbicides, Herbicide Formulation, Herbicide Application, Absorption & Translocation of Herbicides, Mode of action of Herbicide, Selectivity of Herbicide, Herbicide Combination, Rotations & Interactions, Persistence of Herbicides in Soils, Herbicide Resistance, Chemical Weed Control in Different Crops, Parasitic & Aquatic Weed Control.
Cropping Systems: Cropping systems is gaining more importance in this day and includes Various Terminology, Major Cropping Systems, Agronomy of Rainfed Cropping Systems, Agronomy of Irrigated Cropping Systems, Evaluation of Cropping Systems, Farming Systems and Farming Systems Research
Sustainable Agriculture: Sustainable agriculture can be define as the form of agriculture aimed at meeting the food and fuel needs of the present generation without endangering the resource base for the future generations. It includes study of Impact of Improved Crop Production Technology, Factors Affecting Ecological Balance, Evaluation of Sustainable Agriculture, Components of Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Utilization of Land Resources, Sustainable Utilization of Water Resources, Sustainable utilization of Biodiversity, Integrated Nutrient Management, Integrated Nutrient Management, Integrated Plant Protection, Enhancing Sustainability of Dryland Agriculture, Enhancing Sustainability of Irrigated Agriculture, Agricultural Sustainability and Farming Systems.


TT Meseret, YT Adugna, AN Ajebu and AK Aemiro
Different levels of energy feed supplemented and assessed for nutrient intake, milk yield, quality, and weight changes of cross-bred (Holstein Frisian × Boran) and indigenous Boran dairy cows. The experimental cows are with an average body weight of 439.55 10.41 kg and milk yield of 8.07±0.61 liter/ day; 250±1.71kg, and 2.21±0.42 liter/ day for cross-bred and Boran respectively. Treatment diets are T1=1*metabolizable energy (ME), T2=1.25*ME, T3=1.5*ME, and T4=1.75*ME. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in milk yield, but no differences in milk composition. There was a significant difference in average body weight changes among treatments T1= -30.40± 11.4; T3 and T4= -6.00± 11.4 kg. However, there were no weight changes for cows fed on T2. It can be concluded that treatment diets containing 1.5 * and 1.75 × ME intake increase milk yield by 11% and 26% for cross-bred and, by 20% and 24% for indigenous Boran cows.
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Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
You are here to learn about the Mastercard Foundation Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture Program. As you may already know, this is a ‘Work, Learn, and Earn' opportunity to train unemployed youths and women in vegetable production (Olericulture) using technology.
The technologies to be deployed in this program include:
- Greenhouse farming – a climate-smart growing method that gives growers control over biotic and abiotic factors.
- Soilless farming (hydroponics) – a growing method that does not depend on soil, it allows the grower to grow year-round regardless of the season
- ML & AI tools – These will be used in monitoring the irrigation of the plants as well as proper nutrient combination for the plants
- Integrated Pest Management – A combination of physical and biological control will be used throughout the project to ensure proper pest management.
All interested students will be admitted quarterly into the project, 1000 students per quarter, and will be grouped into 50s. In a year there will be 4 admissions, thus:
- Annual student intake = 4000
- A batch of students admitted quarterly = 1000
- A batch consists of 20 groups
- A group consisting of 50 team members
- All 50 students in a group have joint ownership of a 3 plots hydroponics farm
- Each group will have a technical team (16), an Agronomy team (12), a Packaging/branding team (8), a logistics (6), and an Account/Management team (8)
- All students will be trained on basic greenhouse setup
- All students will be trained on basic soilless farm setup
- All students will be trained in basic ML and AI setup
- All students will be trained in basic Olericulture production
- Students will also be trained based on their units – technical, agronomy, etc so they can manage the company on their own
- The students will earn a stipend during the 3 months of training
- Accommodation is provided for 3months
- Learn how to set/manage greenhouses and hydroponics
- Earn salaries from their company from the 4th month of inception from produce sales
Eligibility Criteria for the Mastercard Foundation Enterprise
- You must be between 18 – 29 years old at the time of application
- Genuine interest in Olericulture
- Available for 12 weeks of physical training
- You must be physically and mentally fit to work with a team on the farm
- Willingness to work and live within the project location (Awowo, Abeokuta, Ogun state)
- You don't have a criminal record
- Willingness to adhere to and respect the rules and regulations of the project and its location
What are the Benefits of the Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture?
The benefits of the Mastercard Foundation Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture Program includes the following:
- Fully Sponsored Training: You learn about the Olericulture value chain and soilless farming for free.
- Free Farm Setup Kits: A cluster (group of 50 students) Will work on 3 plots of hydroponics farm set up for them
- Access to Offtakers: You will get connected to off-takers to buy off the produce
- Post Training + Mentorship: Activities include presentation (action plan of training), Performance try-out, and follow-up
How To Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture
To apply for the Mastercard Foundation Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture Program, all you need to do is Visit Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture website and fill out the application form.
Once that is done, further instructions will be sent to you via the contact information you used on the application form.
Application Deadline: Unspecified.
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Natural brassinolide (NBR), is recognized worldwide as the latest (sixth) plant growth regulators. Huangjia natural brassinolide is extracted directly from plants, natural, efficient, broad-spectrum, non-toxic products. Brassinolide, its main active ingredient:
Molecular formula: C28H48 O6
(22R, 23R, 24S)-2α, 3α, 22,23 - tetrahydroxy -24 - methyl-B-high -7 - oxa-5а-cholesteric alkyl -6 - one
Physical and chemical properties:
White crystal, melting point 274-275 ° C, insoluble in water, soluble in chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethyl ether, isopropyl alcohol and other organic solvents
November 1996 under the auspices of the Zhejiang Province Science and Technology Commission, composed of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Chen Yaozu, Shen of Zhiquan and chemistry, agronomy, soil, genetic and biological expert Professor Identification Committee, through the identification of consistent think Huangjia natural Yun moss factors of production process advanced product formula is reasonable, effective and stable application.
Test by more than 1,000 cities and counties of the country's 31 provinces and cities in more than 100 kinds of crops, application of proved natural brassinolide hormone can improve seed vigor, and promote the development of plant roots, and enhance their ability to absorb fertilizer and water, the chlorophyll content, and enhance photosynthesis the plants a balanced and robust growth, enhance resistance to disease, anti-pesticide phytotoxicity as well as cold, drought, water logging, salinity and resilience, and ensure stable incomes in disaster conditions. Can improve the nutritional value of crops, without any side effects.
The products are cheap, easy to use by the majority of users, known as "the golden key of the 21st century agricultural production.


Harvesting rainwater is no longer atypical, especially for households located in rain-prone areas. Rainwater is collected and stored in sturdy water tanks for home or commercial use. It seems that some communities and neighbourhoods in the countryside make use of this system to produce water supply for everyone. This can also be adapted even in urban areas; as long as you’re equipped with rainwater tanks, you can place them on the rooftop for accessible collection.
Applying an efficient rainwater harvesting system offers many benefits for any business or household. Whether your property comes with a garden landscape or your region suffers from occasional water shortages, this could even compel you to harvest rainwater.
Get to know the different advantages of collecting rainwater and browse this page if you’re still on the fence about applying this system.
You can reduce your carbon footprint and do your part for the environment by using harvested rainwater. There will be many chores and tasks in a typical household that require you to use water. In some cases, like washing your driveways and vehicles, the water need not be clean or purified at all. Hence, it’s best to use rainwater in such instances. Instead, you can save clean water from your local water supply for other purposes. Use rainwater for all other uses except drinking and cooking.
The modern world today is strongly connected to energy and water. By using rainwater, you’re taking initiatives to reduce water usage from the local supply, saving water and electric resources. This small way can reflect hugely on saving the planet in your way.
Improves Soil Erosion
Researchers have discovered that raindrops can blow soil up to five feet across and two feet high when travelling at high speeds. This means your soil can completely get destroyed when your area experiences frequent rainwater and are not collected correctly. Not only will this result in wasted resources, but it also creates dirt and messy soil surfaces on your property.
Imagine how your efforts in deep soil preparation will be wasted away if they will only be eroded because of rainwater. Reduced flooding in low-lying areas and erosion from runoff are both the result of capturing rainwater before it reaches the ground. It’s best to secure large water tanks and displace them in several areas of your yard near the soils.
Helps In Retaining The Hydrologic Cycle
About half of the stormwater that falls on a natural landscape infiltrates the soil, hydrating it and replenishing groundwater. Unfortunately, a considerable percentage of such water just evaporates. And for those establishments that don’t come with soils and gardens, rainwater only leads to water runoff, completely wasting such resources. They can even seep into the cracks of pavements and destroy foundations. Before this happens, it’s best to prevent runoffs and evaporation by collecting them instead.
In a garden, rainwater is collected and stored on-site instead of flowing off, reducing stormwater impacts. If you release the water later when the soil is no longer soaked, you can hydrate and feed the plants with it. This process then restores the hydrologic cycle.
Can Be Used For Multiple Purposes
There are many ways to reuse rainwater at home. Harvesting rainwater has the significant advantage of being an accessible water source; this way, you can easily reduce your monthly utility bills. Imagine how much you’ll save most especially if you own a garden in your home or property. This is even better for industrial businesses which need to use water in their processes. The rainwater collected in the water tanks can perform household cleaning chores, water your garden, refill the pond, and perform all other tasks that require water.
Every clock in your water meter is money spent when you wash your car or water your lawn during the day. Wasted water runs straight into the ground, which translates to some bucks drifting down the drain. With collected water, you save money and reduce demand on the municipal water supply by using less tap water and replacing it with a completely free resource. When you have this alternative water supply, you can cut your reliance on the public water supply and have more liberty to use it for your household or industrial purposes. This translates to ultimate savings in your household expenses or business operations.
From the list of benefits mentioned above, it is evident that rainwater harvesting is an essential part of establishing sustainable water resources. This will aid and support you in many instances, especially when there are water shortages in your region. You can stock up this water in large barrels and use them later in case of drought. The rainwater harvesting strategy contributes to local communities’ sustainable water supply indeed. Now it’s time to apply this system to your urban home or commercial property too.